Car insurance for good drivers in California
Many of the factors insurance companies use to set your car insurance rates lie beyond your control, including your gender, age, and location. But there are a few factors you can control if you're looking for affordable rates.
If you want to minimize your insurance expenditure, try to keep your driving history clean, your credit score solid, and your monthly driving mileage on the low end. Car insurance companies are willing to provide price breaks to drivers who present little risk. Exhibiting as little risk as possible behind the wheel — and in everyday life — can result in more affordable rates.
See below a breakdown of the best companies with which to start your car insurance search if you’re a low-risk customer in California.
Auto insurance rates for drivers with no citations in California
One of the best ways to ensure you pay less for car insurance is to maintain a good driving record. Insurers view good drivers as less risky customers and in turn, charge them lower premiums. If you remain on the right side of the law, you could enjoy lower auto insurance rates.
If you're citation-free, start your search for insurance with Century National, offering an average annual premium of $1,188. That sums to $627less than the average car insurance rate for drivers without driving violations in California.
CHEAP CAR INSURANCE COMPANIES FOR DRIVERS WITHOUT VIOLATIONS IN CALIFORNIA
| Insurance Company | Avg. Annual Auto Insurance Rate |
| Century National | $1,188 |
| Esurance | $1,189 |
| GEICO | $1,354 |
| Progressive | $1,448 |
| Farmers | $1,495 |
| USAA | $1,501 |
| Mercury | $1,518 |
| Auto Club | $1,581 |
Auto insurance rates for drivers with above-average credit in California
Auto insurance companies reward clients who maintain a solid credit profile. If you have a credit score in the good, very good, or excellent tiers, you could receive a price cut on your auto insurance premium.
If your credit score sits within the "good" tier, your top option for car insurance in California could be Century National, offering an average annual rate of $1,188. If your credit score is in the “excellent” range, Century National could be a good company with which to start your search. Century National's prices for drivers with credit scores of 800 or better are $628 per year less than the average car insurance rate for drivers with excellent credit in California.
Find below a breakdown of auto insurance rates in California for drivers with good, very good, and excellent credit scores.
AFFORDABLE CAR INSURANCE COMPANIES FOR DRIVERS WITH GOOD CREDIT IN CALIFORNIA
| Insurance Company | Avg. Annual Auto Insurance Rate |
| Century National | $1,188 |
| Esurance | $1,189 |
| GEICO | $1,354 |
| Progressive | $1,448 |
| Farmers | $1,495 |
| USAA | $1,501 |
| Mercury | $1,518 |
| Auto Club | $1,581 |
AFFORDABLE CAR INSURANCE COMPANIES FOR DRIVERS WITH VERY GOOD CREDIT IN CALIFORNIA
| Insurance Company | Avg. Annual Auto Insurance Rate |
| Century National | $1,188 |
| Esurance | $1,189 |
| GEICO | $1,354 |
| Progressive | $1,448 |
| Farmers | $1,495 |
| USAA | $1,501 |
| Mercury | $1,518 |
| Auto Club | $1,581 |
AFFORDABLE CAR INSURANCE COMPANIES FOR DRIVERS WITH EXCELLENT CREDIT IN CALIFORNIA
| Insurance Company | Avg. Annual Auto Insurance Rate |
| Century National | $1,188 |
| Esurance | $1,189 |
| GEICO | $1,354 |
| Progressive | $1,448 |
| Farmers | $1,495 |
| USAA | $1,501 |
| Mercury | $1,518 |
| Auto Club | $1,581 |
Compare rates from top companies!
Car insurance for occasional drivers in California
If you drive infrequently, you're less likely to get into a collision. At least that’s the logic car insurance companies use when rewarding drivers who use their cars only infrequently. If you drive less than 7,500 miles per year, you could receive a car insurance price cut. Exactly how much you can save by driving fewer miles comes down to your insurance company's pricing practices.
If you're a California driver who doesn't rack up major mileage, consider Mercury, which offers average annual savings of $988 for low-mileage customers.
AFFORDABLE CAR INSURANCE COMPANIES FOR LOW-MILEAGE DRIVERS (<7,500 MILES/YEAR) IN CALIFORNIA
| Insurance Company | Avg. Annual Auto Insurance Rate |
| Mercury | $827 |
| Esurance | $954 |
| Century National | $968 |
| Progressive | $970 |
| GEICO | $998 |
| USAA | $1,069 |
| Auto Club | $1,069 |
| Grange | $1,175 |
Rates for good drivers in California — in major cities
Auto insurance rates don't depend only on the state in which a driver resides — their city matters, too. Auto insurers price policies by the driver’s home ZIP code, adjusting prices for the risk levels associated with various regions.
Find below a summary of car insurance rates for drivers with positive rating factors in the biggest cities in every state.
| City | Avg. Rate — No Incidents | Avg. Rate — Good Credit | Avg. Rate — Very Good Credit | Avg. Rate — Excellent Credit | Avg. Rate — Low Mileage |
| San Diego | $1,736 | $1,736 | $1,736 | $1,736 | $1,592 |
| Fresno | $1,821 | $1,821 | $1,821 | $1,821 | $1,659 |
| San Jose | $1,842 | $1,842 | $1,842 | $1,842 | $1,670 |
| San Francisco | $2,184 | $2,184 | $2,184 | $2,184 | $1,980 |
| Los Angeles | $2,587 | $2,587 | $2,587 | $2,587 | $2,354 |
