Best car insurance in Palmdale, CA (2024)

Wawanesa is the cheapest car insurance company in Palmdale, California, with an average monthly rate of $93.

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By

Rachael BrennanSenior Editor & Licensed Auto Insurance ExpertRachael Brennan is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. Her work has also been featured in MoneyGeek, Clearsurance, Adweek, Boston Globe, The Ladders, and AutoInsurance.com.&Andrew HurstSenior Editor & Licensed Auto Insurance ExpertAndrew Hurst is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. His work has also been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, USA Today, NPR, Mic, Insurance Business Magazine, ValuePenguin, and Property Casualty 360.

Edited by

Anna SwartzAnna SwartzSenior Managing EditorAnna Swartz is a senior managing editor who specializes in home, auto, renters, and disability insurance at Policygenius. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic and a writer at The Dodo. Her work has also appeared in Salon, HuffPost, MSN, AOL, and Heeb.
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Reviewed by

Ian Bloom, CFP®, RLP®Ian Bloom, CFP®, RLP®Certified Financial PlannerIan Bloom, CFP®, RLP®, is a certified financial planner and a member of the Financial Review Council at Policygenius. Previously, he was a financial advisor at MetLife and MassMutual.

Updated|5 min read

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Wawanesa has the cheapest car insurance rates in Palmdale, California, at $93 a month for a full-coverage policy. That's $1,119 a year, which is 46% cheaper than the citywide average.

Ready to shop car insurance?

The other cheapest car insurance companies in Palmdale are GEICO, USAA, Mercury, and National General. You can find which company in Palmdale has the cheapest car insurance for you by comparing quotes from multiple companies.

Company

Average monthly cost

Wawanesa

$93

GEICO

$137

USAA

$140

Mercury Insurance

$141

National General Insurance

$164

Methodology & why you can trust our rates

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: $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident

  • Property damage liability: $50,000

  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist: $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident

  • 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.

Cheapest car insurance companies in Palmdale, CA

Wawanesa

Policygenius rating 

Our proprietary rating methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the "methodology" section for more details.

Full orange starFull orange starFull orange starHalf orange starEmpty gray star

3.8

AM Best rating 

AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).

B

Cost 

Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).

$

$

$

$

$

Bundle home & auto

Usage-based discount

Why we chose itchevron icon

Wawanesa’s straightforward car insurance doesn’t leave much room for customization. But Wawanesa, which only offers coverage in California and Oregon, is still a top pick (especially for budget-conscious drivers) for its cheap rates and discounts.

Pros and conschevron icon

Pros

  • Lower-than-average rates

  • Top customer service ratings in California

  • Offers online claims and customer service options

Cons

  • Only available in California

  • No mobile app

We found that Wawanesa has the cheapest car insurance in Palmdale.Wawanesa has the lowest average rates in each of the city’s ZIP codes, too. Annually, the cost of car insurance from Wawanesa is $959 cheaper than the citywide average cost of coverage in Palmdale.

GEICO

Logo for GEICO insurance company

Policygenius rating 

Our proprietary rating methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the "methodology" section for more details.

Full orange starFull orange starFull orange starFull orange starHalf orange star

4.7

AM Best rating 

AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).

A++

Cost 

Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).

$

$

$

$

$

Offers classic car insurance

Offers motorcycle insurance

Usage-based discount

Mobile app

All 50 states

Good student discount

Why we chose itchevron icon

GEICO is available in every state and the District of Columbia. While GEICO doesn’t offer as many endorsements as other companies do, it has some of the cheapest car insurance rates around.

Pros and conschevron icon

Pros

  • Available in all 50 states

  • Easy-to-use digital tools

  • Plenty of discounts

Cons

  • Only sells through GEICO agents

  • Doesn’t underwrite its other products

GEICO has the second-cheapest car insurance rates in Palmdale at $137 a month. That’s a big jump from Wawanesa, which has the cheapest rates in the city, but it’s still the cheapest national car insurance provider in Palmdale.

USAA

USAA logo

Policygenius rating 

Our proprietary rating methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the "methodology" section for more details.

Full orange starFull orange starFull orange starFull orange starFull orange star

5.0

AM Best rating 

AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).

A++

Cost 

Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).

$

$

$

$

$

All 50 states

Bundle home & auto

Usage-based discount

Good student discount

Coverage for rideshare drivers

Mobile app

Offers classic car insurance

Offers motorcycle insurance

Why we chose itchevron icon

For eligible drivers affiliated with the military, USAA auto insurance is unmatched. USAA is known for cheap rates and consistently offering some of the best customer service in the industry.

Pros and conschevron icon

Pros

  • Low rates

  • Available nationwide

  • High customer service ratings

Cons

  • Only available to military members and their families

With an average cost of $140 per month, USAA is the third-cheapest car insurance company in Palmdale. USAA usually has one of the best reputations for customer service of any carrier, but you can only get coverage if you’re in the military, a vet, or a part of a military family.

Mercury

Mercury home and auto insurance logo

Policygenius rating 

Our proprietary rating methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the "methodology" section for more details.

Full orange starFull orange starFull orange starEmpty gray starEmpty gray star

3.2

AM Best rating 

AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).

A

Cost 

Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).

$

$

$

$

$

Bundle home & auto

Mobile app

Coverage for rideshare drivers

Good student discount

Usage-based discount

Why we chose itchevron icon

Mercury offers drivers fewer add-ons and endorsements than some competitors, but drivers will find affordable rates (especially after a driving violation or accident) and a handful of discounts that could lower costs even more.

Pros and conschevron icon

Pros

  • Low-mileage discount saves you money for driving less

  • Offers rideshare coverage

Cons

  • No gap insurance or new car replacement coverage

  • Low customer service ratings

  • Higher-than-average rates

Mercury is the fourth-cheapest car insurance company in Palmdale. On average, the cost of car insurance from Mercury is $141 a month. That’s $392 cheaper than the citywide average — and just one dollar a month more expensive than USAA.

National General

National General logo

Policygenius rating 

Our proprietary rating methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the "methodology" section for more details.

Full orange starFull orange starFull orange starHalf orange starEmpty gray star

3.5

AM Best rating 

AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).

A+

Cost 

Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).

$

$

$

$

$

Bundle home & auto

All 50 states

Usage-based discount

Mobile app

Why we chose itchevron icon

National General is best known for being a top provider of insurance for drivers who don’t have clean driving records, but the company also offers coverage to those who haven’t been in an accident or received a violation before.

Pros and conschevron icon

Pros

  • Offers emergency expense allowance of up to $500

  • Affordable option for high-risk drivers

  • Online customer service available

Cons

  • Higher-than-average rates

  • Few additional coverage options

National General is also one of the cheapest car insurance companies in Palmdale. The company has an average monthly rate of $164, which is $113 cheaper than average. National General is also one of the best companies if you’re a high-risk driver looking for coverage.

Best car insurance in Palmdale, California

The best car insurance company in Palmdale is USAA. USAA scored the highest on J.D. Power’s 2023 Auto Insurance Survey, which measures how policyholders feel about their company’s customer service, billing, claims, and price. [1]

However, USAA is only available to people affiliated with the military, which makes Wawanesa the best car insurance company for you if you can’t get coverage from USAA.

Rank

Company

Score

1

USAA

871

2

Wawanesa

843

3

CONNECT by AmFam

839

4

Auto Club of Southern California

832

5

GEICO

830

Cheapest car insurance companies by age in Palmdale, CA

Teens and young adults have less experience behind the wheel than older drivers, which makes them more likely to get into accidents and submit claims. Because of this, it can be harder for young adult drivers to find cheap car insurance.

We found that Wawanesa has the cheapest average car insurance rates in Palmdale for drivers of different ages.

Age

Cheapest company

Average yearly rate

16

Wawanesa

$2,333

18

Wawanesa

$2,008

21

Wawanesa

$1,499

25

Wawanesa

$1,258

30

Wawanesa

$1,153

35

Wawanesa

$1,116

45

Wawanesa

$1,089

55

Wawanesa

$1,057

60

Wawanesa

$1,029

65

Wawanesa

$1,026

70

Wawanesa

$1,054

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Cheapest car insurance rates by ZIP code in Palmdale, CA

We found that the cheapest car insurance company in each of Palmdale’s three ZIP codes is Wawanesa. On average, Wawanesa’s car insurance rates range from $89 to $100 a month.

The different costs of car insurance across Palmdale’s ZIP codes is because of the different numbers of accidents, traffic tickets, vehicle thefts, and other drivers in each part of town.

ZIP code

Cheapest company

Average monthly rate

Average yearly rate

93550

Wawanesa

$100

$1,194

93551

Wawanesa

$89

$1,063

93552

Wawanesa

$92

$1,100

Choosing the right car insurance company in Palmdale, CA

The cheapest available car insurance policy isn’t necessarily the right one for you. The best car insurance policy is the one that meets your needs at an affordable price, which is why our experts at Policygenius help you compare quotes and coverage options from multiple companies.

Car insurance rates for drivers with driving violations in Palmdale, CA

Much like your driver’s license, your driving record contains quite a bit of your personal information, including your height, hair color, license number, etc. It also contains information about any driving violations you may have on your record, including:

  • Points

  • DUIs

  • Fines

  • Accidents

  • Tickets

  • Suspensions

  • Revocations

The most effective way to avoid paying too much for car insurance is to keep your driving record clean. Having a moving violation or a car accident on your record can raise your rates, while a serious issue like a DUI or reckless driving could potentially cost you an extra $1,000 or more per year on your insurance premiums.

Violation

Wawanesa

GEICO

USAA

Mercury Insurance

National General Insurance

At-fault accident

$1,738

$3,044

$2,416

$2,945

$2,986

Suspended license

$1,632

$3,056

$3,513

$2,799

$2,834

Open container

$2,039

$4,272

$3,735

$2,799

$2,114

Expired registration

$1,632

$2,754

$1,894

$2,240

$2,114

Driving without lights

$1,632

$2,754

$1,728

$2,240

$2,114

Running a red light

$1,632

$2,754

$1,894

$2,240

$2,114

Following too closely

$1,632

$2,754

$1,894

$2,240

$2,114

Hit and run

$2,039

$3,056

$3,979

$2,799

$2,834

Not-at-fault accident

$1,153

$1,680

$1,728

$1,700

$2,017

Passing a school bus

$1,632

$2,754

$2,549

$2,240

$2,114

Reckless driving

$2,039

$3,056

$2,988

$2,799

$2,834

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Cheapest car insurance after an accident in Palmdale, CA

The cheapest car insurance company in Palmdale for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records is also Wawanesa. On average, coverage from Wawanesa costs $1,738 a year after an accident.

Insurance company

Rates for drivers with an accident

Wawanesa

$1,738

USAA

$2,416

Mercury

$2,945

National General

$2,986

GEICO

$3,044

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI in Palmdale, CA

Palmdale drivers pay higher-than-average car insurance rates, and drivers with a DUI or DWI are no exception. The average annual cost for car insurance in Palmdale is $2,078 per year, but a DUI can raise your rate to $5,223 per year or more, which is massive 151% higher than the rates for drivers with a clean driving history.

But drivers with a DUI can still save money on their car insurance by comparing rates between multiple companies. Our research shows that the companies in Palmdale with the lowest rates for drivers with a DUI are Wawanesa, National General, and Mercury Insurance.

Company

Rates for drivers with DUIs

Wawanesa

$2,039

National General Insurance

$2,759

Mercury Insurance

$2,799

GEICO

$4,272

USAA

$4,974

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket in Palmdale, CA

Getting a speeding ticket in Palmdale will also raise your rates, where the average cost of insurance for a driver with a speeding ticket is $2,788 per year.

Our research shows that Wawanesa, USAA, and National General offer the lowest rates for drivers with a speeding ticket in Palmdale.

Company

Rates for drivers with speeding tickets

Wawanesa

$1,632

USAA

$1,894

National General Insurance

$2,114

Mercury Insurance

$2,240

GEICO

$2,632

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with bad credit in Palmdale, CA

California is one of only a small handful of states that don’t use your credit score when setting your insurance rates, including Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan and Washington. This means that California residents with a low credit score won’t see an increase in their rates, but it also means that people with a high score won’t receive a discount on their insurance.

Ready to shop car insurance?

Buying car insurance in Palmdale, CA

California law requires all drivers to carry some form 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

The vast majority of drivers in California choose to carry at least 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 state minimum levels of liability insurance are enough to fulfill your legal obligations, but those limits often aren’t enough to cover the amount of damage caused in an at-fault accident. To make sure you are financially protected in an accident, it is important to carry the highest levels of liability coverage that you can afford. 

In addition to high levels of liability, drivers who can’t afford to repair or replace their car after an accident should also purchase comprehensive and collision coverage. These coverages protect you financially if you are at fault in an accident, but they can also step in to pay for damage to your vehicle if you are hit by an uninsured motorist or your car is damaged or stolen.

How to get cheap car insurance in Palmdale, CA

Most insurance companies offer a wide variety of discounts, including:

  • Safe driver discount

  • Accident free discount

  • Low mileage discount

  • Military discount

  • Good student discount

  • Bundling discount

  • Group/employer/professional discount

If the cost of car insurance would be a financial hardship, you may be eligible to apply for California’s Low Cost Auto Insurance program.

Frequently asked questions

Who has the cheapest car insurance in Palmdale, California?

Our research shows that Wawanesa has the lowest rates in Palmdale, but insurance rates are based on a number of factors that are unique to you. The best way to find out who has the lowest insurance rates in the state is to compare quotes between multiple companies.

How much is car insurance each month in Palmdale?

The average cost of car insurance in Palmdale is $173 per month, or $2,078 per year. Compared to the average cost in California, insurance in Palmdale is slightly more expensive.

Why is car insurance so expensive in Palmdale?

Rates in Palmdale are higher than some of the other cities in California. Rates in any given area are based on a number of factors, including the number of accidents and moving violations, car theft, and population density.

What happens if you drive without insurance in Palmdale?

If you're caught driving without car insurance in Palmdale, you can be fined, have your license suspended, and your car might be impounded. You'd also have to pay a fee to reinstate your license and retrieve your car. Finally, your insurance would get more expensive in the future.

References

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Policygenius uses external sources, including government data, industry studies, and reputable news organizations to supplement proprietary marketplace data and internal expertise. Learn more about how we use and vet external sources as part of oureditorial standards.

  1. J.D. Power

    . "

    Auto Insurance Customer Satisfaction Plummets as Rates Continue to Surge, J.D. Power Finds

    ." Accessed September 23, 2023.

Authors

Rachael Brennan is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. Her work has also been featured in MoneyGeek, Clearsurance, Adweek, Boston Globe, The Ladders, and AutoInsurance.com.

Andrew Hurst is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. His work has also been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, USA Today, NPR, Mic, Insurance Business Magazine, ValuePenguin, and Property Casualty 360.

Editor

Anna Swartz is a senior managing editor who specializes in home, auto, renters, and disability insurance at Policygenius. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic and a writer at The Dodo. Her work has also appeared in Salon, HuffPost, MSN, AOL, and Heeb.

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