Average car insurance cost in California (2026)
Drivers in California pay an average of $204 a month for full coverage and $98 a month for liability only.
Full coverage / month
$204
Liability only / month
$98
Full coverage / year
$2,448
Liability only / year
$1,176
Cost rank
#16 of 51
1 = most expensive. Tied with Texas. Liability-only rank: #18.
Averages are a starting point. Estimate your cost in California
How California compares
The full-coverage average of $204 is 17% above the average across states ($174), and the liability-only average of $98 is about the same as the average across states ($98). California is mid-table: 15 of the 51 places in our table have a higher full-coverage average. That is $97 a month below Maryland, the highest, and $119 above New Hampshire, the lowest.
Full coverage vs liability only in California
Full coverage costs $106 more per month than liability only in California, or $1,272 more per year. That gap is wider than the $77 average gap across states. Whether the extra cost makes sense depends on your car's value and any loan or lease terms. See our guide to choosing between full coverage and liability only.
States with similar prices
The five places closest to California by full-coverage average:
| State | Full / month | Liability / month | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | $204 | $110 | $0 |
| Virginia | $207 | $118 | +$3 |
| Louisiana | $208 | $106 | +$4 |
| Kentucky | $194 | $121 | -$10 |
| Colorado | $217 | $97 | +$13 |
How a profile could change the estimate
These figures apply our illustrative multipliers to the California averages. They show direction and rough scale only, and they are not any insurer's prices. For background, read what affects car insurance rates.
| Example profile | Full | Liability |
|---|---|---|
| Age 35-54, clean record, good credit, sedan, mid mileage (the baseline) | $204 | $98 |
| Same driver, age 20-24 | $296 | $142 |
| Same driver, one ticket | $249 | $120 |
| Same driver, one at-fault accident | $290 | $139 |
| Same driver, sports car | $265 | $127 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does car insurance cost in California?
The average in California is $204 a month ($2,448 a year) for full coverage and $98 a month ($1,176 a year) for liability only, based on Insurify figures for November 2026. Your own price may be higher or lower.
Is car insurance in California expensive compared with other states?
California ranks 16th highest of the 50 states and D.C. for full coverage (tied with Texas). Its full-coverage average is 17% above the average across states of $174 a month.
How much more does full coverage cost than liability only in California?
On average, full coverage costs $106 more per month in California, or $1,272 more per year. That is 108% more than the liability-only average.
How much could an at-fault accident change an estimate in California?
With our illustrative 1.42 factor, a baseline full-coverage estimate in California rises from $204 to about $290 a month, or about $86 more. This is a simplified estimate, not an insurer's price.
Source: Insurify state averages, November 2026. Figures are monthly averages and individual prices vary. "Average across states" is the simple mean of the 51 figures in our table. See our methodology.