Cheapest Car Insurance For College Students in California 2025
GEICO is one of the best car insurance companies for college students in California. GEICO is also the cheapest provider, with an average annual rate of $2,604.
We’ve saved shoppers an average of $600 per year on their car insurance.
California has over 750 higher educational institutions, including universities, community colleges, private colleges, and vocational schools.
- The UC system has 10 major campuses, five medical centers, and three National Laboratories, making them some of the most prestigious in the country.
- The CSU system has over 23 campuses with several scholarships and financial aid options.
- The CCC systems represent the biggest public higher education system in the United States, with over 1.3 million students enrolled at any time.
The majority of these public and private institutions are located in San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sacramento.
Each of these areas is prone to significantly high levels of traffic accidents and moving violations, particularly among college students. Population growth in Sacramento has led to teen driver crash fatalities increasing by 14.8%.
In the greater San Francisco Bay Area, college drivers account for the highest crash rates of all age groups.
Los Angeles is one of the most densely populated regions in the state, and with it comes the highest accident rate in California, with over 50% of fatal car accidents involving teen drivers.
San Diego college drivers account for over 20% of all car accidents each year.
Key Takeaways
Student drivers in California must have car insurance that meets the state’s minimum requirements.
GEICO offers the cheapest insurance policy for students in California, at an average annual rate of $2,604.
There are multiple ways to reduce the cost of car insurance for students in California.
Best Car Insurance Companies For College Students In California
When selecting car insurance for college students in California, you need to consider your priorities and pick a policy that matches your needs, whether that is low rates or comprehensive coverage.
Use the table below to see our picks for the best auto insurers for students in California.
| Company | Average Rate Per Year |
| GEICO | $2,604 |
| Allstate | $3,028 |
| Nationwide | $3,000 |
| State Farm | $2,936 |
| Progressive | $2,860 |
* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.
Cheapest Liability-Only Car Insurance For College Students In California
Minimum coverage policies are often an effective way to decrease overall costs, but can leave you vulnerable in an accident. These low-cost plans will only cover the state minimum insurance needed to operate a vehicle, which means paying expenses out of pocket.
Minimum coverage policies are great options for college students as they provide the insurance needed to drive legally while keeping costs low.
As you can see from the table below, GEICO is the cheapest average option at $504 per year.
| Company | Average Rate Per Year |
| Mercury | $684 |
| State Farm | $720 |
| GEICO | $504 |
| AAA | $600 |
| Progressive | $660 |
* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.
Cheapest Full Coverage Car Insurance For College Students In California
College students who commute to campus or routinely drive for work should consider a full coverage policy over minimum coverage. These plans offer additional protection, often including liability, comprehensive, and collision coverage.
While the full coverage policies offer more protection, they come at a higher cost. It’s essential to weigh the benefits of the additional insurance against the extra monthly cost.
State Farm is the cheapest full coverage car insurance policy for students in California, at an average annual rate of $3,720.
| Company | Average Rate Per Year |
| GEICO | $3,900 |
| Progressive | $5,160 |
| State Farm | $3,720 |
| Allstate | $4,320 |
| Mercury | $4,140 |
* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.
Cheapest Car Insurance For College Students With Low-Mileage In California
If you’re a college student who doesn’t plan on driving much throughout the school year, there’s no reason to pay for insurance you don’t need. While you’ll still need to maintain the state minimum auto insurance, most low-mileage policies offer discounted rates if you stay below a certain number of miles yearly.
The limit will vary between insurance companies but is usually around 7,500 to 10,000 miles annually.
Use the table below to view the cheapest low-mileage rates for college drivers in California.
| Company | Average Rate Per Year |
| Allstate | $720 |
| Lemonade | $420 |
| State Farm | $900 |
| Progressive | $840 |
| Nationwide | $780 |
* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.
Cheapest Car Insurance For College Students With Driving Violations In California
Driving violations can significantly increase the amount a driver pays for monthly coverage, regardless of age. College students will likely experience an even more significant rate increase after an accident or ticket due to their already high-risk rating.
One way to mitigate the damage of a driving violation is to work with a company like Mercury that specializes in insuring motorists with a history of tickets or accidents.
| Company | Average Rate Per Year |
| Progressive | $3,600 |
| GEICO | $3,360 |
| National General | $3,120 |
| Mercury | $2,880 |
| State Farm | $3,000 |
* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.
Average Cost Of Car Insurance For College Students In California – By City
Where you live in California can have a significant impact on your car insurance premiums.
Use the table below to view average rates for different cities in California.
| City | Average Monthly Cost |
| Los Angeles | $230 |
| San Francisco | $186 |
| San Diego | $158 |
| Sacramento | $179 |
| Fresno | $165 |
* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.
Average Cost Of Car Insurance For 18-Year-Old College Students In California
State Farm offers the cheapest rates for 18-year-old college drivers in California, at an average monthly cost of $243.
| Car Insurance Provider | Average Monthly Cost |
| GEICO | $280 |
| State Farm | $243 |
| Travelers | $289 |
| Nationwide | $461 |
| Progressive | $327 |
* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.
Average Cost Of Car Insurance For 19-Year-Old College Students In California
State Farm provides the cheapest policy for 19-year-old college students in California, averaging $187 per month.
| Car Insurance Provider | Average Monthly Cost |
| GEICO | $194 |
| State Farm | $187 |
| Nationwide | $347 |
| Farmers | $291 |
| Allstate | $217 |
* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.
Average Cost Of Car Insurance For 20-Year-Old College Students In California
The cheapest auto insurance rates for a 20-year-old college driver can be found with State Farm, averaging $187 per month.
| Car Insurance Provider | Average Monthly Cost |
| Allstate | $191 |
| GEICO | $187 |
| Travelers | $214 |
| State Farm | $183 |
| Nationwide | $330 |
* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.
Average Cost Of Car Insurance For 21-Year-Old College Students In California
The most affordable college student car insurance policy for a 21-year-old can be found at GEICO, with an average monthly cost of $137.
| Car Insurance Provider | Average Monthly Cost |
| Nationwide | $250 |
| State Farm | $173 |
| Allstate | $169 |
| GEICO | $137 |
| Progressive | $180 |
* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.
Average Cost Of Car Insurance For 22-Year-Old College Students In California
22-year-old student car insurance can be found from $130 per month, with a GEICO auto policy.
| Car Insurance Provider | Average Monthly Cost |
| GEICO | $130 |
| State Farm | $170 |
| Progressive | $168 |
| Nationwide | $235 |
| Allstate | $161 |
* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.
Average Cost Of Car Insurance For 23-Year-Old College Students In California
23-year-old college drivers can find affordable insurance from GEICO at an average monthly cost of $131.
| Car Insurance Provider | Average Monthly Cost |
| GEICO | $131 |
| State Farm | $157 |
| Progressive | $150 |
| Farmers | $229 |
| Allstate | $158 |
* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.
Average Cost Of Car Insurance For 24-Year-Old College Students In California
The cheapest car insurance policy for a 24-year-old college student is $129 per month, which can be found with GEICO.
| Car Insurance Provider | Average Monthly Cost |
| State Farm | $153 |
| Travelers | $176 |
| GEICO | $129 |
| Progressive | $132 |
| Allstate | $153 |
* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.
Average Cost Of Car Insurance For 25-Year-Old College Students In California
GEICO offers the cheapest auto policies for 25-year-old college students in California at $123 per month.
| Car Insurance Provider | Average Monthly Cost |
| State Farm | $150 |
| Nationwide | $184 |
| GEICO | $123 |
| Progressive | $129 |
| Allstate | $140 |
* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.
Average Cost Of Car Insurance On Family Policy Vs. Individual Policy
| Insurance Company | Family Policy | Individual Student Policy |
| Progressive | $135 | $180 |
| Allstate | $165 | $169 |
| State Farm | $140 | $203 |
| GEICO | $120 | $217 |
| Nationwide | $184 | $250 |
* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.
How Can College Students Save Money On Car Insurance In California
Given these higher risks, the cost of insurance for college students is subsequently higher. In fact, car insurance rates are considerably higher for drivers under 20, and even more so if drivers are not put on a parent or guardian’s policy.
However, there are ways that college students in California can save on their car insurance premiums.
Vehicle Safety and Security Upgrades
All drivers can qualify for discounts by making safety and security improvements to their vehicles. Adding anti-theft devices or vehicle recovery systems and having anti-lock brakes and airbags can reduce costs.
Student Discounts
Companies like Progressive do not offer discounts for being a good student with a B average or better or going to a school 100 miles from home, like other companies.
This means that the majority of the student discounts that college drivers can get in California center on safe driving and completing programs that monitor driver habits.
Traditional defensive driving course criteria apply to older drivers; however, California college students can qualify for discounts when they install driving behavior software and maintain a good record free from accidents and claims for 3 years in a row.
Used vs. New
When considering a new or used vehicle as a graduation gift, for newer drivers, insurance rates tend to be higher on a new vehicle despite the discounts that are afforded by the increased safety features and better mileage.
Affiliation Discounts
Many students find that being part of campus clubs or fraternities and sororities can enrich the social experience, but it can also enrich the bank account. Some groups can earn discounts in California, especially alumni discounts.
Geico, for example, gives discounts in California to members of sororities, fraternities, and alumni associations, averaging between 3% and 5% per year.
Do College Students Need Their Own Car Insurance?
In California, students who don’t bring a car to college and keep their parents’ home listed as their permanent address can remain on their own policy.
This is even true for those who temporarily reside in student housing, an apartment, or a dorm room while away at college. Certain discounts can be applied if a student does not use their vehicle and only uses it while home on the holidays.
However, college students who own their vehicle, have it titled under their name only, and have their own residence will need to take out a different policy.
Note: If you are a college student in California and you have come from out of state, you do not need your own insurance plan if you maintain the same primary residence as your parents.
How To Buy Car Insurance As A College Student In California
Navigating the purchase of your first auto insurance policy as a college student can be stressful, but platforms like Insuranceopedia can help you compare several providers with the same information.
Before you start searching for a policy, make sure you gather information like your driver history, vehicle data, driver’s license, and other personal information.
Create your budget so you know how much you can afford for your premiums as well as your deductible. When you use platforms to compare different policies, you can play around with changes to things like deductibles and premiums and see the inverse relationship. This will help you determine exactly how much you can afford.
When that is done, you can use online sites to enter your information, compare policies, and pick the one that you like most.
Picking a new policy can be done in person or online, and after you select your policy and pay for your first premium, you’ll get your insurance information in the mail.
How To Get Discounts in California
If you are a college student and you are looking to reduce the cost of your policy, especially after an accident or moving violation, you can check with your insurance carrier.
Car insurance companies offer a range of discounts for their policyholders, and these are contingent upon the items listed above, such as being part of an affiliate sorority or campus organization, keeping good grades, or installing vehicle safety devices. Other options might also include paying for your premiums annually instead of monthly, keeping multiple insurance products under the same policy, being on active duty, keeping your driving to a minimum, and keeping yourself free from accidents and violations where possible.
Common Auto Insurance Claims In California
In California, the most common claims are accident claims resulting from highway collisions, and these often include rear-end damage as well as damage to windshields.
The second most common claim is bodily injury claims for the injuries sustained in these types of accidents.
After that, there are many issues with vandalism and theft, as well as underinsured or uninsured motorists, where undocumented drivers are involved in accidents and don’t have the insurance to cover any damages or injuries.
California Car Insurance Laws To Know
In California, drivers must maintain a minimum of $15,000 in coverage for injury or death to a single person (bodily injury category), $30,000 for injury or death to more than one person, and $5,000 for property damage.*
Drivers must have what is called personal injury protection coverage and which pays for medical expenses or lost wages for people who are injured in the accident, no matter who was at fault.
California requires that drivers also have collision and comprehensive coverage and carry proof of all coverages mentioned above while driving.
If involved in any accident, drivers have to file a Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California (SR1) with the DMV, whether or not they were at fault.
Note: Starting January 1, 2025, the minimum liability insurance requirements will increase from $15,000, $30,000, and $5,000 to $30,000, $60,000, and $15,000, respectively.
Compare College Student Rates To Other U.S. States
| State | Average Annual Premium |
| Alabama | $3,460 |
| Alaska | $3,276 |
| Arizona | $3,412 |
| Arkansas | $3,557 |
| California | $4,016 |
| Colorado | $3,937 |
| Connecticut | $3,325 |
| Delaware | $3,663 |
| Florida | $4,294 |
| Georgia | $3,570 |
| Hawaii | $3,117 |
| Idaho | $3,028 |
| Illinois | $3,132 |
| Indiana | $3,115 |
| Iowa | $3,230 |
| Kansas | $3,500 |
| Kentucky | $3,828 |
| Louisiana | $4,483 |
| Maine | $2,775 |
| Maryland | $3,346 |
| Massachusetts | $3,326 |
| Michigan | $3,952 |
| Minnesota | $3,511 |
| Mississippi | $3,608 |
| Missouri | $3,582 |
| Montana | $3,793 |
| Nebraska | $3,502 |
| Nevada | $3,660 |
| New Hampshire | $2,865 |
| New Jersey | $3,502 |
| New Mexico | $3,649 |
| New York | $3,470 |
| North Carolina | $3,341 |
| North Dakota | $3,265 |
| Ohio | $3,017 |
| Oklahoma | $3,738 |
| Oregon | $3,278 |
| Pennsylvania | $3,472 |
| Rhode Island | $3,661 |
| South Carolina | $3,422 |
| South Dakota | $3,880 |
| Tennessee | $3,277 |
| Texas | $3,643 |
| Utah | $3,425 |
| Vermont | $2,919 |
| Virginia | $3,069 |
| Washington | $3,208 |
| West Virginia | $3,605 |
| Wisconsin | $3,264 |
| Wyoming | $3,358 |
* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.
Our Methodology
To find the cheapest car insurance rates for college students in California, we analyzed findings from numerous insurance rating sites, some of which analyzed rates from public filings obtained by Quadrant Information Services. We also utilize the combined 25 years of experience from our team of insurance experts to evaluate each carrier.
It’s important to note that even though the rates listed in this guide are accurate, premiums shift daily and can fluctuate based on each driver.
