Auto insurance is an important purchase, but finding cheap car insurance in California isn’t always easy.

The cheapest car insurance company in California is Mercury at $1,023 per year on average, or $85 per month, according to the most recent NerdWallet analysis of full coverage car insurance rates in California. Meanwhile, the average cost of full coverage car insurance in California is $1,659 per year, or about $138 per month.

Minimum coverage in California is $506 per year on average, but we found you can likely get a cheaper policy. For example, Geico offers the cheapest rates in California at $207 per year, on average, for minimum coverage car insurance for a 35-year-old driver with a clean driving record.

If you’re looking for the cheapest car insurance in your area, NerdWallet analyzed rates for some of the largest California cities, including:

• Fresno.

• Los Angeles.

• Sacramento.

• San Diego.

• San Francisco.

• San Jose.

NerdWallet’s editorial team analyzed car insurance rates from 27 auto insurers in California and listed the five cheapest options for drivers in several age brackets and with different histories, all driving a 2020 Toyota Camry L. For minimum coverage, we looked at rates that reflect the minimum requirements in California. For full coverage, we used the below coverage limits:

• $100,000 bodily injury liability per person.

• $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident.

• $50,000 property damage liability per accident.

• $100,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person.

• $300,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident.

• Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible.

• Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible.

Cheapest full coverage car insurance in California for 20-year-olds

Drivers in California with clean driving records may want to consider the following companies, which had the lowest average rates:

1. State Farm: $1,702 per year, or about $142 per month.

2. Geico: $1,799 per year, or about $150 per month.

3. Mercury: $1,866 per year, or about $156 per month.

4. Wawanesa: $1,909 per year, or about $159 per month.

5. Auto Club of SoCal: $1,940 per year, or about $162 per month.

Cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in California for 20-year-olds

Drivers in California who want just the state minimum coverage may want to check with these companies, which had the lowest average rates:

1. Geico: $394 per year, or about $33 per month.

2. Auto Club of SoCal: $518 per year, or about $43 per month.

3. State Farm: $549 per year, or about $46 per month.

4. Travelers: $595 per year, or about $50 per month.

5. Workmen's Auto: $616 per year, or about $51 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in California for 20-year-old drivers with one speeding ticket

For drivers with a recent speeding ticket in California, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

1. Geico: $443 per year, or about $37 per month.

2. Auto Club of SoCal: $691 per year, or about $58 per month.

3. Workmen's Auto: $795 per year, or about $66 per month.

4. Travelers: $818 per year, or about $68 per month.

5. Mercury: $820 per year, or about $68 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in California for 20-year-old drivers with one at-fault crash

For drivers with a recent accident in California, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

1. Geico: $543 per year, or about $45 per month.

2. Auto Club of SoCal: $825 per year, or about $69 per month.

3. Workmen's Auto: $829 per year, or about $69 per month.

4. Grange Insurance Association: $834 per year, or about $70 per month.

5. Travelers: $910 per year, or about $76 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in California for 20-year-old drivers after a DUI

The cheapest auto insurance we found after a DUI is shown here, alongside the insurers' average rates for minimum coverage.

1. Geico: $712 per year, or about $59 per month.

2. National General: $912 per year, or about $76 per month.

3. Mercury: $1,026 per year, or about $86 per month.

4. Grange Insurance Association: $1,043 per year, or about $87 per month.

5. Workmen's Auto: $1,078 per year, or about $90 per month.

Cheapest full coverage car insurance in California for 30-year-olds

Drivers in California with clean driving records may get the lowest rates from these companies:

1. Mercury: $1,023 per year, or about $85 per month.

2. Geico: $1,067 per year, or about $89 per month.

3. Auto Club of SoCal: $1,138 per year, or about $95 per month.

4. Workmen's Auto: $1,211 per year, or about $101 per month.

5. CIG: $1,263 per year, or about $105 per month.

Cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in California for 30-year-olds

Drivers in California who want their state's minimum coverage can check with the following companies, which had the lowest average rates:

1. Geico: $210 per year, or about $18 per month.

2. Auto Club of SoCal: $296 per year, or about $25 per month.

3. Workmen's Auto: $340 per year, or about $28 per month.

4. Mercury: $353 per year, or about $29 per month.

5. Grange Insurance Association: $365 per year, or about $30 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in California for 30-year-old drivers with one speeding ticket

For drivers with a recent speeding ticket in California, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

1. Geico: $336 per year, or about $28 per month.

2. Auto Club of SoCal: $390 per year, or about $32 per month.

3. Workmen's Auto: $435 per year, or about $36 per month.

4. Mercury: $446 per year, or about $37 per month.

5. Grange Insurance Association: $487 per year, or about $41 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in California for 30-year-old drivers with one at-fault crash

For drivers in California with a recent accident, here are the lowest average rate options for full coverage:

1. CIG: $1,623 per year, or about $135 per month.

2. Auto Club of SoCal: $1,681 per year, or about $140 per month.

3. Workmen's Auto: $1,717 per year, or about $143 per month.

4. Mercury: $1,756 per year, or about $146 per month.

5. Grange Insurance Association: $1,885 per year, or about $157 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in California for 30-year-old drivers after a DUI

For the cheapest auto insurance after a DUI, we found the following options for full coverage.

1. National General: $1,604 per year, or about $134 per month.

2. Mercury: $1,676 per year, or about $140 per month.

3. MetLife: $1,812 per year, or about $151 per month.

4. Workmen's Auto: $2,258 per year, or about $188 per month.

5. Grange Insurance Association: $2,355 per year, or about $196 per month.

Cheapest full coverage car insurance in California for 40-year-olds

Drivers in California with clean driving records may want to think about the following companies, which had the lowest average rates:

1. Mercury: $997 per year, or about $83 per month.

2. Geico: $1,037 per year, or about $86 per month.

3. Auto Club of SoCal: $1,069 per year, or about $89 per month.

4. Grange Insurance Association: $1,171 per year, or about $98 per month.

5. Workmen's Auto: $1,185 per year, or about $99 per month.

Cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in California for 40-year-olds

Drivers in California who want just the minimum coverage may want to check prices from these companies, which had the lowest average rates:

1. Geico: $206 per year, or about $17 per month.

2. Auto Club of SoCal: $292 per year, or about $24 per month.

3. Grange Insurance Association: $302 per year, or about $25 per month.

4. Mercury: $347 per year, or about $29 per month.

5. Workmen's Auto: $350 per year, or about $29 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in California for 40-year-old drivers with one speeding ticket

For drivers with a recent speeding ticket in California, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

1. Geico: $330 per year, or about $28 per month.

2. Auto Club of SoCal: $384 per year, or about $32 per month.

3. Grange Insurance Association: $424 per year, or about $35 per month.

4. Mercury: $439 per year, or about $37 per month.

5. Workmen's Auto: $449 per year, or about $37 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in California for 40-year-old drivers with one at-fault crash

For drivers with a recent accident living in California, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for full coverage:

1. CIG: $1,566 per year, or about $130 per month.

2. Auto Club of SoCal: $1,582 per year, or about $132 per month.

3. Grange Insurance Association: $1,642 per year, or about $137 per month.

4. Workmen's Auto: $1,678 per year, or about $140 per month.

5. Mercury: $1,713 per year, or about $143 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in California for 40-year-old drivers after a DUI

The cheapest full coverage auto insurance we found for drivers with a DUI came from the following companies.

1. National General: $1,527 per year, or about $127 per month.

2. Mercury: $1,631 per year, or about $136 per month.

3. MetLife: $1,734 per year, or about $144 per month.

4. Grange Insurance Association: $2,053 per year, or about $171 per month.

5. Workmen's Auto: $2,205 per year, or about $184 per month.

Cheapest full coverage car insurance in California for 50-year-olds

Drivers in California with clean driving records may want to get quotes from these insurers, which had the lowest average rates:

1. Mercury: $945 per year, or about $79 per month.

2. Geico: $1,013 per year, or about $84 per month.

3. Auto Club of SoCal: $1,056 per year, or about $88 per month.

4. 21st Century: $1,082 per year, or about $90 per month.

5. Grange Insurance Association: $1,117 per year, or about $93 per month.

Cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in California for 50-year-olds

Drivers in California who opt for the state minimum coverage may want to consider the following companies, with the lowest average rates:

1. Geico: $203 per year, or about $17 per month.

2. Grange Insurance Association: $288 per year, or about $24 per month.

3. Auto Club of SoCal: $293 per year, or about $24 per month.

4. Mercury: $342 per year, or about $28 per month.

5. Workmen's Auto: $350 per year, or about $29 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in California for 50-year-old drivers with one speeding ticket

For drivers with a recent speeding ticket in California, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

1. Geico: $326 per year, or about $27 per month.

2. Auto Club of SoCal: $385 per year, or about $32 per month.

3. Grange Insurance Association: $410 per year, or about $34 per month.

4. Mercury: $432 per year, or about $36 per month.

5. Workmen's Auto: $449 per year, or about $37 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in California for 50-year-old drivers with one at-fault crash

For drivers living in California with a recent accident, here are the insurers with the lowest average full coverage rates:

1. CIG: $1,504 per year, or about $125 per month.

2. Auto Club of SoCal: $1,562 per year, or about $130 per month.

3. Grange Insurance Association: $1,589 per year, or about $132 per month.

4. Mercury: $1,625 per year, or about $135 per month.

5. Workmen's Auto: $1,678 per year, or about $140 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in California for 50-year-old drivers after a DUI

The cheapest auto insurance we found for drivers with a recent DUI comes from the following companies, listed with rates for full coverage.

1. National General: $1,533 per year, or about $128 per month.

2. Mercury: $1,545 per year, or about $129 per month.

3. Grange Insurance Association: $1,985 per year, or about $165 per month.

4. Workmen's Auto: $2,205 per year, or about $184 per month.

5. CIG: $2,317 per year, or about $193 per month.

Cheapest full coverage car insurance in California for 60-year-olds

Drivers in California with clean driving records may want to think about getting quotes from these companies, which had the lowest average rates:

1. Mercury: $955 per year, or about $80 per month.

2. Auto Club of SoCal: $984 per year, or about $82 per month.

3. Geico: $995 per year, or about $83 per month.

4. 21st Century: $1,020 per year, or about $85 per month.

5. State Farm: $1,052 per year, or about $88 per month.

Cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in California for 60-year-olds

Drivers in California who want just the state minimum coverage may want to check with these insurers, which had the lowest average rates:

1. Geico: $202 per year, or about $17 per month.

2. Grange Insurance Association: $278 per year, or about $23 per month.

3. Auto Club of SoCal: $305 per year, or about $25 per month.

4. State Farm: $322 per year, or about $27 per month.

5. Mercury: $356 per year, or about $30 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in California for 60-year-old drivers with one speeding ticket

For drivers with a recent speeding ticket in California, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

1. Geico: $325 per year, or about $27 per month.

2. Grange Insurance Association: $400 per year, or about $33 per month.

3. Auto Club of SoCal: $402 per year, or about $34 per month.

4. Mercury: $450 per year, or about $38 per month.

5. Workmen's Auto: $464 per year, or about $39 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in California for 60-year-old drivers with one at-fault crash

For drivers with a recent accident living in California, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for full coverage:

1. Auto Club of SoCal: $1,462 per year, or about $122 per month.

2. CIG: $1,478 per year, or about $123 per month.

3. Grange Insurance Association: $1,548 per year, or about $129 per month.

4. Mercury: $1,647 per year, or about $137 per month.

5. State Farm: $1,657 per year, or about $138 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in California for 60-year-old drivers after a DUI

The cheapest auto insurance we found after a DUI came from the following companies, shown with their average rates for full coverage.

1. National General: $1,478 per year, or about $123 per month.

2. Mercury: $1,562 per year, or about $130 per month.

3. Grange Insurance Association: $1,935 per year, or about $161 per month.

4. CIG: $2,278 per year, or about $190 per month.

5. Workmen's Auto: $2,319 per year, or about $193 per month.

Cheapest full coverage car insurance in California for 70-year-olds

Drivers in California with clean driving records may want to think about getting quotes from these companies, which had the lowest average rates:

1. State Farm: $969 per year, or about $81 per month.

2. Geico: $1,032 per year, or about $86 per month.

3. Mercury: $1,065 per year, or about $89 per month.

4. Grange Insurance Association: $1,077 per year, or about $90 per month.

5. Auto Club of SoCal: $1,083 per year, or about $90 per month.

Cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in California for 70-year-olds

Drivers in California who want just the state minimum coverage may want to check with these insurers, which had the lowest average rates:

1. Geico: $212 per year, or about $18 per month.

2. Grange Insurance Association: $278 per year, or about $23 per month.

3. State Farm: $296 per year, or about $25 per month.

4. Auto Club of SoCal: $347 per year, or about $29 per month.

5. Mercury: $389 per year, or about $32 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in California for 70-year-old drivers with one speeding ticket

For drivers with a recent speeding ticket in California, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

1. Geico: $340 per year, or about $28 per month.

2. Grange Insurance Association: $400 per year, or about $33 per month.

3. Auto Club of SoCal: $458 per year, or about $38 per month.

4. State Farm: $470 per year, or about $39 per month.

5. Mercury: $495 per year, or about $41 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in California for 70-year-old drivers with one at-fault crash

For drivers with a recent accident living in California, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for full coverage:

1. State Farm: $1,530 per year, or about $128 per month.

2. Grange Insurance Association: $1,548 per year, or about $129 per month.

3. Auto Club of SoCal: $1,619 per year, or about $135 per month.

4. CIG: $1,678 per year, or about $140 per month.

5. Mercury: $1,834 per year, or about $153 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in California for 70-year-old drivers after a DUI

The cheapest auto insurance we found after a DUI came from the following companies, shown with their average rates for full coverage.

1. National General: $1,625 per year, or about $135 per month.

2. Mercury: $1,740 per year, or about $145 per month.

3. Grange Insurance Association: $1,935 per year, or about $161 per month.

4. Workmen's Auto: $2,530 per year, or about $211 per month.

5. CIG: $2,587 per year, or about $216 per month.

If you're an active member of the military or a veteran — or have an immediate family member who is — chances are you'll get a relatively cheap rate with USAA, a company that isn't available to the general public.

Because of that restriction, USAA isn't ranked with the others, but it was the cheapest auto insurance option for 40 of the 70 driver profiles we examined.

» MORE: Best car insurance for veterans and military

California drivers must carry liability insurance in the following amounts:

• $15,000 bodily injury liability per person.

• $30,000 bodily injury liability per accident.

• $5,000 property damage liability per accident.

Liability car insurance covers the cost of any damage, injuries or deaths you cause in a car accident, up to your policy’s predefined limits. Experts recommend getting more than the bare minimum if you want to avoid dipping into your own savings to cover expenses.

For instance, California has a relatively low property damage minimum, only $5,000. If you cause an accident and total another driver’s car, the damage could easily exceed that amount, and you would have to pay the difference out of pocket.

Check out NerdWallet’s guide to state car insurance requirements for more details on how the required and optional parts of your California policy work.

Auto insurance laws in California

California’s insurance laws are uniquely consumer-friendly, according to many experts. A lot of that is thanks to Proposition 103, which was approved by voters in 1988 and immediately required insurers to roll back prices 20%. Proposition 103 also mandated that auto insurance rates be preapproved by the state’s department of insurance, among other regulations. Many of the laws detailed below are from Proposition 103, but not all.

Auto insurance pricing: Unlike in most other states, auto insurers in California can’t set prices based on credit history, nor can they charge more for lapses in auto coverage.

The state also recently banned gender-based pricing, which tends to translate to higher premiums for young men and middle-age women. The rule was introduced this year and insurers have some time to roll out new rates so this may not affect you quite yet.

Auto body repair claims: California’s insurance code includes a consumer bill of rights for repairs after a claim. They include:

• The right to choose your own auto body repair shop and obtain independent damage estimates while the claim is ongoing.

• The right to an itemized invoice of repairs. The invoice must identify parts as new, used or rebuilt, and must indicate whether they are aftermarket or original equipment manufactured parts.

• When aftermarket parts are used, the insurer (and not necessarily the shop) must guarantee that they are equal to OEM parts in quality, safety, fit and performance.

• The right to accurate information about towing and storage services and your policy’s coverage, if any, for a rental car while yours is in the shop.

If you have a high number of accidents, DUIs or other factors making it hard to find auto coverage, you might qualify for insurance through the California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan. This organization connects high-risk drivers to insurance companies that will cover them.

For more help finding the most competitive prices in California, try NerdWallet’s car insurance comparison tool.

Low-income car insurance in California

If you can’t afford car insurance premiums, you might qualify for California’s Low Cost Auto Insurance program, which has several payment plans and no broker fees. Requirements include:

• A current California driver’s license.

• An automobile worth $25,000 or less.

• Income of no more than 250% of the federal poverty level.

The federal poverty level depends on the year and the number of people in your household. For one person in 2021, the income limit for the program was $32,200.

The program’s website has a calculator to determine income cutoffs for larger households, a rate calculator and a tool to find participating insurance plans. You’ll have to provide documentation of income, as well as other requirements, to qualify.

AAA, the automobile club best known for its roadside assistance memberships, also sells insurance in many states. But just like the clubs themselves, AAA insurance companies are separate companies that operate independently. If you use a AAA webpage, it will ask for your ZIP code in order to ensure you're looking at information for your local AAA club.

» MORE: Is AAA worth it?

The Automobile Club of Southern California serves the following counties: Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Mono, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare and Ventura. CSAA serves all other counties in California, plus several other states.

So if you’re a AAA member and move from Northern California to SoCal, or vice versa, you would transfer membership from one club to the other. If you have auto insurance through your regional club and move, your policy, premium and agent would also change.

If you’re a AAA member and need roadside assistance outside of your home club’s region, the AAA club in that area will take care of you.