- Average car insurance cost in California is $2,134 per year, or around $178 per month.
- When compared to the western region states, California ranks last out of 11 states for car insurance affordability and comes in at 45th overall for the entire U.S.
- The cheapest car insurance in California can be found on models like the Chevrolet Trailblazer, Nissan Rogue Sport, Subaru Crosstrek, and Mazda CX-5.
- Teenage drivers cost the most to insure in California, with average rates ranging from $5,374 per year for a 19-year-old female driver up to $7,642 per year for a 16-year-old male driver.
What is average car insurance cost in California?
Average car insurance rates in California cost $2,134 per year, or about $178 per month, which is 26.6% more than the national average rate of $1,685.
Some of the cheaper cars to insure in California include the Honda CR-V at $1,810 per year, the Toyota Camry at $2,026 per year, and the Ford Edge at $1,806 per year.
High end models like the Mercedes-Benz AMG GT63, the Tesla Model Y, and the BMW M760i cost an average of $3,660, $2,278, and $3,828 per year, respectively, for full-coverage car insurance.
The chart below shows average car insurance rates in California for 2023 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 $2,134 per year, or $178 per month. For the same deductible level, cost ranges from $1,908 for a 60-year-old driver to $4,246 for a 20-year-old driver.
As shown in the chart, the average cost of car insurance ranges from $1,612 per year for a 60-year-old driver with a policy with high deductibles to $4,932 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 $134 to $411 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 $5,374 per year for a 19-year-old female driver up to $7,642 per year for a 16-year-old male driver.
For 17 and 18-year-olds, average car insurance rates in California will cost $6,352 to $7,144 per year for 17-year-olds and $5,790 to $6,674 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 $1,962 more per year.
- Increasing policy deductibles from $100 to $1,000 could save $980 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 $560 for a 40-year-old driver.
- Earning multiple policy discounts could save as much as $666 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 $112 per year.
- Being a homeowner could save around $30 per year.
- Bundling your auto and homeowners insurance with the same company could save an average of $274 per year.
- Having an at-fault accident could cause your rates to increase by as much as $876 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 $552 per year on insurance cost.
Is car insurance expensive in California?
When compared to surrounding states, California car insurance rates are 1.1% more than Nevada, 29.5% more than Oregon, and 31.9% more than Arizona.
When compared to other states outside the immediate western region, the average cost of car insurance in California is 4.5% more expensive than New York, 2.8% cheaper than Florida, and 30.3% more expensive than the average rate in Texas.
As an example, Tesla Model 3 insurance in California costs an average of $2,180 per year for full coverage. In Nevada, it would cost slightly less at around $2,154, but Washington and Oregon are considerably cheaper at $1,628 and $1,682 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 last 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 $1,862 per year. Living in Sacramento would cause the cost of insurance to increase to $2,196, and Los Angeles car insurance cost would average $2,686 per year.
When average rates are compared to the cost of car insurance in specific U.S. cities, average California auto insurance rates are 16.1% higher than Chicago, 16.1% higher than Miami, and 3% 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 Chevrolet Trailblazer, Nissan Kicks, Subaru Crosstrek, and Mazda CX-5, which cost an average of $140 or less per month for full coverage insurance.
Other vehicles that have some of the cheapest California car insurance rates are the Buick Envision at an average annual cost of $1,704, the Kia Seltos at $1,730, and the Hyundai Venue at $1,742 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.
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 - $2,746 per year or $229 per month
- San Diego Car Insurance - $1,902 per year or $159 per month
- San Jose Car Insurance - $1,988 per year or $166 per month
- San Francisco Car Insurance - $2,376 per year or $198 per month
- Fresno Car Insurance - $2,004 per year or $167 per month
- Sacramento Car Insurance - $2,240 per year or $187 per month
- Long Beach Car Insurance - $2,176 per year or $181 per month
- Oakland Car Insurance - $2,360 per year or $197 per month
