- Average car insurance cost in California is $1,746 per year, or around $146 per month.
- When compared to the western region states, California ranks #11 out of 11 states for car insurance affordability and comes in at #45 overall for the entire U.S.
- The cheapest car insurance in California can be found on models like the Mazda CX-5, Subaru Crosstrek, Nissan Kicks, and Toyota C-HR.
- Teenage drivers cost the most to insure in California, with average rates ranging from $4,384 per year for a 19-year-old female driver up to $6,250 per year for a 16-year-old male driver.
What is average car insurance cost in California?
Average car insurance rates in California cost $1,746 per year, or about $146 per month, which is 12.6% more than the national average rate of $1,551.
Some of the cheaper cars to insure in California include the Honda CR-V at $1,528 per year, the Toyota Camry at $1,714 per year, and the Ford Edge at $1,572 per year.
High end models like the Mercedes-Benz AMG GT63, the Tesla Model Y, and the BMW M760i cost an average of $3,190, $2,016, and $3,336 per year, respectively, for full-coverage car insurance.
The chart below shows average car insurance rates in California for 2022 model year vehicles and different driver ages and policy deductible amounts. The overall average rate in the chart is the $500 deductible policy for a 40-year-old driver which costs $1,746 per year, or $146 per month. For the same deductible level, cost ranges from $1,560 for a 60-year-old driver to $3,464 for a 20-year-old driver.
As shown in the chart, the average cost of car insurance ranges from $1,322 per year for a 60-year-old driver with a policy with high deductibles to $4,014 per year for a 20-year-old driver with low physical damage deductibles. From a monthly standpoint, the average cost in the chart above ranges from $110 to $335 per month.
California car insurance rates for teenage drivers are not included in the chart, but expect to pay quite a bit if you are insuring a 16 to 19-year-old. Average rates range from $4,384 per year for a 19-year-old female driver up to $6,250 per year for a 16-year-old male driver.
For 17 and 18-year-olds, average car insurance rates in California will cost $5,192 to $5,836 per year for 17-year-olds and $4,730 to $5,450 per year for 18-year-olds. Rates will fluctuate considerably based on the vehicle driven, however, so the best way to nail down a rate for your specific vehicle, Zip Code, and risk profile, is to just get some California car insurance quotes.
Some additional factors and situations that can affect car insurance rates in California include:
- A 40-year-old driver with a DUI or other major driving violation could pay as much as $1,598 more per year.
- Increasing policy deductibles from $100 to $1,000 could save $792 or more each year.
- Even minor traffic violations like speeding tickets or failure to yield could increase the annual cost of car insurance in California by $454 for a 40-year-old driver.
- Earning multiple policy discounts could save as much as $544 per year. These discounts include things like multi-vehicle, multi-policy, safe driver, claim-free, customer loyalty, and others.
- Insuring multiple vehicles on one policy could save $90 per year.
- Being a homeowner could save around $22 per year.
- Bundling your auto and homeowners insurance with the same company could save an average of $226 per year.
- Having an at-fault accident could cause your rates to increase by as much as $712 each year.
- Driving a vehicle with lower insurance rates can save a lot. For example, driving a Honda CR-V instead of a Jeep Wrangler could save as much as $468 per year on insurance cost.
Is car insurance expensive in California?
When compared to surrounding states, California car insurance rates are 4.4% less than Nevada, 36.6% more than Oregon, and 28.8% more than Arizona.
When compared to other states outside the immediate western region, the average cost of car insurance in California is 7.8% cheaper than New York, 21.6% cheaper than Florida, and 21.6% more expensive than the average rate in Texas.
As an example, Tesla Model 3 insurance in California costs an average of $1,784 per year for full coverage. In Nevada, it would cost slightly more at around $1,708, but Arizona and Oregon are considerably cheaper at $1,388 and $1,304 per year, respectively.
The chart below shows how car insurance in California compares to the other states in the U.S. west region. California car insurance cost ranks #11 out of the 11 states in the west region for affordability, which essentially means car insurance in California is pretty expensive.
The cost of insuring a vehicle in California varies considerably based on the area you live in. For example, in San Diego, Honda Civic insurance would cost around $1,658 per year. Living in Sacramento would cause the cost of insurance to increase to $1,978, and Los Angeles car insurance cost would average $2,444 per year.
When average rates are compared to the cost of car insurance in specific U.S. cities, California auto insurance rates are 5.4% higher than Chicago, 40.6% higher than Miami, and 7.1% higher than Denver.
As mentioned earlier, rates can vary considerably based on where you live. Areas with higher crime, higher traffic congestion, or higher frequency of fire or hail can have more expensive rates. The best way to compare rates and know exactly how much each company costs is to get some free car insurance quotes.
Our simple-to-use form allows you to drill down to the best companies based on a few easy questions. No personal data is required, and it’s a great way to find out if you can save on your next policy.
California car insurance rates by vehicle segment
The chart below shows average car insurance rates in California for different vehicle segments. Rates range from an average of around $1,500 per year for compact SUVs like the Ford Edge and Honda CR-V up to the highest rates for luxury car insurance and exotic performance cars at an average of over $2,500 per year for large luxury cars and over $3,400 per year for exotic performance models.
Cheapest car insurance in California
The models with the best car insurance rates in California are primarily compact SUVs like the Mazda CX-5, Chevrolet Trailblazer, Nissan Kicks, and Toyota C-HR, which cost an average of $120 or less per month for full coverage insurance.
Other vehicles that have some of the cheapest California car insurance rates are the Buick Encore at an average annual cost of $1,442, the Nissan Rogue Sport at $1,454, and the Buick Envision at $1,486 per year.
The vehicle being insured is only part of the car insurance rate equation, however. Things like driving citations, at-fault accidents, policy deductibles, extra add-on coverages, your Zip Code, and many other factors all contribute to the bottom line cost of a policy.
Driving a Mercedes G63 AMG, a Tesla Model X, or a Porsche Cayenne will not be a good start in finding cheap car insurance in California. High-end models that cost a lot to drive off the lot are not going to be your best bet for cheap rates.
The models shown in the table below have below-average car insurance rates based on vehicle safety ratings, ease-of-repair, and liability loss history and are an excellent place to start when trying to find cheaper insurance in California, or really anywhere in the U.S.
| Rank | Make/Model | Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mazda CX-5 | $1,326 | $111 |
| 2 | Nissan Kicks | $1,362 | $114 |
| 3 | Chevrolet Trailblazer | $1,370 | $114 |
| 4 | Honda Passport | $1,402 | $117 |
| 5 | Subaru Crosstrek | $1,402 | $117 |
| 6 | Chevrolet Colorado | $1,436 | $120 |
| 7 | Buick Encore | $1,442 | $120 |
| 8 | Toyota C-HR | $1,444 | $120 |
| 9 | Nissan Rogue Sport | $1,454 | $121 |
| 10 | Hyundai Venue | $1,484 | $124 |
| 11 | Buick Envision | $1,486 | $124 |
| 12 | Kia Seltos | $1,486 | $124 |
| 13 | Acura RDX | $1,494 | $125 |
| 14 | Ford Maverick | $1,494 | $125 |
| 15 | Subaru Ascent | $1,498 | $125 |
| 16 | Toyota Corolla Cross | $1,498 | $125 |
| 17 | Hyundai Kona | $1,510 | $126 |
| 18 | Subaru Forester | $1,510 | $126 |
| 19 | Mazda MX-5 Miata | $1,512 | $126 |
| 20 | Subaru Impreza | $1,512 | $126 |
| 21 | Volkswagen Tiguan | $1,514 | $126 |
| 22 | Chevrolet Spark | $1,522 | $127 |
| 23 | Honda CR-V | $1,528 | $127 |
| 24 | Cadillac XT4 | $1,534 | $128 |
| 25 | Mazda CX-30 | $1,544 | $129 |
| 26 | Ford Ranger | $1,552 | $129 |
| 27 | Honda HR-V | $1,570 | $131 |
| 28 | Ford Edge | $1,572 | $131 |
| 29 | Ford Ecosport | $1,582 | $132 |
| 30 | Subaru Outback | $1,600 | $133 |
| 31 | Chevrolet Trax | $1,602 | $134 |
| 32 | Acura ILX | $1,606 | $134 |
| 33 | GMC Terrain | $1,608 | $134 |
| 34 | Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross | $1,610 | $134 |
| 35 | Nissan Murano | $1,620 | $135 |
| 36 | Hyundai Tucson | $1,622 | $135 |
| 37 | Toyota Tacoma | $1,622 | $135 |
| 38 | Honda Odyssey | $1,628 | $136 |
| 39 | Toyota Venza | $1,630 | $136 |
| 40 | Chevrolet Bolt | $1,632 | $136 |
| 41 | Chevrolet Equinox | $1,632 | $136 |
| 42 | Volkswagen Taos | $1,636 | $136 |
| 43 | Ford Explorer | $1,640 | $137 |
| 44 | Fiat 500X | $1,644 | $137 |
| 45 | Toyota RAV4 | $1,648 | $137 |
| 46 | Kia Soul | $1,652 | $138 |
| 47 | Kia Sorento | $1,654 | $138 |
| 48 | Nissan Frontier | $1,664 | $139 |
| 49 | GMC Canyon | $1,672 | $139 |
| 50 | Hyundai Palisade | $1,674 | $140 |
Average rates in select California cities
Average annual and monthly car insurance rates are shown below for some of the larger cities in California. Click and visit any page for detailed rates including the cheapest cars, trucks, and SUVs to insure in each city.
- Los Angeles Car Insurance - $2,522 per year or $210 per month
- San Diego Car Insurance - $1,714 per year or $143 per month
- San Jose Car Insurance - $1,800 per year or $150 per month
- San Francisco Car Insurance - $2,172 per year or $181 per month
- Fresno Car Insurance - $1,812 per year or $151 per month
- Sacramento Car Insurance - $2,042 per year or $170 per month
- Long Beach Car Insurance - $1,978 per year or $165 per month
- Oakland Car Insurance - $2,156 per year or $180 per month
