Jerry is your proactive car insurance assistant. We help you compare personalized quotes side-by-side from 50+ top insurers, explain coverage in plain English, and switch policies in minutes. No bouncing between sites. No pressure to buy. Just clear options, expert guidance when you want it, and a seamless way to get covered.
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Read about our editorial standards here.
Compare Car Insurance Quotes in California
Jerry is a free app trusted by 376,604 California drivers that compares insurance quotes from top carriers.
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Get personalized options in minutes.
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Buy, bundle and switch right in the app.
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Licensed agents are ready to help if you need them.
Stephanie Colestock is a writer, CFEI®, and licensed insurance agent with over 14 years of experience specializing in personal finance topics like insurance, investing, retirement, and household budgeting. Her work has been featured in TIME, Forbes, USA Today, and other leading publications. Through her writing, Stephanie simplifies complex financial concepts, empowering readers to make smarter financial decisions.
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Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI) (2024)
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General Lines Agent, Property & Casualty (2025)
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14 years as a professional writer and editor
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10 years covering personal finance
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General Lines Agent, Property & Casualty (2022)
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Awarded Agent of the quarter at Jerry (2023)
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AS in Computer Science from Troy University of Montgomery
Average California car insurance prices
The average cost of car insurance for Jerry drivers in the U.S. is currently $152 a month for state minimum and $380 a month for full coverage. But in California, Jerry drivers pay:
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$72 to $135 per month for state-mandated minimum coverage.
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$203 to $412 per month for full coverage.
Checking rates from multiple carriers is often the best way to find good deals. Over the last 12 months, Jerry has helped Californians save an average of $813 per year on coverage by comparing quotes across insurers.
Based on Jerry customers with clean driving records who found savings in the past 12 months. Savings depend on coverage and other factors. Potential savings will vary.
Jerry helps you shop offers and lock in your California car insurance in under 10 minutes. It’s free, entirely online and we never sell your info or bug your phone with calls. If you’d prefer to talk to a real person, you can connect with one of our licensed agents anytime.
Of course, what you’ll pay depends on a mix of details like your driving record, the car you drive and your ZIP code. Here are some full coverage rates that Jerry drivers in California have recently gotten:
Recent quotes
Based on Jerry customers with clean driving records who found savings in the past 12 months. Savings depend on coverage and other factors. Potential savings will vary.
Bundle home and auto insurance with Jerry
California’s wildfire risk has made home insurance increasingly expensive and, in some areas, genuinely hard to find. If you’ve managed to secure coverage, bundling car and home insurance is one of the best ways to keep costs in check.
Bundling discounts typically range from 5–25%, depending on the insurer. But bundling with the same carrier isn’t always the cheapest option — mixing carriers can actually result in a lower total cost. Over the past year, drivers who switched through Jerry saved an average of 40% compared to their previous policy.
Here’s why: Jerry doesn’t lock you into one insurer for both policies. And in California, where insurers can’t use your credit score to price auto coverage, comparing carriers on price alone matters even more. Jerry’s mix-and-match approach lets you pair the best home insurance rate with the best auto insurance rate, even from different carriers. That way you’re not overpaying on one policy just to get a discount on the other.
Jerry pulls up to 20 quotes from top rated carriers.
What California drivers are paying with Jerry
Comparing quotes from multiple insurance companies is the easiest way to find your best coverage. Whether you’re building a new policy, matching coverage or just looking to find the cheapest car insurance in California, shopping around helps you find the right fit.
That matters in California, where driving conditions shift dramatically depending on where you live. Stop-and-go traffic in LA and the Bay Area, mountain passes in the Sierras, long desert stretches in the Inland Empire, and dense urban parking situations that drive up comprehensive claims all shape what you’ll pay. Jerry works with California drivers every day, so your quotes reflect what’s actually typical for your area and driving profile.
Jerry helps you find quotes from up to 10 trusted insurers in the Golden State, so you can see what’s out there and what you should be paying.Below are some of the latest quotes Jerry has pulled for California drivers at different coverage levels, plus how much each driver saved.
Recent quotes in California
Based on Jerry customers with clean driving records who found savings in the past 12 months. Savings depend on coverage and other factors. Potential savings will vary.
California car insurance coverage requirements
California drivers are required to buy personal property and bodily injury liability insurance coverage to legally drive their car. The minimum coverage requirements in this state are:
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$30,000 per person for bodily injury liability.
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$60,000 for bodily injury per accident for multiple persons injured.
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$15,000 for property damage liability per accident.
California drivers can also self-insure or forgo an auto policy in exchange for a $75,000 deposit with the DMV or a surety bond.
While holding these coverage requirements means you’re legal to drive, they aren’t enough to protect you against major accidents or damage to your own car. For better protection, many Jerry drivers both increase their liability coverage limits and buy comprehensive and collision coverage. Considering over 21% of California drivers are uninsured, we also recommend buying uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) protection.
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Coverage Definitions
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Who it pays: The other person, for injuries when you’re at fault in a crash.
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What it covers: Medical bills, lost wages and legal costs for people injured in an accident you cause.
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How it pays: Up to your policy limits, shown as two numbers. For example, 50/100 means $50K per person and $100K per accident.*
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Do you need it? Required by law in every state except New Hampshire. Your state sets a minimum, but Jerry recommends considering limits of at least 100/300.
Property damage liability (PD)
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Who it pays: The other person, for property you damage in a crash.
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What it covers: Costs to repair or replace another person’s car, fence, mailbox or other property you hit.
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How it pays: Up to your policy’s limit. For example, $50K.*
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Do you need it? Required by law in every state except New Hampshire. Your state sets a minimum, but Jerry recommends considering limits of at least $100K.
*Bodily injury liability and property damage liability are typically shown as three numbers on your policy, like 100/300/100. The first two numbers represent your bodily injury limits per person and per accident, while the third number represents your property damage limit.
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Who it pays: You, for damage to your own car.
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What it covers: Costs to repair or replace your own car after a crash with another car or object, like a guardrail or pole.
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How it pays: You pay a deductible first, then insurance covers the rest, typically up to your car’s current market value.
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Do you need it? Required if you’re financing or leasing your car. Optional otherwise, but recommended if your car is worth more than $5,000. May not be worthwhile for older, lower-value cars.
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Who it pays: You, for damage to your own car.
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What it covers: Damage from non-crash events like theft, vandalism, hail, flooding, falling trees, fire or hitting an animal.
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How it pays: You pay a deductible first, then insurance covers the rest, typically up to your car’s current market value.
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Do you need it? Required if you’re financing or leasing your car. Optional otherwise, but recommended if your car is worth more than $5,000. May not be worthwhile for older, lower-value cars.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM)
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Who it pays: You and your passengers, for injuries and property damage.
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What it covers: Your own injuries and property damage when the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough to cover your costs, including hit-and-runs in many states.
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How it pays: Up to your chosen limits, which often match your BI limits. There’s usually no deductible for UM, but UIM may have one.
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Do you need it? Required in some states, but Jerry recommends every driver get it, since about 1 in 8 drivers does not have car insurance.
Personal injury protection (PIP)
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Who it pays: You and your passengers, for medical bills and lost income, no matter who caused the accident.
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What it covers: Medical bills, lost wages, childcare, funeral costs and other expenses after an accident, regardless of fault.
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How it pays: Up to your policy limit. There’s usually no deductible, though this varies by state.
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Do you need it? Required in no-fault states. If available in your state, it’s worth considering.
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Who it pays: You and your passengers, for medical bills.
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What it covers: Medical expenses after an accident, regardless of fault.
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How it pays: No deductible. Pays up to your policy’s limit.
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Do you need it? Optional in most states, but can be valuable if you don’t have health insurance or have a high-deductible health plan.
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Factors affecting California car insurance rates in 2026
Wildfire, wind, floods, and mudslides
California deals with wildfire seasons, flash floods and mudslides that can total a vehicle fast, especially in high-risk regions and burn-scar areas. We recommend keeping comprehensive coverage because that’s what pays for non-collision damage like fire, flooding, and debris.
Traffic density and stop-and-go crashes
In LA, the Bay Area and San Diego, stop-and-go traffic makes fender benders and chain-reaction crashes a daily reality. We recommend carrying collision coverage so repairs to your car don’t hinge on a drawn-out fault decision, and consider a telematics program to turn your safer driving into a lower rate.
Uninsured drivers
More than one in five California drivers is uninsured, according to the IRC. Jerry recommends matching your uninsured/underinsured motorist limits to your liability limits, so you’re not stuck paying out of pocket if an uninsured driver hits you.
Pure comparative negligence rules
California follows a pure comparative negligence rule, meaning your payout shrinks based on your percentage of fault. Collision coverage is the best way to get your car repaired quickly without waiting on a lengthy liability decision between insurers.
High repair costs and expensive parts
Labor rates and modern vehicle parts make California repair bills some of the highest in the country, even for minor damage. Choose a deductible you can comfortably cover, so a surprise repair estimate doesn’t keep you from filing a claim you’re entitled to.
Theft and break-ins
Vehicle theft is a serious factor across many California cities, and organized rings target specific models and parts. Comprehensive coverage is what pays out if your car is stolen or broken into, but you can also make your car a harder target: keep valuables out of sight, lock up, and park in well-lit areas when you can.
Average cost of car insurance in major California cities
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City
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Average monthly cost
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City
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Average monthly cost
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|---|---|
| $399 | |
| $245 | |
| $204 | |
| $210 | |
| $250 | |
| $205 | |
| $277 | |
| $321 |
Based on Jerry customers with clean driving records who found savings in the past 12 months. Savings depend on coverage and other factors. Potential savings will vary.
Get California quotes in as little as 2 minutes.
Learn more about driving in California
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Everything you need to know about California towing laws.
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A guide to California teen driving laws for parents and new drivers.
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How to get a temporary license plate in California.
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What you need to know about the California car insurance grace period.
FAQ
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What are the minimum car insurance requirements in California?
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What are the penalties for driving without insurance in California?
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Is California a no-fault or at-fault state?
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What is the average cost of car insurance in California?
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Do I need uninsured motorist coverage in California?
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What types of car insurance are required in California?
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How do I register and insure a new car in California?
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Does California require personal injury protection (PIP)?
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Why is car insurance so expensive in California?
Stephanie Colestock is a professional writer, CFEI®, and licensed insurance agent specializing in personal finance. With over 14 years of experience, she crafts insightful and accessible content on a wide range of financial topics, including insurance, loans, credit/debt, investing, retirement planning, and banking.
Her bylines appear in top-tier publications such as TIME, Fortune, MSN, Business Insider, USA Today, Money, Fox Business, and CBS. Stephanie’s deep understanding of complex financial concepts and her ability to communicate them clearly have made her a trusted voice in the industry.
When she’s not writing, Stephanie enjoys SCUBA diving, reading a good book, and traveling the world with her family.