The Cheapest Auto Insurance Companies in San Jose, California, in 2025

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
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
Edited byMatthew Gross
Matthew Gross headshot
Matthew GrossEditor

Matthew Gross is an editor at Compare.com. With a background in editing and SEO, he’s passionate about creating content that helps readers get the information they need to make more informed decisions. Prior to Compare.com, Matthew brought his user-centered approach to his work with global brands like Apple and Adobe.

Matthew graduated from Illinois State University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Journalism.

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San Jose, California, drivers pay an average of $167 per month for car insurance. But many car insurance companies offer rates below the citywide average, including USAA, Root, and Sun Coast, with rates starting at $96 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 $96.

  • San Jose drivers pay an average of $103 per month for liability-only coverage and $231 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 are estimated rates current as of: Monday, June 16 at 12:00 PM PDT
Company
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Average Monthly Premium
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USAA$96
Root$99
Sun Coast$100
Anchor$103
Mercury$103
Dairyland$107
Direct Auto$108
National General$115
GEICO$128
Allstate$133
Farmers$137
State Farm$148
Travelers$155
Bristol West$158
21st Century$169
Nationwide$208
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Compare.com's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

USAA offers the cheapest car insurance in San Jose, with an average monthly premium of $96. 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
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Cheapest Insurer
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Insurer’s Average Monthly Premium
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State-minimum coverageUSAA$96
Full coverageMercury$178
TeensRoot$175
SeniorsUSAA$79
Drivers with a speeding ticketUSAA$116
Drivers with an at-fault accidentSun Coast$114
Drivers with a DUIUSAA$148
Drivers with excellent creditRoot$90
Drivers with poor creditUSAA$111
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Compare.com's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

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

  • San Jose drivers pay an average of $103 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.

    Average Liability Rates by Company

    Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Compare.com's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
  • 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 $231 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.

    Average Full-Coverage Rates by Company

    Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Compare.com's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
  • 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 $331 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.

    Average Rates for Teens

    Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Compare.com's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
  • 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 $149 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.

    Average Rates for Seniors

    Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Compare.com's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
  • 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 $202 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.

    Average Rates With a Ticket

    Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Compare.com's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
  • 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 $191 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.

    Average Rates With an Accident

    Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Compare.com's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
  • 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 $269 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.

    Average Rates With a DUI

    Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Compare.com's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

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California Auto Insurance Requirements

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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

  • San Jose drivers pay an average of $167 per month for car insurance, according to Compare.com data. Liability-only insurance costs an average of $103 per month, and full coverage costs $231 per month.

  • USAA offers the cheapest car insurance in San Jose, with an average monthly rate of $96, according to Compare.com data.

  • It depends. San Jose drivers pay an average of $167 per month for auto insurance. That’s compared to the national average of $150 per month. Your address, driving history, age, and more factor into how much you pay for car insurance.

  • USAA offers the cheapest car insurance in California, with rates starting at $81. 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.

  • 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.

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.

Related Articles

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."
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Elizabeth Rivelli
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
Edited byMatthew GrossEditor
Matthew Gross headshot
Matthew GrossEditor

Matthew Gross is an editor at Compare.com. With a background in editing and SEO, he’s passionate about creating content that helps readers get the information they need to make more informed decisions. Prior to Compare.com, Matthew brought his user-centered approach to his work with global brands like Apple and Adobe.

Matthew graduated from Illinois State University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Journalism.

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