Best car insurance in Redding, CA (2024)

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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.

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Anna SwartzAnna SwartzSenior Managing Editor & Auto Insurance ExpertAnna Swartz is a senior managing editor and auto insurance expert at Policygenius, where she oversees our car insurance coverage. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic.com, as well as an associate writer at The Dodo.
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Michael Reynolds, CSRIC®, AIF®, CFT-I™Michael Reynolds, CSRIC®, AIF®, CFT-I™Financial AdvisorMichael Reynolds, CSRIC®, AIF®, CFT-I™, is a financial advisor, principal and founder of Elevation Financial, host of the weekly personal finance podcast Wealth Redefined®, and a member of the Financial Review Council at Policygenius.

Updated|4 min read

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The average cost of full coverage car insurance in California is $1,837, which is higher than the average cost of insurance in the city of Redding, which is $1,498. Car insurance rates in Redding are lower than the state average, but drivers in Redding can still save even more money on their insurance.

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Comparing multiple quotes before choosing a policy is the best, most effective way to save money on your car insurance. Policygenius can help you compare rates from multiple companies to find the right coverage for you.

Key Takeaways

  • At $797 per year, Wawanesa has the lowest average rate for full coverage in Redding.

  • The cheapest ZIP code for car insurance coverage in Redding is 96001 at $1,488.

  • California’s state minimum liability requirements are $15,000 per person/$30,000 per person in bodily injury liability and $5,000 in property damage liability.

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: 50/100

  • 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.

Cheapest car insurance companies in Redding, CA

There are dozens of factors that influence your insurance rates, including your driving history, ZIP code, age, claims history, and the type of car you drive.

Because every company has their own process for setting insurance rates, the same coverage will have different rates with each company. Rates varying by company is the reason comparing quotes from multiple companies is the best way to save money on your car insurance.

Company

Average cost

JD Power Rating

Wawanesa

$797

--

National General Insurance

$1,182

838

GEICO

$1,250

874

Mercury Insurance

$1,256

830

United Financial Casualty Company

$1,343

--

Cheapest car insurance rates by ZIP code in Redding, CA

One of the most substantial factors insurance companies use to set your rates is your ZIP code. Rates fluctuate from one ZIP code to another based on a number of factors, including:

  • Number of accidents reported each year

  • How many traffic tickets are issued

  • Reported car thefts

  • Secure parking options

  • Amount of available street parking

  • Population density

The number of people in an area is a big factor when setting rates by ZIP code. Because there are fewer people in Redding, drivers are charged less for coverage than in larger cities like Los Angeles or San Francisco.

ZIP code

Average cost

96001

$1,488

96003

$1,500

96002

$1,508

Choosing the right car insurance company in Redding, CA

Just because a car insurance policy is cheap doesn’t mean it is the right one for you. The best car insurance policy is the one that meets your needs, 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 Redding, CA

Your driving record has all of the same personal information as your driver's license, including your identifying information (height, hair color, etc.) and your license number. It also contains information about any driving violations you may have on your record, including:

  • Accidents

  • Tickets

  • Suspensions

  • Revocations

  • Points

  • DUIs

  • Fines

The easiest, most effective way to keep your insurance costs low is to avoid having points or violations on your driving record. Having a moving violation or a car accident on your record can raise your rates, sometimes significantly, potentially adding hundreds of dollars to your annual premiums.

Violation

Wawanesa

National General Insurance

GEICO

Mercury Insurance

United Financial Casualty Company

At-fault accident

$1,228

$1,782

$2,302

$2,183

$2,867

DUI

$1,452

$1,654

$3,210

$2,087

$3,329

Suspended license

$1,162

$1,694

$2,294

$2,087

$3,042

Open container

$1,452

$1,271

$3,210

$2,087

$2,661

Expired registration

$1,162

$1,271

$2,072

$1,667

$2,867

Driving without lights

$1,162

$1,271

$2,072

$1,667

$2,867

Running a red light

$1,162

$1,271

$2,072

$1,667

$2,867

Following too closely

$1,162

$1,271

$2,072

$1,667

$2,867

Hit and run

$1,452

$1,694

$2,294

$2,087

$3,042

Not-at-fault accident

$820

$1,216

$1,274

$1,267

$1,389

Passing a school bus

$1,162

$1,271

$2,072

$1,667

$2,867

Reckless driving

$1,452

$1,694

$2,294

$2,087

$3,042

Speeding

$1,162

$1,271

$1,991

$1,667

$2,661

Collapse table

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

Drivers in Redding should expect to see their rates go up if they get a DUI or DWI. The average annual cost for car insurance in Redding is $1,498 per year, but drivers with a DUI on their record will pay much more, with an average rate of $5,223 per year, which is 248% higher than the rates for drivers with a clean driving history.

But rates can vary significantly by company, even for drivers with a DUI. Our research shows that the companies in Redding with the lowest rates for drivers with a DUI are Wawanesa, National General, and Mercury Insurance.

Company

Rates for drivers with DUIs

Wawanesa

$1,452

National General Insurance

$1,654

Mercury Insurance

$2,087

GEICO

$3,210

United Financial Casualty Company

$3,329

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

A speeding ticket or other moving violation can also cause your car insurance rates to go up in Redding, where the average cost of insurance for a driver with a speeding ticket is $2,788 per year.

But drivers with a speeding ticket can still save money on their car insurance by comparing quotes from multiple companies. Our research shows that Wawanesa, National General, and USAA offer the lowest rates for drivers with a speeding ticket in Redding.

Company

Rates for drivers with speeding tickets

Wawanesa

$1,162

National General Insurance

$1,271

Mercury Insurance

$1,667

GEICO

$1,991

United Financial Casualty Company

$2,661

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with bad credit in Redding, 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 your credit score won’t impact your insurance rate, even if it changes over time.

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Buying car insurance in Redding, 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

Out of all the options listed above, the vast majority of drivers choose to carry the state minimum levels of liability insurance (at least), 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 Redding, CA

There are multiple discounts available to drivers in Redding, no matter which car insurance company you choose, including:

  • Safe driver discount

  • Accident free discount

  • Low mileage discount

  • Military discount

  • Good student discount

  • Bundling discount

  • Group/employer/professional discount

If a discount isn’t enough to make your insurance affordable, you may be eligible to apply for California’s Low Cost Auto Insurance program.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest car insurance company in Redding, California?

Wawanesa is the cheapest car insurance company in Redding, as it's the only company we found that offers coverage in the city for less than $1,000 per year.

How much is car insurance per month in Redding, California?

On average, the cost of car insurance per month in Redding is $125. This makes the typical cost of coverage in Redding about $330 cheaper per year than in California.

What age does your car insurance go down in Redding, California?

Usually, you'll pay less for car insurance in Redding as you age. When you're 25 years old, your rates will be significantly cheaper than they were at 18 when you had less experience behind the wheel.

How can you save money on car insurance in Redding, California?

In Redding, you could get cheaper car insurance by seeking out companies with discounts, raising your policy's deductible if you have full coverage, and, best of all, comparing the cost of coverage across multiple companies.

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 and auto insurance expert at Policygenius, where she oversees our car insurance coverage. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic.com, as well as an associate writer at The Dodo.

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