Car Insurance in San Diego, CA (June 2023)

San Diego rates VS California & the United States Averages

San Diego Auto Insurance Premiums by Company

Car insurance rates can vary significantly between companies, so it's critical to compare quotes thoroughly and choose your insurer wisely. In San Diego, Mercury has the most affordable rates for the average insurance customer. See the list below for the best options for low-cost auto insurance in San Diego.

Remember to look into car insurance quotes based on your driving history.

San Diego Auto Insurance Premiums by Age Group

Drivers in their 60s pay the lowest rates for car insurance in San Diego ($1590 per year).

Teenage drivers have the highest insurance rates in San Diego. Drivers in San Diego who reach their twenties and move out of the adolescent age bracket see a significant reduction in their insurance premiums.

In San Diego, the cost difference between car insurance premiums paid by teenage drivers and drivers in their twenties is $3852, the most significant difference between any two age groups.

San Diego Auto Insurance Premiums by Marital Status

A driver's marital status will affect their car insurance rates in some cases. In San Diego, married drivers pay $73 less for car insurance than single drivers. In many areas, married drivers pay less for car insurance than single drivers.

Rates for widowed people are also significantly lower than rates for single people. In San Diego, insurance rates for widowed people are lower than rates for single people.

San Diego Auto Insurance Premiums by Gender

Another factor that can influence auto insurance costs is gender. Male drivers in San Diego pay the same per year for car insurance as female drivers.

San Diego Auto Insurance Premiums by Driving Record

Keeping a clean driving record is an efficient way to reduce your auto insurance costs. Speeding tickets, reckless driving citations, DUIs and DWIs, and at-fault accidents can all increase insurance rates.

Reckless driving and DUI are two of the most expensive driving violations in insurance. Compared to the citywide average, a reckless driving citation results in an average insurance rate increase of $3,048 per year in San Diego. A DUI offense results in a $2,960 rate increase, while speeding ticket results in a $716 rate increase.

San Diego Auto Insurance Premiums by Credit Rating

The cost of car insurance is frequently correlated with one's credit score. San Diego drivers who raise their credit score from "Very Poor" (300-579) to "Exceptional" (800-850) receive a 0% reduction in car insurance rates. You may be eligible for an auto insurance price adjustment if you move from the "Very Poor" to the "Fair" credit tier.

In San Diego, moving into the "Fair" credit tier results in an average annual insurance savings of $0.

San Diego Auto Insurance Premiums by Zip Code

Your car insurance rates in San Diego are affected by where you live. Aside from your driving history and credit score, where you live is a significant factor in the car insurance rates you'll pay.

So, if you live in a neighborhood where people don't get along, car insurance companies may consider you a high risk to insure, which means your rates may be higher than those of a neighbor down the street.

And unfortunately, San Diego is no exception. Premiums increase by 32%, or $397, from ZIP code 92131 to 92136.

Expensive ZIP codes in San Diego are 92105, 92145, 92155, 92135, and 92136.

Less expense ZIP codes in San Diego are 92131, 92128, 92130, 92119, and 92129.

In San Diego, car insurance rates will vary by neighborhood, and some neighborhoods will have a higher crime rate, crash rate, and density than neighboring areas. Hillcrest is approximately $85 less expensive than Oak Park. The table below compares car insurance rates in a few San Diego neighborhoods.

What Would Increase Your Car Insurance Rate in San Diego?

Auto accidents and traffic violations are common reasons for increased insurance rates. Still, there are other reasons for increased car insurance premiums, such as an address change, a new vehicle, and claims in your zip code.

Auto theft statistics in San Diego

Car break-ins are on the rise in San Diego. Car thefts in San Diego had increased by 21%. In 2021 the car theft rates returned to pre-pandemic levels by October. Post-October 2021, vehicle theft increased by 10%.

Accidents Statistics in San Diego

There were 378 fatal car accidents in San Diego between 2016 and 2021. Fatal car accidents are costly for insurance companies, so if many occur in one area, that area's rates are likely to be higher than rates in less-active areas. Fatal accidents in San Diego are most common on I-5 and I-805.

Between 2016 and 2021, the following five San Diego roads had fatal accidents.

Useful Info For Driving In San Diego

The same basic rules that apply to driving in the United States apply to driving around San Diego. However, before getting behind the wheel, drivers should be aware of some other California laws that may result in tickets and hefty fines if not followed. Cell phone use, littering, and driving under the influence of alcohol or marijuana are all prohibited in California.

• Cell phones: Unless using a hands-free set-up, drivers are not permitted to talk, text, read messages, email, or do anything else on their phones while driving. You can be ticketed for simply holding your phone in your hand, even if it's to look at Google Maps, under distracted driving laws.
• Carpool/HOV lanes: On some freeways, lanes on the far left are marked with signs and white diamonds painted on the asphalt as High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes. Drivers are only permitted to enter and exit designated carpool lanes, and crossing an unbroken yellow or white line can result in a hefty fine.
• Toll roads: Some carpool lanes are toll roads that single drivers can use for a fee. Because most toll booths no longer have toll-takers, many require a FasTrak transponder. There is only one toll road in San Diego.
  The South Bay Expressway, also known as State Route 125, allows drivers to bypass traffic between Chula Vista and the Mexican border and downtown Santee, Sorrento Valley, and Otay Mesa. It can also be used to get to the I-8 and I-15 freeways.
• Right on red: Unless otherwise stated on a sign, drivers may make right turns on red lights after first stopping and ensuring the intersection is clear.
• Child passengers: Children under the age of eight and 4 feet 9 inches tall must be properly secured in a child safety seat in the back seat in California. Unless they weigh more than 40 pounds or are taller than 40 inches, children under two must use a rear-facing restraint system. Everyone else, including adults, is required to wear a seatbelt.
• Teen drivers: Licensed 16-year-olds are not permitted to transport anyone under 20 without a 25-year-old driver in the car. They are also not permitted to drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
• Smoking: It is illegal to smoke in a vehicle with a minor in it.
• Littering: In California, throwing litter, particularly smoldering cigarette butts, from a vehicle is punishable by a $1000 fine.
  Because of the recent wildfires, cops have become overly enthusiastic about this infraction.
• Alcohol: Driving under the influence (DUI) is a severe offense, and sobriety checkpoints are frequently set up in popular nightlife areas.
  The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.08 percent; anything higher will result in an arrest.

Car Insurance Companies in San Diego

The cheapest company isn't always the best. These are the companies you can find in San Diego: