Best cheap car insurance in San Jose for 2025

The best car insurance companies in San Jose

Identifying the best car insurance carriers in San Jose requires evaluating more than just the average cost of insurance. Bankrate's insurance editorial team examines the range of coverage and endorsement options each company offers and analyzes the most recent proprietary data from Quadrant Information Services. In addition, we factor in any available discount or savings programs that help you save money. Lastly, we consult industry authorities for definitive ratings, such as J.D. Power’s 2024 Auto Insurance Study and AM Best regarding financial robustness. Combined with our Bankrate Score, we are able to pinpoint the best car insurance companies in San Jose that also tend to offer some of the cheapest car insurance rates.

The cheapest car insurance companies in San Jose

Whether you are looking for full or minimal coverage car insurance, you probably want to stretch your hard-earned dollar as far as it can go. Our proprietary data shows that full coverage auto insurance in San Jose comes at a rate that's 5 percent more than the country's average. Below you will find the five cheapest car insurance carriers for minimal car insurance in San Jose.

How much is car insurance in San Jose, California?

In San Jose, the average rate for full coverage car insurance per year is $2,813, which is 5 percent less than the state’s average full coverage rate. For those San Jose motorists who opt for minimal insurance coverage, you're typically looking at an average annual cost of $792, which is 8 percent less than the average minimum in California. Keep in mind that car insurance is highly personalized. Factors such as your driving record, coverage selection and vehicle type, among others, will cause your San Jose car insurance rate to be higher or lower than the city average.

San Jose rates for teens

Teen drivers, also referred to as “youthful operators” within the insurance industry, are typically seen as high-risk drivers in most states. Driving skills, like evading road obstacles and modifying driving techniques during varying weather conditions, requires time and practice to learn. Lack of driving experience and behaviors such as neglecting to use a seatbelt regularly or speeding increases the likelihood of more frequent and serious car crashes. This increased risk is why car insurance providers rate teen drivers higher. One way teenagers can cut down on these costs is by remaining on their parents' insurance policy for as long as feasible.

San Jose rates for young drivers

Car insurance rates for young drivers start to decline as they get older and gain more experience on the road. It's common for individuals around the age of 20 to leave their parents' house, purchase their own vehicle and secure their own insurance. Certain discounts, such as driver training and good student discounts, can usually follow you to your new auto policy until you're 25 years old.

San Jose rates for adults

Motorists are categorized into different risk groups with other drives who share similar traits. After the age of 25, most drivers who have maintained a good driving record are moved into standard or preferred risk groups. While age isn't as strong of a rating factor at this point, it's important to remember that car insurance is a shared risk. If there's a significant increase or decrease in car accidents within a specific age group in San Jose, it could potentially affect the rates for everyone in that group.

San Jose rates for senior drivers

With age, drivers can experience a decrease in depth perception and reaction time. These changes can increase the risk of causing a car crash, and insurance rates start to increase around the age of 60. Additionally, seniors can experience longer recovery times and complications related to car accident injuries, which is why the premiums associated with medical payments can also increase. Car insurance for seniors can still be affordable, especially if policyholders take advantage of senior defensive driving courses and other discounts geared towards older drivers.

The cheapest car insurance in San Jose by driving record

San Jose and the surrounding Bay area are seeing a rise in rush-hour traffic. Whether it's for commuting or driving to school, dense traffic patterns increase the risk of being involved in accidents, even for the most careful drivers. At-fault accidents, speeding tickets and DUIs can impact your car insurance rate through surcharges and loss of good driving discounts. Bankrate's editorial team analyzed exclusive data from Quadrant Information Services to help you find the cheapest car insurance in San Jose for a range of driving records.

Car insurance with a speeding ticket in San Jose

Speeding is closely linked to vehicle accidents, which is why policyholders with speeding tickets often experience an increase in their car insurance rates. A California speeding ticket could cost drivers as much as $1,000 in addition to the higher insurance rates. On average, drivers in San Jose who have received a speeding ticket pay $3,883 per year for full coverage car insurance premiums, which is 6 percent less than the state's average rate for car insurance after a speeding ticket.

Car insurance after an accident in San Jose

In California, if you're found at fault in a car accident, your insurance company may increase your policy rates for up to three years. Although some drivers may have accident forgiveness included in their coverage, it is usually only available for one accident and takes years to earn back the policy. The average post-accident rate for full coverage auto insurance in San Jose is $4,737. This rate is 6 percent less than California's average insurance cost after an accident.

Car insurance after a DUI in San Jose

Driving under the influence is considered a serious danger on the road, and not every insurance firm is willing to cover this risk. Drivers convicted of a DUI often require an SR-22 filing for a period of three to five years post-incident. This form proves to the state that you maintain the required levels of car insurance.

In the event of a DUI, it's crucial to make sure that your insurance provider can renew your insurance policy and provide the California Department of Motor Vehicles with your SR-22. If they're unable to, it may be necessary to search for a provider who can. The average cost of car insurance in San Jose is $6,981 per year for full coverage after a DUI infraction. This is 6 percent less than the state's average rate for full coverage car insurance post DUI.

Frequently asked questions

Methodology

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze the latest rates in April 2025 for ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates include the most recent approved rate changes filed by insurance companies that affect our profile. These revised rates are then weighted based on the population density in each geographic region so that policyholders can see the impact rates have in their areas. Quoted rates are based on a 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.