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Last updated: April 14, 2026Best Cheap Car Insurance in San Diego of 2026
GEICO offers the cheapest car insurance in San Diego at $1,459 annually for full coverage and $435 annually for minimum coverage.
Cheapest
Editor's Rating:
4.2/5
4.2/5
Average Cost in San Diego
- Full Coverage Monthly: $122
- Minimum Coverage Monthly: $36
Best for Safe Drivers
Editor's Rating:4.5/5
4.5/5Best Customer Service
Editor's Rating:4.5/5
4.5/5
Average Cost in San Diego
- Full Coverage Monthly: $153
- Minimum Coverage Monthly: $56
Key Takeaways
- Car insurance in San Diego is slightly more expensive than the California average — the average cost of full coverage is $2,059 per year, and minimum coverage costs $743 per year on average.
- GEICO offers the cheapest auto insurance in San Diego, on average, while AAA has the strongest customer service record.
- Keep in mind that these rates are averages, which are useful for comparison, but your rates may differ based on your age, location, vehicle type, and other factors.
Our Top Picks for the Best Cheap Auto Insurance in San Diego
- Cheapest: GEICO
- Best for Safe Drivers: Wawanesa Insurance
- Best Customer Service: AAA
- Best for Rideshare Drivers: State Farm
- Best for Military Members: USAA
Compare the Best Cheap Auto Insurance in San Diego
| Company | Full Coverage Annual Avg. | Minimum Coverage Annual Avg. | California Customer Satisfaction (J.D. Power) |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEICO | $1,459 | $435 | Above average |
| Wawanesa | $1,607 | $632 | Above average |
| AAA | $1,834 | $672 | Above average |
| State Farm | $2,052 | $703 | Above average |
| USAA | $1,517 | $545 | Above average |
| San Diego | $2,059 | $743 | – |
Buyer’s Guide to the Best Cheap Providers in San Diego
1. GEICO - Cheapest
4.2
Editor's Rating:
- Average Rate for Minimum Coverage
- $46 mo.
- Average Rate for Full Coverage
- $156 mo.
- Cheapest overall rates
- Discounts for military and federal workers
- Easy online quotes and purchasing
Limited agent presence- Doesn't underwrite home insurance
Why we chose it
GEICO has the most affordable average rates in San Diego, with an annual full coverage premium that’s 29 percent below the city average. It also has a long list of discounts, including 12 percent off for federal employees and 15 percent off for members of the military. GEICO offers several coverage options, making it easy to customize your policy. In particular, it’s one of the few providers to offer mechanical breakdown coverage, which provides additional coverage for unexpected car repairs and mechanical breakdowns.
Who it’s best for
Drivers looking for the cheapest rates, those who want to purchase policies online
GEICO San Diego Pricing
| GEICO | Full coverage | Minimum coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $122 | $36 |
| Annually | $1,459 | $435 |
| Difference from San Diego average | -29% | -41% |
2. Wawanesa Insurance - Best for Safe Drivers
4.5
Editor's Rating:
- High customer satisfaction ratings
- Online claims filing
- A+ financial strength rating from AM Best
- Smaller footprint
- Basic mobile experience
Why we chose it
Wawanesa is a regional provider that underwrites new policies only in California as of 2023, though it still operates in Oregon for existing policyholders. It ranked second on J.D. Power’s Auto Insurance Study for the California region and has a rating of B- from the CRASH Network, underscoring its excellent customer service record. It’s geared towards safe drivers, so those without violations on their record will likely find some of the cheapest rates in San Diego for both full and minimum coverage from Wawanesa.
Who it’s best for
Those with clean driving records, drivers who value excellent service, drivers who only need standard coverage
Wawanesa San Diego Pricing
| Wawanesa | Full coverage | Minimum coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $134 | $53 |
| Annually | $1,607 | $632 |
| Difference from San Diego average | -22% | -15% |
3. AAA - Best Customer Service
4.5
Editor's Rating:
- Average Rate for Minimum Coverage
- $90 mo.
- Average Rate for Full Coverage
- $251 mo.
- Best roadside assistance program
- Great insurance add-ons
- AAA membership perks available
- Membership required
- Pricing varies by club
Why we chose it
The AAA subsidiary serving San Diego is called the Auto Club of Southern California, but we’ll continue referring to it as AAA for simplicity’s sake. This insurance is only available to, and therefore best for, existing AAA members. It offers competitive rates in San Diego as well as several coverage add-ons to give you more financial protection on the road. AAA holds the highest J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction score in California after USAA, over 40 points above the state average.
Who it’s best for
Drivers prioritizing customer service, existing AAA members or those interested in becoming members, drivers looking for robust roadside assistance
AAA San Diego Pricing
| AAA | Full coverage | Minimum coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $137 | $49 |
| Annually | $1,647 | $586 |
| Difference from San Diego average | -20% | -21% |
4. State Farm - Best for Rideshare Drivers
4.9
Editor's Rating:
- Average Rate for Minimum Coverage
- $54 mo.
- Average Rate for Full Coverage
- $169 mo.
- Personalized service from local agents
- Rideshare coverage add-on
- Easy claims process
- Must complete quotes by phone
- No accident forgiveness
Why we chose it
State Farm is one of the few companies that offers rideshare auto insurance in California, which is a necessary add-on for anyone who drives for companies like Uber. State Farm has above-average customer satisfaction ratings in California according to J.D. Power, and it sells policies through agents, which allows for a personalized service experience. It also has two telematics programs to help drivers save on insurance, including one specifically for young drivers.
Who it’s best for
Rideshare drivers, those who prefer working with an agent
GOOD TO KNOW
Your auto insurance company may cancel your policy if it discovers you’ve been working for a rideshare company without the needed coverage, so be sure to get your policy squared away before using your personal vehicle for business.
State Farm San Diego Pricing
| State Farm | Full coverage | Minimum coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $153 | $56 |
| Annually | $1,834 | $672 |
| Difference from San Diego average | -11% | -10% |
5. USAA - Best for Military Members
5
Editor's Rating:
- Average Rate for Minimum Coverage
- $36 mo.
- Average Rate for Full Coverage
- $128 mo.
- Cheap rates for military
- Highest customer service scores in California
- Military-focused coverage options
- Military eligibility required
- Limited to members
- Fewer branch locations
Why we chose it
USAA is the best car insurance for military members, veterans, and military dependents. San Diego has one of the biggest Navy bases in the country, so USAA is a great option for the more than 100,000 military members and military families who live in the city.1 Note that like GEICO, USAA doesn’t work with local agents to sell policies; instead, you can purchase a policy through the company’s website or by phone. In addition, USAA has the highest J.D. Power customer service rating in California.
Who it’s best for
Military members, veterans, and military dependents, low-mileage drivers, military members away on deployment
FYI
If you’re storing your vehicle long-term, due to deployment or any other reason, you could get up to 60 percent off your auto policy with USAA.
USAA San Diego Pricing
| USAA | Full coverage | Minimum coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $126 | $45 |
| Annually | $1,517 | $545 |
| Difference from San Diego average | -26% | -27% |
San Diego Best Cheap Picks — Detailed Customer Satisfaction Summary
| Company | J.D. Power Auto Insurance Study – California2 | CRASH Network Report Card3 | J.D. Power Claims Satisfaction4 | NAIC Complaint Index5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GEICO | 644 | C- | 692 | 1.95 |
| Wawanesa | 672 | B- | Not rated | 4.31 |
| AAA | 676 | B | 706 | 0 |
| State Farm | 635 | C- | 710 | 2.13 |
| USAA | 748 | D+ | 726 | 2.74 |
| Average | 631 (out of 1,000) | C+ | 697 (out of 1,000) | 1 |
| What the study measures | Customer satisfaction regionally, based on responses from over 40,000 customers | Claims handling and payment practices, based on an annual survey of collision repair shops | Satisfaction with the claims process, based on responses from nearly 10,000 customers who recently filed a claim | Consumer complaints relative to market share. The lower the score, the better |
Cheapest Full Coverage Car Insurance in San Diego
The cheapest full coverage auto insurance in San Diego is offered by GEICO at $1,459 annually on average — that’s 29 percent below the city average. USAA and Wawanesa also have competitive full coverage rates, with average annual premiums of $1,517 and $1,607, respectively.
| Company | Annual San Diego Average | Monthly San Diego Average |
|---|---|---|
| GEICO | $1,459 | $122 |
| USAA | $1,517 | $126 |
| Wawanesa | $1,607 | $134 |
| Progressive | $1,647 | $137 |
| Mercury | $1,720 | $143 |
| Kemper | $1,777 | $148 |
| Auto Club of SoCal (AAA) | $1,834 | $153 |
| Allstate | $1,946 | $162 |
| State Farm | $2,052 | $171 |
| Farmers | $2,517 | $210 |
| San Diego average | $2,059 | $172 |
| California average | $2,006 | $167 |
| U.S. average | $2,399 | $200 |
Cheapest Minimum Coverage Car Insurance in San Diego
GEICO also offers the most affordable minimum coverage car insurance in San Diego at $435 annually on average, which is 35 percent cheaper than the city average. USAA and Progressive have the next-cheapest rates at $545 and $586 per year.
| Company | Annual San Diego Average | Monthly San Diego Average |
|---|---|---|
| GEICO | $435 | $36 |
| USAA | $545 | $45 |
| Progressive | $586 | $49 |
| Wawanesa | $632 | $53 |
| Auto Club of SoCal (AAA) | $672 | $56 |
| Mercury | $677 | $56 |
| State Farm | $703 | $59 |
| Allstate | $737 | $61 |
| San Diego average | $743 | $62 |
| California average | $669 | $56 |
| U.S. average | $635 | $53 |
How Many Car Accidents Happen in San Diego?
In 2022, the last year for which there is data, there were 4,606 crashes in San Diego County.6 These resulted in 2,957 injuries and 71 fatalities. 2,444 of the accidents only involved property damage. 12 of the fatalities were pedestrians, while one was a bicyclist.
Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements in California
As of January 2025, the following minimum auto insurance limits are mandated by California state law:
- Bodily injury liability: $30,000 per person/$60,000 per accident
- Property damage liability: $15,000 per accident
California recently increased its minimum coverage limits, but they still may not be enough to cover damages if you get into a serious accident. We recommend increasing your coverage if your budget allows.
Frequently Asked Questions
The cheapest car insurance in San Diego is from GEICO, at $435 per year for minimum coverage and $1,459 per year for full coverage, on average.
If you can’t find affordable car insurance in San Diego, we recommend you apply for California’s Low Cost Automobile (CLCA) insurance program. The state-sponsored program was designed in 1999 to help eligible low-income drivers meet California’s mandatory insurance requirements.
You can learn more about the program at the CLCA website: https://www.ca.gov/service/?item=california-low-cost-auto/
Or call the California Department of Insurance: 866-602-8861
GEICO has the cheapest car insurance in California, on average. It has an average annual premium of $1,469 for full coverage and $456 for minimum coverage. That’s 27 percent and 32 percent cheaper than the California average, respectively.
$100 per month for car insurance is relatively expensive in San Diego if you’re getting minimum coverage, but it’s a good rate if you’re getting full coverage. The average monthly premium for minimum coverage in the city is $62, while the average monthly full coverage premium is $172.
Methodology
At AutoInsurance.com, we evaluate auto insurance providers based on four key factors:
- Price (40%): We looked at average annual rates in San Diego for full and minimum coverage for good drivers with good credit. Full coverage averages use the following limits:
- Bodily injury liability: $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident
- Property damage liability: $100,000 per accident
- Comprehensive and collision: $500 deductible
- Claims handling (25%): Handling claims is the primary service insurance companies offer, so we look closely at how effectively and seamlessly providers file your claims when you submit them. Third-party rating sources, like J.D. Power and AM Best, provide us with independent assessment methods to gauge insurers’ capabilities to fulfill claims.
- Customer experience (25%): As car insurance customers ourselves, we know how important customer experience is for drivers. Filing claims, navigating stressful accidents, and getting coverage for yourself and your loved ones can be difficult processes. We leverage third-party rating organizations, like the Better Business Bureau (BBB), National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), and J.D. Power to ensure we have an objective method to assess providers’ customer service capabilities.
- Coverage options (10%): Although you only need minimum liability to drive legally in California, we value providers that offer extra coverage to drivers in San Diego. Optional coverages, such as rideshare insurance and rental reimbursement, will provide added financial protection for you and your loved ones.
Learn more about our ratings and methodology.
Citations
Military in San Diego. San Diego Military Advisory Council (SDMAC). (2025).
https://sdmac.org/military-in-san-diego/It’s Now a Buyer’s Market for Auto Insurance, J.D. Power Finds. J.D. Power. (2025, June 10).
https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2025-us-auto-insurance-studyInsurer Report Card – Top Rated U.S. Car Insurance Companies for 2025. CRASH Network. (2025).
https://www.crashnetwork.com/irc/Auto Insurance Repair Cycle Times Improve but Price Increases Take a Toll, J.D. Power Finds. J.D. Power. (2024, October 29).
https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2024-us-auto-claims-satisfaction-studyConsumer Insurance Search Results. NAIC. (2025).
https://content.naic.org/cis_refined_results.htmTraffic Safety Dashboard. SANDAG Open Data (San Diego Association of Governments). (2025).
https://opendata.sandag.org/stories/s/Traffic-Safety-Dashboard/
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