California auto insurance quotes
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Factors to consider when requesting California auto insurance quotes
On California roads there were 187,211 vehicle crashes causing injury in 2019, resulting in 269,031 injured people and 3,737 people killed, according to the most recent annual report. Traffic crashes in the state resulted in $49 million in medical costs and $5.79 billion in work loss costs in 2018.
The best way to protect yourself against potential financial disaster is to purchase California auto insurance and the first step in the process is to request California auto insurance quotes.
California driving risks
With a population of over 39 million people, California is the most populous state in the United States. It also has some of the country's largest cities, with Los Angeles, San Diego and San Jose being the top three with 3,902,440; 1,385,398 and 1,013,337 residents, respectively.
While California's large cities feature extensive public transportation, there are still nearly 31.4 million cars on the roads. All of those cars contribute to the infamously heavy traffic in cities such as Los Angeles.
Accidents are more likely to happen during heavy traffic due to the increased interaction between vehicles and driver frustration. Distracted driving can also play a role, as many drivers may lose their focus while waiting for traffic to start moving again. Additionally, road rage caused by traffic frustration can contribute to crashes.
Traffic accidents may be particularly likely to happen during morning commutes, due to California's high rate of sleep-deprived drivers. A recent study found that 35% of Californians do not get enough sleep, compared to the national average of 27.2%.
Types of California auto insurance coverage
When you request California insurance quotes, you will likely have the option to choose from several types of coverage. In addition to the minimum Property Damage and Liability Coverage that California requires, you can select amounts and additional coverages that make sense for you depending on your specific financial and driving circumstances.
Liability Coverage
If you or someone else you allow to drive your vehicle causes an accident, you may be legally liable for any injuries and property damage that results. You can purchase Liability Coverage in various limits that will pay for these damages up to the limits of your policy. Liability Coverage does not cover injuries to you or your family members or damage to your vehicle or other property you own.
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist (UM and UIM)
At 16.6%, California has the 10th highest percentage of uninsured drivers. Additionally, California has relatively low minimum insurance requirements. If someone with no insurance or only minimum coverage causes an accident, you may have to pay for your damages out of pocket if you do not have UM or UIM coverage.
Uninsured Motorist coverage pays for damages that an at-fault driver with no insurance is legally liable to pay. Underinsured Motorist coverage pays the difference between the at-fault driver’s policy limits and your actual damages when the at-fault driver does not have enough insurance for your damages.
You can purchase Uninsured and Underinsured Coverage for Bodily Injury in various limits. The limit for Uninsured Property Damage is $3,500 and it only covers damage caused by an identified uninsured driver.
Collision Coverage
If you hit another vehicle, object or person, or are hit by another vehicle, Collision Coverage applies to the damage to your vehicle, even if you caused the accident. Most Collision Coverage comes with a deductible that you must pay before your Collision Coverage pays anything.
Comprehensive Coverage
Comprehensive Coverage applies to damage to your vehicle caused by something other than a collision. Examples include fire, flood, theft, wind, falling objects and vandalism. However, it does not pay for normal wear and tear, maintenance or mechanical breakdown.
Medical Payments
This coverage pays for a limited amount of medical expenses for you, your passengers and any family members in the vehicle at the time of an accident — no matter who is at fault.
California minimum insurance requirements
Current California law requires you to purchase a minimum of $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident in Bodily Injury Liability Coverage. You must also purchase a minimum of $5,000 in Property Damage Liability Coverage. Because the cost of injuries and property damage can easily exceed these limits, you may want to obtain California auto insurance quotes for more than the minimum amount of Liability Coverage.
Average cost of California auto insurance
The average cost for minimum coverage in California is $635 per year. Full coverage costs an average of $2,290 per year. This is higher than the national average of $2,100 per year for full coverage and $620 per year for minimum coverage. Los Angeles is the most expensive city, with an average cost of $735 for minimum and $2,525 for full coverage.
Nationally, California is among the 15 most expensive states for minimum coverage and the sixth most expensive for full coverage. Getting California auto insurance quotes from VIU by HUB can help you get a better price because rates can vary by insurer. For example, one national carrier charges an average of $373 per year for minimum coverage, while another national insurer charges $1,150 per year for the same kind of auto policy.
Factors that affect California auto insurance rates
Many factors can affect your auto insurance rates in California. Your age, driving record and the type of vehicle you drive are the three that have the biggest impact.
Younger drivers usually pay the highest premiums, with the average price of a policy for an 18-year-old being $6,502 per year for full coverage. By age 25, the average drops to $2,884 and continues to decline as drivers get older and more experienced.
However, getting older will not lower your premiums if you have a poor driving record. A speeding ticket can increase your rates by as much as 36%. An at-fault accident may increase your rates by up to 65% and a DUI could boost your costs by 140%. Finally, rates tend to be higher for more expensive cars and cars correlated with higher risk factors, such as sports cars.
Auto insurance is expensive in California, but so are the potential costs of not having it. Although you must purchase at least the minimum liability limits that state law requires, to protect your financial future, you should consider purchasing higher limits than the minimum limits required by California.
This information is intended for general informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal advice.
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