Car Insurance Comparison: Colorado vs. California

Planning a move from Colorado to California? You may need to update your car insurance.

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By Kristine Lee
Updated May 20, 2022
Edited By Ross Martin

Comparing car insurance in Colorado and California

If you're relocating from Colorado to California, you may be focusing on the major concerns and big expenses: locating a dependable long-haul moving service, getting an apartment or house in your new city, and arranging your interstate move.

With all these moving parts, it can be easy to forget the details. Auto insurance is often just an afterthought, but it's important. To stay street legal and find cheap rates, plan to reevaluate your policy — or purchase a new policy — when you move.

Read our guide to auto insurance in Colorado versus California and ensure your move is pain-free. We'll cover the following topics:

  1. Insurance rate comparison
  2. Insurance rates by coverage level
  3. Cheap companies by state
  4. Rates in major cities
  5. Additional resources

 

Colorado vs. California auto insurance — average prices

Expect to pay more for car insurance once you move. The typical annual auto insurance rate in California is $291 pricier than the average expense in Colorado. The exact cost will depend on your coverage level, driving and insurance history, and your auto insurance company.

 

CAR INSURANCE RATES IN COLORADO VS. CALIFORNIA
State Average Annual Price
Colorado $1,416
California $1,707

 

Auto insurance rates by coverage level

How much you pay for auto insurance depends on how you use your vehicle and how much protection you want from your policy.

If you go with your state's minimum liability auto insurance coverage, you'll carry medical payment, bodily injury, and property damage liability coverages, plus uninsured and underinsured driver coverage and personal injury protection (PIP) in some states.

 

AUTO INSURANCE RATES FOR BASIC LIABILITY COVERAGE IN COLORADO vs. CALIFORNIA
State Period Cost
Colorado Annual $521
California Annual $573
Colorado 6-Month $260
California 6-Month $286
Colorado Monthly $43
California Monthly $48

 

Electing full-coverage car insurance will cost substantially more, but you'll get the added benefits of collision and comprehensive coverages, plus such perks as rental reimbursement and roadside assistance. The most notable benefit of full coverage auto insurance is that it protects you and your vehicle more comprehensively than does minimum liability coverage. If you're ready to spend more to protect your investment in your vehicle, full coverage could be the way to go.

 

AUTO INSURANCE PREMIUMS FOR FULL COVERAGE IN COLORADO vs. CALIFORNIA
Location Time Period Cost
Colorado Annual $1,406
California Annual $1,626
Colorado 6-Month $703
California 6-Month $813
Colorado Monthly $117
California Monthly $135

 

Inexpensive car insurance companies in Colorado and California

One of the top contributing factors to auto insurance costs is your choice of car insurance company. Car insurance companies assign premiums in a variety of ways, leading to substantial variations in pricing. Location also plays a role: some auto insurance companies sell policies only in certain places, while major insurers’ rates may vary by state.

When moving to a new state, it's critical to find the best cheap auto insurance company selling policies in your new location. Get your research started below with our list of the five cheapest car insurance companies in Colorado and California.

 

CHEAP AUTO INSURANCE COMPANIES IN COLORADO
Insurance Company Average Annual Rate
The Hartford $842
Grange $968
USAA $1,019
Nationwide $1,132
GEICO $1,164

 

See other cheap auto insurance companies in Colorado.

 

AFFORDABLE CAR INSURANCE COMPANIES IN CALIFORNIA
Insurance Company Average Annual Rate
USAA $1,132
Wawanesa $1,169
Century National $1,202
CSAA $1,210
Nationwide $1,238

 

View more cheap auto insurance companies in California.

 

Car insurance rates by city in Colorado and California

Though car insurance is regulated at the state level, insurance companies assign rates by ZIP code to adjust for unique factors like density and frequency of car crashes. The specific location to which you relocate plays a big part in deciding how much you pay for auto insurance.

The below tables show car insurance rates in major cities in California and Colorado.

 

AUTO INSURANCE PRICES BY CITY IN COLORADO
City Average Annual Rate
Denver $1,411
Colorado Springs $1,303
Aurora $1,389
Fort Collins $1,078
Lakewood $1,351

 

AUTO INSURANCE PREMIUMS BY CITY IN CALIFORNIA
City Average Annual Premium
Los Angeles $2,125
San Diego $1,354
San Jose $1,409
San Francisco $1,728
Fresno $1,487

 

Seeking data on another city? View other California cities here.

 

Additional resources: moving from Colorado to California

When you relocate from Colorado to California, you will encounter a new set of driving laws, different SR-22 or FR-44 requirements, and more. Make sure your move is seamless with our collection of information on your new state:

 

Compare rates now!

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Kristine LeeManager, Content and Data

Kristine is a licensed insurance agent who joined The Zebra in 2019 as an in-house content researcher and writer.

She is an authority on all things insurance and covers the ins and outs of auto, home, life and renters insurance. Her specialty is in providing data-backed insights and information to help insurance shoppers make informed decisions.

Kristine's insurance expertise and research have been cited by publications such as CNBC, Car and Driver, Business Insider, Yahoo!, The Balance, Nationwide and Elephant.

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About The Zebra

The Zebra is not an insurance company. We publish data-backed, expert-reviewed resources to help consumers make more informed insurance decisions.

  • The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.

  • The Zebra’s insurance content is not subject to review or alteration by insurance companies or partners.

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  • The auto insurance rates published on The Zebra’s pages are based on a comprehensive analysis of car insurance pricing data, evaluating more than 83 million insurance rates from across the United States.