The state of California requires all drivers to carry some form of car insurance, but finding the best insurance company for you can be difficult because each provider has its pros and cons. Wawanesa, CSAA, Allstate, and Farmers insurance may not have made the list of the best car insurance companies in the U.S., but they did stand out as the best car insurance companies in California. These selections were based on customer satisfaction ratings, average prices, amount of online resources, and types of coverage offered.
The 4 Best Auto Insurance Companies in California
- Allstate: Best for online resources
- CSAA: Best for affordability
- Farmers: Best for coverage options
- Wawanesa: Best for customer satisfaction
Compare the Best Car Insurance Companies in California
| Average Price for State Minimum* | Average Price for Full Coverage* | Reviews.com Score Score is based on company’s customer experience, financial stability, and coverage options. | AM Best Financial Strength AM Best rates insurance providers creditworthiness. Ratings are based on the provider’s ability to follow through with a payout when a consumer files a claim. | J.D. Power Overall Customer Satisfaction J.D. Power scores are based on surveys for customer satisfaction and product quality. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pin Allstate | $1,141.59 | $3,288.70 | 4.2/5 | A+ | 819/1,000 | |
| Pin CSAA | $523.51 | $2,326.42 | 3.5/5 | A | 810/1,000 | |
| Pin Farmers | $1,108.29 | $3,048.29 | 3.8/5 | A- | 801/1,000 | |
| Pin Wawanesa | $846.40 | $2,349.85 | 3.6/5 | A | 853/1,000 |
Information accurate as of: 11/23/2020
* Data provided by Coverage.com
Allstate
Best for online resources
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Easy-to-use mobile app
- Extra benefits like accident forgiveness and safe driving bonuses
- Access to car buying service
- Highly rated financial strength
Cons
- Average cost is higher than average
- Customer satisfaction was below the regional average
- Policy premiums are only locked in for 6 months at a time
Types of Coverage Offered
- Collision
- Comprehensive
- Liability
- Medical payments
- Uninsured & underinsured motorist
- Sound system
- Roadside
- Personal injury protection
- Personal umbrella
- Rental reimbursement
Discounts Available
- New car
- Multiple policy
- Smart student
- Anti-lock brake
- Anti-theft device
- Early signing
- Responsible payer
- Auto-pay
- Paperless documents
- Full pay
- Safe driving club
* Data provided by Coverage.com, price based on the state minimum required policy.
**J.D. Power’s 2020 U.S. Auto Insurance Study rating for California region. Based on a 1,000-point scale.
Further Reading on Allstate:
- Allstate auto insurance review
- Allstate homeowners insurance review
- Allstate renters insurance review
CSAA
Best for affordability
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Lowest average premiums
- Dividend checks can be issued annually to policyholders
- Discounts as a AAA member
Cons
- Below average customer satisfaction ratings
- Not as many discounts offered
- AAA membership is typically required to obtain auto insurance
Types of Coverage Offered
- Collision
- Bodily injury
- Property damage
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist
- Medical payment
- Gap insurance
- Comprehensive
- Personal injury protection
- Rental reimbursement
- New car
Discounts Available
- AAA membership savings
- Good driver
- Multi-car
- New driver
- Good student
- Multi-policy
* Data provided by Coverage.com, price based on the state minimum required policy.
**J.D. Power’s 2020 U.S. Auto Insurance Study rating for California region. Based on a 1,000-point scale.
Further Reading on CSAA:
Farmers Insurance
Best for coverage options
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Wide range of coverages offered
- Discounts available for alternative fuel vehicles
- Low $100 deductible available on glass repair and replacement
Cons
- Average premiums are more expensive
- Policies are typically only issued in 6 month increments
Types of Coverage Offered
- Liability
- Collision
- Comprehensive
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist
- Medical payments
- Personal injury protection
- Towing and roadside service
- Rental car reimbursement
- Rideshare
- Loss of use
- Guaranteed value
- Customized equipment
- Personal umbrella
- Glass deductible buyback
- Full windshield and glass
- Spare parts
- Original equipment manufacturer parts
- New car replacement
- Accident forgiveness
Discounts Available
- Multi-policy
- Multi-car
- Professional groups/associations
- Military
- Paperless billing
- Safe driver
- Distant student
- Youthful driver
- Good student
- On your own
- Mature driver
- Homeowner
- Alternative fuel
- Auto-pay
- Pay-in-full
- Homing device
* Data provided by Coverage.com, price based on the state minimum required policy.
**J.D. Power’s 2020 U.S. Auto Insurance Study rating for California region. Based on a 1,000-point scale.
Further Reading on Farmers:
Wawanesa
Best for customer satisfaction
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Highly rated customer satisfaction
- Claims can be submitted online 24/7
Cons
- Not many discounts offered
- Small range of coverages
- Maximum liability limits are not as high as some companies
Types of Coverage Offered
- Bodily injury
- Property damage
- Medical payments
- Comprehensive
- Collision
- Roadside assistance
- Rental reimbursement
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist
- Vehicle manufacturer replacement parts
Discounts Available
- Good driver
- Multi-car
- Mature driver improvement course
- Loyalty
* Data provided by Coverage.com, price based on the state minimum required policy.
**J.D. Power’s 2020 U.S. Auto Insurance Study rating for California region. Based on a 1,000-point scale.
The average cost of car insurance in California
The average cost of auto insurance in California is slightly higher than the national average. State minimum liability coverage has an average cost of $611, while full coverage will cost an average of $1,974. According to the Insurance Information Institute, California has more uninsured drivers than most other states. There are also a number of cities with a large population of drivers. These are just a few factors that explain why insurance in California is generally more expensive than other states.
Your own cost of insurance may vary though, as there are a number of different factors unique to everyone. The crime rate in your area, your age, and driving history are just a few factors that may affect how much you pay for car insurance.
Top 3 Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in California
| Company | Average Annual Premium |
| CSAA | $524 |
| Geico | $629 |
| Mercury Insurance | $680 |
* Data provided by Coverage.com, price based on the state minimum required policy.
Top 3 Most Expensive Car Insurance Companies in California
| Company | Average Annual Premium |
| Allstate | $1,142 |
| 21st Century Insurance | $1,123 |
| Mid Century Insurance | $1,108 |
* Data provided by Coverage.com, price based on the state minimum required policy.
Top 3 Cheapest Cities for Car Insurance in California
| City | Average Annual Premium* |
| Calexico | $591 |
| Crescent City | $596 |
| McKinleyville | $599 |
* Data provided by Coverage.com, price based on the state minimum required policy.
Top 3 Most Expensive Cities for Car Insurance in California
| City | Average Annual Premium* |
| Beverly Hills | $1,406 |
| Tarzana | $1,349 |
| West Hollywood | $1,324 |
* Data provided by Coverage.com, price based on the state minimum required policy.
Guide to California Car Insurance
Insurance requirements vary among each state, such as the type and amount of coverage you need. The California DMV and Department of Insurance are two resources you can use to determine what the minimum requirements are, as well as finding tools for how to compare car insurance quotes.
Car insurance in California may differ from other states in the following areas:
- California is one of several states which prohibits the use of credit scores in determining how much you pay
- If you need cheap car insurance because you’re not able to afford it, low cost insurance is available to those who qualify. Details on low cost insurance are available on the California DMV website
- You must notify the California DMV before you cancel your insurance, even if you do not plan on operating your vehicle
Car Insurance Add-Ons That Will Further Protect You
- Full glass: This coverage typically covers the cost of replacing a windshield with little to no out-of-pocket cost to you.
- Rideshare: If you use your car to earn some extra money with apps like Uber or Lyft, you’ll need ridesharing coverage to protect you when you’re logged in to their apps or have picked up a passenger.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist: If you’re in an accident through no fault of your own, but the other driver does not have enough insurance to cover the damages, your own policy’s coverage will cover your expenses.
- Umbrella: This policy extends the amount of coverage on your auto insurance policy. If damages exceed your auto insurance policy limits, the umbrella policy will kick in and cover any excess amounts up to its policy limit.
California Minimum Insurance Requirements
Like most other states, California requires all drivers to carry some form of acceptable insurance. The most common form is liability insurance, which covers damages to others. Requirements vary among each state, but California requires that liability insurance provide at least $15,000 of coverage for injury/death to one person, $30,000 for injury/death to more than one person per accident, and $5,000 for damage to property.
Lesser common forms of acceptable insurance for California include a $35,000 cash deposit with the DMV, a DMV-issued self-insurance certificate, and a surety bond for $35,000.
Minimum liability required in the state of California is divided as follows:
- $15,000 bodily injury coverage per person.
- $30,000 bodily injury coverage per accident.
- $5,000 for property damage.
California Car Insurance FAQ
What is the minimum car insurance required in California?
California considers several types of insurance to be acceptable. The most common is liability insurance with minimum coverage of $15,000 for bodily injury coverage per person, $30,000 bodily injury coverage per accident and $5,000 for property damage. Other forms include a cash deposit with the DMV, a DMV-issued self-insurance certificate, and a surety bond.
What is the average auto insurance cost in California?
State minimum liability coverage will cost an average of $611, while full coverage runs an average of $1,974 per year.
What is the cheapest car insurance company in California?
CSAA charges an average of $524 per year for state minimum coverage. However, keep in mind that the cost will vary based on your own unique circumstances, such as your location, driving history, age, type of car you drive, and how much you drive.
Are there any ways to get discounts on car insurance?
Many companies offer a discount if you bundle your car insurance with your homeowner’s insurance. Be sure to ask if you’d be eligible for a lower rate if you decide to insure more than just your car with the same company.
Methodology
Reviews.com scores products, services and companies using five quantifiable criteria to help readers choose the best one for them. For the best car insurance in California, our editorial team compared affordability, customer support, coverage options, customer satisfaction scores and online resources from each company and averaged the scores to produce our very own Reviews.com score. These scores were created with our readers in mind and are meant to be a helpful tool to simplify the process of choosing which car insurance company is best for you.
As for average pricing, we used Coverage.com’s data of car insurance in California, based on the profiles of a 30-year male and female. For full coverage, the details used were the following:
- $100k bodily injury liability per person
- $300k bodily injury liability coverage per crash
- $100k property damage liability coverage per crash
- $500 collision coverage deductible
- $500 comprehensive coverage deductible
Minimum coverages were applied to match state requirements. Both drivers used a new, financed 2018 Toyota Camry, commuting five days a week and driving 12,000 miles per year. Since auto insurance rates vary widely among different profiles, we encourage you to compare options that fit your specific needs.
