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Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes in Salinas, CA, for 2023

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Courtney Roy
Written by
Courtney Roy
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Written by
Courtney Roy
Insurance Writer
Courtney Roy is a financial and technology writer. He creates content that makes an actionable difference in the lives of his readers by helping them understand matters of personal finance. In addition to years of experience across multiple industries, Courtney has insurance licenses, a real estate license, and a degree in electrical engineering.
Danny Smith
Edited by
Danny Smith
Photo of an Insurify author
Edited by
Danny Smith
Insurance Writer
Danny is an insurance writer at Insurify. Specializing in auto insurance, he works to help drivers navigate the complicated world of insurance to find the best possible policy. He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. You can connect with Danny on LinkedIn.

Updated July 19, 2022

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Quick Facts

  • The average cost of car insurance in Salinas is $173 per month or $2,076 annually.

  • Car insurance in Salinas is $83 less than the average cost of insurance in California.

  • The cheapest top car insurance provider in Salinas on average is National General.

Car Insurance in Salinas, CA

Salinas might be known as the “Salad Bowl of the World,” but how much “green” can it save you on car insurance? Well, quite a lot. Yes, the ocean city just south of San Jose is 32 percent cheaper than the average rate for California car insurance. And with Insurify, you can find affordable car insurance coverage from the best local and national insurance providers.

Quotes by Top Companies

National General
$123
Travelers
$130
Bristol West
$197
Progressive
$212
Dairyland
$272

See More:

Cheap Car Insurance California

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Cheapest Car Insurance in Salinas, CA

What is the cheapest car insurance in Salinas?

National General is the cheapest top car insurance provider on average in Salinas, with rates starting at $123 per month. It’s still important to compare car insurance companies since everyone’s situation is unique.

The cheapest car insurance companies in Salinas are doing their best to win new customers. But no two auto insurance providers assess risk identically. That means each one’s going to put a little different weight on factors like your driving record and choice of vehicle. And if you’re a tad bit curious about the best car insurance for Salinas drivers, here are the rates.

Insurance CompanyAverage Monthly Quote
National General$123
Travelers$130
Bristol West$197
Progressive$212
Dairyland$272
Kemper$79
Mile Auto$90
Aspire General$95
Freedom National$129
Anchor$133
Metromile$136
Bluefire$138
21st Century$141
Sun Coast$142
Clearcover$147
Mercury$157
SafeAuto$168
Safeco$171
Workmen's$193
Stillwater$208
Infinity$222
Pronto$513
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

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Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in California

All motor vehicles operated or parked on California roadways are required to be insured. Proof of insurance must be carried in your car at all times and must be available when:

  • Requested by law enforcement

  • Renewing vehicle registration

  • The vehicle is involved in a car accident

The minimum liability insurance requirements for private passenger vehicles in California[1] are:

  • $15,000 per person for bodily injury

  • $30,000 per accident for bodily injury

As a major part of your liability insurance, bodily injury coverage covers medical bills for people other than the policyholder who are injured during an accident. California is an at-fault state, meaning the driver who is responsible for the collision is also responsible for paying for any resulting expenses, either through their car insurance provider or out of pocket.

  • $5,000 per accident for property damage

If it’s determined that an insured driver is at fault for an accident, this coverage pays for repairs to the property of the other involved parties. Additionally, property damage coverage can cover legal costs if the insured driver is involved in a lawsuit following the accident.

Salinas Car Insurance Rates by Driving and Accident History

Insurers look at your driving history for the past three or five years when setting the price of your insurance premiums[2]. So if you have a spotless driving record, you can earn good driver or safe driver discounts. On the other hand, driving violations, accidents, and speeding tickets only bump up the average cost of auto insurance coverage.

Driver HistoryAverage Monthly Cost
Clean Record$155
Speeding Ticket$208
At-Fault Accident$226
DUI$308
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

See More:

High-Risk Car Insurance California

DUI Car Insurance California

Salinas Car Insurance Rates by Credit Tier

California is one of the few states that prohibit auto insurance companies from using credit scores when setting car insurance rates[3]. Insurance experts argue there’s a link between good credit and safe driving, but the people of California decided they should be judged based on factors like their driving history, vehicle type, and location.

How to Get the Cheapest Car Insurance in Salinas

If you’re still trying to decide whether full coverage or state minimum liability coverage is best, Insurify can help you discover the cheapest car insurance rates for either. And when you’re ready for your free quotes, simply enter a few details about your vehicle and driving history. Insurify will do all the heavy lifting and give you the best rates from providers in Salinas.

You can even see which discounts you qualify for and adjust your coverage levels to your precise needs. So it’s possible to personalize your policy to your heart’s desire without ever talking to an insurance agent. Plus, if you match or beat the average in Salinas, you could save as much as $996 annually compared to the annual rate in the Golden State.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The best method to score cheap auto insurance rates is to compare quotes from national providers as well as local companies. Other winning strategies include raising your deductibles, bundling with homeowners insurance or renters insurance, or opting for state minimum coverage. And you can do all the above at Insurify.

  • The average rate for car insurance in Salinas is $173 per month. That price tag is cheaper than both California as a whole and the national average. However, prices can vary by age, location, marital status, and driving record. That’s why you always secure the cheapest auto insurance policies by comparing quotes from multiple companies.

  • It may surprise you that everything from weather and traffic patterns to the cost of healthcare and auto repairs can affect the price of car insurance in Salinas. However, the most significant factors remain firmly in most people’s control. For example, if you have a clean driving record, you’re almost guaranteed cheaper car insurance quotes than someone with many infractions.

Insurify Insights

How Salinas Drivers Measure Up

While most drivers know that car insurance quotes are determined in part by your personal driving history, many may be unaware that rates are also impacted by the average risk of the drivers around you as well. Check out Insurify's latest analysis of driving records in Salinas, California below:

Methodology

Drawing from an internal database of over 4 million car insurance applications, the research team at Insurify analyzes patterns in car ownership and driver behavior - including how Salinas drivers measure up to their fellow motorists across California in areas including speeding, DUIs, and more.
Insurify Insights publishes data-driven articles, trend analyses, and national rankings each week on all factors related to cars and those who drive them.

honda

Honda Accord

Most Popular Car in Salinas

#32

City with the Most Speeding Tickets Rank in California

#44

City with the Most Moving Violations Rank in California

#41

City with the Most DUIs Rank in California

#64

City with the Most Suspended Licenses in California

  • While car accidents are a sadly unavoidable feature of time spent on the road, rates of accidents do vary from city to city and from state to state. Salinas drivers rank 93 in the number of car accidents per driver across all cities in California.

    • Rank within state: #93
    • Percent of drivers in Salinas with an accident: 11.1%
  • While driving while intoxicated is never acceptable, it’s a more common offense than many assume. Salinas drivers rank 41 in the number of DUI’s per driver across all cities in California.

    • Rank within state: #41
    • Percent of drivers in Salinas with a DUI: 3%
  • Reckless driving refers to a specific traffic violation: when drivers willfully act dangerously in spite of the risks they’re imposing on both themselves and others. Among all cities in California, Salinas drivers rank 58 in the number of reckless driving offenses per driver.

    • Rank within state: #58
    • Percent of drivers in Salinas with a reckless driving offense: 2%
  • The Insurify team classifies rude drivers as those who commit the following driving offenses: failure to yield or failure to stop, improper backing, passing where prohibited, tailgating, street racing, or hit-and-runs. Among all cities in California, Salinas drivers rank 64 in rude driving infractions.

    • Rank within state: #64
    • Percent of drivers in Salinas with a reckless driving violation: 2.3%
  • Exceeding the speed limit can endanger others and leave a permanent stain on your driving record. When compared to other cities in California, Salinas drivers rank 32 in the number of speeding infractions per driver.

    • Rank within state: #32
    • Percent of drivers in Salinas with a speeding ticket: 10.5%
  • Having a squeaky-clean driving record is an accomplishment to be proud of. Some cities have safer drivers than others; Salinas drivers rank 302 in clean driving records across all cities in California.

    • Rank within state: #302
    • Percent of drivers in Salinas with clean record: 76.5%
  • As auto manufacturers increasingly turn towards producing greener car models, more and more motorists are embracing hybrids and EV’s. Salinas drivers rank 266 in hybrid and electric vehicle ownership across all cities in California.

    • Rank within state: #266
    • Percent of drivers in Salinas with a hybrid/electric vehicle: 1.38%

Insurify Insights

Insurify's team of data scientists and content specialists presents Insurify Insights, a series of automotive, home, and health studies focusing on the topics that impact us all. through expert analysis of over 4 million car insurance applications and an array of top data sources, the Insurify Insights team produces new data-driven articles, trend analyses, regional superlatives, and national rankings every week. See Insurify Insights as featured in Forbes, Fox News, USA Today, NPR, and more.

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  • Data scientists at Insurify analyzed more than 40 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partner providers across the United States to compile the car insurance quotes, statistics, and data visualizations displayed on this page. The car insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers' vehicles, driving records, and demographic information. Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Service's database of auto insurance rates. With these insights, Insurify is able to offer drivers insight into how companies price their car insurance premiums.

Sources

  1. California Department of Motor Vehicles. "State Minimum Car Insurance." Accessed May 28, 2022
  2. California - The Online Traffic School, Inc.. "How California Traffic Tickets Affect Auto Insurance?." Accessed July 13, 2022
  3. The Pew Charitable Trusts. "Some States Take Aim at 'Discriminatory' Auto Insurance Pricing." Accessed July 13, 2022
Courtney Roy
Written by
Courtney Roy

Insurance Writer

Courtney Roy is a financial and technology writer. He creates content that makes an actionable difference in the lives of his readers by helping them understand matters of personal finance. In addition to years of experience across multiple industries, Courtney has insurance licenses, a real estate license, and a degree in electrical engineering.

Learn More
Danny Smith
Edited by
Danny Smith
Linkedin

Insurance Writer

Photo of an Insurify author
Edited by
Danny Smith
Insurance Writer
Danny is an insurance writer at Insurify. Specializing in auto insurance, he works to help drivers navigate the complicated world of insurance to find the best possible policy. He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. You can connect with Danny on LinkedIn.