Car Insurance Comparison: Kentucky vs. California

Planning a move from Kentucky to California? Remember to update your car insurance.

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By Kristine Lee
Updated June 27, 2022
Edited By Ross Martin

Comparing auto insurance in Kentucky and California

If you're in the process of relocating from Kentucky to California, you might be focused on the primary concerns and expenses: finding a dependable long-distance moving company, securing a home in your new state, and arranging your interstate move.

With so many moving parts, it’s easy to overlook the details. Car insurance is often just an afterthought, but it's important. To stay street legal and find a good deal, plan to reevaluate your policy — or find a new insurer altogether — when you move from one state to another.

Consult our guide to auto insurance in Kentucky versus California and learn what your next steps should be. We'll cover the following:


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


Kentucky vs. California car insurance — average premiums

Expect to pay less for car insurance in your new state. The typical annual car insurance rate in California is $689 less than the cost in Kentucky. The exact cost will vary, depending on your coverage, driving and insurance history, and your auto insurance company.


CAR INSURANCE PREMIUMS IN KENTUCKY AND CALIFORNIA
State Average Annual Rate
Kentucky $2,396
California $1,707


Average car insurance rates by coverage level

The cost of car insurance coverage depends on how you use your vehicle and what level of coverage you desire.

If you go with state minimum liability auto insurance coverage, you will most likely carry bodily injury, medical payment, and property damage liability coverages, along with underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage and personal injury protection in some states.


AUTO INSURANCE PREMIUMS FOR BASIC LIABILITY COVERAGE IN KENTUCKY vs. CALIFORNIA
Location Time Period Premium
Kentucky Annual $975
California Annual $573
Kentucky 6-Month $488
California 6-Month $286
Kentucky Monthly $81
California Monthly $48


Electing full-coverage car insurance incurs further costs, but you’ll get the peace of mind that comes with collision and comprehensive coverages, along with extras like rental car reimbursement and roadside assistance. The chief pro of full coverage is that it insures your vehicle and you more comprehensively than does a lower level of coverage. If you want to go the extra mile to protect your investment, full coverage could be the way to go.


AUTO INSURANCE RATES — FULL COVERAGE IN KENTUCKY vs. CALIFORNIA
Location Duration Cost
Kentucky Annual $2,143
California Annual $1,626
Kentucky 6-Month $1,072
California 6-Month $813
Kentucky Monthly $179
California Monthly $135


Inexpensive car insurance companies in Kentucky and California

One of the top contributing factors to car insurance costs is the insurer you choose. Auto insurance companies assign premiums in a variety of ways, leading to substantial variations in pricing. Geography plays a role, too: some car insurance companies only sell policies in a few states, while major insurers' rates change by state.

When moving, it's crucial to find the best cheap auto insurance company selling policies in your new location. Get started below by viewing the five most affordable auto insurance companies in Kentucky and California.


AFFORDABLE CAR INSURANCE COMPANIES IN KENTUCKY
Insurance Company Average Annual Rate
Cincinnati $1,104
Kentucky Farm Bureau $1,151
USAA $1,199
Auto-Owners $1,385
Motorists Mutual $1,585


See other cheap auto insurance companies in Kentucky.


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


See more cheap auto insurance companies in California.


Car insurance rates by city in Kentucky and California

Though car insurance is regulated by states, insurance companies price rates by ZIP code to adjust for local factors like density and frequency of car crashes. The exact location to which you relocate will play a big part in deciding your auto insurance rates.

Reference the below tables to see car insurance rates in major cities in California and Kentucky.


CAR INSURANCE PRICES BY CITY IN KENTUCKY
City Average Annual Rate
Louisville $2,133
Lexington $1,484
Bowling Green $1,447
Owensboro $1,404
Covington $1,502


Check out a more comprehensive list of car insurance rates in Kentucky cities.


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


Looking for another city's data? View more insurance rates for California cities.


More information on moving from Kentucky to California

When you relocate from Kentucky to California, you'll face new rules of the road, different FR-44 or SR-22 requirements, and more. Ensure your interstate move is seamless with our collection of information on your new state:

Related content

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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.