El Cerrito, CA Car Insurance

Residents of El Cerrito pay, on average, about $52 per month for car insurance. Read our guide below to learn more about your specific rates.
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What can El Cerrito residents expect to pay for their car insurance? Are rates in El Cerrito higher or lower than those in neighboring areas? How do they compare to the rest of California? Find the average cost breakdowns and determining factors in the charts and writeups below:

How much is car insurance in El Cerrito?

Area Average Monthly Car Insurance Premium
El Cerrito$52
CA$56
United States$81

Looking at the chart above, you can see it's around $4 a month cheaper to insure your vehicle in El Cerrito than it is in the rest of California.

Compared to the rest of the country, auto insurance in El Cerrito is more affordable. The average monthly payment in El Cerrito is about $29 cheaper than the rate for the rest of the United States.

The price you pay may very well be higher or lower than the rates you see, but we can help explain why. There are a number of factors that determine how much insurance companies might charge you to insure your vehicle. Variables like age, gender, vehicle make and model, driving record, and even credit score (depending on your area) can all be taken into consideration when determining your monthly payment amount.

We've analyzed the average rate for El Cerrito and broken down the different factors to help you understand what your monthly bill might look like. If you're not certain that you're getting the cheapest rate for your area, just enter your ZIP Code below to find out!


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Average Car Insurance Rates by Age

Age Range Average Premium
Under 18Not Enough Data
18-24$76
25-34$46
35-44$42
45-54Not Enough Data
55-64$41
65+$36

It makes sense that older drivers would have more experience behind the wheel. When it comes to car insurance rates, that experience can really pay off. In this case, 18-24-year-olds pay two times as much as drivers 65 and older.

For every 10 years, you can expect to see a drop in your monthly premium. El Cerrito drivers may see their rates rise again once they hit retirement age.

Average Car Insurance Rates by Gender

Gender Average
Male$51
Female$54

On average, female drivers pay slightly less for car insurance than their male counterparts. While male drivers actually pay slightly less than female drivers on their monthly auto coverage, the difference in El Cerrito is only about $3 per month.

Average Auto Insurance Rates by Driving Record

Infractions Average Monthly Premium
1 Accident$55
Multiple Accidents$38
1 Ticket$76
Multiple Tickets$49

One of the biggest factors in determining your car insurance rates is your driving record. Drivers with clean records will pay lower rates than those with accidents or violations. In El Cerrito, a driving record with one accident will usually get you a rate around $55 a month. Similarly, drivers with one ticket will typically pay around $76 on average.

When it comes to your monthly bill, accidents, tickets, and other driving infractions can really take a toll. So, if you want the cheapest rates, drive carefully and try to maintain a clean driving record.

Average Insurance Rates by Vehicle

Vehicle Age Average Monthly Premium
Less Than 1 Year$48
2-3 Years$59
4-5 Years$51
6-7 Years$40
8-10 Years$57
11-14 Years$54
15 Years or Older$49

The most affordable vehicles to insure in El Cerrito are usually trucks and vans, which run about $35 per month.

Meanwhile, El Cerrito drivers who own a car or SUV can expect to pay about $53 for insurance coverage.

You can also expect to see slightly different rates depending on your vehicle's age. Newer vehicles are generally going to be the most expensive to insure. Once your car is a few years old, however, your monthly bill may start to dip back down. In El Cerrito, vehicles two-to -three years old are the most expensive to insure.

Average Car Insurance Rates by Relationship Status

Relationship Average Monthly Premium
Single (never married)$53
Married$50
Divorced$73

Generally, those who have settled down into marriage will pay slightly less to insure their vehicle. This oftentimes is a result of owning multiple vehicles that are on the same policy, something many companies award special discounts for.

Although married couples normally pay less than single drivers to insure their vehicles, the rates for both groups are about the same in El Cerrito.

Average Car Insurance Rates by Housing Situation

Housing Status Average Monthly Premium
Own$45
Rent$56
Live with parents$67

Another factor that comes into play is your living situation. If you rent your home or apartment, expect to pay around $11 a month more than if you own your own home in El Cerrito. But if you live with your parents, you can expect to pay a lot more.

That said, if you bundle your homeowners or rental insurance policy with your auto insurance, many companies will offer you a discount to make up for it and reduce your car insurance premiums.

Car Insurance Companies in El Cerrito, CA

Given that average rates are often changing, it's a smart move to know the direction your area is trending before picking an insurance policy.

In El Cerrito, car insurance rates rose from 2017-2018, before steadying out in 2019. Car insurance rates had been increasing again, hitting a high of $54 in 2021, and finished down at $47 in 2022.

How does El Cerrito compare to neighboring areas?

Why are car insurance rates in El Cerrito different from other areas?

Car insurance companies will take into account numerous factors when deciding how much to charge for a policy. While we've discussed the ones that affect your personal policy, others are based around where you live. These include things like:

  • Off-street parking accessibility
  • Total drivers
  • Rate of car accidents
  • Local crime rates
  • Area laws

It's good to be aware of these factors (even though you may not be able to do much to influence them) as you shop for a new policy or consider relocating. Different cities and towns will each have different rates, so guides like these are a handy way to get started.

How can I find the cheapest car insurance in El Cerrito?

While knowing what the average costs are for drivers like you can be helpful as you get an idea of what you might pay, the only way to know exactly what your rate will be is by requesting a quote from car insurance companies.

Don't worry, Compare.com will handle the heavy lifting for you. Enter your ZIP below, respond to a few questions, and you'll be comparing the cheapest quotes from the many car insurance companies that offer policies in El Cerrito.


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El Cerrito Insurance FAQs

What factors affect car insurance quotes in El Cerrito?

Car insurance companies calculate quotes based on a wide array of factors. These include things you can't control like your gender and age but also factors like your address, driving record, marital status, credit score, plus your vehicle's year and make and model.

Why is the cost of car insurance in El Cerrito different from other neighboring cities?

Car insurance companies take local factors into consideration when determining how much to charge for coverage. Things like crime rates, parking situations, and local laws -- which can vary from city to city -- can significantly affect your rate.

Which car insurance company will offer me the cheapest rate in El Cerrito?

Since the factors that car insurance companies take into consideration when calculating the rate you might pay differ from person to person, there is no one insurance company that will offer the cheapest rate to everybody. Things like your driving record, the number of drivers on the policy, and vehicle make and model, plus a number of others, are all taken into account. Because of this, it's a good idea to use sites like Compare.com to compare multiple quotes at once.

Do I need to change my insurance if I move to El Cerrito?

Any time you experience a major life event, whether it's moving to a new area, getting married, finding a new job, or other notable events, it's always a good idea to re-evaluate your current insurance. Certain companies offer cheaper insurance in certain cities, so even if you were getting the cheapest rate at your old address, it doesn't mean it'll still be the cheapest at your new home. That's why it's always good to use services like Compare.com to compare quotes from dozens of companies side-by-side.

Do I need to wait for my policy to expire to switch to a different car insurance company?

No. Regardless of how much time is left on your current policy, you can switch companies at any time. So, whether you're considering moving to El Cerrito or just curious if you're getting the best rates, why not take 10 minutes and see if Compare.com can save you some extra cash?

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