- Cheapest car insurance in California for a bad driving record
- How much is high-risk car insurance in California?
- Cheapest car insurance in California with a DUI
- Cheapest car insurance in California with multiple tickets
- Cheapest car insurance in California with a reckless driving conviction
- Cheapest car insurance after an accident in California
- Cheapest car insurance in California by city
- How to reduce car insurance rates in California for a bad driving record
- California car insurance laws for high-risk drivers
- Compare California high-risk driver car insurance rates with other states
Cheapest car insurance in California for a bad driving record
Mercury Insurance, Geico, Progressive offers affordable car insurance for high-risk drivers with bad driving record in California.
Having accidents, DUIs or traffic tickets on your driving record, will make you pay more for insurance. Most tickets will affect your rates for three to five years. A DUI can affect your rates for up to 10 years and can stay on your record for life.
| Company | Average annual premium for clean record | Annual premium for high-risk driver |
|---|---|---|
| Mercury Insurance | $2,031 | $3,182 |
| Geico | $1,919 | $3,454 |
| Progressive | $2,179 | $3,848 |
| Travelers | $2,460 | $4,319 |
| Auto Club Enterprises (AAA) | $2,466 | $5,224 |
| CSAA Insurance (AAA) | $2,600 | $5,736 |
| State Farm | $2,701 | $6,242 |
| Nationwide | $2,799 | $6,354 |
| Allstate | $2,627 | $6,477 |
| Farmers | $3,035 | $7,345 |
| USAA | $1,827 | $3,169 |
How much is high-risk car insurance in California?
A bad driving record or low credit score can significantly increase rates. While high-risk car insurance averages $5,180 in California, you can find rates as low as $3,182 from Mercury Insurance.
Although you may be labeled high-risk for many reasons, some factors raise rates more than others. For example, multiple speeding tickets may significantly raise car insurance rates, but so can a single ticket for excessive speed in a school zone.
Keep reading as we break down high-risk car insurance factors and rates.
Select your state and risk factor below to see the insurance company and its
average annual full coverage rates.
| Company | Annual premium for clean record | Annual premium after violation |
|---|---|---|
| Mercury Insurance | $2,031 | $3,190 |
| USAA | $1,827 | $3,470 |
| Progressive | $2,179 | $3,600 |
| Auto Club Enterprises (AAA) | $2,466 | $4,221 |
| Travelers | $2,460 | $4,590 |
| Geico | $1,919 | $4,784 |
| State Farm | $2,701 | $5,242 |
| CSAA Insurance (AAA) | $2,600 | $5,287 |
| Farmers | $3,035 | $5,322 |
| Nationwide | $2,799 | $6,117 |
| Allstate | $2,627 | $7,240 |
PEOPLE ASK:
Who is considered high-risk for insurance in California?
Each insurance company has its own rules for deciding who is a high-risk driver. But usually, things like a DUI, several tickets or accidents, or serious violations like reckless driving will put you in the high-risk category.
Cheapest car insurance in California with a DUI
While many insurers offer coverage after a DUI, Mercury Insurance provides the average cheapest coverage for $3,616.
A DUI is one of the most serious traffic violations to have on your record. Not only do you have to pay fines, but you'll also see vastly higher car insurance rates for up to 10 years. Multiple DUIs will cause your premiums to skyrocket.
The table below compares average car insurance rates with a clean driving record and rates after a DUI in California.
| Company | Average annual premium for clean record | Annual premium for a DUI |
|---|---|---|
| Mercury Insurance | $2,031 | $3,616 |
| Geico | $1,919 | $4,825 |
| Travelers | $2,460 | $5,250 |
| Progressive | $2,179 | $5,283 |
| Auto Club Enterprises (AAA) | $2,466 | $7,730 |
| Nationwide | $2,799 | $8,024 |
| CSAA Insurance (AAA) | $2,600 | $9,392 |
| State Farm | $2,701 | $9,499 |
| Allstate | $2,627 | $10,478 |
| Farmers | $3,035 | $12,025 |
| USAA | $1,827 | $5,690 |
Cheapest car insurance in California with multiple tickets
Mercury Insurance is the cheapest car insurance company for drivers with multiple traffic tickets, with an average rate of $2,893 or $241.
While one traffic ticket can affect car insurance rates, multiple tickets can significantly increase those rates. Failure to obey speed limits and traffic laws leads insurers to believe they will eventually have to pay claims due to risky driving.
This table shows California drivers how much multiple tickets increase premiums.
| Company | Average annual premium for clean record | Annual premium with a speeding ticket |
|---|---|---|
| Mercury Insurance | $2,031 | $2,893 |
| Geico | $1,919 | $2,994 |
| CSAA Insurance (AAA) | $2,600 | $3,299 |
| Progressive | $2,179 | $3,368 |
| Auto Club Enterprises (AAA) | $2,466 | $3,553 |
| Travelers | $2,460 | $3,700 |
| Allstate | $2,627 | $3,808 |
| State Farm | $2,701 | $4,071 |
| Farmers | $3,035 | $4,224 |
| Nationwide | $2,799 | $5,241 |
| USAA | $1,827 | $2,230 |
Cheapest car insurance in California with a reckless driving conviction
Drivers with reckless driving conviction can get the cheapest rates from Geico at $3,466.
You can be charged with reckless driving for many reasons, such as excessive speed, multiple accidents in a short time or street racing. Regardless of the cause, a reckless driving conviction raises car insurance rates.
The table below compares car insurance rates for drivers with a clean driving record and a reckless driving conviction.
| Company | Average annual premium for clean record | Annual premium for reckless driving |
|---|---|---|
| Geico | $1,919 | $3,466 |
| Mercury Insurance | $2,031 | $3,616 |
| Progressive | $2,179 | $3,850 |
| Travelers | $2,460 | $5,250 |
| Auto Club Enterprises (AAA) | $2,466 | $7,730 |
| Nationwide | $2,799 | $8,024 |
| CSAA Insurance (AAA) | $2,600 | $9,392 |
| State Farm | $2,701 | $9,499 |
| Allstate | $2,627 | $10,478 |
| Farmers | $3,035 | $12,025 |
| USAA | $1,827 | $3,465 |
Cheapest car insurance after an accident in California
Mercury Insurance has the lowest rates after an accident at $3,563. Progressive also has affordable rates at $3,600.
Drivers with accidents on their record typically pay higher insurance rates than those with a clean record. While car insurance rates may increase after one accident, multiple accidents can increase rates even more.
This table shows rates for drivers with a clean record, one at-fault accident and multiple accidents.
| Company | Average annual premium for clean record | Annual premium for one at-fault accident | Annual premium for multiple accident |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercury Insurance | $2,031 | $3,563 | $4,223 |
| Progressive | $2,179 | $3,600 | $5,845 |
| Geico | $1,919 | $3,876 | $6,612 |
| CSAA Insurance (AAA) | $2,600 | $3,961 | $6,037 |
| Auto Club Enterprises (AAA) | $2,466 | $4,006 | $5,357 |
| Travelers | $2,460 | $4,263 | $5,079 |
| State Farm | $2,701 | $4,543 | $7,444 |
| Farmers | $3,035 | $4,892 | $8,453 |
| Nationwide | $2,799 | $5,301 | $8,067 |
| Allstate | $2,627 | $6,275 | $9,667 |
| USAA | $1,827 | $3,007 | $4,370 |
Cheapest car insurance in California by city
Portola has the cheapest car insurance rates in California at $4,400. But the most expensive city is Los Angeles with rates of $6,754.
Your location in California also matters. For example, if you live in an area with heavy traffic or a high vehicle theft rate, rates will reflect the increased chance of claims.
| City | Average annual premium for clean record | Annual premium for high-risk driver |
|---|---|---|
| Portola | $2,058 | $4,400 |
| San Diego | $2,324 | $4,978 |
| Temecula | $2,356 | $5,049 |
| Fresno | $2,385 | $5,112 |
| Sausalito | $2,407 | $5,134 |
| San Jose | $2,406 | $5,147 |
| Irvine | $2,502 | $5,354 |
| Hayward | $2,546 | $5,466 |
| Anaheim | $2,572 | $5,529 |
| Vallejo | $2,608 | $5,602 |
| Long Beach | $2,681 | $5,750 |
| Sacramento | $2,665 | $5,772 |
| San Francisco | $2,777 | $5,967 |
| Oakland | $2,802 | $5,995 |
| Los Angeles | $3,149 | $6,754 |
How to reduce car insurance rates in California for a bad driving record
Finding affordable car insurance in California is possible, even with a bad driving record. Ways to lower car insurance rates include:
- Carefully consider filing claims. Paying for minor damage out of pocket may be cheaper than filing an insurance claim and increasing rates for years.
- Avoid costly infractions. Drive carefully to avoid adding traffic infractions to your record. Tickets only affect insurance rates for a few years, which will decrease if more tickets aren't added.
- Improve your credit score. Raising your credit score lowers car insurance rates. Make on-time payments and consider credit usage to improve your rating.
- Take a defensive driving course. Many insurance companies offer a discount for doing so, and some states remove driver's license points for successfully completing the class.
- Shop around for coverage. Every car insurance company weighs factors differently and offers different rates. Compare quotes to find the cheapest rates.
PEOPLE ASK:
How long are you considered a high-risk driver in California?
Three years is common, but how long you are considered a high-risk driver in California depends on the insurance company's guidelines. The state determines how long a violation stays on your record, but the insurance company determines how long you're charged for that violation.
California car insurance laws for high-risk drivers
If you're considered a high-risk driver in California, you may be required to file an SR-22. This form is filled out by your car insurance company, stating that you have at least the minimum required coverage. The court will let you know how long you must file an SR-22.
Although an SR-22 is typically called insurance, it is only the form. You don't need special insurance coverage, but rates are much higher for high-risk drivers and not all carriers insure such drivers.
Compare California high-risk driver car insurance rates with other states
Helpful auto insurance tools and calculators
You might also be interested in- California car insurance laws and requirements: What is changing in 2025
- California DUI and insurance: How much does a DUI raise your insurance?
- Speeding ticket calculator in California
- SR-22 insurance in California
- Non-owner car insurance in California: Best and cheapest companies
- California gap insurance: Everything you need to know
- Low-income car insurance in California: What you need to know
- California car insurance: A complete guide
- Cheapest home and auto insurance bundle in California
- California insurance crisis growing after most recent wildfires
