San Mateo, CA Car Insurance

On average, drivers in San Mateo pay around $47 per month for their car insurance. To learn more about car insurance rates in the San Mateo area, read our guide below.
Map of cities where drivers can find cheaper car insurance
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What rates can residents of San Mateo expect to pay for their car insurance? Compared to their surrounding area, how do rates in San Mateo stack up? What about against the rest of California? You can see the cost breakdowns and contributing factors in the charts and writeups below:

How much is car insurance in San Mateo?

Area Average Monthly Car Insurance Premium
San Mateo$47
CA$56
United States$81

The cost of coverage in San Mateo is about $9 a month cheaper than it is for the rest of California.

Compared to the rest of the country, auto insurance in San Mateo is more affordable. It's about $34 cheaper than the national average to insure your vehicle in San Mateo.

Keep in mind that these are the average auto insurance rates for San Mateo, and that the rate you get could end up being something different. Insurance companies take in a variety of factors when determining how much to charge you for your car insurance. The bill you'll see each month is calculated based on things like age, gender, vehicle make and model, driving record, and in some cases, credit score.

We've analyzed the average rate for San Mateo and broken down the different factors to help you understand what your monthly bill might look like. To find out if you're getting the cheapest rate, just enter your ZIP Code below and find out in minutes!


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Average Car Insurance Rates by Age

Age Range Average Premium
Under 18$122
18-24$67
25-34$46
35-44$39
45-54Not Enough Data
55-64$40
65+$47

The older you are, the more experience you're likely to have on the roads, right? That experience can turn into some real savings when it comes to auto insurance rates. In this case, 18-24-year-olds pay drivers 65 and older.

For every ten years older you get, you can expect to see a drop in your monthly premium. Once you hit retirement age, however, your rates may begin to go back up in San Mateo.

Average Car Insurance Rates by Gender

Gender Average
Male$47
Female$48

Car insurance rates for men are usually slightly more expensive than they are for women. While male drivers actually pay slightly less than female drivers on their monthly premiums, the difference in San Mateo is only about $1 per month.

Average Auto Insurance Rates by Driving Record

Infractions Average Monthly Premium
1 Accident$56
Multiple Accidents$66
1 Ticket$54
Multiple Tickets$92

Your rates can vary wildly depending on your driving record. Drivers with clean records will pay lower rates than those with accidents or violations. In San Mateo, a driving record with one accident will usually get you a rate around $56 a month. Similarly, if you have one ticket on your record, you will be looking at an average rate of around $54.

Accidents, tickets, and other driving infractions can really cost you when it comes to your monthly rate. That's why it's important to drive safely and keep your record clean so you can keep your rates as low as possible.

Average Insurance Rates by Vehicle

Vehicle Age Average Monthly Premium
Less Than 1 Year$49
2-3 Years$41
4-5 Years$44
6-7 Years$49
8-10 Years$46
11-14 Years$50
15 Years or Older$49

The most affordable vehicles to insure in San Mateo are by and large trucks and vans, which run about $43 per month.

Meanwhile, San Mateo drivers who own a car or SUV can expect to pay about $48 for insurance coverage.

In addition to vehicle type, you can also expect to see slightly different rates depending on how old your vehicle is. Generally, newer vehicles are going to cost the most to insure. However, once your car is a few years old, you might start to see your rates slide back down slightly. The most expensive vehicles to insure in San Mateo are vehicles eleven-to-fourteen years old.

Average Car Insurance Rates by Relationship Status

Relationship Average Monthly Premium
Single (never married)$50
Married$43
Divorced$38
Widowed$40

More often than not, married policyholders will pay slightly less for car insurance coverage. This usually boils down to owners having multiple vehicles on the same policy, something many companies award special discounts for.

On a national scale, single drivers typically pay more than married couples do for auto insurance. San Mateo is no exception, with the difference totaling to around $7 a month.

Average Car Insurance Rates by Housing Situation

Housing Status Average Monthly Premium
Own$43
Rent$49
Live with parents$67

Another factor taken into consideration is your housing situation. In San Mateo, homeowners can expect to pay around $6 a month less than those who rent. But those who live at home with their parents can expect to pay significantly more.

Many companies, however, will offer you a discount to bundle your home or rental insurance with your auto insurance policy, which can help reduce your average costs.

Car Insurance Companies in San Mateo, CA

The average rates for car insurance are constantly changing, so it's a good idea to know the recent trends in your area when selecting an auto insurance policy.

In San Mateo, the rates for car insurance decreased from 2017-2019, before steadying out in 2020. Rates finished up in 2022, at $54 a month

How does San Mateo compare to neighboring areas?

Why are car insurance rates in San Mateo different from other areas?

There are several factors car insurance companies take into consideration when choosing how much to charge for a monthly rate. Where you live will also have a significant impact on your personal policy. This may include things like:

  • Road Safety (frequency of car accidents)
  • Amount of off-street parking
  • Number of drivers in the region
  • Prevalence of crime
  • Local regulations

While you won't have the ability to change these factors yourself, they can be handy to keep in mind when seeking a new policy or considering a move. With the knowledge that different towns and cities will all have different rates, guides like these can be a good way to get a lay of the land of your particular neighborhood.

How can I find the cheapest car insurance in San Mateo?

Equipping yourself with information about the average costs for drivers in your area will better prepare you for the real deal. The only way to know for sure what your rate will be is by asking for a quote from car insurance companies.

Fortunately, Compare.com does all of that work for you. Just put in your ZIP below, answer a few questions about your driving profile, and you'll be comparing the cheapest quotes from numerous car insurance companies offering policies in San Mateo.


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San Mateo Insurance FAQs

What factors affect car insurance quotes in San Mateo?

Quotes are calculated by car insurance companies who take multiple factors into consideration, including things you can't control like your gender and age, but also factors like your driving record, credit score, marital status, and address.

Why is the cost of car insurance in San Mateo 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 San Mateo?

Since the factors that go into calculating your monthly payment vary from person to person, there isn't one company that will always offer the cheapest rate to everybody. You can be confident that you're receiving the best price possible by using sites like Compare.com to compare multiple quotes at once.

Do I need to change my insurance if I move to San Mateo?

Any major life event, whether it be moving to a new area, finding a new job, getting married, or any other notable event always presents a good opportunity to re-evaluate your current insurance policy. Regardless of your previous rate, there may be cheaper options in your new location, so it's a good idea 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. You can switch companies at any time, regardless of how long is left on your current policy. So, if you've recently moved to San Mateo or it's been a while since you last compared car insurance rates, you may want to take 10 minutes and see if Compare.com can save you money.

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