The Cheapest Auto Insurance Companies in San Jose, California, in 2026

USAA has the cheapest auto insurance in San Jose. But how much you pay may vary based on several personal factors.

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Elizabeth Rivelli
Writer: Elizabeth RivelliInsurance Writer

Elizabeth Rivelli is an experienced content writer with expertise in insurance and personal finance. Elizabeth has extensive knowledge of various insurance lines, including property and casualty, health, and life insurance, and she’s written for Compare.com since 2023.

Elizabeth’s byline has been featured in dozens of publications, including Investopedia, Forbes, USA Today, Bankrate, and several insurance companies.

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Editor: Matthew GrossEditor

Qualifications:
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  • 2+ years in insurance content


Matthew's journalism and AppleCare editing experience help him simplify complex insurance information on Compare.com.

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Reviewer: David C. Marlett, Ph.D., CPCUExpert Reviewer, Insurance

Qualifications:
  • 25+ years teaching risk management and insurance

  • Managing director, Brantley Risk & Insurance Center


An Appalachian State Univ. professor, David teaches risk management/insurance. He's appeared in the NY Times, CNN, and more.

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San Jose, California, drivers pay an average of $137 per month for car insurance. But many car insurance companies offer rates below the citywide average, including USAA, Aspire General, and GEICO, with rates starting at $81 per month.

In this guide, we’ll highlight the cheapest car insurance companies in San Jose for different driver types. We’ll also explain how to choose the right car insurance company and share some tips for saving money on your car insurance.

Key Takeaways
  • USAA offers the cheapest car insurance in San Jose, with liability-only rates starting at $81.

  • San Jose drivers pay an average of $91 per month for liability-only coverage and $184 per month for full coverage.

  • California requires drivers to have at least 30/60/15 of personal liability insurance.[1]

The Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in San Jose, California

If you’re shopping for car insurance in San Jose, knowing how much other drivers pay for coverage can be helpful. But regardless of average rates, some car insurance companies offer lower-than-average premiums. The table below lists the cheapest car insurance companies in San Jose, according to Compare.com data.

The below rates in San Jose, CA, are estimated rates current as of: Thursday, October 1 at 5:20 AM PDT. 
Company
Average Monthly Premium
USAA$81
Aspire General$82
GEICO$84
Sun Coast$85
Mercury$89
National General$89
Progressive$89
Dairyland$98
Direct Auto$102
Root$104
Anchor$113
Farmers$115
Bristol West$122
Kemper Special$124
State Farm$124
Travelers$130
Kemper Rsvp$138
21st Century$142
Hugo$180
First Acceptance$187
Chubb$221
We sourced this data by analyzing real quotes from Compare.com's 100-plus partner insurance companies alongside rate filings collected and distributed by Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary. Data updated on Thursday, October 1 at 5:20 AM PDT.

USAA offers the cheapest car insurance in San Jose, with an average monthly premium of $81. But the cheapest company for you may differ based on factors like coverage types and driving history.

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Cheapest Car Insurance in San Jose by Driver and Coverage Type

The companies mentioned above have the cheapest average car insurance rates, but your actual rate can vary based on factors like your age, driving record, and address. The table below lists the cheapest car insurance companies for a variety of driver types and coverages, based on Compare.com data.

Driver/Coverage Type
Cheapest Insurer
Insurer’s Average Monthly Premium
State-minimum coverageUSAA$81
Full coverageAspire General$151
TeensUSAA$145
SeniorsUSAA$67
Drivers with a speeding ticketUSAA$105
Drivers with an at-fault accidentUSAA$108
Drivers with a DUIUSAA$113
Drivers with excellent creditUSAA$75
We sourced this data by analyzing real quotes from Compare.com's 100-plus partner insurance companies alongside rate filings collected and distributed by Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary. Data updated on .

In the following sections, we break down each coverage and driver type to help you find the cheapest auto insurance.

Cheapest state-minimum coverage: USAAexpand/collapse

San Jose drivers pay an average of $91 per month for minimum-coverage car insurance, according to Compare.com data.

Liability insurance is the cheapest car insurance you can get to legally drive, but most experts recommend purchasing more coverage than your state’s minimum requirements. A minimum-coverage policy may not fully cover your financial responsibilities if you cause an accident that injures another person or damages their property.

The chart below shows the five cheapest car insurance companies for state-minimum coverage, according to our research.

The below rates in San Jose, CA, are estimated rates current as of: Thursday, October 1 at 5:20 AM PDT. 

Average Liability Rates by Company

Company
Average Monthly Premium
USAA$81
Aspire General$82
GEICO$84
Sun Coast$85
Mercury$89
National General$89
Progressive$89
Dairyland$98
Direct Auto$102
Root$104
Anchor$113
Farmers$115
Bristol West$122
Kemper Special$124
State Farm$124
Travelers$130
Kemper Rsvp$138
21st Century$142
Hugo$180
First Acceptance$187
Chubb$221
Cheapest full coverage: Aspire Generalexpand/collapse

Most San Jose drivers should consider buying a full-coverage car insurance policy. Full-coverage policies provide liability insurance, plus collision insurance and comprehensive insurance.

Collision insurance covers damage to your car from a crash with another vehicle or object. Comprehensive insurance covers damage to your car from something other than a collision, like vandalism or a falling tree branch. If you lease or finance your car, your lender usually requires you to buy full-coverage insurance.

Drivers in San Jose pay an average of $184 per month for full-coverage auto insurance. But even though full coverage costs more than minimum coverage, several insurers offer full coverage for close to the average liability price in San Jose.

The table below lists the five cheapest companies in San Jose for full-coverage car insurance, according to Compare.com data.

The below rates in San Jose, CA, are estimated rates current as of: Thursday, October 1 at 5:20 AM PDT. 

Average Full-Coverage Rates by Company

Company
Average Monthly Premium
Aspire General$151
Root$167
GEICO$178
Mercury$182
Progressive$184
USAA$188
Kemper Special$206
Kemper Rsvp$211
Sun Coast$212
Anchor$218
National General$252
Dairyland$259
Direct Auto$263
Farmers$267
Bristol West$280
State Farm$290
Travelers$305
21st Century$332
First Acceptance$442
Chubb$516
Cheapest for teens: USAAexpand/collapse

Teen drivers pay some of the highest car insurance rates of any age group. Insurers consider younger drivers riskier to insure because they lack experience behind the wheel and cause more accidents than older drivers.[2]

Teen drivers in San Jose pay a monthly average of $243 for car insurance. But you can still find affordable coverage if you’re a teen driver or have one on your policy.

The table below shows the five cheapest auto insurance companies for teens in San Jose, according to Compare.com data.

The below rates in San Jose, CA, are estimated rates current as of: Thursday, October 1 at 5:20 AM PDT. 

Average Rates for Teens

Company
Average Monthly Premium
USAA$145
Aspire General$145
GEICO$149
Sun Coast$151
Root$154
Progressive$158
Mercury$159
Dairyland$166
National General$173
Direct Auto$195
Bristol West$212
Anchor$213
Kemper Special$220
Farmers$225
State Farm$235
Kemper Rsvp$245
21st Century$247
Travelers$264
Hugo$319
First Acceptance$332
Chubb$442
Cheapest for seniors: USAAexpand/collapse

Seniors tend to have the cheapest car insurance rates of any age group. Many seniors drive less frequently than younger drivers and are more cautious on the road.[3]

Senior drivers in San Jose pay an average of $124 per month for car insurance. Even with these low average premiums, several insurance companies offer better rates for seniors.

The chart below shows the five cheapest auto insurance companies in San Jose for seniors, based on Compare.com data.

The below rates in San Jose, CA, are estimated rates current as of: Thursday, October 1 at 5:20 AM PDT. 

Average Rates for Seniors

Company
Average Monthly Premium
USAA$67
GEICO$69
National General$72
Mercury$72
Aspire General$74
Sun Coast$77
Progressive$81
Dairyland$85
Direct Auto$86
Anchor$92
Farmers$94
Root$98
State Farm$100
Bristol West$104
Travelers$107
Kemper Special$112
21st Century$115
Kemper Rsvp$125
Hugo$163
First Acceptance$170
Chubb$172
Cheapest after a ticket: USAAexpand/collapse

Getting a speeding ticket can cause your car insurance premium to go up when your policy renews. That’s because insurance companies consider drivers who speed riskier to insure. According to our research, a single speeding ticket causes average premiums to increase by 37% nationwide.

San Jose drivers with a recent speeding ticket pay an average of $174 per month for car insurance. But we found several insurers that offer lower-than-average premiums.

The table below lists the five cheapest car insurance companies in San Jose for drivers with a recent speeding ticket on their record, based on Compare.com data.

The below rates in San Jose, CA, are estimated rates current as of: Thursday, October 1 at 5:20 AM PDT. 

Average Rates With a Ticket

Company
Average Monthly Premium
Aspire General$104
USAA$105
Sun Coast$108
GEICO$111
National General$112
Progressive$113
Dairyland$122
Mercury$124
Root$125
Direct Auto$129
Anchor$140
Farmers$148
Bristol West$155
Kemper Special$158
State Farm$158
Travelers$169
Kemper Rsvp$176
21st Century$188
Hugo$229
First Acceptance$238
Chubb$283
Cheapest after an accident: USAAexpand/collapse

An at-fault accident can substantially increase your car insurance premium. Our research shows that a single at-fault accident causes average insurance rates to increase by 41% nationwide.

San Jose drivers with a recent accident pay an average of $176 per month for car insurance. But some companies offer cheaper rates to these drivers.

The five insurers below have the cheapest car insurance for San Jose drivers with a recent accident on their driving record, according to Compare.com data.

The below rates in San Jose, CA, are estimated rates current as of: Thursday, October 1 at 5:20 AM PDT. 

Average Rates With an Accident

Company
Average Monthly Premium
Aspire General$105
USAA$108
Sun Coast$109
GEICO$110
Progressive$114
National General$117
Dairyland$127
Root$129
Mercury$131
Direct Auto$137
Anchor$145
Farmers$153
Kemper Special$159
Bristol West$160
State Farm$163
Travelers$174
Kemper Rsvp$177
21st Century$192
Hugo$231
First Acceptance$240
Chubb$292
Cheapest after a DUI: USAAexpand/collapse

A DUI conviction causes the biggest increase in car insurance rates of any traffic violation. Our research shows that the car insurance rate goes up by an average of 61% nationwide after a DUI conviction.

San Jose drivers with a DUI conviction pay an average of $188 per month for auto insurance. But if you choose the right insurer, you might find a lower premium.

The table below shows the five cheapest car insurance companies in San Jose for drivers with a DUI, according to Compare.com data.

The below rates in San Jose, CA, are estimated rates current as of: Thursday, October 1 at 5:20 AM PDT. 

Average Rates With a DUI

Company
Average Monthly Premium
Aspire General$112
USAA$113
Sun Coast$116
GEICO$119
Progressive$122
National General$124
Mercury$132
Dairyland$137
Direct Auto$143
Root$145
Anchor$158
Farmers$161
Kemper Special$170
Bristol West$171
State Farm$173
Travelers$182
Kemper Rsvp$189
21st Century$193
Hugo$247
First Acceptance$256
Chubb$309

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California Auto Insurance Requirements

A sunny street lined with tall palm trees, modern buildings, and a central sculpture, under a clear blue sky.

Like most states, California requires drivers to have a minimum amount of auto insurance coverage to legally drive. California’s minimum coverage requirements include:

  • $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident of bodily injury liability coverage

  • $15,000 per accident of property damage liability coverage

Instead of traditional liability auto insurance, California drivers have several options to meet the state’s financial responsibility requirements. You can make a cash deposit of $75,000 with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), get a DMV-issued self-insurance certificate, or get a surety bond of $75,000 from a licensed insurance company.

Is minimum coverage enough in San Jose?

Most auto insurance experts recommend buying more coverage than the state’s minimum requirements. With liability-only coverage, you risk not having enough insurance if you cause a serious accident.

For example, if you hit another car and cause $30,000 in damage, a minimum-coverage policy would cover only $15,000, leaving you to pay the remaining $15,000 out of pocket.

Minimum-coverage insurance also doesn’t protect your vehicle if it gets damaged or stolen. You’d be responsible for paying for the repairs. Remember that if you lease or finance your car, your lender usually requires you to buy full-coverage insurance with comprehensive and collision coverage.

San Jose Auto Insurance FAQs

How much is car insurance in San Jose?

expand/collapse

San Jose drivers pay an average of $137 per month for car insurance, according to Compare.com data. Liability-only insurance costs an average of $91 per month, and full coverage costs $184 per month.

What’s the cheapest auto insurance company in San Jose?

expand/collapse

USAA offers the cheapest car insurance in San Jose, with an average monthly rate of $81, according to Compare.com data.

Is car insurance in San Jose expensive?

expand/collapse

It depends. San Jose drivers pay an average of $137 per month for auto insurance. That’s compared to the national average of $143 per month. Your address, driving history, age, and more factor into how much you pay for car insurance.

Which insurer has the cheapest car insurance in California?

expand/collapse

USAA offers the cheapest car insurance in California, with rates starting at $87. But the most affordable auto insurer for you depends on your situation. You can compare quotes from multiple companies to find the cheapest insurer for you.

Is $200 per month expensive for car insurance?

expand/collapse

It depends. For some drivers, $200 per month is expensive for car insurance, while it might be a good deal for others. Your car insurance premium depends on a variety of personal factors, like your age and location, and some insurance companies offer cheaper rates than others for the same coverage.

Sources

  1. California Department of Motor Vehicles. "Auto Insurance Requirements."
  2. Insurance Information Institute. "What determines the price of an auto insurance policy?."
  3. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. "Older drivers."

Methodology

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.

About Compare.com

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Elizabeth Rivelli
Writer: Elizabeth RivelliInsurance Writer

Elizabeth Rivelli is an experienced content writer with expertise in insurance and personal finance. Elizabeth has extensive knowledge of various insurance lines, including property and casualty, health, and life insurance, and she’s written for Compare.com since 2023.

Elizabeth’s byline has been featured in dozens of publications, including Investopedia, Forbes, USA Today, Bankrate, and several insurance companies.

Matthew Gross headshot
Editor: Matthew GrossEditor

Qualifications:
  • 5+ years in communications and content creation

  • 2+ years in insurance content


Matthew's journalism and AppleCare editing experience help him simplify complex insurance information on Compare.com.

David C. Marlett
Reviewer: David C. Marlett, Ph.D., CPCUExpert Reviewer, Insurance

Qualifications:
  • 25+ years teaching risk management and insurance

  • Managing director, Brantley Risk & Insurance Center


An Appalachian State Univ. professor, David teaches risk management/insurance. He's appeared in the NY Times, CNN, and more.