Car Insurance in San Diego
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Car Insurance in San Diego, CA
The weather is rarely anything but perfect for a drive up the coast or down to Mission Park. Whether you're a sailor stationed in San Diego for the short term or a life-long citizen of "America's Finest City," driving in San Diego requires auto insurance.
Drivers in San Diego know the nightmare that is traffic in southern California. While Cali's second-largest city follows state traffic laws closely, it's worth noting the measures the city has taken to alleviate some traffic issues by enforcing certain regulations. For instance, traveling in the high-occupancy lane alone could earn you a citation from one of California's finest. Driving in San Diego can be nerve-wracking, but keep minimum levels of insurance coverage as required by California, be aware of signs, and you'll be fine.
Compare car insurance quotes in San Diego to make sure you get the best rate for auto insurance in SD. Remember, you may pay less based on your age, driving record, and where you live; even changing zip codes can change your rate.
How much is car insurance in San Diego, CA?
The total cost of car insurance in San Diego will depend significantly on the type of coverage you're looking for. For a rough sense of the cost, here are the average prices we see for the 3 most common types of coverage in the city:
State Minimum
Full 50/100
Full 100/300
Auto Insurance Cost Methodology
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What are the cheapest cars to insure in San Diego?
Evaluating and comparing the insurance costs for each possible car make, model, and year within the city can be a complex task. Nevertheless, if you're interested in identifying which recent models generally offer more cost-effective insurance, take a look at these top 10 most budget-friendly car makes and models in San Diego:
| Rank | Make and Model | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dodge Grand Caravan | $155 |
| 2 | Subaru Forester | $160 |
| 3 | Honda Cr-V | $161 |
| 4 | Honda Odyssey | $169 |
| 5 | Kia Sedona | $170 |
| 6 | Toyota Rav4 | $170 |
| 7 | Toyota Corolla | $173 |
| 8 | Kia Sol | $173 |
| 9 | Ford F-150 | $177 |
| 10 | Toyota Tacoma | $178 |
| Avg. premiums are weighted by zip code population sizes. Data accurate as of July 1, 2024 | ||
How do claims and violations impact my total cost?
The history of your driving can have an impact on your auto insurance rates. Incidents like minor collisions, significant accidents, a few speeding offenses, a DUI, or a hit and run situation can all influence your insurance costs in the city. Below is an overview of how rates vary based on common claims and violations in San Diego, arranged from the least to the most impactful:
| Violation or Claim | Average Monthly Cost | Price Difference |
|---|---|---|
| No Claims or Violations | $170 | - |
| Not at-fault Accident | $170 | 0% |
| Driving with expired registration | $247 | +45% |
| Speeding Ticket | $247 | +45% |
| At-fault Accident | $294 | +73% |
| Driving with a suspended license | $417 | +145% |
| Hit and Run | $445 | +162% |
| DUI | $457 | +169% |
What car insurance discounts can I get in San Diego?
San Diego offers a range of discounts that make protection more affordable. Some of these include multi-policy bundling, paying your premium in full, opting for paperless billing, and availing renewal discounts, among others. Check out the list below, ordered from the highest to the lowest discount rate, to see what savings opportunities could be within your reach.
| Potential Discounts | Average Monthly Cost | Monthly Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Low Mileage | $126 | +$44 |
| Multi-Policy Home | $151 | +$19 |
| Multi-Policy Renters | $162 | +$8 |
| Renewal discount | $164 | +$6 |
| Paid in Full | $170 | $0 |
| Electronic Funds Transfer | $170 | $0 |
| Paperless | $170 | $0 |
| None | $170 | - |
Premiums are sourced from over 30,000 zip codes across 200 insurance companies. We estimate premiums based on public filings for policies seeking 50/100 in liability with $500 deductibles for collision and comprehensive coverage. Estimated rates are based on a 35-year-old single female with a good credit score and no history of accidents or violations driving a 2023 Toyota RAV4 LE. We partner with Quadrant Information Services to source our data and assume no unique benefits or discounts are applied for these rates (unless otherwise stated). Your own rates may be different.