How to get the cheapest California car insurance quote (2026)
The fastest way to lower your rate is to compare several insurers at once for your exact ZIP code. In the California Department of Insurance 2026 premium survey, the same driver’s basic liability premium differed by at least $1,839 a year between the cheapest and the priciest insurer in every one of the 30 largest cities, so the quote is where savings are won or lost.
Compare insurers before you buy
The same coverage can cost far more with one insurer than another. That is why a single quote request comparing 30+ California carriers saves you hours of shopping site by site. The tables below rank insurers by each one’s median price across the 30 largest cities in the California Department of Insurance 2026 auto premium survey (premiums in effect January 1, 2026). Every price is for the same driver: single, licensed seven years, clean record, Good Driver Discount included, no optional discounts. They are survey premiums, not quotes; your number depends on your ZIP, vehicle, and driving record.
Cheapest insurers for basic 30/60/15 liability
CDI 2026 survey, profile 1122A (2023 Toyota Camry). Annual premium before optional discounts.| Rank | Insurer (as CDI names it) | 30-city median, per year | Per month |
|---|
| 1 of 48 | Loya Cas Ins Co* | $1,123 | $94 |
| 2 of 48 | Integon Preferred Ins Co | $1,126 | $94 |
| 3 of 48 | California Capital Ins Co | $1,142 | $95 |
| 4 of 48 | State National Ins Co Inc.‡ | $1,163 | $97 |
| 5 of 48 | Tesla Insurance Company‡ | $1,163 | $97 |
Cheapest insurers for full coverage
CDI 2026 survey, profile 2522A (100/300/50, $250/$500 deductibles, 2023 Honda Accord). Annual premium before optional discounts.| Rank | Insurer (as CDI names it) | 30-city median, per year | Per month |
|---|
| 1 of 40 | California Capital Ins Co | $3,328 | $277 |
| 2 of 40 | Wawanesa Gen Ins Co | $3,548 | $296 |
| 3 of 40 | State National Ins Co Inc.‡ | $3,789 | $316 |
| 4 of 40 | Tesla Insurance Company‡ | $3,789 | $316 |
| 5 of 40 | Horace Mann Ins Co | $3,804 | $317 |
* CDI footnote: Loya priced $1,000 of medical payments, not $2,000. ‡ CDI footnote: the Tesla program focuses on Tesla customers and is sold through Tesla’s digital platforms. W Insurance appears in the survey as Wawanesa Gen Ins Co; the company was renamed W Insurance Company on July 30, 2026. CDI footnotes
Where the big names rank
| Brand | Survey company | Basic: rank, median | Full: rank, median |
|---|
| Progressive | United Financial Cas Co (Progressive Group) | 15/48, $1,513 | 7/40, $4,031 |
| W Insurance (formerly Wawanesa) | Wawanesa Gen Ins Co | 18/48, $1,559 | 2/40, $3,548 |
| Mercury | Mercury Ins Co | 24/48, $1,702 | 12/40, $4,682 |
| GEICO | GEICO Protection Insurance Company | 28/48, $1,756 | 30/40, $5,828 |
| State Farm | State Farm Mut Auto Ins Co | 32/48, $1,813 | 27/40, $5,701 |
| AAA (Auto Club) | Interins Exch of the Automobile Club (AAA) | 35/48, $1,878 | 33/40, $6,126 |
| Farmers | Farmers Ins Exch | 45/48, $2,785 | 32/40, $6,082 |
| Allstate | Allstate Northbrook Ind Co | 48/48, $3,352 | 36/40, $7,038 |
Why your city changes the quote so much
Among the 30 largest cities in the survey, the basic liability median ran from $1,386 in Chula Vista to $2,958 in Glendale. Los Angeles, at $2,339, was the second most expensive of the 30. Quote for your exact ZIP to see your number, not a statewide average; the California car insurance cost index has every surveyed city.
Median annual premium by California city (CDI 2026 survey)
| City | Basic 30/60/15 | Full coverage | Basic vs 30-city median |
|---|
| Los Angeles | $2,339 | $6,616 | +39% |
| Sacramento | $1,797 | $5,480 | +7% |
| Long Beach | $1,788 | $5,356 | +6% |
| San Francisco | $1,726 | $5,534 | +2% |
| Riverside | $1,616 | $4,789 | -4% |
| Fresno | $1,541 | $4,946 | -9% |
| Oakland | $1,525 | $5,506 | -10% |
| San Diego | $1,525 | $4,688 | -10% |
| San Jose | $1,521 | $5,067 | -10% |
| Bakersfield | $1,513 | $4,811 | -10% |
Discounts to ask for when you quote
Ask every insurer for the Good Driver Discount: California law requires at least 20% off for drivers who qualify (Insurance Code 1861.02). Other discounts, such as bundling, good student, anti-theft devices, or low mileage, are set by each insurer in its approved rates, so ask what applies to you. California does not let insurers use your credit score to price auto insurance. If your income is limited, the state’s Low Cost Auto program costs $199 to $986 a year depending on your county, with lower 10/20/3 limits.
