Best car insurance in California for 2025

To choose the best car insurance companies in California, Bankrate analyzed average rate data from Quadrant Information Services, along with third-party financial strength ratings from AM Best, customer satisfaction scores from J.D. Power, coverage options, discounts and digital tools. We used these metrics to assign each carrier a Bankrate Score, out of 5 points. This can help give you comprehensive insight into which carrier works best for your needs.

Do you need to insure a teen driver? Or have you had accidents or speeding tickets on your driving record? Or maybe you tend to use public transportation more than your car. Every driver is different, and talking with a licensed agent can help you find the company that has the types of coverage and discounts that work best for you.

If you have a car loan or lease, you will likely need to carry full coverage. Often, leasing companies require drivers to carry gap coverage, which is not available with every carrier.

When it comes to customer service and claim handling, reading reviews from current customers can provide deeper insight into what to expect from the carrier. The J.D. Power U.S. Auto Insurance Study gauges customer satisfaction across several core dimensions, such as level of trust and price. And J.D. Power’s U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study focuses on policyholder experiences during the claims process.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Complaint Index is another tool that measures customer complaints in relation to the carrier's size. An index score of 1.00 represents an average number of complaints. Scores below 1.00 mean the carrier has had fewer complaints than average, and vice versa.

Lastly, financial stability is another key component when considering which auto insurance company to choose. Companies like AM Best use a grading system to show their confidence level in a carrier's ability to honor its claim obligations and creditworthiness.

While big-name insurance companies get all the attention, sometimes smaller, local carriers can offer more personalized service. A smaller company may have faster response times and have unique insight into local coverage challenges. However, bigger companies may be more financially stable and have better digital tools. Getting car insurance quotes from several carriers, both big and small, can help you narrow down the options.

There isn’t a singular car insurance company that’s cheapest for all drivers in California (or any other state). Car insurance rates vary widely from driver to driver and company to company based on several rating factors individual to you and your vehicle, as well as the coverage you choose. Minimum coverage usually saves you money on rates, but full coverage can provide more financial security in the event of vehicle damage or personal injury. Experts recommend comparing quotes from several insurers for the same coverage types and policy limits in order to find the best policy available to you. Bankrate’s research on the cheapest coverage in California may be useful in identifying carriers to seek quotes from first.

In California, and every other state, what is considered full coverage car insurance can vary between carriers. However, it's common for the term full coverage to include at least the state-required liability limits along with comprehensive and collision coverage. Some carriers may consider full coverage to mean higher liability limits with additional coverage, like towing and rental car reimbursement. When searching for the best full coverage car insurance in California, make sure you and your agent are on the same page with the exact type of coverage you are looking for.

In California, obtaining car insurance isn't complicated, but you will need a few key things: your driver's license number, your vehicle identification number (VIN) and the background information about your driving record. If there are other drivers on the policy, you will need their information as well, including their date of birth. Drivers with a lease or a loan will also want to have the name and address of their lender on hand.