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Modesto drivers pay an average of $141 per month for car insurance, based on our research. But don’t worry — several companies offer rates well below this citywide average.
USAA stands out as the most affordable option, with an average liability rate of just $81 per month. Aspire General and Sun Coast round out the top three cheapest insurers in the city, according to Compare.com data.
In the following article, we’ll explore the cheapest insurance companies for various driver types, how to pick the right insurer, and ways to save on your Modesto car insurance.
USAA offers Modesto’s lowest average rate, at $81 per month.
Modesto’s average rates are $188 per month for full coverage and $93 for basic liability.
California requires drivers to have at least 30/60/15 in liability coverage.
Even with Modesto’s higher-than-average rates, you can still find affordable coverage.
Check out the table below for the cheapest insurers in Modesto, based on Compare.com data.
Company  | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| USAA | $81 |
| Aspire General | $84 |
| National General | $90 |
| Sun Coast | $90 |
| GEICO | $92 |
| Mercury | $93 |
| Dairyland | $97 |
| Root | $109 |
| Allstate | $111 |
| Farmers | $114 |
| Direct Auto | $116 |
| Anchor | $117 |
| Bristol West | $123 |
| Kemper Special | $124 |
| State Farm | $124 |
| Travelers | $130 |
| Kemper Rsvp | $138 |
| 21st Century | $142 |
| Nationwide | $175 |
USAA comes out on top, with a monthly liability rate of $81.
Still, that doesn’t mean it’ll be the cheapest option for your unique driving profile. With that in mind, let’s break down the most affordable companies for different driver profiles and coverage types.
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While the companies above are a good starting point, your rates can vary quite a bit based on personal factors like age, driving history, where you live, and more.
With that in mind, the table below shows the cheapest companies for various backgrounds and coverages, according to our data.
Driver/Coverage Type | Cheapest Insurer | Insurer’s Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|
| State-minimum coverage | USAA | $81 |
| Full coverage | Aspire General | $159 |
| Teens | USAA | $152 |
| Seniors | USAA | $67 |
| Drivers with a speeding ticket | USAA | $105 |
| Drivers with an at-fault accident | USAA | $106 |
| Drivers with a DUI | USAA | $113 |
| Drivers with excellent credit | USAA | $79 |
| Drivers with poor credit | USAA | $99 |
Now, let’s dive into each driver and coverage type in more detail.
Policies in Modesto start as low as $81 per month.
California requires drivers to have at least 30/60/15 in liability insurance (more on that later). In Modesto, the average rate for this type of basic coverage is $93 per month, according to Compare.com data.
But keep in mind that most experts suggest getting more coverage than the state-minimum limits to ensure you have proper protection.[1]
Still, if you need basic coverage that only meets California’s requirements, here are the five cheapest options, according to our research.
Company | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| USAA | $81 |
| Aspire General | $84 |
| National General | $90 |
| Sun Coast | $90 |
| GEICO | $92 |
| Mercury | $93 |
| Dairyland | $97 |
| Root | $109 |
| Allstate | $111 |
| Farmers | $114 |
| Direct Auto | $116 |
| Anchor | $117 |
| Bristol West | $123 |
| Kemper Special | $124 |
| State Farm | $124 |
| Travelers | $130 |
| Kemper Rsvp | $138 |
| 21st Century | $142 |
| Nationwide | $175 |
Most drivers should think about full coverage for more all-around protection — especially if you can’t afford to repair or replace your car out of your own pocket. This type of policy doesn’t have a standard definition, but it usually includes collision and comprehensive coverage on top of your state’s minimum requirements.
Additionally, if you finance or lease your car, your lender will likely require you to have full coverage.[2]
Our research found that full coverage costs an average of $188 per month in Modesto.
Here are the five most affordable insurers for full coverage, according to Compare.com data:
Company | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Aspire General | $159 |
| Root | $180 |
| Mercury | $190 |
| USAA | $190 |
| GEICO | $193 |
| Kemper Special | $218 |
| Kemper Rsvp | $222 |
| Sun Coast | $225 |
| Anchor | $231 |
| Dairyland | $237 |
| National General | $254 |
| Allstate | $261 |
| Farmers | $269 |
| Bristol West | $286 |
| State Farm | $291 |
| Direct Auto | $301 |
| Travelers | $306 |
| 21st Century | $333 |
| Nationwide | $410 |
Teen drivers face some of the highest insurance rates because of their lack of experience and higher chance of getting into accidents. For example, research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows teens are nearly three times as likely to be in a fatal crash as drivers over 20.[3] That alone can increase rates dramatically.
Nationwide, the average teen pays almost twice as much as someone 20 or older. In Modesto, teens pay an average of $261 per month, but you can still find decent rates with the right insurer.
With that in mind, here are the five cheapest insurers for Modesto teens:
Company | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| USAA | $152 |
| Aspire General | $156 |
| GEICO | $166 |
| Sun Coast | $167 |
| Dairyland | $168 |
| Mercury | $174 |
| National General | $184 |
| Root | $190 |
| Anchor | $208 |
| Allstate | $222 |
| Bristol West | $222 |
| Direct Auto | $225 |
| Farmers | $229 |
| Kemper Special | $230 |
| State Farm | $243 |
| Kemper Rsvp | $256 |
| 21st Century | $259 |
| Travelers | $273 |
| Nationwide | $346 |
On the opposite end of the spectrum, senior drivers often enjoy the lowest rates of any age group. This is largely thanks to their years of driving experience and tendency to drive less, especially at night.[4]
In Modesto, seniors pay an average of $126 per month, but savvy seniors can get an even better deal if they know where to look.
The chart below shows the five most affordable insurers for senior drivers in Modesto, according to our data.
Company | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| USAA | $67 |
| National General | $72 |
| GEICO | $75 |
| Aspire General | $75 |
| Mercury | $76 |
| Sun Coast | $81 |
| Dairyland | $84 |
| Allstate | $92 |
| Farmers | $92 |
| Root | $93 |
| Direct Auto | $95 |
| Anchor | $97 |
| State Farm | $99 |
| Bristol West | $104 |
| Travelers | $106 |
| Kemper Special | $111 |
| 21st Century | $114 |
| Kemper Rsvp | $124 |
| Nationwide | $137 |
Getting a ticket can bump up your rates when you renew your policy. That’s because tickets and other moving violations suggest you’re more likely to file claims in the future.[5]
Our research shows that even one speeding ticket causes average rates to go up by 28% nationwide. In Modesto, people with a recent ticket pay an average of $178 per month, while drivers with a clean record pay just $141. But again, some insurers offer lower rates — including those in the table below.
Company | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| USAA | $105 |
| Aspire General | $106 |
| National General | $112 |
| Sun Coast | $114 |
| GEICO | $121 |
| Dairyland | $122 |
| Mercury | $130 |
| Allstate | $145 |
| Direct Auto | $146 |
| Anchor | $146 |
| Root | $146 |
| Farmers | $147 |
| Bristol West | $155 |
| Kemper Special | $157 |
| State Farm | $158 |
| Travelers | $169 |
| Kemper Rsvp | $174 |
| 21st Century | $188 |
| Nationwide | $228 |
Causing an accident can lead to an even bigger rate increase because it tells insurers you’re more likely to file claims down the road. In fact, our research shows that one at-fault accident causes average rates to jump by 33% nationwide.
In Modesto, people with a recent at-fault accident pay an average of $176 per month, according to our research. But you can often find better deals with one of these five insurers:
Company | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Aspire General | $105 |
| USAA | $106 |
| Sun Coast | $112 |
| National General | $116 |
| GEICO | $116 |
| Dairyland | $125 |
| Mercury | $137 |
| Root | $142 |
| Allstate | $145 |
| Farmers | $148 |
| Anchor | $148 |
| Direct Auto | $154 |
| Kemper Special | $155 |
| Bristol West | $157 |
| State Farm | $159 |
| Travelers | $170 |
| Kemper Rsvp | $172 |
| 21st Century | $187 |
| Nationwide | $229 |
A DUI conviction leads to the biggest increase in car insurance rates of any incident — our research shows that average rates go up by 59% nationwide after a single DUI. On top of those already high rates, getting a DUI can make it tough to find coverage at all.[6]
Some insurers focus on high-risk drivers, including people with DUIs. In Modesto, drivers with DUIs pay an average of $183 per month. But that doesn’t mean you’re necessarily stuck with sky-high rates.
For example, the five insurers highlighted in the chart below tend to offer policies for much less.
Company | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Aspire General | $109 |
| USAA | $113 |
| Sun Coast | $117 |
| National General | $125 |
| GEICO | $126 |
| Mercury | $135 |
| Dairyland | $135 |
| Root | $152 |
| Allstate | $154 |
| Farmers | $159 |
| Kemper Special | $161 |
| Direct Auto | $161 |
| Anchor | $164 |
| Bristol West | $171 |
| State Farm | $173 |
| Kemper Rsvp | $179 |
| Travelers | $181 |
| 21st Century | $185 |
| Nationwide | $243 |
Compare personalized quotes from Modesto’s top insurers.
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California, like most states, requires all drivers to have car insurance if they want to legally drive in the state. These minimum limits include:[7]
Bodily injury liability: $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident
Property damage liability: $15,000 per accident
You can find more information about these requirements from the California Department of Insurance.
Most experts suggest getting more coverage than the state’s minimum limits. And lenders require comprehensive and collision coverage if you finance or lease your car.
Imagine this hypothetical scenario: You cause an accident that results in $50,000 in property damage — totally plausible with the average new car approaching that figure.[8] With only $15,000 in coverage, you’d be on the hook for the remaining $35,000. That could put your assets at risk, even leading to potential financial ruin.
Here are answers to some common questions about car insurance in Modesto:
USAA offers the lowest average rate in Modesto, at $81 per month, according to our research.
The average car insurance rate in Modesto is $141 per month, with liability coverage running about $93 and full coverage costing an average of $188.
Yes, Modesto’s rates are higher than the national average due to local factors such as population density, traffic patterns, and crime rates.[9]
A few of the best auto insurers in California include AAA, CONNECT by American Family, and State Farm, according to J.D. Power’s latest auto insurance study.[10]
California requires drivers to have at least 30/60/15 in liability coverage. That means $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident for bodily injury, as well as $15,000 for property damage.
Our editorial team used highly trained generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist with the first draft of this article before multiple insurance experts — including at least one licensed agent — rigorously reviewed, fact-checked, and edited every word and data point you see here.
We research, write, edit, and review all content on Compare.com in accordance with our strict editorial standards to ensure accuracy, clarity, and helpfulness. Learn more about our editorial process here.
Data scientists at Compare.com analyzed more than 50 million real-time auto insurance quotes from more than 75 partner insurers in order to compile the rates and statistics seen in this article. Compare.com’s auto insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers’ vehicles, driving records, insurance histories, and demographic information.
All the rates listed in this article have been collected from a combination of real Compare.com quotes and external insurance rate data gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. Compare.com uses these observations to provide readers with insights into how auto insurance companies determine their premiums.
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Compare.com's #1 goal is to save you money. We publish resources that are based on hard-hitting data and years of industry experience to help you make more informed decisions with your wallet.
Learn more about us, our team, and what makes us tick.
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