Explore average insurance costs in our guide to Downey auto insurance.
The average car insurance rate in Downey, California, is $2,131 per year. That's more than the average across California ($1,868) and more expensive than the national average of $1,548. Our guide to car insurance in Downey — 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.
| Downey Average (annual) | California Average | National Average |
| $2,131 | $1,868 | $1,548 |
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. For a typical driver, GEICO offers Downey's most affordable premiums. Reference below the top options for affordable insurance in Downey. Don't forget to get car insurance quotes based on your unique driving profile.
Read our guide to finding the best cheap auto insurance.
The age bracket that pays the least for auto insurance in Downey consists of drivers in their 60s, who pay an average of $1,902. Those in their 50s don't pay significantly more ($1,911).
The Downey drivers facing the priciest insurance rates are teenagers. One of the most effective ways to get cheaper car insurance rates as a driver in Downey is to celebrate your 20th birthday. The cost differential between the car insurance premiums paid by teenage drivers and drivers in their 20s in Downey is $4,611, the largest such difference between any two age brackets.
| Age tier | Average Yearly Rate |
| Teenagers | $7,749 |
| 20s | $3,138 |
| 30s | $2,073 |
| 40s | $2,001 |
| 50s | $1,911 |
| 60s | $1,902 |
| 70s | $2,210 |
Learn more about how age influences auto insurance rates.
Marital status and gender can be contributors to car insurance rates, in some cases. Married drivers usually pay less for car insurance than their single counterparts. In Downey, married motorists pay $94 less than single drivers for auto insurance. Rates for those who are widowed are also much cheaper than rates for those who are single. Interestingly enough, in Downey, widowed drivers pay less than those who are single.
Gender is another factor that can impact auto insurance costs. In Downey, female drivers pay more for auto insurance than do male drivers: $2 per year, to be precise.
| Marital Status/Gender | Average Annual Rate |
| Female | $2,133 |
| Male | $2,131 |
| Single | $2,037 |
| Married | $2,037 |
| Divorced | $2,131 |
| Widowed | $2,069 |
Read more about the relationships between gender, marital status and insurance rates.
Maintaining a clean driving record is an effective way to minimize your insurance rates. Speeding citations, reckless driving charges, DUIs and DWIs, and at-fault accidents all tend to bring about rate increases.
Downey drivers found guilty of reckless driving pay a steep price when it comes to auto insurance, facing a rate increase of $3,661 per year versus the city average. A ticket for speeding results in an $874 rate hike while a DWI or DUI violation costs $3,547per year in extra insurance expenditures.
| Violation | Average Yearly Rate |
| DWI/DUI | $5,678 |
| Reckless Driving | $5,792 |
| At-fault Accident (damages < $1,000) | $2,139 |
| At-fault Accident (damages greater than $2,000) | $3,757 |
| Speeding Ticket (16-20 mph over speed limit) | $3,005 |
Learn more about the impact of driving violations on car insurance rates.
Credit score is often closely correlated with car insurance costs. Moving into the "Fair" credit tier from the "Very Poor" level is typically one of the most impactful steps a driver can take in pursuit of better car insurance rates.
In Downey, your credit score won't impact your rates — even if you have bad credit — because California is one of the few states that have restricted insurers from using drivers' credit score as a rating factor in pricing premiums.
Learn more about the relationship between poor credit and car insurance.
