Car Insurance for San Diego in 2024

Answer a few questions to compare personalized insurance matches.
CA-San Diego image

Drivers in San Diego pay an average of $1,586 per year for car insurance, but you might find cheaper coverage if you shop around.

By Andrew Marder 

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.

San Diego may be known for its world-famous zoo, but the city’s traffic can also be a zoo. Whether you’re stuck in rush hour gridlock or driving to the pristine beaches to enjoy the Southern California sunshine, you’ll need auto insurance.

NerdWallet has compiled car insurance averages in San Diego as a starting point for your search for a cheap policy. Use these averages as a baseline while you shop around for quotes. Get multiple car insurance quotes to see exactly what the cost may be for you, since car insurance is highly personalized and based on numerous factors, such as your personal driving record.

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

Table of contents

To find the cheapest companies in San Diego, 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 San Diego driving a 2021 Toyota Camry LE.

Cheapest car insurance companies in San Diego

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 San Diego, 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$1,100
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Auto Club of SoCal$1,148Not yet rated
Mercury$1,190
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
Grange Insurance Association$1,210Not yet rated
CIG$1,255Not yet rated
Progressive$1,262
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
21st Century$1,268
NerdWallet rating 

3.0

/5
State Farm$1,372
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Kemper$1,481Not yet rated
The Hartford$1,506
NerdWallet rating 

3.5

/5

If you’re looking for cheap car insurance in San Diego, 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 San Diego — or anywhere.

Average car insurance cost in San Diego and California

Rates across California differ from those in San Diego 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 San Diego, it's $1,586.

Average city rateAverage state rate
$1,586$1,660

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.

Average cost of car insurance in San Diego’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 San Diego 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
92154$1,448
92126$1,515
92105$1,688
92114$1,605
92115$1,590
92130$1,541
92129$1,511
92127$1,526
92117$1,505
92113$1,704

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.

Cheap car insurance in San Diego 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 San Diego 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 San Diego pay, on average.

CompanyRateNerdWallet Rating
State Farm$1,880
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Auto Club of SoCal$1,905Not yet rated
Geico$1,911
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
CIG$2,005Not yet rated
The Hartford$2,159
NerdWallet rating 

3.5

/5
Mercury$2,215
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
Travelers$2,301
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Wawanesa$2,414
NerdWallet rating 

1.5

/5
Progressive$2,498
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
21st Century$2,675
NerdWallet rating 

3.0

/5

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 San Diego, according to NerdWallet’s analysis.

CompanyRateNerdWallet Rating
Geico$1,100
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Auto Club of SoCal$1,148Not yet rated
Mercury$1,190
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
Grange Insurance Association$1,210Not yet rated
CIG$1,255Not yet rated
Progressive$1,262
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
21st Century$1,268
NerdWallet rating 

3.0

/5
State Farm$1,372
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Kemper$1,481Not yet rated
The Hartford$1,506
NerdWallet rating 

3.5

/5

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 San Diego, according to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis.

CompanyRateNerdWallet Rating
Auto Club of SoCal$978Not yet rated
21st Century$1,000
NerdWallet rating 

3.0

/5
Geico$1,045
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Mercury$1,069
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
Grange Insurance Association$1,112Not yet rated
CIG$1,145Not yet rated
State Farm$1,176
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
The Hartford$1,284
NerdWallet rating 

3.5

/5
Progressive$1,369
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
Pure$1,376Not yet rated

San Diego’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 San Diego 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 San Diego according to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis.

CompanyRateNerdWallet Rating
Geico$1,100
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Auto Club of SoCal$1,148Not yet rated
Mercury$1,190
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
Grange Insurance Association$1,210Not yet rated
CIG$1,255Not yet rated
Progressive$1,262
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
21st Century$1,268
NerdWallet rating 

3.0

/5
State Farm$1,372
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Kemper$1,481Not yet rated
The Hartford$1,506
NerdWallet rating 

3.5

/5

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 San Diego according to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis.

CompanyRateNerdWallet Rating
Mercury$2,094
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
Grange Insurance Association$2,122Not yet rated
Infinity$2,295
NerdWallet rating 

2.5

/5
CIG$2,488Not yet rated
Kemper$2,605Not yet rated
Progressive$2,630
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
Geico$2,766
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Travelers$3,183
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Auto Club of SoCal$3,522Not yet rated
Wawanesa$3,807
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 San Diego, according to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis.

CompanyRateNerdWallet Rating
CIG$1,614Not yet rated
Grange Insurance Association$1,697Not yet rated
Auto Club of SoCal$1,792Not yet rated
Geico$1,968
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Progressive$1,978
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
State Farm$2,139
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Mercury$2,198
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
Travelers$2,383
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
The Hartford$2,429
NerdWallet rating 

3.5

/5
Kemper$2,633Not yet rated

Minimum car insurance requirements in California

While shopping around, make sure you know the minimum required insurance coverage in California, which is: $15,000 in bodily injury liability per person, $30,000 in bodily injury liability per accident and $5,000 in property damage liability per accident. While these are the minimum amounts needed to drive legally in the state, you may want higher limits for more extensive financial protection, especially if you spend a considerable amount of time driving.