According to a Bankrate study, San Diego drivers are among the worst in the nation, a fact that might lead drivers to strongly consider their auto insurance coverage options. According to Bankrate’s 2021 study on annual premiums, San Diego’s average premium for full coverage is $1,898 and $692 respectively. Car insurance in San Diego is much cheaper than California’s overall car insurance. The cost of car insurance in California averages $733 a year for minimum coverage and $2,065 a year for a full coverage policy.
California car insurance is expensive compared to national average premiums of $565 per month for minimum coverage and $1674 for full coverage. However, there are many San Diego car insurance companies that offer affordable rates. In addition to exploring the cheapest car insurance companies in San Diego, you may want to look into factors such as a carrier’s mobile app accessibility, customer service ratings or customer reviews to ensure you find the best car insurance for you.
The best car insurance companies San Diego
There are many California car insurance providers to choose from. It can be overwhelming to know where to begin. We looked at five key aspects of auto insurance to find the best San Diego car insurance companies.
- Coverage – We look at the coverage you have for auto insurance and recommend additional protections to lower your risk and keep your family safer.
- We compare the pricing of auto insurance providers in San Diego. This is because we consider affordability as a key factor.
- Availability – If an auto insurance provider doesn’t service your address, price and coverage are meaningless. We look at each provider’s service area in order to compare coverage options throughout San Diego.
- Financial strength – This will tell you how fast a company can pay your claims. We consider ratings from AM Best, a leading ratings provider which rates an auto insurance company on its financial stability based on an exclusive score system.
- Customer service – It is vital to be able to call for help in an emergency. J.D. J.D. Power is the industry’s most trusted leader in customer satisfaction ratings.
Geico
Geico is one of the most popular companies in the country for its affordable policies and extensive list of discounts. AM Best gives it a top rating for financial stability. It scored A++ (Superior), on its ratings scale. Geico offers many coverages including rental reimbursement, mechanical breakdown, emergency road service and rental reimbursement.
Wawanesa
Wawanesa, a Canadian company offering regional car insurance, is focused on California and Oregon. You can add on niche protections like vehicle manufacturer replacement parts coverage. This optional addition to your collision and comprehensive insurance will ensure that the manufacturer receives replacement parts directly. However, Wawanesa enforces much stricter qualification guidelines than its competitors, requiring a clean driving record and a minimum of three continuous years with a license. Although the guidelines are strict, you can save a lot on your car insurance by qualifying. The company was awarded the highest J.D. This year, the company received the highest Power score for customer satisfaction.
Grange Insurance
Grange Insurance offers many auto insurance options including full glass repair, roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, and loan/lease gap coverage for those who owe more than they are worth. Grange Insurance also provides unique protections such as pet injury, mobile device and identity loss coverage. J.D. Power, Grange holds high ratings from AM Best for its financial strength. The company is well-known for its competitive pricing and wide variety of discounts.
Progressive
Progressive provides excellent options for auto insurance coverage, loan/lease payoff and a deductible savings bank with optional custom parts and equipment value protection. AM Best rates the carrier as A+ (Superior), which is a high rating for financial stability. It also scores an average score for customer satisfaction. Progressive’s rates are very competitive in spite of all the offers it has.
USAA
USAA is the only insurance provider that provides coverage for veterans, active-duty military personnel and their families. It has consistently received top ratings in customer satisfaction and an A++ (Superior), rating from AM Best for financial security. USAA offers excellent mobile tools that make managing your policy easy. There are also many ways to save money with a variety of discounts. USAA offers a wide range of coverage options including personal injury protection (PIP), extended benefit coverage, roadside assistance and rental reimbursement.
Cheapest car insurance in San Diego
Based on annual premiums, AAA, Geico, Progessive, and USAA are the four most affordable car insurance companies in San Diego. Prices for the average policy that provides minimum coverage start at $477 per year. USAA offers the lowest minimum coverage policy. USAA has the highest average annual full coverage policy at $2,342 per annum, compared to Geico’s $1,428/annum. These amounts are still very competitive among other providers in the area.
You may find San Diego car insurance at a lower rate than the $1,674 national average cost per year, depending on which provider you choose. San Diego is also cheaper than the average cost of car insurance in California, which is $2,065 per year for full coverage and $580 $733 for the minimum coverage.
There are many factors that can make a company different, including the available coverage, discounts, and ratings for financial strength and customer support. It is important to evaluate the technology available to you to manage your policy. This includes mobile tools for claim filing and tracking. These are just a few of the many benefits that we consider when choosing cheap car insurance San Diego.
Insurance requirements for San Diego
Before you can legally drive in San Diego, you will need to carry a minimum amount of car insurance:
- Minimum coverage for bodily injury liability: $15,000 per person, $30,000 per accident
- Minimum coverage for property damage liability – $5,000
Uninsured motorist coverage is required by insurance companies. However, it is not mandatory to have or purchase this coverage in your state.
While it may seem cheaper to choose minimum coverage, full coverage auto insurance policies will offer you far more protection. This will help to reduce your risk in the event that an accident occurs and pay for costly damages. If you are leasing or financing a vehicle, your lender may require that you carry a specific amount of car insurance, such as a full coverage policy or one that includes gap insurance.
San Diego car insurance discounts
California drivers have the opportunity to take advantage of a variety of discounts on car insurance in San Diego. These discounts are offered by our top auto insurers.
- Safe driver
- Good student
- Driving defensively
- New vehicle
- Low mileage
- Vehicle storage
- Discount for Families
- Loyalty Discount
- Installation of military personnel
- Emergency deployment
- Teen driver
- Online quote
- Statements that are paperless
- Complete payment
- Automated payment
- Savings bank with deductible
- Small Accident Forgiveness
- Large Accident Forgiveness
These discounts can lead to huge savings. You may also be eligible to receive exclusive discounts if you are a federal worker or a member in good standing of certain organizations. Many insurance companies offer discounts for multiple policies. For example, you can combine homeowners insurance and life insurance with your car insurance.
Questions frequently asked
Which is the best auto insurance company?
The best car insurance companies for 2021 receive top scores for financial stability and customer service with widespread coverage throughout the U.S. The best car insurance company will depend on your location, car type, and payment history.
What is the cost of car insurance in San Diego?
According to Quadrant Information Service, the average cost of car insurance in San Diego costs $692 for minimum coverage and $1898 for full coverage.
What amount of car insurance do you need in San Diego
San Diego drivers must have minimum car insurance. See the section on “San Diego insurance requirements”.
What is gap insurance?
Many car buyers prefer to finance their vehicle rather than buying it cash. The buyer must pay the loan if the vehicle is stolen or damaged. Gap insurance pays the difference between the amount due on the loan and the depreciated value of the car.
