Buy Cheap Los Angeles, CA Auto Insurance in 2024

Oh, La La Land, with the sparkle of the city and Hollywood sign creative minds gravitate to this city. With over 100 museums and over 200 theaters, Los Angeles brings visitors from all over the world.

Los Angeles International Airport, LAX, is the busiest airport in California and the second busiest in all of America.

If you live in Los Angeles, you see the congestion. LA is the second most populated city following the number one city, New York City.

Parking is a nightmare and driving in most places feels like a parking lot you can’t get out of.

We don’t want to add to your stress. We want to take something off your plate. In this case, we can help with your car insurance.

Insurance can be just as stressful and frustrating as those traffic jams on the 405.

Our goal is to make buying car insurance the easiest thing you do all day. So keep reading our insurance guide to LA auto insurance.

We are going to cover what factors go into getting your insurance rate from providers to where you can find the cheapest rate.

If you are new to LA, we are also going to cover the safest places to live and fun things to do in the City of Angels.

In a hurry and ready to get some quotes? Check out our free rating tool above.

The Cost of Car Insurance in Los Angeles

Life is expensive and so is car insurance. We don’t want you to spend all your money on your monthly auto insurance premium. You might find yourself asking how does my Los Angeles, CA stack up against other top US metro areas’ auto insurance rates? We’ve got your answer below.

There are a lot of factors that go into getting your rate.

• age
• zip code
• driving record
• commute to work

Just to name a few.

Let’s take a look at what factors go into getting that premium and what company might give you the lower rate.

Male vs. Female vs Age

So, who gets better rates in California – men or women? The answer is both. These states are no longer using gender to calculate your car insurance rates — Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. But age is still a major factor because young drivers are often considered high-risk. CA does use gender, so check out the average monthly car insurance rates by age and gender in Los Angeles, CA.

California passed a law that insurance companies can no longer use gender as a factor in premiums.

Age is a factor insurance companies can use for determining rates. Los Angeles, CA car insurance rates by company and age is an essential comparison because the top car insurance company for one age group may not be the best company for another age group.

The median age of Los Angeles residents is 36.6 years of age.

Ouch, rates for young teen driverscan definitely put a dent in your monthly budget. Once you hit 25, your rates drop significantly from seventeen.

Your zip code can also play an important part in getting your insurance rate.

Do you live in the most expensive ZIP code?

Cheapest ZIP Codes for Los Angeles Auto Insurance

ZIP codes can be the difference in a couple of hundred dollars. Don’t believe it? Take a look at the rates in LA ZIP codes. ZIP codes will play a major role in your car insurance rates because factors like crime and traffic are calculated by the ZIP code. Check out the monthly Los Angeles, California auto insurance rates by ZIP Code below:

ZIP codes hold important information for insurance companies – crime rates, residents with violations, and more. These are all factors providers want to know before handing out rates to residents.

What are the best car insurance companies in Los Angeles?

There is no shortage of car insurance companies in Los Angeles to choose from. Which Los Angeles, CA car insurance company has the best rates? And how do those rates compare against the average California car insurance company rates? We’ve got the answers below.

Rates are usually the distinguishing factor when you are choosing which one you want to settle with for coverage.

As we said earlier, there are a lot of factors that go into getting your rate. Some companies weigh more on commuting miles while others weigh your driving record more.

So, depending on your needs, one company may be better for you than the next.

Who wants to spend time quoting a million different companies? Not us. So we are going to try and shorten the list for you.

Let’s take a look at some different rates from various companies.

– Cheapest Car Insurance Rates by Company

– Best Car Insurance for Commute Rates

Do you have a long commute to work? Insurers look at how much time you are spending driving your car. If you have a longer commute that equates to more time to get into an accident.

California doesn’t have an extremely high yearly average of driving. Residents have an average of 13,414 miles per year.

All of the above-listed companies change their rates for a longer commute.

If you have a longer commute to work, you may want to look at companies like USAA (if eligible) or State Farm.

These companies rate for more miles, but not as much as the others listed. Or, you can look at companies with lower rates in general like Progressive or Geico.

Best Car Insurance for Coverage Level Rates

The coverage amount you opt to purchase is also going to affect your rate. If you chose to purchase lower deductibles for comprehensive and collision or choose to purchase higher liability limits, you will pay for more coverage. Your coverage level will play a major role in your Los Angeles car insurance rates. Find the cheapest Los Angeles, CA car insurance rates by coverage level below:

While choosing cheaper insurance sounds like a good plan, in the beginning, if you wind up in an accident you may wish you had more coverage.

You may be surprised at your rates. If you take a look at Allstate rates, the high coverage is only about $300 more than the lower coverage.

Best Car Insurance for Credit History Rates

Credit history is another factor California insurers can no longer use when coming up with your rate.

Best Car Insurance for Driving Record Rates

One of the most obvious rating factors is your driving record. Your driving record will play a major role in your Los Angeles car insurance rates. For example, other factors aside, a Los Angeles, CA DUI may increase your car insurance rates by 40 to 50 percent. Find the cheapest Los Angeles, CA car insurance rates by driving record.

Any record, other than a clean one, will affect your insurance rates.

Getting a DUI on your record can make your insurance go up thousands a year. Speeding tickets are a less costly infraction but still can make your insurance go up by $1000 a year.

The best option to keep your rates down is to drive carefully and defensively.

Factors That Affect Car Insurance in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is a fast-growing metro area. Housing prices are extremely high and luxury cars are a dime a dozen. Factors affecting car insurance rates in Los Angeles, CA may include your commute, coverage level, tickets, DUIs, and credit. Controlling these factors will help you maintain cheap Los Angeles, California car insurance.

A growing population means more cars and more congestion which in turn means more opportunities for accidents and claims. Higher wages also mean the ability to purchase nicer vehicles which cost more to insure.

In this next section, we are going to take a look at education, wages, and poverty levels in the Los Angeles area.

– Metro Report – Growth & Prosperity

Brookings Institution is a non-profit organization bringing quality research on public policy.

We are going to take a look at the growth and prosperity of Los Angeles in the Brookings Metro Report.

Prosperity

• Productivity: +1.3 percent (37th of 100)
• Standard of living: +2.4 percent (17th of 100)
• Average annual wage: +2.5 percent (6th of 100)

Growth

• Jobs: +1.2 percent (55th of 100)
• Gross metropolitan product (GMP): +2.6 percent (42nd of 100)
• Jobs at young firms: +2.9 percent (58th of 100)

From 2016 to 2017, Los Angeles saw growth in both areas of prosperity and growth.

– Median Household Income

The cost of living in the city of Los Angeles is very expensive.

The median household income of Los Angeles is $65,006, while the largest sector of residents makes between $75,000 – $100,000 range.

– Homeownership in Los Angeles

Homeowners typically have a lower insurance rate than renters. Homeowners are seen to be financially responsible and eligible for discounts; therefore, they have lower premiums.

The percentage of homeowners in Los Angeles has gone up in 2017 to 45.6 percent from 44.6 percent in 2016.

In 2017, the average property value was $588,700. The largest number of residents have a property value between $500,000-$750,000 range.

– Education in Los Angeles

If you have moved or currently living in Los Angeles and want to further your education, chances are you are going or looking at the below three universities.

• University of Southern California
• University of California-Los Angeles
• California State University-Northridge

The top three majors chosen were

• General Business Administration & Management (6,816 degrees awarded)
• General Psychology (3,543 degrees awarded)
• Sociology (2,662 degrees awarded)

There are also available post-secondary 1-2 year certificates. Top concentrations were chosen in Liberal Arts & Sciences and Medical Assistant.

– Wage by Race & Ethnicity in Common Jobs

Wage inequality is a tough topic across the United States. This can be for race and ethnicity and we will see in the next section for gender.

Overall, Asians receive the highest average salary, followed by whites.

• Asian – $69,782
• White – $63,110

– Wage by Gender in Common Jobs

As we mentioned, gender also plays a role in pay inequality. In all five common job types, men were paid more than women.

In 2017, full-time male employees in California made 1.26 times more than female employees.

– Poverty by Age and Gender

Poverty also takes a toll more on certain ages, genders, and ethnic backgrounds.

Females, ages 25-34 years, have a larger number of LA residents living in poverty.

– Poverty by Race & Ethnicity

Hispanics have the largest ethnic group living in poverty in Los Angeles, which is followed by whites.

Homelessness is a huge problem in Los Angeles. On any given night, there can be between 50,000 and 60,000 people homeless in LA.

While the glitz and glamour of Hollywood lights blind some, there is a huge problem of homelessness and poverty on the streets of Los Angeles.

– Employment by Occupations

Employment grew in 2017 to 4.97 million employees. Out of those employees, Office & Administrative Support Occupations, Sales & Related Occupations, and Management Occupations ranked the highest occupations.

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Driving Conditions in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is known for its traffic and congestion. It is one of the largest cities, second to New York City. If you live in LA, you have experienced it first hand.

It’s frustrating, we know. Traffic is never fun when you have somewhere you need to be and you are sitting in a parking lot.

We will look at the biggest highways and road conditions across Los Angeles.

We will also cover everything from fun things to do in the area to what the weather you can expect in Los Angeles.

Roads in Los Angeles

No one likes a bumpy ride. When you are cruising at a decent speed on the highway just to hit a large pothole isn’t a great part of the day. It can also be a costly one.

– Major Highways

California has 25 active interstate routes totaling almost 2,500 miles.

• I-5
• I-8
• I-10
• I-15
• I-40
• I-80
• I-105
• I-205
• I-305
• I-405
• I-505
• I-605
• I-805
• I-905
• I-110
• I-210
• I-710
• I-215
• I-238
• I-280
• I-380
• I-580
• I-680
• I-780
• I-880
• I-980

Toll Roads

If you don’t know where toll roads are located, you could get stuck at one without change or cash. While you can pay toll fees online, it is easier to get a transponder for whichever toll road you will be using the most.

Each agency has its own requirements and regulations. So choose which toll road you will be using the most to get your transponder through the agency that operates that toll road.

Below is a list of each agency to find out more information about FasTrak.

• 10/110 Metro ExpressLanes, Los Angeles County
• 91 Freeway ExpressLanes, Orange County
• State Route 125 South Bay Expressway, San Diego County
• State Route 237 Express Lanes, Santa Clara Valley
• I-580 Express Lanes, Alameda County
• Interstate 680 Southbound Express Lane, Alameda County
• I-680 Express Lanes, Contra Costa
• Bay Area Bridges, San Francisco County
• Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco County

If you are taking a trip and want to calculate your toll fees, you can do that here.

– Popular Road Trips/Sites

Los Angeles is filled with things to do. It is a tourist destination for some people. But what if you live there?

You may want to get out of the hustle and bustle of LA and when the traffic and congestion are just too much you want a more tranquil place to retreat.

We are going to take a look at things to do in LA and what to do when you are ready to leave the city for a weekend away.

• Griffith Park: Griffith Park has a vast array of fun activities within the park, including the LA Zoo and the Hollywood Sign.
• Disneyland
• The Getty Center
• Los Angeles County Museum of Art
• Warner Bros. Studio Tour

The list can go on and on of parks, tours, and the infamous Rodeo Drive.

If you want to get out of town for a while, check out the list below of surrounding places to check out.

• Santa Catalina Island
• Santa Barbara
• Palm Springs
• Joshua Tree National Park
• Malibu Beaches
• Hearst Castle
• Balboa Island

– Road Conditions

With all the cars driving on Los Angeles roadways, the conditions of those roads are not that great. Over 50 percent are in poor condition by TRIP reporting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVxHQtfwpQ0

– Does Los Angeles use Speeding or Red Light Cameras?

Los Angeles uses red-light cameras to deter drivers from speeding through red lights.

In Los Angeles, red light tickets are hard to enforce. The camera has to get a clear shot of both the driver and the license plate. So while we wouldn’t say to ignore your ticket, you may be able to get off with a warning.

Those red-light cameras haven’t always been legal in LA. In 2011, the city council voted to shut down red-light cameras. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwOsuGj1_Yk

Vehicles and Car Insurance in Los Angeles

So, what type of cars do you see in Los Angeles? Of course, you will see the luxurious cars driven by famous celebrities, but let’s look at what your average everyday resident of LA drives around La La Land.

– Vehicles Most Popular Vehicles Owned

Yourmechanic.com shows LA drivers choose the Mitsubishi Montero. It is also no surprise that LA lands in the top ten cities for Porsche drivers.

How Many Cars per Household

Like most Americans, residents of Los Angeles own two cars per household. This is followed by households with one car and then households with three cars.

– Households without a Car

With the rise of ridesharing and public transportation, LA residents who do not own a car are on the rise since 2015.

– Speed Traps in Los Angeles

Los Angeles didn’t make the top 10 list for speed traps in California, but that doesn’t mean you can get away with speeding.

– Vehicle Theft in City

Ever had that sinking feeling of looking for your car and it is no longer where you parked it?

In 2017, the FBI recorded 19,193 motor vehicle thefts in Los Angeles.

So how safe is living in Los Angeles? Let’s take a look at the crime rate in Los Angeles.

According to Neighborhood Scout, Los Angeles is safer than 14 percent of other cities in the US.

Los Angeles has a higher rate of vehicle theft and violent crimes. All statistics below were found on Neighborhoodscout.com.

Below is a list of the top 10 safest neighborhoods to live in Los Angeles.

1. Victory Blvd / Balboa Blvd
2. Topanga Canyon Blvd / S Topanga Canyon Blvd
3. Mulholland Dr / Sepulveda Blvd
4. Reseda Blvd / Rosita St
5. De Soto Ave / Chatsworth St
6. Palisades Dr / Ave De Santa Ynez
7. W Sunset Blvd / N Kenter Ave
8. Riviera
9. Sesnon Blvd / Reseda Blvd
10. Balboa Blvd / Westbury Dr

Traffic

No one enjoys sitting in traffic. Late to work, picking up kids, or meeting friends are never things you want to be stressed about while trying to move in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Traffic is time-consuming and costly.

Let’s see how long LA residents spend sitting in traffic.

– Traffic Congestion in California

Living in Los Angeles, you may be used to traffic. According to INRIX, Los Angeles is ranked 47th in the world and fifth in the United States for traffic congestion.

Sitting in traffic can cost drivers up to $1,788 a year. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhnwiHB8OaM

– Transportation

According to DataUSA, Los Angeles residents spend more time in the car commuting to work than the average US employee.

LA commuters spend 30 minutes commuting to work compared to the 25.5-minute national average.

Like most Americans, LA residents prefer to drive alone.

– Busiest Highways

Los Angeles has its fair share of busy highways. Here is a list of the busiest roadways in LA according to the Federal Highway Administration.

How safe are Los Angeles streets and roads?

We are going to take a look at fatalities on the streets of Los Angeles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Association compiles data from all states.

We have taken this information and broken it down into where, when, and who are involved in fatalities in Los Angeles.

This first table shows all fatalities in Los Angeles and surrounding counties.

Now, let’s take a look at the same counties for alcohol-related driving fatalities.

This table shows all the single-car fatalities.

Speeding can raise your insurance premiums, but more importantly, it is very dangerous. Speeding can cause fatalities on the road.

The next two tables show fatalities involving roadway departure and intersections.

This table shows all passenger car occupant fatalities.

Fatalities can also include pedestrians and pedal cyclists.

So, what types of roads see more fatalities in LA?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, other principal arterial roads in L.A. have more fatalities than any other type of road.

Let’s also take a look at railway fatalities from the US Department of Transportation.

– Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report

Allstate produces an annual report showing the safest drivers. They take the top 200 cities with the safest drivers.

Los Angeles ranks 195th on their list.

– Ridesharing

Ridesharing has become a great alternative to driving. In an area with widespread traffic and congestion, some residents prefer to call a ridesharing company like Uber or Lyft to take them around town.

Here is a list of available ridesharing companies available in LA:

• Blacklane
• Carmel
• Curb
• Flywheel
• HopSkipDrive
• Jayride
• Kango
• Limos.com
• Lyft
• RideYellow
• SuperShuttle
• Talixo
• Taxi
• Uber

Read more: Buy Cheap Taxi Cab Auto Insurance

EStar Repair Shops

You have been a fender bender, now what?

Trying to find a reputable repair shop can be difficult. EStar makes that task a little easier.

The EStar network offers local repair shops with great service and technology to get you back on the road.

Check out the local EStar repair shops in your area.

Weather in LA

It’s mostly sunshine in Los Angeles. Over 280 days a year show the sun with an average of 63.8 degrees.

Los Angeles experiences a higher rate of natural disasters than the national average of thirteen.

Los Angeles County experienced 52 natural disasters. Causes include:

• Fires
• Floods
• Storms
• Landslides
• Winter Storms
• Mudslides
• Earthquakes
• Freeze
• Heavy Rain
• Hurricane
• Snow
• Tornado
• Wind

To be covered for some of the above natural disasters, you must have comprehensive coverage for your automobiles.

Talk with your agent to ensure coverage is available on your policy if you are concerned about your coverage.

Public Transit

Metro handles all public transit in Los Angeles.

Metro public transit includes metro bus, rail, and bike share.

In order to ride metro transit, you need to purchase a TAP card. Cards can be purchased for $2 and can be reloadable.

So how much does it cost to ride? The following fares are listed on the Metro website.

• 1-Way – $1.75
• 1-Day Pass – $7
• 7-Day Pass – $25
• 30-Day Pass – $100
• LIFE 30-Day Pass (low-income) – $76

Discounts are given to senior citizens, low-income families, students, and riders with disabilities.

Alternate Transportation

Bikes and scooters have become a new way to get around the busy streets of Los Angeles.

The Metro, as we mentioned above, uses bikes as a source of public transportation. Metro isn’t the only company using bikes and scooters.

Lime and Bird are both companies operating in LA providing residents the option to rent scooters or bikes.

Uber has even launched scooter and bike rentals with their company Jump.

Parking in Metro Areas

It is no surprise that parking in Los Angeles can be a little stressful. We have some tips on how to make parking more bearable in the city.

Parking is available on the street, but you will find it probably is metered parking.

There are numerous public parking lots and garages available. You can find a map here showing the available lots and garages.

LA Express Park and SpotHero are both excellent apps that can be used to save or locate parking. This reduces the congestion in popular destinations and also the hassle of trying to find a spot.

Air Quality in Cities

Smog and poor air quality are due to pollutants in the air.

Vehicles using gasoline as their source of fuel emit particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds into the air.

This can cause unhealthy conditions for people, especially those with breathing troubles.

Took a look at the table below with information from the Environmental Protection Agency air quality index report for Los Angeles.

LA’s poor air quality speaks to some decreasing quality of life factors that are leading certain groups to leave the city. Our research team found, for instance, that Los Angeles ties for the fifth-worst metro for Black mobility. African Americans are leaving LA for cities like Sacramento, where more business opportunities exist under less smog.

Cheap Los Angeles Auto Insurance for Military/Veterans

We want to first thank all of the active military personnel, veterans, and their families for their service.

Being a military family is hard for many reasons, finding insurance shouldn’t be another stressful thing to add to your plate.

Let’s take a look at how Los Angeles residents either actively serving or veterans can find affordable car insurance.

Veterans by Service Period

According to DataUSA, the large majority of veterans living in Los Angeles served in the Vietnam War.

Military Bases in California

The Los Angeles Air Force Base is located near LAX in the city of El Segunda, part of LA county.

Here is a list of other military bases you can find in California:

• Beale Air Force Base
• China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station
• Coast Guard Training Center Petaluma
• Edwards Air Force Base
• Fort Irwin
• Los Angeles Air Force Base
• March Air Reserve Base
• Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center – Twentynine Palms
• Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
• Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base
• Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego
• Lemoore Naval Air Station
• North Island Naval Air Station
• Coronado Naval Amphibious Base
• Coronado Naval Base
• Point Loma Naval Base
• San Diego Naval Base
• Ventura County Naval Base
• Naval Postgraduate School
• Presidio of Monterey
• San Diego Military Bases
• Travis Air Force Base
• US Coast Guard Station San Diego
• Vandenberg Air Force Base

Read more: Buy Cheap Auto Insurance for Coast Guard Members

Military Discounts by Providers

Many insurance carriers offer military discounts. Below is a list of providers offering discounts for both active military and veterans:

• Allstate
• Esurance
• Farmers Insurance
• USAA
• Geico
• Liberty Mutual
• Metlife
• StateFarm
• The General

USAA Rates

USAA is an insurance provider for only military personnel, veterans, and eligible family members. It is often one of the cheapest car insurance providers available.

Geico follows USAA with the cheapest rates.

Unique City Laws

Larger cities will sometimes have different laws unique to their city. If you are new to the city or lived here your whole life, it is still wise to review unique city laws.

We are going to briefly go over a few major city laws.

Hands-Free Laws

California has very strict laws concerning the use of hand-held mobile devices. While driving in LA, you can get a fine for just holding your cell phone.

Texting while driving is strictly prohibited. You may use a cell phone if it is hands-free or voice-activated.

Food Trucks

Food trucks are becoming widely popular. In large cities, like Los Angeles, you can find plenty of mouth-watering options.

If you want to start a food truck business, you will want to go over all the rules and regulations for the city you want to operate.

You will need to obtain city and state permits, as well as get your business license and tax ID.

Tiny Home

Tiny homes are legal in Los Angeles, but there are some requirements. Your single-family home must be at least 800 square feet. You must also follow all zoning and building safety requirements.

Parking Laws

Here are a few common parking laws in Los Angeles you need to follow to avoid getting a parking ticket:

1. You can not park in a spot for more than 72 hours or your car will be towed.
2. If you park in a no-parking zone due to street sweeping, whether they come or not, you can be ticketed.
3. Overnight parking is legal in the city limits of Los Angeles, but other cities surrounding LA prohibit overnight parking.
4. No parking in red curb zones. No part of our car can be in a red curb zone period.

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