The best car insurance in Los Angeles, CA

Rachael Brennan

Published October 8, 2021

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The average cost of a full coverage car insurance in Los Angeles is $2,642 per year, which is $664 more than than the state average in California of $1,978. Auto insurance rates in Los Angeles are significantly higher than the national average, but there are still ways to save money on your car insurance.

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Comparing insurance rates between multiple companies is the most effective way to save money on car insurance. Our experts at Policygenius can help you compare quotes to find the right coverage for you.

Key Takeaways

Wawanesa has the lowest average rate for full coverage in Los Angeles
The cheapest ZIP code in Los Angeles is 90045 at $1,169
California minimum liability requirements are $15,000 per person/$30,000 per person in bodily injury liability and $5,000 in property damage liability

Cheapest car insurance companies in Los Angeles, CA

Which insurance company you choose can have a big impact on your rates, but it isn’t the only thing that determines how much you will be charged. Your driving history, ZIP code, and your age are just some of the factors your insurance company will use when setting your rates. Each insurance company has their own system for setting rates, which means two companies can offer different rates for the same coverage.

Wawanesa

$1,535

USAA

$1,939

890

GEICO

$2,151

871

Mercury Insurance

$2,156

849

CSAA

$2,208

862

Cheapest car insurance rates by ZIP code in Los Angeles, CA

One of the biggest factors when determining insurance rates is your ZIP code. Rates in a specific ZIP code are impacted by a variety of factors, including the number of traffic tickets, accidents, secure parking options, and car thefts reported each year. Population density is also a factor when determining rates by ZIP code, which means L.A. residents will be charged much more than drivers in smaller, more rural areas.

Below are the average rates based on ZIP code in Los Angeles.

90002

$2,574

90003

$2,652

90004

$2,955

90005

$2,969

90006

$2,852

90007

$2,806

90008

$2,729

90010

$3,163

Choosing the right car insurance company in Los Angeles, CA

The best car insurance in Los Angeles is specific to you. Each individual driver needs the right coverage at the right price. Our insurance experts at Policygenius can help you find a policy that meets your needs.

Car insurance rates for drivers with driving violations in Los Angeles, CA

If you have a car accident or moving violation on your driving record, you should expect your insurance rates to increase, sometimes significantly, because of it. The best and most effective way to avoid paying too much for your car insurance is to keep your driving record clean.

At-fault Accident

$2,406

$2,799

$3,981

$3,787

$2,804

DUI

$2,847

$5,752

$5,563

$3,589

$7,971

Driving with a suspended license

$2,267

$4,061

$3,971

$3,589

$7,971

Driving with an open container

$2,847

$4,316

$5,563

$3,589

$2,804

Driving with expired registration

$2,267

$2,185

$3,582

$2,870

$2,804

Driving without Lights

$2,267

$1,993

$3,582

$2,870

$2,804

Failure to show documents

$2,267

$2,185

$3,582

$2,870

$2,804

Failure to stop at a red light

$2,267

$2,185

$3,582

$2,870

$2,804

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with bad credit in Los Angeles, CA

Some states allow insurance companies to base your insurance rates, in part, on your credit score. California has laws in place that prevent insurance companies from using your credit score when setting your rates, which means drivers in L.A. won’t see their insurance rates change, even if their credit score changes over time.

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Buying car insurance in Los Angeles, CA

California laws require drivers to carry some type of liability insurance, including:

Cash deposit of $35,000 with DMV
DMV-issued self-insurance certificate
Surety bond for $35,000 from a company licensed to do business in California
Motor vehicle liability insurance policy

Most drivers choose to carry the state minimum levels of liability insurance, which are:

$15,000 per person/$30,000 per accident for bodily injury liability
$5,000 for property damage liability

The minimum insurance requirements in California are low, which means it is possible to be in an accident that exceeds the limits of your coverage if you choose to carry the required minimum insurance. Carrying the highest levels of liability insurance that you can afford is the best way to make sure you are protected in the event of an at-fault accident. You should also carry comprehensive and collision coverage if you can’t afford to repair or replace your vehicle out-of-pocket.

How to get cheap car insurance in Los Angeles, CA

There are multiple discounts available to drivers in Los Angeles, including:

Good student discount
Bundling discount
Group/employer/professional discount
Safe driver discount
Accident free discount
Low mileage discount
Military discount

If a discounted rate isn’t enough to make your insurance affordable, you might consider taking advantage of California’s Low Cost Auto Insurance program.

Frequently asked questions

Is insurance more expensive in L.A.?

Insurance can be more expensive in L.A. than in other cities in California. Insurance companies charge higher rates in areas with more people, with higher rates of accidents, and other things that are more common in a major metropolitan area, which means that rates in L.A. are likely to be higher than in smaller cities.

Does my gender impact my insurance rates?

California made it illegal to base insurance rates on gender. Several other states have similar laws, including Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

What is the best car insurance for new drivers in California?

Wawanesa offers the lowest average rates in California, but just because they have the cheapest coverage doesn’t necessarily mean the coverage is right for you. It is important to compare quotes from multiple companies to find coverage that meets your needs.

Methodology

Policygenius has analyzed car insurance rates provided by Quadrant Information Services for every ZIP code in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. For full coverage policies, the following coverage limits were used:

Bodily injury liability: 50/100
Property damage liability: $50,000
Uninsured/underinsured motorist: 50/100
Comprehensive: $500 deductible
Collision: $500 deductible

In some cases, additional coverages were added where required by state or insurer.

Rates for overall average rate, rates by ZIP code, and cheapest companies determined using averages for single drivers ages 30, 35, and 45. Our sample vehicle was a 2017 Toyota Camry LE driven 10,000 miles/year.

Rates for driving violations and “Poor” credit determined using average rates for a single male 30-year-old driver with a credit score under 578.

Some carriers may be represented by affiliates or subsidiaries. Rates provided are a sample of costs. Your actual quotes may differ.

Rachael Brennan

Property and Casualty Insurance Expert

Rachael Brennan is a senior insurance editor at Policygenius, specializing in auto insurance. She worked for 21st Century Insurance, BlueCross BlueShield Massachusetts, and HealthPass New York. She also spent two years working as a content expert for dozens of auto insurance websites through 360Quote LLC.