Explore how to find affordable auto insurance in Sunnyvale.
Car insurance costs an average of $1,681 per year in Sunnyvale, California. That's cheaper than the average in California ($1,868) and pricier than the national average of $1,548. Keep reading to learn more about how much you can expect to pay based on your marital status, age, credit score, and other common factors in Sunnyvale.
| Sunnyvale Average (yearly) | California Average | National Average |
| $1,681 | $1,868 | $1,548 |
One of the most important determinants of your car insurance rates is the insurance company you work with. In Sunnyvale, GEICO offers the cheapest premiums for the typical insurance buyer. See below the best companies for cheap auto insurance in Sunnyvale — but don't forget to get personalized car insurance quotes to match your driving profile.
| Insurance Company | Average Rate (annual) |
| GEICO | $1,089 |
| Mercury | $1,397 |
| AAA | $1,595 |
| Alliance | $1,738 |
| State Farm | $1,782 |
Read our guide to finding the best cheap auto insurance.
The age bracket that pays the least for auto insurance in Sunnyvale consists of drivers in their 50s, who pay an average of $1,516. Drivers in their 60s pay marginally higher rates — $1,517 per year.
Young drivers aged 16 to 19 pay the most for car insurance in Sunnyvale. When Sunnyvale drivers hit their 20s, their insurance rates drop substantially. The cost differential between the car insurance premiums paid by teenage drivers and drivers in their 20s in Sunnyvale is $3,791, the largest such difference between any two age brackets.
| Age | Average Yearly Rate |
| Teenagers | $6,287 |
| 20s | $2,496 |
| 30s | $1,637 |
| 40s | $1,586 |
| 50s | $1,516 |
| 60s | $1,517 |
| 70s | $1,774 |
Learn more about the impact of age on auto insurance rates.
In some cases, a driver's gender and marital status may influence the car insurance rates they pay. Married drivers in Sunnyvale pay $71 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 Sunnyvale, widowed drivers pay less than those who are single.
Gender is another factor that can affect car insurance rates. In Sunnyvale, female drivers pay $5 per year more than do male drivers for car insurance.
| Gender/Marital Status | Average Yearly Rate |
| Female | $1,686 |
| Male | $1,681 |
| Single | $1,610 |
| Married | $1,610 |
| Divorced | $1,681 |
| Widowed | $1,635 |
Learn more about how gender and marital status have on insurance rates.
No matter where you live, steering clear of accidents and citations is the best way to keep your auto insurance rates affordable. At-fault collisions, DWIs, citations for reckless driving, and speeding tickets each contribute to increases in car insurance rates. Insurance companies reward low-risk drivers with the gift of low rates.
Two of the most expensive driving violations from an insurance perspective are reckless driving and DUI. In Sunnyvale, a reckless driving citation results in an average insurance rate increase of $2,825 per year, compared to the citywide average. For comparison's sake, a DUI offense results in a $2,727 increase, and a speeding ticket triggers a $683 rate hike.
| Citation | Average Annual Rate |
| DWI/DUI | $4,408 |
| Reckless Driving | $4,506 |
| At-fault Accident (damages less than $1,000) | $1,689 |
| At-fault Accident (damages greater than $2,000) | $2,961 |
| Speeding Ticket (16-20 mph over speed limit) | $2,364 |
Get more info on how a bad driving history can impact your car insurance costs.
Credit score is often closely correlated with car insurance costs. Moving from "Very Poor" to "Fair" credit is a great way to save money on car insurance.
California, however, is one of three states that have restricted insurance companies from using drivers' credit scores as a risk indicator. In Sunnyvale, drivers with excellent and poor credit pay similar premiums, given all other rating factors are constant.
