Car Insurance for San Jose in 2023

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Drivers in San Jose pay an average of $1,670 per year for car insurance, but you might find cheaper coverage if you shop around.

By Andrew Marder 

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San Jose is one of the more congested cities in the U.S. From Silicon Valley rush hour to fans heading to the SAP Center to cheer on the San Jose Sharks, driving in the city can be time-consuming. And no matter where you’re headed, you’ll need car insurance to drive legally in San Jose.

NerdWallet analyzed car insurance rates in San Jose to give you a baseline of what you can expect to pay for car insurance. But since rates are personalized using factors like ZIPzip code, your driving history and what type of vehicle you drive, you should compare quotes from at least three insurance companies to be confident you’re getting the cheapest policy.

Read on to find out how auto insurance companies in San Jose 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 Jose, 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 Jose driving a 2019 Toyota Camry L.

Cheapest car insurance companies in San Jose

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 Jose, 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$967
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
Mercury$1,078
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
State Farm$1,198
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Workmen's Auto$1,205Not yet rated
21st Century$1,211
NerdWallet rating 

3.0

/5
Grange Insurance Association$1,220Not yet rated
CIG$1,256Not yet rated
Wawanesa$1,371
NerdWallet rating 

3.0

/5
National General$1,460
NerdWallet rating 

3.0

/5
Pure$1,496Not yet rated

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

Average car insurance cost in San Jose and California

Rates across California differ from those in San Jose 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 $1,659, while in San Jose, it's $1,670.

Average city rateAverage state rate
$1,670$1,659

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 Jose’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 Jose 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
95123$1,625
95127$1,697
95112$1,765
95111$1,809
95122$1,757
95125$1,573
95116$1,787
95124$1,517
95136$1,647
95148$1,738

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 Jose 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 Jose 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 Jose pay, on average.

CompanyRateNerdWallet Rating
Geico$1,654
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
State Farm$1,663
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Wawanesa$1,868
NerdWallet rating 

3.0

/5
Mercury$1,982
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
CIG$2,011Not yet rated
National General$2,179
NerdWallet rating 

3.0

/5
Workmen's Auto$2,183Not yet rated
The Hartford$2,207
NerdWallet rating 

3.5

/5
Travelers$2,273
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
21st Century$2,584
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 Jose, according to NerdWallet’s analysis.

CompanyRateNerdWallet Rating
Geico$967
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
Mercury$1,078
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
State Farm$1,198
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Workmen's Auto$1,205Not yet rated
21st Century$1,211
NerdWallet rating 

3.0

/5
Grange Insurance Association$1,220Not yet rated
CIG$1,256Not yet rated
Wawanesa$1,371
NerdWallet rating 

3.0

/5
National General$1,460
NerdWallet rating 

3.0

/5
Pure$1,496Not 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 San Jose, according to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis.

CompanyRateNerdWallet Rating
Geico$915
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
21st Century$964
NerdWallet rating 

3.0

/5
Mercury$1,009
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
State Farm$1,028
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Grange Insurance Association$1,122Not yet rated
CIG$1,144Not yet rated
Workmen's Auto$1,238Not yet rated
Wawanesa$1,257
NerdWallet rating 

3.0

/5
Pure$1,265Not yet rated
The Hartford$1,321
NerdWallet rating 

3.5

/5

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

CompanyRateNerdWallet Rating
Geico$967
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
Mercury$1,078
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
State Farm$1,198
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Workmen's Auto$1,205Not yet rated
21st Century$1,211
NerdWallet rating 

3.0

/5
Grange Insurance Association$1,220Not yet rated
CIG$1,256Not yet rated
Wawanesa$1,371
NerdWallet rating 

3.0

/5
National General$1,460
NerdWallet rating 

3.0

/5
Pure$1,496Not 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 San Jose according to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis.

CompanyRateNerdWallet Rating
National General$1,526
NerdWallet rating 

3.0

/5
Mercury$1,768
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
Grange Insurance Association$2,139Not yet rated
Workmen's Auto$2,252Not yet rated
Geico$2,417
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
CIG$2,491Not yet rated
Wawanesa$2,833
NerdWallet rating 

3.0

/5
Kemper$3,057Not yet rated
Travelers$3,165
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
Infinity$3,177
NerdWallet rating 

2.5

/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 Jose, according to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis.

CompanyRateNerdWallet Rating
CIG$1,622Not yet rated
Grange Insurance Association$1,710Not yet rated
Workmen's Auto$1,712Not yet rated
Geico$1,731
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
Mercury$1,856
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
State Farm$1,894
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
First American$2,070Not yet rated
National General$2,144
NerdWallet rating 

3.0

/5
Travelers$2,365
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
The Hartford$2,478
NerdWallet rating 

3.5

/5

Minimum car insurance requirements in California

California requires drivers to carry a minimum amount of car insurance, which is $15,000 in bodily injury liability per person and $30,000 per accident, plus $5,000 in property damage liability per accident. You may want more coverage, especially if you spend a considerable amount of time on the road, have a history of accidents or simply want more extensive financial protection.