2 carriers raised and 1 carrier cut California auto rates in 2026. The fastest way to stop overpaying is to compare carriers for your ZIP — the cheapest options in California are below.
Cheapest car insurance carriers in California right now
Estimated annual premiums for a standard profile, cheapest first — California averages about $2,652/yr. The spread between carriers is wide, so shopping is how you beat a rate hike.
| # | Carrier | Est. annual | vs avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | USAA | $1,671/yr | Save $848 |
| 2 | Travelers | $2,135/yr | Save $384 |
| 3 | GEICO | $2,148/yr | Save $371 |
| 4 | Root Insurance | $2,235/yr | Save $284 |
| 5 | Progressive | $2,440/yr | Save $79 |
| 6 | The Hartford | $2,597/yr | +$78 |
| 7 | Kemper | $2,705/yr | +$186 |
| 8 | State Farm | $2,733/yr | +$214 |
| 9 | National General | $2,759/yr | +$240 |
| 10 | Nationwide | $2,859/yr | +$340 |
Carriers that raised California rates in 2026
| Carrier | Change | Effective | Affected | % of brand | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wawanesa Wawanesa General Insurance Company | +6.0% | May 15, 2026 | — | — | SERFF #WAWA-134754803 ↗ |
| Travelers Travelers Commercial Insurance Company | +3.8% | Jun 19, 2026 | — | — | SERFF #TRVD-G134745613 ↗ |
Carriers that cut California rates in 2026
| Carrier | Change | Effective | Affected | % of brand | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Farm State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company | −6.2% | May 8, 2026 | — | — | SERFF #SFMA-134750464 ↗ |
Are you actually getting the new rate?
Approved changes are statewide averages, and a cut usually reaches new buyers first — existing customers often don’t see it until their next renewal, if at all. The only way to know you’re on the best current price is to re-shop.
Filing figures are filed/approved statewide averages from each state’s Department of Insurance; rankings are directional estimates. “Affected” counts are policyholders or insured vehicles as stated in each filing. Your individual rate varies by risk profile. Each filing links to its source. Not a quote.