Cheapest Car Insurance in California (May 2025)

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Cheapest Car Insurance in California (May 2025)

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Key Takeaways
  • California is one of the most expensive states to get car insurance.
  • State minimums rose in 2025 to $30,000/$60,000/$15,000.
  • California does not allow credit history to be used in insurance quotes.

California continues to be a high priced state in the U.S. for car insurance. Factors like traffic congestion, urban density and natural disasters all contribute to costly premiums. 

In addition, California’s high cost of living drives up prices for car repairs, legal representation and medical expenses, leading to insurers facing higher payouts for car accident claims. 

Drivers in the Golden State pay $105 monthly for minimum coverage, a Jerry analysis revealed. On average, the cost of full coverage insurance is $358 monthly. This rate is 5% higher than the national average. 

What are California’s minimum requirements for car insurance?

California drivers used to be required to only carry liability coverage of $15,000/$30,000/$5,000. But effective Jan. 1, 2025, state law is mandating that drivers have higher limits of $30,000/$60,000/$15,000.

The new required minimums are:

  • $30,000 per person for bodily injury liability.
  • $60,000 for bodily injury per accident for multiple persons injured.
  • $5,000 for property damage liability per accident.

More: Best auto insurance in California

Cheapest minimum coverage insurance in California

Check out the quotes for state minimum coverage in California, starting from the cheapest.

Insurance Company
Avg Monthly Quote
Avg Annual Quote
First Acceptance $53 $640
Bluefire $80 $963
Mercury $89 $1,071
National General $93 $1,120
Aspire Advantage $93 $1,121
Progressive $103 $1,238
Dairyland $107 $1,283
Anchor General $116 $1,396
Bristol West $126 $1,514
Root $230 $2,760
Last Updated May 5, 2025

If you have a loan or lease on your vehicle, the lender will require full coverage. You may also need gap insurance, which can help you pay off your loan if your car is totaled.

Cheapest full coverage insurance in California

If you need full coverage, here are the cheapest quotes based on Jerry data.

Insurance Company
Avg Monthly Quote
Avg Annual Quote
Safeco $218 $2,619
Aspire Advantage $220 $2,638
Assurance America $254 $3,048
Mercury $265 $3,177
Anchor General $266 $3,197
Mendota $270 $3,239
Infinity $282 $3,389
Progressive $294 $3,529
Bluefire $309 $3,705
National General $316 $3,792
Last Updated May 5, 2025

Cheapest car insurance for young drivers in California

Unfortunately, young drivers tend to have to higher average quotes, especially if they’re younger, newer drivers.

Age Group
Avg Monthly Quote
Avg Annual Quote
18-20 $357 $4,282
21-24 $287 $3,441
Last Updated May 5, 2025

Cheapest liability-only policy in California for a 20 year old

A 20-year-old Californian can expect to pay between $100 to $200 for state minimum insurance, according to our data.

Insurance Company
Age
Avg Monthly Quote
Avg Annual Quote
First Acceptance 20 $148 $1,773
Aspire Advantage 20 $159 $1,909
Anchor General 20 $177 $2,124
Progressive 20 $221 $2,651
National General 20 $254 $3,051
Last Updated May 5, 2025

Cheapest full coverage policy in California for a 20 year old

Here are the cheapest quotes for a 20-year-old California driver.

Insurance Company
Age
Avg Monthly Quote
Avg Annual Quote
Bluefire 20 $165 $1,978
Aspire Advantage 20 $357 $4,283
Anchor General 20 $415 $4,984
Mercury 20 $420 $5,036
Root 20 $455 $5,455
Progressive 20 $483 $5,795
Commonwealth Insurance 20 $580 $6,963
National General 20 $740 $8,874
Dairyland 20 $844 $10,130
Bristol West 20 $891 $10,693
Last Updated May 5, 2025

Average car insurance for mature drivers in California (25-54 years old)

Luckily, as Californians get older, insurance generally gets cheaper. Our data shows that there are decreases in quotes as a Californian ages from 25 to 54.

Age Group
Avg Monthly Quote
Avg Annual Quote
25-34 $215 $2,583
35-44 $178 $2,132
45-54 $168 $2,015
Last Updated May 5, 2025

Cheapest liability-only policy in California for a 36 year old

The average Jerry customer is 36 years old. Here are the rates for a liability-only policy in California for a 36 year old.

Insurance Company
Age
Avg Monthly Quote
Avg Annual Quote
First Acceptance 36 $72 $868
Mercury 36 $76 $915
Aspire Advantage 36 $85 $1,018
National General 36 $90 $1,077
Commonwealth Insurance 36 $106 $1,271
Last Updated May 5, 2025

Cheapest full coverage policy in California for a 36 year old

The cheapest rates for a 36-year-old California for full coverage are as follows.

Insurance Company
Age
Avg Monthly Quote
Avg Annual Quote
Aspire Advantage 36 $196 $2,351
Mercury 36 $222 $2,663
Anchor General 36 $250 $3,004
Progressive 36 $255 $3,059
National General 36 $265 $3,182
Assurance America 36 $300 $3,596
Commonwealth Insurance 36 $302 $3,628
Bristol West 36 $422 $5,060
Root 36 $437 $5,247
The General 36 $491 $5,892
Last Updated May 5, 2025

Average car insurance for older drivers (55+ years old)

Older drivers will still see decreases in their quotes until they enter the 65+ age group where the trend starts to reverse and insurance gets more expensive.

Age Group
Avg Monthly Quote
Avg Annual Quote
55-64 $159 $1,910
65+ $167 $2,004
Last Updated May 5, 2025

Cheapest liability-only policy in California for a 65 year old

Check out the rates for a liability-only policy for a 65-year-old Californian.

Insurance Company
Age
Avg Monthly Quote
Avg Annual Quote
First Acceptance 65 $73 $881
Aspire Advantage 65 $78 $931
National General 65 $83 $999
Dairyland 65 $87 $1,045
Progressive 65 $100 $1,200
Last Updated May 5, 2025

Cheapest full coverage policy in California for a 65 year old

Drivers in California who are aged 65 years old have received these average quotes from various insurers.

Insurance Company
Age
Avg Monthly Quote
Avg Annual Quote
The General 65 $75 $901
Bluefire 65 $145 $1,744
Aspire Advantage 65 $172 $2,061
Mercury 65 $207 $2,488
Anchor General 65 $250 $3,005
National General 65 $256 $3,075
Progressive 65 $281 $3,373
Root 65 $384 $4,604
Dairyland 65 $523 $6,282
Bristol West 65 $524 $6,288
Last Updated May 5, 2025

Average car insurance for drivers with clean records in California

If you have no violations or claims, here’s how much our customers get quoted on average, plus the cheapest insurers for a Californian with a clean record.

Avg Monthly Quote
Avg Annual Quote
$191 $2,287
Last Updated May 5, 2025
Insurance Company
Avg Monthly Quote
Avg Annual Quote
First Acceptance $113 $1,361
Infinity $120 $1,437
Aspire Advantage $121 $1,457
Aspen $126 $1,506
Embark General $147 $1,765
National General $162 $1,949
Anchor General $177 $2,127
Progressive $180 $2,166
Assurance America $189 $2,271
Trexis $190 $2,278
Last Updated May 5, 2025

Average car insurance for drivers with low credit scores in California

California does not allow credit history to be used in insurance quotes.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with at-fault accidents in California

Getting into an accident will cause your average quote to rise, according to Jerrys data below.

At-fault Accident on Record
Avg Monthly Quote
Avg Annual Quote
At Fault With Injury $251 $3,010
At Fault With No Injury $248 $2,980
Not At Fault $206 $2,475
$188 $2,260
Last Updated May 5, 2025

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with at-fault accidents with no injury in California

Insurance Company
At-fault Accident on Record
Avg Monthly Quote
Avg Annual Quote
Aspire Advantage At Fault With No Injury $138 $1,652
Anchor General At Fault With No Injury $179 $2,144
Mendota At Fault With No Injury $192 $2,303
First Acceptance At Fault With No Injury $195 $2,345
National General At Fault With No Injury $210 $2,520
Last Updated May 5, 2025

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with at-fault accidents with injury in California

Insurance Company
At-fault Accident on Record
Avg Monthly Quote
Avg Annual Quote
Aspire Advantage At Fault With Injury $141 $1,696
Mendota At Fault With Injury $183 $2,197
Anchor General At Fault With Injury $205 $2,462
Bluefire At Fault With Injury $214 $2,569
National General At Fault With Injury $218 $2,621
Last Updated May 5, 2025

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket in California

Getting caught speeding will cause your insurance rates to rise, and Jerry’s data shows that the faster a speed you were caught at, the higher your average quote:

Violation Summary
Avg Monthly Quote
Avg Annual Quote
Speeding over 15 $231 $2,771
Speeding under 15 $210 $2,518
Last Updated May 5, 2025

Different insurers will quote different prices for Californians with a speeding violation so be sure to shop around.

Insurance Company
Avg Monthly Quote
Avg Annual Quote
Aspen $129 $1,543
Trexis $139 $1,664
Aspire Advantage $142 $1,707
First Acceptance $152 $1,819
Gainsco $167 $2,005
National General $186 $2,236
Anchor General $191 $2,291
Progressive $196 $2,350
Embark General $237 $2,848
Assurance America $243 $2,919
Last Updated May 5, 2025

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI in California

Check out the cheapest insurance rate for California drivers with a DUI.

Insurance Company
Avg Monthly Quote
Avg Annual Quote
Mendota $100 $1,200
Aspire Advantage $122 $1,467
Bluefire $152 $1,823
Progressive $160 $1,920
National General $164 $1,972
Anchor General $186 $2,230
Mercury $250 $2,998
Root $279 $3,347
Bristol West $297 $3,564
Dairyland $367 $4,401
Last Updated May 5, 2025

Average car insurance for drivers with other violations in California

Violation Summary
Avg Monthly Quote
Avg Annual Quote
Careless Driving $233 $2,797
Cell Phone $202 $2,418
Defective Equipment $161 $1,932
Driving on Sus. License $205 $2,461
Eluding Police $103 $1,240
Failure to Obey Traffic Sign $199 $2,392
Homicide $134 $1,602
Illegal Turn $249 $2,989
Improper Passing $188 $2,251
Leaving scene of an Accident/Hit and Run $133 $1,600
Motorcycle Violation $201 $2,410
Open Container $220 $2,641
Other $193 $2,319
Passing School Bus $164 $1,974
Racing/Drag Racing $287 $3,444
Reckless Driving $218 $2,619
Seat Belt $126 $1,507
Suspension $205 $2,461
Vehicle Theft $110 $1,319
Wrong Way/Wrong Lane $191 $2,296
Last Updated May 5, 2025

Minimum liability vs. full coverage in California

When you cause a car accident, minimum liability insurance helps pay for injuries and damage done by your vehicle to other drivers — but it doesn’t pay for your own injuries and accident-related car repairs. This is where full coverage kicks in and provides you with added financial protection, which is crucial in case you’re in a severe accident. 

Full coverage includes the state’s minimum requirements along with:

  • Collision coverage, which pays for damage done to your vehicle in an accident.
  • Comprehensive coverage, which covers non-collision incidents like theft, vandalism and natural disasters.

Considering the hefty costs for accident-related expenses in California, drivers often opt for full coverage insurance. The minimum coverage limits could potentially run out quickly and you’d be on the hook for remaining expenses if you don’t have additional coverage.

Keep in mind that full coverage is typically required when you lease and/or finance a car.

What is Med Pay coverage in California?

Also known as medical payment coverage, drivers can opt for this add-on insurance to their policies. Med Pay helps cover medical bills for you, your passengers and any family members on the policy despite who is found at-fault in a car wreck. It also helps pay for funeral expenses for you or your passenger in case there’s a fatality in a car wreck. Your insurer will help pay for this regardless who is found at fault. 

Med Pay also will kick in if your covered family member is injured while they’re a passenger in another person’s car. And if you or your covered family member are injured by a vehicle while you’re a pedestrian, this coverage can help pay for your medical expenses.

Factors that determine your car insurance premium

Insurers base rates on various factors, which include:

  • ZIP code.
  • Age.
  • Driving and traffic violations record.
  • Claims history.
  • Marital status.
  • Type of vehicle you drive.
  • Policy deductibles.

Tips for lowering your car insurance in California

SIMPLIFY YOUR CAR INSURANCE IN MINUTES

Insurers may offer discounts if you bundle your home and auto insurance policies. Also consider that drivers with clean records and a low claim history tend to pay less for premiums than drivers with a history of numerous traffic violations like speeding and running through red lights.

Learning to drive defensively will help you avoid traffic violations and potential collisions, both of which greatly impact the rate of your car insurance premiums.

The big picture is that what you pay for car insurance will vary across different insurers, even when drivers are seeking the same coverage, because insurance companies tend to use different risk assessments when putting together their rates. 

So when you’re hunting for the best cheap rate for your driver profile, you’ll need to compare rates from multiple insurers. It’s a good rule of thumb to compare rates well before your policy lapses to ensure you find the best deal. 

But finding the best cheap rate doesn’t have to be time consuming thanks to Jerry, America’s first and only AllCar™ app. 

After you set up your account, Jerry finds the best deal for you in minutes. And as a licensed broker, Jerry keeps your information secure and private so that you won’t get bombarded with sales calls. 

Over the past 12 months, 25% of drivers who switched with Jerry paid $85 or less per month. Not all customers find savings. Savings depend on state, policy features, coverage, driving history and other factors.

Editorial Note: This article was written by a paid member of Jerry’s editorial team. Statements in this article do not constitute advice or recommendations. You should consult with an insurance professional about your specific circumstances and needs before making any insurance decisions.