Car Insurance for Sacramento in 2024

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Drivers in Sacramento pay an average of $1,876 per year for car insurance, but you might find cheaper coverage if you shop around.

By Andrew Marder 

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If you’re looking for cheap car insurance in Sacramento, California, you’ll want to shop around and compare quotes from multiple companies. Insurers use a variety of factors to determine the cost of auto insurance, including your age, address, the type of car you drive and your driving history, which means every driver will ultimately get a different rate. That’s why shopping around is your best bet to getting the cheapest car insurance in Sacramento — or anywhere.

To find the cheapest companies in Sacramento, NerdWallet looked at average full coverage rates calculated from public filings obtained by pricing analytics company Quadrant Information Services. We analyzed rates for male and female drivers for all ZIP codes in Sacramento driving a 2021 Toyota Camry LE.

Read on to find out how auto insurance companies in Sacramento stack up. You can also check out our list of the cheapest car insurance companies nationwide.

Table of contents

Cheapest car insurance companies in Sacramento

The biggest variable in your insurance cost will be the company you choose, so you’ll want to shop around to be confident you’re getting the best rate. In Sacramento, these are the cheapest car insurance companies based on average rates for a 35-year-old driver with good credit and a clean driving record, according to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis. It's important to remember that rates are determined individually, so these may not be the cheapest companies for you.

CompanyRateNerdWallet Rating
Geico$1,316
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Grange Insurance Association$1,323Not yet rated
CIG$1,342Not yet rated
Auto Club of SoCal$1,375Not yet rated
Progressive$1,420
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
21st Century$1,458
NerdWallet rating 

3.0

/5
Mercury$1,479
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
State Farm$1,515
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
The Hartford$1,742
NerdWallet rating 

3.5

/5
Kemper$1,866Not yet rated

Average car insurance cost in Sacramento and California

Rates across California differ from those in Sacramento for lots of reasons. The number of accidents, the type of roads and even the weather can affect the rates drivers are charged. According to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis, the average rate in California is $1,660, while in Sacramento, it's $1,876.

Average city rateAverage state rate
$1,876$1,660

Average cost of car insurance in Sacramento’s largest ZIP codes

The cost of auto insurance varies based on where you live, even from one neighborhood to the next. Some parts of a city may have higher rates of accidents or thefts, which can lead to an increase in the price you pay. According to NerdWallet’s analysis, here are the most populated ZIP codes in Sacramento and the average annual cost of car insurance for a 35-year-old driver with good credit and a clean driving record.

ZIP CodeAverage Rate
95823$1,969
95828$1,925
95822$1,812
95831$1,669
95835$1,867
95838$1,980
95833$1,914
95826$1,751
95821$1,778
95820$1,810

Cheap car insurance in Sacramento by age

Along with where you live, your age is another major factor in the price you pay for car insurance. For example, younger drivers usually pay more than older drivers with similar driving histories and credit scores due to having less experience on the road.

You could easily find that the cheapest company for you changes as you age. Here's a breakdown of prices in Sacramento for similar drivers at various ages, according to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis.

Cheapest for 20-year-olds

While teen drivers are the most likely to be in an accident, 20-year-old drivers are still relatively new to the road. A higher rate of accidents among younger drivers means they also pay more for car insurance. According to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis, here's what 20-year-olds in Sacramento pay, on average.

CompanyRateNerdWallet Rating
State Farm$2,065
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
CIG$2,146Not yet rated
Geico$2,272
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Auto Club of SoCal$2,294Not yet rated
The Hartford$2,512
NerdWallet rating 

3.5

/5
Travelers$2,744
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Mercury$2,749
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
Wawanesa$2,753
NerdWallet rating 

1.5

/5
Progressive$2,854
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
Grange Insurance Association$3,119Not yet rated

Cheapest for 35-year-olds

By 35, your car insurance rates should plateau. This is a great age to compare rates, as the cheapest insurer you found in your 20s may no longer be the best deal.

Here’s what 35-year-old drivers might pay, on average, in Sacramento, according to NerdWallet’s analysis.

CompanyRateNerdWallet Rating
Geico$1,316
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Grange Insurance Association$1,323Not yet rated
CIG$1,342Not yet rated
Auto Club of SoCal$1,375Not yet rated
Progressive$1,420
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
21st Century$1,458
NerdWallet rating 

3.0

/5
Mercury$1,479
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
State Farm$1,515
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
The Hartford$1,742
NerdWallet rating 

3.5

/5
Kemper$1,866Not yet rated

Cheapest for 60-year-olds

At age 60, your car insurance rates are about as low as they're going to get if your history is clean. Most drivers in this age group have lots of experience on the road and established driving records, so insurers know what they're getting into and charge less accordingly. That doesn't mean you won't be able to save money by bundling or tapping into other discounts, so keep shopping around. Below are the cheapest companies, on average, in Sacramento, according to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis.

CompanyRateNerdWallet Rating
21st Century$1,148
NerdWallet rating 

3.0

/5
Auto Club of SoCal$1,170Not yet rated
Grange Insurance Association$1,218Not yet rated
CIG$1,227Not yet rated
Geico$1,243
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
State Farm$1,297
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Mercury$1,315
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
The Hartford$1,473
NerdWallet rating 

3.5

/5
Progressive$1,550
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
Travelers$1,693
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5

Sacramento’s cheapest companies and rates by driving record

Your driving history also plays a large role in your auto insurance rate. Drivers who have clean records will usually pay less than those with accidents, speeding tickets or other violations. Again, comparing insurance companies is your best bet to getting the lowest rate.

According to NerdWallet’s analysis, these are the average rates in Sacramento by company for good drivers and those with violations on their record.

Good drivers

Drivers without any marks on their records are almost always going to pay the lowest prices for auto insurance when compared to drivers with an accident or driving violation. Insurers set rates based on the potential risk of you filing a claim, and good drivers are considered among the least risky. Here are the average rates for good drivers in Sacramento according to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis.

CompanyRateNerdWallet Rating
Geico$1,316
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Grange Insurance Association$1,323Not yet rated
CIG$1,342Not yet rated
Auto Club of SoCal$1,375Not yet rated
Progressive$1,420
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
21st Century$1,458
NerdWallet rating 

3.0

/5
Mercury$1,479
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
State Farm$1,515
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
The Hartford$1,742
NerdWallet rating 

3.5

/5
Kemper$1,866Not yet rated

Drivers with a DUI

Drivers with a DUI can struggle to find affordable insurance and may need to turn to a high-risk car insurance company. A DUI on your record means you should expect to pay substantially more than a driver without one.

Here are the average rates for drivers with a DUI in Sacramento according to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis.

CompanyRateNerdWallet Rating
Grange Insurance Association$2,321Not yet rated
Mercury$2,616
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
CIG$2,664Not yet rated
Infinity$2,913
NerdWallet rating 

2.5

/5
Kemper$3,006Not yet rated
Progressive$3,026
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
Geico$3,310
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Travelers$3,862
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Auto Club of SoCal$4,357Not yet rated
Wawanesa$4,369
NerdWallet rating 

1.5

/5

Drivers with an at-fault accident

If you've got an at-fault accident on your record, you'll pay more than a driver with a clean record, but likely less than someone with a DUI. Your insurance company may ask for details about the accident to determine your rate — a fender bender will likely be treated differently from an accident caused by running a red light. Here are the cheapest average rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their record in Sacramento, according to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis.

CompanyRateNerdWallet Rating
CIG$1,729Not yet rated
Grange Insurance Association$1,856Not yet rated
Auto Club of SoCal$2,174Not yet rated
Progressive$2,241
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
Geico$2,334
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
State Farm$2,336
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Mercury$2,729
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
CSAA$2,766Not yet rated
The Hartford$2,825
NerdWallet rating 

3.5

/5
Travelers$2,870
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5

Shop around to get cheap insurance

No matter what company you're currently getting auto insurance from, remember that it's important to shop around and compare quotes from multiple companies. Prices and offers change over time, and you may be able to save by switching to another insurer.

Be sure to take advantage of potential discounts. Many insurers offer car insurance discounts for things like bundling other types of insurance with your auto policy or going years without filing a claim.

Methodology

For our “good driver” profile, NerdWallet found median insurance estimates in the city for single male and female drivers with good credit and no tickets or violations. The analysis included the largest insurance companies in each state; smaller insurers were also included when rates were available. Liberty Mutual and its subsidiaries were excluded from our analysis as rates were not made available.

We used a 35-year-old driver (unless a different age is stated) and a 2021 Toyota Camry LE and assumed 12,000 annual miles driven.

For full coverage policies, we used the following 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 coverage per person.

  • $300,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident.

  • Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible.

  • Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible.

Where required by law, minimum additional coverages were added. Some policies include additional coverages at the insurer’s discretion.

We used the same assumptions for all other driver profiles, with the following exceptions:

  • For drivers with minimum coverage, we adjusted the numbers above to reflect the minimum required coverage by law in the state.

  • For drivers with one at-fault crash, we added a single at-fault crash that happened six months ago, resulting in $10,000 in property damage and no bodily injury claim.

  • For drivers with a DUI, we added a single drunken driving violation that happened six months ago.

These are median rates generated through Quadrant Information Services. Your own rates will be different.