Whether you frequent beach parties or business meetings, make sure you have plenty of protection to cover all your drives around the city and its surrounding areas. As you shop for a policy, narrow down your choices with our best car insurance picks in San Diego.
4 best car insurance companies for San Diego drivers
Best car insurance companies for San Diego drivers
Our car insurance experts chose insurers that balance well-rounded coverage, top-notch customer reputation and steep discounts that can make premiums more affordable. See which companies made our list of best car insurance companies in San Diego.
Allstate Drivewise offers one of the highest discounts possible for using telematics. Telematics programs track and score your driving in exchange for a personalized discount. Unlike other telematics-based insurers, you'll also get wide coverage and solid customer service when you choose Allstate.
Pros
Save up to 40% based on your driving
No rate increases with a low driving score
Try before buying, even if you're not an Allstate customer
Access Allstate's wide coverage and Rewards program
Cons
Collects your driving data, though it doesn't sell it
Hard braking counts against you, even if it's for safety
iPhone owners have a better experience than Android users
Progressive is a top choice by customers because of its well-rounded coverage and low rates compared to other national companies. It also stays on top of technology with an intuitive website, pricing tool, mobile app and Snapshot program that rewards your safe driving.
Pros
Coverage offerings go beyond competitors
Emphasizes rewards for safe driving, like accident forgiveness
Pricing tool helps you buy within your budget
Its rates are competitive with other big-name brands
When you choose AAA, you get much more than auto insurance coverage, although it offers the coverage you need and then some. You also get access to its roadside service, giving peace of mind even if you're a passenger in someone else's car. Also, take advantage of other travel and shopping discounts to get the most out of your membership.
Pros
Get personalized service through AAA's local agents
No. 3 for customer satisfaction in the state by J.D. Power
Discounts of +20% for multiple cars or policies
Unlock AAA member perks, like roadside assistance and travel discounts
Chances are that you'll hear about Wawanesa if you ask a local which company they'd recommend. It consistently ranks first for customer satisfaction in California by J.D. Power. And if your driving record is clean, your premium could cost significantly less than any other company you're considering.
Pros
Offers some of the lowest rates in San Diego
No. 1 for customer satisfaction in the state by J.D. Power
Coverage and discounts on par with national insurers
You'll support a local company
Cons
The company prefers a nearly spotless driving record
Expect extra fees if you don't pay in full
Telematics
No
Gap insurance
No
Roadside assistance
Optional
Telematics
No
Gap insurance
No
How we chose these insurers
To find the best insurance companies in San Diego, our experts considered both national and regional companies. We looked for well-rounded companies offering wide coverage, high customer satisfaction and a variety of discount opportunities. We also considered each company’s customer ratings and reputation in the San Diego area.
State minimum car insurance requirements in San Diego
Keep a car insurance policy with at least liability insurance to stay legal in San Diego. However, since the legal requirements are some of the lowest in the US, think about extra coverage that suits your driving and finances.
Bodily injury liability coverage You need coverage of at least $15,000 for injuries to one person and $30,000 to cover injuries to multiple people in one accident. It pays for injuries when you’re at fault, as well as expenses if someone sues you.
Property damage liability coverage Go with a minimum of $5,000 for property damage, which kicks in if you damage someone else’s car or property like expensive cargo. Yet, most drivers need much higher protection than this.
Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage You’ll be offered uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage for injuries or property damage, although you can sign a waiver if you don’t want it. It pays for your medical bills or car damage in the event that the at-fault driver can’t pay.
We recommend full coverage for San Diego drivers
Unless you have the funds to pay for your own car repairs, we recommend adding comprehensive and collision coverage to your car insurance. Any car owner has a chance of getting in an accident or experiencing damage after a storm. Since you can’t always control what happens on the road, make sure you’re protected in case you’re deemed at fault for an accident.
San Diego is the third-worst county for accidents in California
The California Highway Patrol’s annual collision report shows most California counties see under 4,000 accidents per year, including both injury and fatal accidents. Yet, San Diego more than triples that number only in accidents that lead to driver or passenger injury. It ranks third in the top five of the worst California counties for accidents overall.
Rank
County
Accidents w/ injuries in 2017
Fatal accidents in 2017
1
Los Angeles
62,574
715
2
Orange
15,173
197
3
San Diego
14,694
222
4
Riverside
10,511
283
5
San Bernardino
10,020
308
San Diego is a hot spot for car theft, although it’s trending down
San Diego stands near the front of California counties with the highest number of stolen rides. The county falls under Los Angeles, which saw 63,000 thefts in 2020, San Francisco with nearly 31,000 thefts and Riverside with 23,000 thefts, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau.
San Diego car thefts
2020
2019
2018
10,971
10,969
11,091
How to save on car insurance in San Diego
Give your insurance company a reason to lower your premiums when you improve your safety on the road. If nothing else, shopping around can go a long way toward paying less.
Get several quotes to find the best value. You’ll get wildly different rates based on the insurance company you choose. Checking with multiple companies ensures that you’re not overcharged.
Park in a garage or secured parking. Locking up your car reassures your insurance company that you won’t be making as many claims for car theft, vandalism or stolen belongings.
Install an antitheft device, like GPS tracking. GPS tracking gives you a better chance of recovering your vehicle if it gets stolen. It could also help you lower your premiums with your car insurance company.
Take a defensive driving course. Most insurers reward you with a discount that lasts several years after completing your course. That savings could be well worth the cost and time in this city known for high car insurance rates.
Compare cheap car insurance in California
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Bottom line
You may not need a lot of car insurance coverage to legally get around San Diego. But the best policies give you a suite of coverage options to boost your protection and a variety of discounts. To ensure you’re getting the best rate and coverage that suits your circumstances, compare car insurers.
Sarah George is a personal finance writer at Finder who’s spent the last four years wielding her digital pen on all things banking and insurance. Her know-how has been featured in such publications as CBS, CNET and Reviews.com, and she was a panelist in Finder’s 2020 money-saving webinar. Sarah earned an English education degree and is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance.
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We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
