Best cheap car insurance in Sacramento for 2024

The best car insurance companies in Sacramento

Finding the cheapest average car insurance rates in Sacramento is important to many drivers. But the cost of coverage doesn’t tell the whole story, so Bankrate developed a five-point scoring system to help shoppers identify which California car insurance companies may be best for them. Our proprietary Bankrate Scores go beyond average rates to incorporate financial strength ratings from AM Best, customer satisfaction scores from J.D. Power, coverage availability, digital tools and more.

The cheapest car insurance companies in Sacramento

Drivers in big cities like Sacramento tend to face an increased chance of car accidents due to population density, as well as a higher risk of theft and vandalism. This contributes to the higher cost of insurance drivers may encounter here. Extreme weather-related risks like wildfires, flooding and earthquakes can influence rates to tick up further. To find the cheapest car insurance, experts recommend gathering quotes from several insurers. It may be beneficial to start your search with the following companies based on Bankrate’s analysis of average annual premiums.

How much is car insurance in Sacramento, California?

Auto insurance can be expensive, especially in the Golden State where average rates are higher than what is typical nationwide. The average cost of car insurance in Sacramento is $2,766 per year for full coverage. Minimum coverage costs an average of $687 per year. For comparison, the national average cost of full coverage is $2,278 a year — 20 percent more than in Sacramento.

Sacramento rates for teens

In California, age and driving experience are considered when determining car insurance rates. Teen drivers commonly have the highest premiums when compared to other age groups. The reason? Driving statistics show that young drivers are more likely to speed and less likely to consistently wear a seat belt, which leads to more frequent and deadly car crashes. Since drivers must be over 18 to sign a legal contract, the average rates below are for teen drivers added to their married parents’ policies.

Sacramento rates for young drivers

While young drivers can save money by remaining on their parents' policies for as long as possible, they may need to get their own policy once they move out of their parents’ home. Car insurance rates for young Sacramento drivers start to decline as they gain more driving experience but usually remain elevated until they turn 25. To keep car insurance rates for young adults in check, drivers should focus on maintaining a clean driving record and asking about discounts (like good student or student-away-at-school savings) that may apply to them.

Sacramento rates for adults

After age 25, drivers are no longer grouped in the youthful driver risk pool. This means those with clean driving records are likely to pay less than younger drivers with the same coverage.

Sacramento rates for senior drivers

It's typical for senior drivers to see their car insurance rates tick up with age. This is due to observed trends such as a decline in sight, reaction time and other changes that might affect a driver’s capacity to avert accidents and unexpected road situations. However, rising car insurance rates for seniors can be curbed by drivers by utilizing senior discounts and asking about a reduced mileage auto insurance policy.

The cheapest car insurance in Sacramento by driving record

Your driving history plays a major role in your ability to secure cheap auto insurance in Sacramento. Even the most attentive drivers may commit a traffic violation or be involved in an accident at some point, which can cause auto insurance premiums to increase significantly. Bankrate’s editorial team examined data from Quadrant Information Services to help pinpoint the cheapest car insurance in Sacramento based on your driver profile.

Car insurance with a speeding ticket in Sacramento

Speeding tickets in California can cause auto insurance to be more expensive. The average cost of full coverage car insurance in Sacramento after a speeding ticket is $3,811 per year. This is 0 percent more than the city average of $2,766. But not all companies rate speeding tickets the same way. Comparing rates and coverage options between insurance carriers may help you find a lower rate.

Car insurance after an accident in Sacramento

Not all car accidents will cause your car insurance rate to increase. Accidents where you are deemed at fault are the ones that will likely generate a policy surcharge and cause your premium to remain elevated for up to three years. Sacramento car insurance after an at-fault accident costs, on average, $4,587 per year for full coverage.

Car insurance after a DUI in Sacramento

Drunk driving is considered a high-risk driving behavior. Car insurance for drivers with a DUI can be costly and is not always easy to obtain. If you are convicted of a DUI, you will need to make sure your insurance company can file a California SR-22 on your behalf if the courts require it. If they cannot, you may need to switch to a nonstandard carrier. Sacramento drivers pay an average of $ per year for full coverage car insurance after a DUI, or 60 percent less than the city average for drivers with a clean record.

Frequently asked questions

Methodology

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze July 2024 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates are based on a single, 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:

• $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $50,000 property damage liability per accident
• $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
• $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
• $500 collision deductible
• $500 comprehensive deductible

To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2022 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.

These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.

Incidents: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the following incidents applied: clean record (base), at-fault accident, single speeding ticket and single DUI conviction.

Age: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the ages 20-70 (base: 40 years) applied. Depending on age, drivers may be a renter or homeowner. Age is not a contributing rating factor in Hawaii and Massachusetts due to state regulations.

Teens: Rates were determined by adding a 16- or 18-year-old teen to their 40-year-old married parents' policy. The rates displayed reflect the total cost of a driver this age added to their parents’ policy.

Bankrate Score

Our Bankrate Score considers variables our insurance editorial team determined impacts policyholders’ experiences with an insurance company. These rating factors include a robust assessment of each company’s product availability, financial strength ratings, online capabilities and customer and claims support accessibility. Each factor was added to a category, and these categories were weighted in a tiered approach to analyze how companies perform in key customer-impacting categories.

Each category was assigned a metric to determine performance, and the weighted sum adds up to a company’s total Bankrate Score — out of 5 points. Our scoring model provides a comprehensive view, indicating when companies excel across several key areas and highlighting where they fall short.