Best cheap car insurance in Los Angeles
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If you live in Los Angeles, you probably rely on an automobile to get around, but the high cost of auto insurance might be more than you can afford. Based on Bankrate’s research, Los Angeles drivers pay an average annual premium of $2,941 for full coverage, or $245 per month, and an average of $857 annually for minimum coverage.
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Compare auto insurance rates
Save on auto insurance with quotes from trusted providers like:
Drivers switch & save an average of $750+/year
Are you overpaying for auto insurance?
Safe drivers choose Allstate®
Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.
Bankrate studied the Los Angeles market and found several insurance companies that offer full coverage and minimum coverage policies that cost less, on average, than the city’s average rates. Our research found that Wawanesa, Mercury Insurance and AAA offer some of the cheapest average car insurance rates for Los Angeles motorists.
Best cheap car insurance companies in Los Angeles
If you’re looking for cheap car insurance in California, Los Angeles offers several top-rated options. Based on data provided by Quadrant Information Services, the best cheap car insurance companies in Los Angeles include Wawanesa, Mercury Insurance, and AAA.
To find the cheapest car insurance companies in Los Angeles, Bankrate looked for insurers with good AM Best financial strength scores and high marks in J.D. Power’s 2022 U.S. Auto Insurance Study. To produce our Bankrate Scores, we use a 5-point scale which evaluates each carrier’s affordability, availability, customer service record and financial strength. We also look for companies that offer online resources and mobile apps that may make it easier for policyholders to file claims and manage their auto insurance policies.
| Insurance company | Bankrate Score | J.D. Power score (California) | Average annual premium for full coverage | Average annual premium for minimum coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wawanesa | 3.4 | 879/1,000 | $2,097 | $778 |
| Mercury | 4.2 | 827/1,000 | $2,311 | $735 |
| AAA | 3.8 | 844/1,000 | $2,383 | $461 |
| Geico | 4.7 | 824/1,000 | $2,470 | $589 |
| Travelers | 4.7 | Not rated | $2,625 | $691 |
Wawanesa
Among the five Los Angeles car insurance companies on our list, Wawanesa offers the cheapest average full coverage rates. The provider also earned the number one spot in J.D. Power’s study, with an overall customer satisfaction score of 879 out of 1,000 in California. Besides standard coverages, Wawanesa also offers optional rental expense coverage and special vehicle equipment coverage. Policyholders may benefit from many common discounts as well, like good driver, loyalty and multi-policy. Additionally, Wawanesa offers a potential discount to drivers aged 55 or older who complete a California-approved defensive driving course. Wawanesa only offers auto insurance coverage in California and Oregon, so it may not be the best option for drivers planning to move in the near future.
Learn more: Wawanesa Insurance review
Mercury
Mercury ranked fourth in the J.D. Power study, with a customer satisfaction score of 827, seven points above the regional average. The insurer offers all basic auto insurance coverages, but unfortunately only offers three optional protections: rental car reimbursement, ridesharing and roadside assistance coverages. Mercury extends multi-car and multi-policy discounts, and offers additional savings for automobiles equipped with anti-theft devices. Policyholders may also earn a discount by paying their premium in full or opting for automatic payments. Following a loss, Mercury policyholders can file claims online or by calling a 24/7 toll free number. Mercury sells auto insurance policies through more than a dozen Los Angeles independent agencies.
Learn more: Mercury Insurance review
AAA
Although AAA ranked second in the J.D. Power study, it does have the lowest Bankrate Score on this list. The provider offers all basic auto insurance coverages but does not offer any optional coverages. Policyholders may be able to save by bundling AAA car insurance coverage with a condo, home, life or renters policy. Buying policies for more than one vehicle may save you up to 27.3 percent and maintaining a good driving record can earn you up to a 20 percent discount. Policyholders who are AAA car club members can access features and services using a single mobile app, which enables you to contact roadside assistance, access your insurance ID, search for AAA member discounts and find nearby gas stations with the lowest prices. AAA sells car insurance through dozens of greater Los Angeles branch offices.
Learn more: AAA Insurance review
Geico
Geico earned an above-average customer satisfaction score from J.D. Power and offers the second cheapest car insurance on our list for minimum coverage. The company could be a great option for drivers looking for basic, but dependable coverage from a top national insurer. The insurer offers many potential ways to save with discounts for military members, participating organizations and policyholders who enroll in its DriveEasy telematics program. However, keep in mind that the provider does not offer gap insurance, and unlike some of our other top picks, Geico does not operate local offices.
Learn more: Geico Insurance review
Travelers
Among our best cheap car insurance companies in Los Angeles, Travelers charges the highest average rates for full coverage and the third highest for minimum coverage, but it may be a good choice for drivers looking to customize their policy. In addition to all basic coverages, the carrier offers optional accident forgiveness, gap insurance, new car replacement coverage, rental car reimbursement coverage, rideshare insurance and roadside assistance. Travelers also give policyholders numerous ways to reduce their rates. Multi-policy discounts offer savings up to 13 percent, and you may save even more if you own an electric car or purchase a newer vehicle. Travelers’ affinity group discount programs provide additional savings for employees or members of participating associations, companies and credit unions.
Learn more: Travelers Insurance review
How to get and keep the cheapest car insurance in Los Angeles
The tips below may be able to help you get the cheapest rates in Los Angeles for your individual circumstances:
- To find cheap car insurance, look for applicable discounts. Some providers offer discounts for cars equipped with safety and security equipment such as anti-lock brakes and anti-theft systems. Many insurers also offer good driver discounts for maintaining a clean driving record and some extend a discount to young drivers who complete a driver’s education course or get good grades.
- To keep cheap car insurance, maintain a clean driving record. Maintaining a clean driving record could offer substantial savings on your premium. Staying accident-free indicates to car insurance providers that you may be at lower risk of filing a claim. If you do get a mark on your driving record, you may want to enroll in a telematics program or a defensive driving course, which could help prove that you have safe driving habits. Some insurers will offer you more affordable rates for doing so.
Frequently asked questions
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The best car insurance in Los Angeles will likely vary among drivers. To find the best car insurance company for your needs, insurance experts recommend getting a few car insurance quotes from different companies to compare pricing and coverage options. In addition to price, it may help to consider how other people in the area rate their experience with an insurer. Because each state and city is unique, knowing how well a provider operates in your ZIP code could help determine if it is the right one for you.
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Several factors may play a role in the high price of Los Angeles auto insurance, including the rates of unsafe driving, traffic fatalities and auto theft. According to the most current Federal Bureau of Investigation data, car thieves stole more than 15,600 automobiles in Los Angeles in 2019. Based on National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics, in 2021, more than 4,250 people died on California roadways, an increase of more than 10 percent from 2020.
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California law requires all automobile owners to carry at least $15,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person, $30,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per accident and $5,000 in personal property liability coverage per accident. While many drivers need a car for work and personal activities, some cannot afford to pay the high cost of auto insurance. For low-income drivers, the state established the California Low-Cost Automobile Insurance Program. To qualify for the program, automobile owners must meet income guidelines, own a car worth $25,000 or less and be a new driver or an experienced driver with a good driving record.
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Los Angeles drivers could expect to pay an average of $2,941 per year for full coverage car insurance and $857 for minimum coverage. However, several cheap car insurance companies may provide more affordable rates. Most insurance professionals agree that the best way to find the cheapest car insurance in Los Angeles is to request quotes from multiple providers and see which ones may offer you the lowest rates.
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Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze 2022 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates are based on a 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:
- $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $50,000 property damage liability per accident
- $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
- $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
- $500 collision deductible
- $500 comprehensive deductible
To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2020 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.
These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.
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Bankrate Scores are calculated on a five-point scale and primarily reflect a weighted rank of industry-standard ratings for financial strength and customer experience in addition to analysis of quoted annual premiums from Quadrant Information Services, spanning all 50 states and Washington, D.C. We know it is important for drivers to be confident their financial protection covers the likeliest risks, is priced competitively and is provided by a financially-sound company with a history of positive customer support.
To determine how well the best car insurance companies satisfy these priorities, third-party agency ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best, S&P, NAIC, and Moody’s had the most impact on the companies’ Bankrate Scores. As price is a common consideration for drivers, we analyzed quoted premiums based on 40-year-old male and female drivers with a 2019 Toyota Camry. This profile, assessed across nearly 35,000 ZIP codes in the U.S., provided a basis on which drivers may compare each provider.
While coverage options, insurer availability, affordability and customer experience are often the top priorities, Bankrate also analyzed each insurer’s online and mobile resources for policy management and claims handling. Insurance is rapidly evolving to keep pace with our digital world, so these aspects also carried weight in determining Bankrate Scores.
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