Best cheap car insurance in Sacramento for 2025

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 $3,065 per year for full coverage. Minimum coverage costs an average of $891 per year. For comparison, the national average cost of full coverage is $2,678 a year — 13 percent less 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 $4,278 per year. This is 40 percent more than the city average of $3,206. 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

If you are found to be at fault in an accident, it's likely that you will see a premium increase when your policy renews. Insurers may place you in a higher-risk pool and assume that you are more likely to file claims in the future. The policy surcharge they will add to your premium covers the risks they are incurring by insuring you. That surcharge will likely stay on your policy for up to three years. The average car insurance cost in Sacramento after an accident is $5,222 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 $7,816 per year for full coverage car insurance after a DUI, or 155 percent more than the city average for drivers with a clean record.

Frequently asked questions

To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes. Your quotes will differ.

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 2025 Bankrate Score for auto insurance considers key variables that our insurance editorial team determined impact policyholders’ experiences with an insurance company. These factors include a robust assessment of each company’s cost of coverage, product availability, financial strength ratings, online capabilities and customer and claims support accessibility. We grouped these factors into three essential categories — cost and ratings, coverage and savings, and support — which we then weighted in a tiered approach. 

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.

• Tier 1 (Cost & ratings): To determine how well auto insurance companies satisfy these priorities, our team analyzed quoted premiums from Quadrant Information Services (if available), as well as any of the latest third-party agency ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best, Demotech and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). 
• Tier 2 (Coverage & savings): We assessed companies’ coverage options and availability to help policyholders find a provider that balances cost with coverage. Additionally, we evaluated the discount options listed on each company’s website.
• Tier 3 (Support): To encompass the many ways an auto insurance company can support policyholders, we analyzed avenues of customer accessibility along with community support. This analysis incorporated additional financial strength ratings from S&P and Moody’s and factored in a company’s corporate sustainability efforts.