Finding the best car insurance can be time-consuming no matter where you live. But with some insurance companies closing shop in California because of inflation and an increased cost to insure drivers, it’s more challenging than ever to find the right auto insurance for you.

The good news is that there are still a lot of great companies for California drivers to choose from. NerdWallet determined the best car insurance in California based on our star ratings, which score companies on factors like customer satisfaction, ease of use, coverage types offered and discounts available — details that can matter just as much as cost.

If you’re looking for the most affordable insurers in California, check out NerdWallet’s analysis of cheap car insurance in California.

The best car insurance in California

The best insurers have great customer satisfaction and a low number of complaints to insurance regulators, plus a wide array of coverage types and discounts. 

NerdWallet looked at more than 30 auto insurers to find the 9 best car insurance companies in California, all with a NerdWallet star rating of 4.5 or higher.

How we ranked the top auto insurers: NerdWallet’s editorial team considered financial strength, discounts, complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and more to determine the best car insurance companies in California. Our "ease of use" category includes factors such as website transparency and how simple it is to file a claim. As we continue to evaluate more insurance providers and receive fresh market data, our list of best auto insurance companies is likely to change.

Why you can trust NerdWallet: Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage so you can choose the insurance policy that works best for you. These carrier ratings are specific to auto insurance; a company's rating for other products may be different on our site. See our criteria for evaluating auto insurance companies.

Amica

While it may not be as large of an insurer as other companies on this list, Amica combines high customer satisfaction scores with few customer complaints to state regulators for a company of its size. Plus, all Amica auto insurance policies cover claims-related services and replacement parts for as long as you own the vehicle.

Amica also:

• Ranked No. 1 out of 21 companies in a 2022 J.D. Power study on auto claims satisfaction in the U.S.

• Ranked No. 3 out of 11 midsize insurance companies in J.D. Power’s 2022 study of overall customer satisfaction in auto insurance shopping.

• Rated No. 7 on NerdWallet’s 2023 list of the best car insurance companies.

» MORE: Amica auto insurance review

Nationwide

As one of the largest auto insurers in the U.S., Nationwide offers plenty of discounts for California drivers, including multiple discounts for safe-driving habits. If you’re comfortable having your driving habits tracked, you can sign up for Nationwide’s SmartRide program, which monitors your driving with either a mobile app or a plug-in device you install in your car’s diagnostic port. You’ll receive at least a 15% discount on your auto insurance premium, and up to 40% off depending on how safely you drive.

The company also scored a 4.5 NerdWallet star rating for its homeowners, renters, life and pet insurance. If you bundle auto and home insurance policies through Nationwide, you may be eligible for additional discounts and benefits. One example is fender bender forgiveness, which means the cost of your insurance won’t go up if the repair costs of a minor accident come in below a predetermined limit. 

Nationwide also:

• Received fewer complaints to state regulators than expected for a company of its size.

• Rated No. 3 on NerdWallet’s 2023 list of best car insurance companies.

» MORE: Nationwide auto insurance review

Progressive

Progressive is the third-largest personal auto insurer in the country. California drivers may be eligible for discounts for things like having multiple cars on the same policy, bundling multiple insurance policies with Progressive and taking an approved driver improvement course.

You may not have seen any new Progressive ads in your social media feeds or across YouTube. Progressive recently stopped advertising in the state, but you can still sign up for a new policy.

Progressive also:

• Received fewer complaints to state regulators than expected for a company of its size.

• Rated No. 4 on NerdWallet’s 2023 list of best car insurance companies.

» MORE: Progressive auto insurance review

State Farm

State Farm is the largest auto insurer in California, and the largest across the U.S. The company offers a wide variety of insurance products and plenty of car insurance discounts, including a discount for completing a State Farm Safety Education course if you have less than nine years of driving experience. Discounts are also available for insuring multiple vehicles and bundling your auto policy with another State Farm insurance policy, plus a discount for drivers who are at least 55 years old and pass a DMV-approved Mature Driver Improvement Course.

State Farm also:

• Ranked No. 1 out of 8 large insurance companies in J.D. Power’s 2022 study of overall customer satisfaction in auto insurance shopping.

• Ranked No. 7 out of 21 companies in a 2022 J.D. Power study on auto claims satisfaction in the U.S.

• Received fewer complaints than expected for a company of its size.

• Rated No. 8 on NerdWallet’s 2023 list of best car insurance companies.

» MORE: State Farm auto insurance review

Allstate

Allstate provides plenty of auto insurance discounts, whether you bundle multiple insurance policies with the company or maintain your status as a good driver. And if you drive for a ridesharing company, Allstate’s Ride for Hire coverage offers rideshare insurance while you’re waiting for a passenger, which typically isn’t covered by a standard auto insurance policy. 

Allstate provides a claims satisfaction guarantee: If you aren’t absolutely satisfied with how your claim was handled, you’ll get your money back without any questions. The company also has great customer satisfaction, and ranked No. 5 out of 21 companies in a 2022 J.D. Power study on auto claims satisfaction in the U.S.

» MORE: Allstate auto insurance review

Farmers

Farmers offers auto, home and business insurance, among other types of coverage, and is one of the largest auto insurers in California. The company offers a variety of coverage types, including some unique options. One example is loss-of-use coverage. While many auto insurers offer coverage for a rental car after an accident, Farmers’ loss-of-use coverage provides a flat sum that can be used for transportation costs beyond just a rental — like cab and public transit expenses — while your vehicle is being repaired for a covered claim.

Farmers also:

• Ranked No. 6 out of 21 companies in a 2022 J.D. Power study on auto claims satisfaction in the U.S.

• Received fewer complaints to state regulators than expected for a company of its size. 

» MORE: Farmers auto insurance review

Geico

Geico is the second largest auto insurer in California and is consistently among the cheapest options in NerdWallet’s car insurance rate analysis. The company offers discounts to California drivers, including savings for good driving and for insuring a student with grades above a B average. 

While Geico recently closed all of its California offices, you can still purchase a car insurance policy online or through Geico’s mobile app.

Geico also:

• Ranked No. 9 out of 21 companies in a 2022 J.D. Power study on auto claims satisfaction in the U.S.

• Received an online experience score of 77 out of 100 by a pool of its customers in a NerdWallet survey conducted online in June 2022. To put that in perspective, the average score among seven insurers was 75, and the highest was 80.

» MORE: Geico auto insurance review

Travelers

Travelers is the tenth-largest auto insurer in the country and offers great benefits for customers. For example, you may be able to use Travelers’ network of approved auto shops to guarantee covered vehicle repairs for as long as you own the vehicle. You could also get a discount for things like driving an electric or hybrid vehicle. 

The company has strong financial strength and received fewer complaints to state regulators than expected for a company of its size.

» MORE: Travelers auto insurance review

USAA

USAA is the tenth largest auto insurer in California, and its car insurance policies are available only to active military members, veterans and their families. Several of USAA’s discounts are particularly valuable for anyone on active duty, like a discount for storing your vehicle in a safe location or parking your car on a military base. USAA also offers a discount for safe driving.

USAA scored among the top companies in a 2022 J.D. Power study on auto claims satisfaction in the U.S., but it was not ranked due to the limited availability of its car insurance policies.