Car Insurance Cost in San Jose, CA – Cheapest Rates + Rankings

• Average car insurance cost in San Jose is $2,742 per year, or around $229 per month.
• San Jose car insurance costs an average of $142 per year less than the California state average rate and $466 per year more than the United States national average.
• For cheap auto insurance in San Jose, SUV models like the Kia Soul, Chevrolet Trailblazer, and Subaru Crosstrek have some of the best rates.
• A few vehicles with the cheapest car insurance in San Jose for their segment include the Subaru Crosstrek ($2,024 per year), Jaguar E-Pace ($2,562 per year), Mercedes-Benz CLA250 ($2,820 per year), and Chevrolet Tahoe ($2,572 per year).
• Car insurance quotes in San Jose have significant variability from as low as $38 per month for minimum liability limits to over $657 per month for teenagers and other high-risk drivers.

What is average car insurance cost in San Jose?

The average cost to insure a vehicle in San Jose is $2,742 per year, which is 18.6% more than the overall national average rate of $2,276 per year. The average monthly cost of car insurance in San Jose is $229 for a policy with full coverage.

The average cost of car insurance in California is $2,884 per year, so San Jose drivers pay an average of $142 less per year than the overall California state-wide average rate. The cost of insurance in San Jose compared to other California locations is about $90 per year more expensive than in San Diego, $382 per year less than in San Francisco, and $12 per year less than in Fresno.

The age of the rated driver is one of the biggest factors in determining the price of car insurance. The list below illustrates this point by breaking down average car insurance rates for driver ages 16 through 60.

Average car insurance cost for San Jose, California, drivers age 16 to 60

• 16-year-old rated driver – $9,764 per year or $814 per month
• 17-year-old rated driver – $9,458 per year or $788 per month
• 18-year-old rated driver – $8,476 per year or $706 per month
• 19-year-old rated driver – $7,721 per year or $643 per month
• 20-year-old rated driver – $5,516 per year or $460 per month
• 30-year-old rated driver – $2,926 per year or $244 per month
• 40-year-old rated driver – $2,742 per year or $229 per month
• 50-year-old rated driver – $2,428 per year or $202 per month
• 60-year-old rated driver – $2,274 per year or $190 per month

The chart below displays additional costs for drivers age 20 to 60 by showing a range of rates for different driver ages, policy deductibles, and policy risk factors.

Average rates in the previous chart range from $2,278 per year for a middle-aged driver who qualifies for most policy discounts to $6,306 per year for a 20-year-old driver with a poor driving record or too many at-fault accidents. The overall average rate we use to compare different vehicles is the 40-year-old safe driver rate, which has an average cost of $2,742 per year in San Jose.

As a monthly expense, car insurance cost in San Jose ranges from $190 to $526 for the risk profiles shown in the chart above.

Auto insurance rates are not the same for everyone and can change frequently. The possibility of a wide range of rates emphasizes the need to get multiple car insurance quotes when trying to find a cheaper car insurance policy.

Popular models in San Jose tend to be compact or midsize cars like the Honda Civic and Toyota Camry and small or midsize SUVs like the Ford Escape and Subaru Outback.

A few additional popular vehicles in San Jose from other segments include luxury cars like the Acura ILX, Lexus ES 350, and Tesla Model S, luxury SUVs like the Cadillac XT5, Lexus RX 350, and BMW X5, and pickup trucks like the Toyota Tacoma, Chevy Silverado, and Ram 1500.

We cover additional rates in a little bit, but before we get into that data, let’s take a quick look at the main concepts that were covered up to this point.

• Auto insurance for teenagers is expensive in San Jose – Average rates range from $6,525 to $9,764 per year for teenage driver insurance in San Jose, California.
• Lower deductible insurance is more expensive than high deductible – A 40-year-old driver pays an average of $888 more per year for a policy with $250 deductibles compared to $1,000 deductibles.
• San Jose car insurance prices are cheaper than the California state average – $2,742 (San Jose average) versus $2,884 (California average)
• San Jose car insurance cost is more than the U.S. average – $2,742 (San Jose average) versus $2,276 (U.S. average)
• Average cost per month ranges from $190 to $814 – That is the average auto insurance price range for insured drivers age 16 to 60 in San Jose, CA.

What are the cheapest vehicles to insure in San Jose?

The models with the cheapest average auto insurance quotes in San Jose tend to be small SUVs like the Subaru Crosstrek, Kia Soul, and Buick Envision. Average auto insurance rates for those compact SUVs cost $2,228 or less per year, or $186 per month, to have full coverage.

A few other vehicles that are ranked high in our overall cost comparison are the Honda CR-V, Buick Envista, Buick Encore, and Volkswagen Taos. Insurance rates are a little bit more for those models than the cheapest compact SUVs that rank near the top, but they still have an average cost of $2,382 or less per year in San Jose.

The table below breaks down the 40 car, truck, and SUV models with the cheapest auto insurance in San Jose, ordered by annual cost.

The above table containing 40 of the cheapest vehicles to insure in San Jose probably isn’t the best way to show a comprehensive summary of San Jose insurance rates. Considering we track over 700 makes and models of vehicles, only about 6% of vehicles are displayed. Let’s rethink this, dig deeper, and reorganize the models with the cheapest rates in a more sensible format, by automotive segment.

This next article section goes into detail about the average cost of auto insurance by vehicle segment. The average rates shown in the chart should give a good idea of the types of vehicles that have the overall best rates. Then the six subsequent sections show the models with the most affordable car insurance in each unique segment.

San Jose car insurance rates by vehicle segment

When shopping around for a new or used vehicle, it is useful to know which styles of vehicles have less expensive insurance rates. As an example, maybe you want to know if compact SUVs have cheaper car insurance than minivans or if full-size pickups cost less to insure than midsize pickups.

The next chart displays average auto insurance cost by vehicle segment in San Jose. As a general rule, compact SUVs, vans, and midsize pickups tend to have the least expensive average rates, while large luxury, performance, and sports cars have the most expensive rates.

Average auto insurance rates by segment are sufficient to form a general comparison, but cost ranges significantly within each automotive segment shown in the previous chart.

For example, in the midsize car segment, average San Jose insurance rates range from the Kia K5 costing $2,640 per year for full coverage insurance to the Tesla Model 3 at $3,218 per year, a difference of $578 within that segment.

Also, in the midsize truck segment, insurance rates range from the Chevrolet Colorado costing $2,412 per year up to the Rivian R1T at $3,418 per year.

In the upcoming sections, we remove some of this variability by comparing auto insurance rates for specific vehicles rather than by segments.

Cheapest car insurance rates in San Jose, California

The four highest ranking 2-door and 4-door sedans and hatchbacks with the cheapest auto insurance in San Jose are the Toyota GR Corolla at $2,382 per year, Nissan Leaf at $2,400 per year, Honda Civic at $2,426 per year, and Nissan Sentra at $2,510 per year.

Other models that have cheaper rates include the Chevrolet Malibu, Kia K5, Toyota Prius, and Honda Accord, with an average cost of $2,670 per year or less.

Ranked from 10th to 20th place, cars like the Nissan Versa, Mitsubishi Mirage G4, Volkswagen Jetta, Subaru Legacy, and Kia Forte cost between $2,670 and $2,834 per year for insurance in San Jose.

Auto insurance rates in this segment for a safe driver starts at around $199 per month, depending on your location and insurance company. The rate comparison table below ranks the cars with the cheapest insurance in San Jose, starting with the Toyota GR Corolla at $2,382 per year ($199 per month) and ending with the Mazda 3 at $2,834 per year ($236 per month).

See our guides for compact car insurance, midsize car insurance, and full-size car insurance to compare rates for all makes and models.

Looking for a different vehicle? That’s no problem! Enter your zip code at the bottom of the table and click the orange ‘GO’ button to get free San Jose car insurance quotes from top-rated car insurance companies in California.

Cheapest SUVs to insure in San Jose

The four lowest-cost non-luxury SUVs to insure in San Jose are the Subaru Crosstrek at $2,024 per year, Chevrolet Trailblazer at $2,060 per year, Kia Soul at $2,140 per year, and Nissan Kicks at $2,158 per year.

Not the cheapest SUVs to insure, but still affordable, are SUVs like the Buick Envision, Hyundai Venue, Ford Bronco Sport, and Toyota Corolla Cross, with an average cost to insure of $2,244 per year or less.

Auto insurance in San Jose for this segment for a good driver can cost as low as $169 per month, depending on where you live and the company you use.

If prices are ranked by vehicle size, the cheapest compact SUV to insure in San Jose is the Subaru Crosstrek at $2,024 per year, or $169 per month. For midsize models, the Honda Passport is cheapest to insure at $2,184 per year, or $182 per month. And for full-size SUVs, the Chevrolet Tahoe has the best rates at $2,572 per year, or $214 per month.

The rate comparison table below ranks the twenty SUVs with the most affordable insurance in San Jose, starting with the Subaru Crosstrek at $169 per month and ending with the Subaru Ascent at $199 per month.

See our guides for compact SUV insurance, midsize SUV insurance, and full-size SUV insurance to compare rates for all makes and models.

Looking for rates for a different SUV? No sweat! Enter your zip code at the bottom of the table above and click the orange ‘GO’ button to get free car insurance quotes from top-rated car insurance companies in California.

Cheapest luxury car insurance rates in San Jose

Ranking in the top five for the lowest-cost San Jose car insurance rates in the luxury car segment are the Mercedes-Benz CLA250, Lexus IS 300, BMW 330i, Acura Integra, and Acura TLX. Auto insurance quotes for these 2024 models average $236 or less per month.

Also ranking in the top 10 are models like the Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA35, Lexus ES 350, Lexus RC 300, and Cadillac CT4, with an average cost of $2,880 per year or less.

From a monthly standpoint, full-coverage car insurance in San Jose on this segment for a good driver starts at around $203 per month, depending on the company and your location.

If ranked by vehicle size, the cheapest small luxury car to insure in San Jose is the Acura Integra at $2,438 per year. For midsize luxury models, the Mercedes-Benz CLA250 is the cheapest model to insure at $2,820 per year. And for full-size luxury models, the Audi A5 has the best rates at $3,256 per year.

The comparison table below ranks the twenty luxury cars with the cheapest car insurance rates in San Jose, starting with the Acura Integra at $2,438 per year and ending with the Audi S3 at $3,074 per year.

See our guide for luxury car insurance to compare rates for all makes and models.

Don’t see insurance rates for your vehicle? Enter your zip code at the bottom of the table above and click the orange ‘GO’ button to get free car insurance quotes from top-rated companies in California.

Cheapest luxury SUV insurance rates in San Jose, CA

Ranking at the top of the list for the most affordable San Jose car insurance rates in the luxury SUV segment are the Cadillac XT4, Lexus NX 250, Acura RDX, Cadillac XT5, and Jaguar E-Pace. Car insurance prices for these 2024 models average $2,586 or less per year, or around $216 per month.

Also ranking well are SUVs like the Lexus NX 450h, Lexus NX 350h, Lexus UX 250h, and Lincoln Corsair, with an average cost to insure of $2,642 per year or less.

Full-coverage auto insurance for this segment in San Jose for an average middle-age driver starts at around $191 per month, depending on the company and where you live.

If vehicle size is considered, the most affordable compact luxury SUV to insure in San Jose is the Acura RDX at $2,290 per year, or $191 per month. For midsize luxury SUV models, the Jaguar E-Pace is the cheapest model to insure at $2,562 per year, or $214 per month. And for large luxury SUVs, the Infiniti QX80 is the cheapest model to insure at $3,074 per year, or $256 per month.

The next table ranks the twenty SUVs with the most affordable car insurance in San Jose, starting with the Acura RDX at $2,290 per year ($191 per month) and ending with the Lexus RX 350 at $2,752 per year ($229 per month).

See our guides for luxury SUV insurance to compare rates for additional makes and models.

Don’t see your luxury SUV in the list? No sweat! Enter your zip code at the bottom of the above table and click the orange ‘GO’ button to get free car insurance quotes from top car insurance companies in California.

Cheapest sports cars to insure in San Jose

Ranking at the top for the lowest-cost San Jose car insurance rates in the performance and sports car segment are the Mazda MX-5 Miata, Toyota GR86, Subaru WRX, BMW Z4, and Ford Mustang. Auto insurance quotes for these models average $256 or less per month.

Not the cheapest sports cars to insure, but still affordable, are models like the Lexus RC F, Subaru BRZ, Toyota GR Supra, and BMW M2, with an average cost to insure of $3,278 per year or less.

As a cost per month, car insurance rates in San Jose on this segment for a good driver will start around $211 per month, depending on your company and location. The comparison table below ranks the twenty sports cars with the cheapest average car insurance rates in San Jose, starting with the Mazda MX-5 Miata at $2,536 per year ($211 per month) and ending with the Porsche Taycan at $4,642 per year ($387 per month).

Don’t see your sports car? Not a problem! Enter your zip code at the bottom of the table above and click the orange ‘GO’ button to get free car insurance quotes from top car insurance companies in San Jose.

Cheapest pickup truck insurance rates in San Jose

The top-ranked model in San Jose for cheapest auto insurance rates in the pickup truck segment is the Chevrolet Colorado, at an average of $2,412 per year. Second place is the Nissan Titan costing $2,562 per year, the third most affordable is the Nissan Frontier, at an average of $2,590 per year, and the fourth most affordable is the Ford Ranger, at an average of $2,618 per year.

Rounding out the top 10 are pickups like the Honda Ridgeline, GMC Canyon, Toyota Tacoma, and Hyundai Santa Cruz, with average rates of $2,818 per year or less.

From a monthly standpoint, car insurance rates in this segment for a middle-age safe driver can cost as low as $201 per month, depending on where you live. The table below ranks the pickups with the lowest-cost car insurance rates in San Jose, starting with the Chevrolet Colorado at $2,412 per year ($201 per month) and ending with the Ram Truck at $3,168 per year ($264 per month).

See our guides for midsize pickup insurance and large pickup insurance to compare rates for all truck makes and models.

Is your pickup truck not in the list? No sweat! Enter your zip code at the bottom of the table above and click the orange ‘GO’ button to get free car insurance quotes from the best companies in California.

Helpful tips to save on car insurance

San Jose drivers are always searching for ways to reduce the monthly expense for insurance, so take a minute or two to look through the savings concepts below and maybe you’ll find a way to save some money the next time you need to insure a vehicle.

• Don’t be dumb behind the wheel. In order to get cheap auto insurance in San Jose, it’s necessary to drive conservatively. In fact, just a couple minor incidents on your driving report could increase auto insurance cost by as much as $728 per year. Being convicted of a major violation such as failing to stop at the scene of an accident could raise rates by an additional $2,542 or more.
• Auto insurance is cheaper with higher deductibles. Raising your physical damage coverage deductibles from $500 to $1,000 could save around $382 per year for a 40-year-old driver and $742 per year for a 20-year-old driver.
• Shop your coverage around. Taking the time to get free car insurance quotes could significantly reduce the cost of insurance. Companies make rate modifications frequently and you do not have to wait for your renewal to change companies.
• Stay claim free and save. Most insurance companies give a discounted rate if you have no claims on your account. Car insurance is intended to be used for significant financial loss, not minor claims.
• Clean up your credit to lower your rates. Drivers who have credit scores over 800 could save a minimum of $430 per year versus a slightly lower credit score between 670-739. Conversely, an imperfect credit score below 579 could cost around $499 more per year. Not all states use credit score as a rating factor, so check with your agent or company.
• If your vehicle is older, remove optional coverages. Removing physical damage coverage (comprehensive and collision) from older vehicles can reduce the cost of car insurance significantly.