Best cheap car insurance in San Diego for 2025

The best car insurance companies in San Diego

Amid rising insurance costs, finding cheap car insurance is a priority for most California drivers. However, you might consider other factors in addition to affordable rates. To help drivers find the best car insurance companies in San Diego, Bankrate utilizes its Bankrate Score. Our 5-point grading scale considers factors such as a company’s average quoted annual premiums, J.D. Power Auto Insurance Study ratings, coverage options, discounts and accessibility. Considering these aspects may help you understand the strength of an insurance company’s customer service and policy offerings.

The cheapest car insurance companies in San Diego

Whether you want a full or minimum coverage auto policy, you’re probably on the hunt for the cheapest car insurance in San Diego. While car insurance rates in San Diego are higher than the national average for both full and minimum coverage, they are on the lower end of the spectrum compared to other large cities in California. Below are the top cheapest car insurance companies in the San Diego area.

How much is car insurance in San Diego, California?

The average cost of car insurance in California is $2,975 per year for full coverage which is 14 percent more than the same level of coverage in San Diego, which is $2,607 per year. On average, California drivers pay $861 per year for minimum coverage, which is 14 percent more than what San Diego drivers pay. Car insurance is a highly personalized product, so your actual premium may be higher or lower than San Diego’s average. Factors like coverage level, driving experience and driving history make premiums between drivers and carriers vary significantly.

San Diego rates for teens

Teenage drivers are usually considered high-risk drivers in most states and tend to pay the most for car insurance compared to other age groups. Driving skills such as avoiding road hazards and adjusting your driving to accommodate weather conditions take time to learn. Teen drivers in San Diego looking for ways to find cheap car insurance may want to stay on their parents' insurance policy for as long as possible.

San Diego rates for young drivers

While drivers under the age of 25 are still considered youthful operators, their rates may start to decrease if they maintain a good driving record. As adult children move out and get their own policies, they may still be able to keep certain discounts geared towards newer drivers, such as the driving training discount and the good student discount. Affordable car insurance rates for young drivers are possible, and below, you can find some of the cheapest carriers for young adults in San Diego.

San Diego rates for adults

According to data from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), adult crash fatality rates usually remain fairly consistent after the age of 25. While age remains a rating factor in California the entire time you maintain a driver's license, it can have less of an impact on your car insurance premium. This can mean other factors such as discounts, location and vehicle type may impact your average premium more than before.

San Diego rates for senior drivers

As drivers age, hearing, sight and strength impairments can impact reaction time, leading to more frequent and severe car accidents. Car insurance rates tend to start increasing when drivers turn 65 and continue to rise for the rest of the time they are licensed. California is one of the many states that offer defensive driver discounts specifically for drivers over 55. This can help keep car insurance rates for seniors more affordable.

The cheapest car insurance in San Diego by driving record

Auto insurance rates are rising across the country and maintaining a good driving record is the easiest way to ensure your rates are the lowest for your state. However, accidents happen and San Diego drivers with moving violations or at-fault accidents have significantly higher car insurance premiums than drivers with a clean history. Bankrate's insurance editorial team analyzed proprietary data provided by Quadrant Information Services to help you find the affordable car insurance in San Diego for various driving infractions.

Car insurance with a speeding ticket in San Diego

A speeding ticket in California can cost between $35 and $1,000, depending on the situation. Along with heavy fines, you will likely see a steep increase in your car insurance rates. San Diego drivers pay an average of $3,634 per year for full coverage car insurance after receiving a speeding ticket. This is 12 percent less than the state average.

Car insurance after an accident in San Diego

Drivers found at fault for causing an accident usually experience a steep increase in their car insurance rates due to the addition of policy surcharges. In California, policy surcharges typically last for three years, so searching for lower premiums during the surcharge period can help you save money. Drivers in San Diego pay 13 percent less than the California state average for full coverage car insurance after an at-fault accident.

Car insurance after a DUI in San Diego

In California, it is common for drivers who receive DUIs to need an SR-22 for three to five years after the offense. This form proves to the state that you are maintaining at least the minimum liability insurance required to keep your driver's license active. Not all insurance companies are willing to underwrite the added risk from a driver who received a DUI. If you have trouble securing coverage, you may consider going with a carrier specializing in auto insurance for high-risk drivers. On average, San Diego drivers pay 11 percent less than the state average for full coverage car insurance after receiving a DUI.

Frequently asked questions

Methodology

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze April 2025 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 2023 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 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.