Cheapest Car Insurance Quotes in Los Angeles

On average, Los Angelenos spend $244 per month on car insurance, which adds up to $50 less per month than the state average of $294. California drivers pay rates similar to drivers in Georgia and Delaware, where drivers pay $282 and $305 per month, respectively. 

Los Angeles is well-known for nightmarish traffic jams, and accidents are more likely to occur in highly traveled areas like L.A. As an at-fault state, California places the financial burden on drivers found at fault for accidents. To protect yourself against potential financial damage, you may want to consider a full-coverage policy if you’re driving in Los Angeles. 

How much does car insurance cost in Los Angeles? 

The cost of car insurance in Los Angeles varies widely based on many factors, including your driving history, type of car, where you live, age, and credit score. The best way to find affordable car insurance is to compare rates from multiple insurance providers. 

Insurify data scientists reviewed the latest insurance rates from Los Angeles to identify the cheapest quotes available. Drivers can expect to pay around $80 per month on the low end for liability insurance and up to $445 for a more expensive full-coverage policy. 

• Cheapest liability coverage in Los Angeles: Mile Auto

• Cheapest full-coverage insurance in Los Angeles: Mile Auto

• Cheapest coverage for new/young drivers in Los Angeles: Mile Auto

See More: Cheap Car Insurance in California

Cheapest car insurance in Los Angeles: Mile Auto

Mile Auto provides the cheapest car insurance rates in Los Angeles, with policyholders paying an average of $181 per month. This average takes into account divers with liability-only and full-coverage insurance. Numerous factors influence individual auto insurance rates, including your vehicle type, age, chosen coverage, driving history, and credit score.

How much car insurance do you need in Los Angeles?

California approaches liability coverage a bit differently than other states. The Golden State accepts different types of insurance, including:^[1]

• You can purchase a standard motor vehicle insurance policy.

• You can deposit $35,000 in cash with the state DMV.

• You can obtain a self-insurance certificate from the DMV.

• You can post a surety bond for $35,000 from a California-licensed company.

The key to note is that as a California driver, you must have some form of insurance and be able to show proof of insurance when registering your vehicle, if you’re in an accident, and if you’re stopped by the police. 

If you opt for a standard motor vehicle insurance policy, California law requires drivers to purchase the following amounts of liability insurance:

• $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident for bodily injury coverage

• $5,000 per accident for property damage coverage

California is an at-fault state, so a driver responsible for a car accident must cover the costs of medical payments and personal property damages — either out of pocket or through their auto insurance coverage. 

Though it’s not required, drivers in L.A. may consider purchasing additional auto insurance with a full-coverage policy that includes collision and comprehensive. Population size, traffic congestion, and the commonality of natural disasters in the West Coast present higher risk situations for drivers to navigate.

Learn More: What is a No-Fault State?

California DMV information

Drivers in California can use the DMV to access essential services like driver’s license renewal, vehicle registration, and fee or fine payment.^[2] Many services are offered online, which helps drivers avoid long waits at a physical branch. You can check their website to find out if you need to schedule an appointment at a physical location for the service you need.

Tips for getting cheap car insurance in Los Angeles

California is the 11th most-expensive state for car insurance in the United States, but you can still save money with a few tips. 

• Increase your deductible. You may be able to lower your monthly auto insurance payment by increasing your deductible. You could pay more out of pocket if you get in an accident, but you can save on premiums month to month. 

• Check for discounts. In addition to typical bundling and safe driver discounts, make sure you benefit from any policy discounts associated with your employer or other organization like an elks lodge or the AARP. 

• Purchase a safer vehicle. Many companies offer lower rates to drivers with vehicles with higher safety ratings and more safety features. Installing anti-theft devices also helps.

• Comparison shop. Comparing rates from multiple providers serves as the best way to save money on an insurance policy. You can get coverage more suited to your needs when considering several insurance companies. 

See More: High-Deductible Car Insurance

How age affects car insurance rates in Los Angeles

When insurance companies determine rates, they consider multiple factors, including the driver's age. Younger drivers with little experience typically pay the highest rates by age group to offset their higher risk of being involved in an accident and filing claims. Middle-aged and senior drivers with more experience benefit from lower rates. 

The following table provides insight into how age can affect car insurance rates.

Cheapest car insurance for young drivers in Los Angeles

Young drivers typically pay higher rates than other age groups because their lack of driving experience increases their risk of getting into an accident. As a young driver, you may secure lower rates by purchasing a vehicle with high safety ratings, installing anti-theft devices, and showing proof of good grades at school.  

The chart below shows average rates for full-coverage insurance policies from a number of auto insurers offering coverage in Los Angeles.

Cheapest car insurance for middle-aged drivers in Los Angeles

Middle-aged drivers can secure the lowest insurance rates by increasing their deductible or bundling their auto and home insurance policies for a discount. Compare rates for full-coverage policies from the auto insurers included in the table below. Mile Auto offers the cheapest rate at $168 per month.

Cheapest car insurance for senior drivers in Los Angeles

Senior drivers typically have the lowest insurance rates of any age group. You can further lower your insurance premium by enrolling in defensive driving courses and opting for a vehicle with extra safety features. Find average rates for full-coverage car insurance from the insurers below, with rates starting at $149 per month.

How credit scores affect cheap car insurance in Los Angeles

Typically a three-digit number between 300 and 850, credit scores show lenders and creditors your risk as a borrower. Credit age, payment history, and debt-to-income ratio go into your credit score calculations.

Numerous credit-scoring companies provide credit scores based on credit report information. While the results may differ by a few points between companies, they’re typically very close. The most common scoring tool, FICO, ranks credit scores in the following tiers:

• Poor: Under 580

• Fair: 580-669

• Good: 670-739

• Very Good: 740-799

• Exceptional: 800+

California is one of several states that does not allow insurance companies to consider credit scores when deciding on insurance rates. The state banned the practice in 2003.^[3]

When an insurance company decides to offer coverage to clients they consider multiple factors, including the credit score in applicable states. The company takes information from your credit report (including late payments and bankruptcies) to figure out its own “insurance score.” This number helps actuaries determine if you qualify for coverage through a particular company as well as the rate the company will offer. Insurance scores aren’t the same as credit scores, but credit scores do influence your insurance score in some states.^[4] 

Though California restricts how auto insurers use credit when determining rates, Insurify’s internal data indicates patterns in coverage cost exist by credit tier in Los Angeles. The table below includes average rates for full-coverage policies by credit tier. Drivers with poor credit tend to earn higher rates than those with good or excellent credit.

Read More: Car Insurance Rates by Credit Tier

The effect of driving habits on car insurance in Los Angeles

Two of the most significant factors that insurance companies consider when deciding policyholder rates are driving habits and history. Since both factors heavily influence the risk of an accident and the need to file a claim, companies use these to help protect themselves against financial loss. Some common things that could increase your insurance rates include:

• Speeding

• DUIs

• Reckless driving

• At-fault accidents

• Regularly driving long distances

• Driving at night

• Driving in congested areas (big cities like Los Angeles)

The tables below provide some insight into how certain driving infractions can affect insurance rates in Los Angeles. Keep in mind that a negative difference in a table doesn’t necessarily mean that a particular insurance company offers lower rates to drivers with that infraction. More likely, it indicates that the data sample size was small, possibly because insurers chose not to offer policies to Los Angeles drivers with that infraction on their record. Your actual insurance rate varies based on a number of factors — your driving record is just one.

Cheapest car insurance with an accident in Los Angeles: SafeAuto

See how various auto insurers compare for Los Angeles drivers with a clean record or an accident on their record. The cheapest rates come from insurers like Mile Auto, SafeAuto, Clearcover, and Progressive.

Cheapest car insurance with a DUI in Los Angeles: Mile Auto

The table below details how auto insurers in Los Angeles charge drivers with clean records versus those with a DUI on their record. 

Cheapest car insurance with a speeding ticket in Los Angeles: SafeAuto

Similar to drivers with accidents and DUIs, those with speeding tickets tend to face increased rates. See how auto insurers compare in the table below.

Car insurance in other California cities

California is a big state, with a mix of urban, suburban, mountain, and seaside areas. Insurance rates can vary widely based on location, even within the same state. Check out insurance rates in these other California cities.

• Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes in Bakersfield, CA 

• Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes in Oakland, CA

• Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes in San Diego, CA

• Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes in San Francisco, CA

• Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes in San Jose, CA

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Los Angeles car insurance FAQs

Find answers to commonly asked questions about Los Angeles car insurance below.