The average driver in California pays about $1,417 a year for full coverage — about 1% less than the US average of $1,438. That ranks California #17 of 51 states (mid-pack). The car you drive then shifts it: a cheap-to-insure model can land near $680, a high-loss one well over $10,435.
California insurance cost by coverage
Average California premium split by coverage type — liability is required, full coverage adds collision + comprehensive.
Minimum car insurance required in California
California legally requires at least 30/60/15 in liability coverage — $30,000 bodily injury per person, $60,000 per accident, and $15,000 property damage. These are legal minimums — most drivers carry more to fully protect themselves.
Minimum coverage is the cheapest to buy, but it may not cover a serious crash — full coverage adds collision and comprehensive for your own car.
Cheapest cars to insure in California
Estimated annual premium in California, cheapest first — state average × each car's real HLDI loss index.
Know what a car really costs to insure and own.
- Your personalized rate — coverage, age & deductible
- Insurance in the 5-year cost-to-own
- Full coverage breakdown — cost per coverage
- Compare insurance across cars, side by side
- Export estimates to CSV / Excel
- Zero ads — clean, fast pages
- …and much more
Most expensive cars to insure in California
The priciest cars to insure in California — powerful, theft-prone and costly to repair.
California insurance cost by year
California premiums are up about +16% since 2019. Average California premium by year:
| Year | California avg / yr |
|---|---|
| 2023 | |
| 2022 | |
| 2021 | |
| 2020 | |
| 2019 |
Car insurance cost in California's largest cities
Rates vary within California by city and ZIP — dense metros like Los Angeles run above the state average, while smaller towns run below. Estimated typical premium in California's biggest cities:
| City | Est. typical / yr | vs state avg |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $1,559/yr | +10% urban |
| San Diego | $1,516/yr | +7% urban |
| San Jose | $1,488/yr | +5% urban |
| San Francisco | $1,474/yr | +4% urban |
| Fresno | $1,445/yr | +2% urban |
| Sacramento | $1,431/yr | ≈ state avg |
| Long Beach | $1,417/yr | ≈ state avg |
| Oakland | $1,417/yr | ≈ state avg |
City figures are estimates — urban areas trend above the state average; your exact rate depends on your ZIP, car and record. Use the calculator above for your specific car.