How much does car insurance cost in Berkeley?
The typical Berkeley driver pays $1,968 per year for auto insurance. That's more expensive than the average across California ($1,868) and more expensive than the national average of $1,548. Our guide to car insurance in Berkeley — researched and written by The Zebra's team of licensed insurance experts — includes average premiums based on age, credit score, driving history, and marital status. Read on for more information.
CAR INSURANCE RATES IN BERKELEY
| Berkeley Average (annual) | California Average | United States Average |
| $1,968 | $1,868 | $1,548 |
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Berkeley car insurance rates by company
One of the best ways to save on auto insurance is to compare rates from multiple companies and to choose the insurer that best fits your coverage needs. In Berkeley, GEICO offers the cheapest premiums for the typical insurance buyer. We've gathered the best cheap car insurance companies in Berkeley below. You should only use this list as a starting point: it's important to compare quotes specific to your unique driving profile.
BERKELEY AUTO INSURANCE PREMIUMS BY COMPANY
| Insurance Company | Average Yearly Rate |
| GEICO | $1,156 |
| Mercury | $1,520 |
| AAA | $1,659 |
| Alliance | $1,978 |
| State Farm | $2,009 |
Check out our guide to learn how to find the best cheap car insurance.
Auto insurance premiums by age in Berkeley
The age group that pays the least for car insurance in Berkeley are drivers in their age_60s ($1,764per year). Rates for Berkeley drivers in their age_50s are also relatively affordable, at just $1,769 per year.
Young drivers aged 16 to 19 pay the most for car insurance in Berkeley. One of the most effective ways to get cheaper car insurance rates as a driver in Berkeley is to celebrate your 20th birthday. The gap in cost between the car insurance premiums paid by teenage drivers and drivers in their 20s in Berkeley is $4,496. That's the biggest gap in premiums between any pair of age brackets.
BERKELEY AUTO INSURANCE COSTS BY AGE
| Age | Average Yearly Rate |
| Teens | $7,441 |
| 20s | $2,945 |
| 30s | $1,915 |
| 40s | $1,854 |
| 50s | $1,769 |
| 60s | $1,764 |
| 70s | $2,058 |
Learn more about the impact of age on auto insurance rates.
Berkeley auto insurance rates by marital status and gender
In some cases, a driver's marital status and gender may affect their car insurance rates. Married drivers in Berkeley pay $78 less than single drivers for car insurance. Married drivers pay less for car insurance than do single drivers in many locations. Rates for those who are widowed are also much cheaper than rates for those who are single. Interestingly enough, in Berkeley, single drivers pay more than those who are widowed.
Gender is another factor that can impact auto insurance costs. In Berkeley, female drivers pay more for auto insurance than do male drivers: $4 per year, to be precise.
BERKELEY AUTO INSURANCE RATES: BY MARITAL STATUS AND GENDER
| Marital Status/Gender | Average Yearly Rate |
| Female | $1,972 |
| Male | $1,968 |
| Single | $1,890 |
| Married | $1,890 |
| Divorced | $1,968 |
| Widowed | $1,917 |
Learn more about the impact gender and marital status have on insurance rates.
Berkeley auto insurance costs by citation and accident history
Maintaining a clean driving record is an effective way to minimize your auto insurance costs. Speeding citations, reckless driving charges, DUIs and DWIs, and at-fault accidents all tend to bring about rate increases.
Two of the most expensive driving violations from an insurance perspective are reckless driving and DUI. In Berkeley, a reckless driving citation results in an average insurance rate increase of $3,274 per year, compared to the citywide average. For comparison's sake, a DUI offense results in a $3,146 increase and a speeding ticket triggers an $803 rate hike.
BERKELEY CAR INSURANCE RATES AFTER A VIOLATION OR ACCIDENT
| Violation/Incident | Average Annual Rate |
| DUI/DWI | $5,114 |
| Reckless Driving | $5,242 |
| At-fault Accident (damages less than $1,000) | $1,978 |
| At-fault Accident (damages greater than $2,000) | $3,467 |
| Speeding Ticket (16-20 mph over speed limit) | $2,771 |
Learn more about how citations can raise your auto insurance rates.
Berkeley car insurance rates by credit tier
Credit score is often closely correlated with car insurance costs. Berkeley drivers who improve their credit score from "Very Poor" (300-579) to "Exceptional" (800-850) can save as much as 0% on their car insurance premiums. If you move from the "Very Poor" credit tier to the "Fair" credit tier, you could be in line for an auto insurance price adjustment. In Berkeley, moving into the "Fair" credit tier corresponds to an average of $0 in savings on insurance each year.
BERKELEY AUTO INSURANCE RATES BY CREDIT TIER
| Credit Score | Average Yearly Rate |
| Very Poor | $1,968 |
| Fair | $1,968 |
| Good | $1,968 |
| Very Good | $1,968 |
| Exceptional | $1,968 |
Get additional information on how credit impacts car insurance costs.
