Cheapest Car Insurance In California For May, 2024

GEICO not only offers the cheapest car insurance rates in California, it is also one of the top insurers when it comes to customer service. It provides a variety of ways to digitally manage your car insurance policy, including through its website and mobile app.

In addition to typical car insurance coverage choices, GEICO also offers mechanical breakdown coverage. This covers repairs to all mechanical parts of a new or leased car that is less than 15 months old and has fewer than 15,000 miles. This breakdown coverage doesn’t pay for problems caused by normal wear and tear or regular maintenance like oil changes and tune-ups. There is a $250 deductible.

Having been a customer of GEICO in California for many years and filed claims with the company, I can attest to its competitive rates and superior customer service. The discounts the company offers, including the bundle discount for having both car and home insurance with GEICO, are also attractive to Californians and help drive the rates down.

With the heavy traffic in California, driving violations and accidents occur frequently. Unfortunately, insurers typically raise your rates after you’ve received a ticket for a moving violation, a DUI, or an at-fault accident.

However, Mercury General has cornered the market in California for drivers with violations and at-fault accidents. Its car insurance policies are sold by many independent agents in California, many of whom cater to drivers with infractions because it is such a large market there.

Full coverage policies from Mercury average $164 per month for drivers in California with a speeding ticket on their driving record. That rate is 24% cheaper than the state average of $216 per month for drivers with a speeding ticket.

Mercury doesn’t have one of California’s best reputations for customer service for car insurers. Still, it helps many drivers afford car insurance after they’ve been cited for a violation. You’ll have no problem finding an agent who will sell you a policy from Mercury.

While it can be tempting to buy the minimum coverage required in California, drivers insuring newer cars worth more than the annual premium to insure them should seriously consider carrying full coverage car insurance, which GEICO offers at the most affordable price in California.

To help you keep your full coverage car insurance premium reasonable, GEICO has a long list of discounts, so there’s a good chance you’ll find a discount that will save you money. You may be eligible for discounts with GEICO for:

• Having safety equipment, like airbags, anti-lock brakes, daytime running lights, or an anti-theft system
• Owning a vehicle that is three model years old or newer
• Driving for five years with no accidents
• Using seat belts
• Completing a defensive driving course
• Having good grades
• Insuring more than one vehicle with GEICO
• Bundling homeowners, renters, condo, or mobile home insurance with a car insurance policy through GEICO

Without cheap full coverage car insurance in California, you can leave yourself open to repair costs and liability that could damage your financial health for years. Before buying the minimum coverage required in California, get quotes from several insurers, including GEICO, for full coverage. You might be surprised at how slight the price difference is.

GEICO not only wins the first prize for having the cheapest full coverage car insurance in California, but it also comes in as the winner for having the cheapest minimum coverage.

There are instances where buying the minimum coverage (liability-only) required by California law ($15,000 for injury/death to one person, $30,000 for injury/death to more than one person, and $5,000) to damage to property). For instance, if you own an older model car outright with no lienholder and the vehicle is valued at less than what a full coverage premium would be, carrying minimum coverage may be adequate.

GEICO’s average rate for liability-only coverage in California is $31 per month, which is 36% lower than the state average.

Buying the cheapest liability-only insurance in California may be warranted if you have an older car with high mileage and a low resale value. A quality insurer like GEICO offering such low rates can be tempting if you have a newer model car, so make sure you’re not underinsured and leaving yourself vulnerable financially.

Young adult drivers in California pay around two and a half times as much as older drivers for car insurance. For example, an 18-year-old driver pays an average of $127 per month for minimum coverage, compared to just $49 per month for a 30-year-old.

Even though full coverage is expensive if you’re a young driver, it might be your best option if you have a newer car or drive a lot. The added protection of collision and comprehensive insurance is particularly beneficial for young drivers who might be unable to pay for another vehicle if their car is totaled after an accident.

GEICO has the cheapest auto insurance for young drivers in California, with a rate of $97 per month for liability-only insurance. That’s 24% cheaper than the state average for this age group. State Farm is slightly cheaper than GEICO for a full coverage policy for a young driver, with a premium of $268 per month versus $284 for GEICO.

As drivers age, their car insurance increases proportionately. With the high cost of living in California and possibly being on a fixed income, seniors are continually on the lookout for low rates and are open to switching carriers if the opportunity to save money presents itself.

While Mercury scores lower than average in customer satisfaction ratings, it presents itself well online with a robust website that is easy to navigate and get pricing. Seniors who are not tech-savvy will find Mercury’s site easier to find an agent and get pricing than on many other insurer’s websites.

Seniors who don’t mind a bit of haggling with a car insurance company when they have a claim may want to sacrifice some good customer service for Mercury’s lower rates. It should be noted, however, that AAA SoCal and GEICO, two insurers known for high-quality customer service, are not much more expensive for seniors than Mercury.