Car Insurance in Los Angeles: Costs, Coverage Options, and Savings Tips

Younis ShuaibUpdated February 19th, 2025

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Los Angeles is a bustling city with a personality all its own. Because it’s a big metropolis with a dense population, you want to ensure you have the right insurance coverage, as the risk of loss is higher than in rural areas. You also want to ensure you’re within the bounds of California insurance laws while getting the best insurance premiums possible.

This useful guide will ease your search for car insurance in Los Angeles by helping you understand insurance premiums, coverage requirements, how to lower premiums, and more.

Average Car Insurance Cost in Los Angeles

The average car insurance cost in Los Angeles is $1,054 annually for state minimum coverage and $4,158 annually for full coverage. This is significantly higher than the rest of California, which runs $3,066 annually for full coverage and $760 annually for state minimum liability coverage.

Factors Influencing Car Insurance Quotes in Los Angeles

There are a few reasons why car insurance is so much higher in Los Angeles:

• Traffic density: Los Angeles experiences frequent roadway congestion, especially on freeways like the 405 and 101. This dense traffic leads to an increased risk of loss in an accident, increasing the average cost of car insurance in Los Angeles.
• Population density: Los Angeles is home to over 3.8 million people. With this high population density, Los Angeles is statistically at higher risk of theft and other non-collision-related automotive losses. This additional risk leads to increased policy premiums.

Minimum Coverage Requirements

California law sets the minimum car insurance coverage limits within the state, including Los Angeles. The required minimum car insurance in California includes:

• $30,000 for bodily injury liability coverage per person
• $60,000 for bodily injury liability coverage per accident (when multiple people are injured)
• $15,000 for property damage liability coverage per accident

Let’s review what these cover.

Bodily Injury Liability

Bodily injury liability covers medical expenses, lost wages, and other associated costs for individuals injured in an accident you caused. You must carry a policy with at least $30,000 to cover the injury or death of one person or $60,000 total injury and death coverage per accident if two or more people are injured or killed.

This coverage does not cover your own losses or injuries. You’d need to opt for collision or comprehensive coverage to cover these damages.

Property Damage Liability

Property damage liability coverage repairs the other person’s vehicle or property damaged in an accident for which you were at fault. You must carry a policy with at least $15,000 in property damage liability per accident.

This liability coverage does not cover repairing or replacing your own damaged vehicle. You must opt for comprehensive or collision coverage to cover your vehicle.

Tips for Lowering Premiums

You want to get the best Los Angeles car insurance at a great rate to ensure a sustainable budget. You can reduce your annual car insurance premiums in various ways, including:

• Ask about discounts: Insurers often offer discounts in various situations, so ask about these premium-reducing opportunities before choosing a policy. Some discounts your insurer may offer include:
  • Good driver discount: If you have a clean driving record, many insurers will give you a special discount based on you being a safe driver.
  • Multi-car policy: When you include multiple vehicles on a car insurance policy, the insurer may offer a multi-car discount that lowers your overall premium.
  • Multi-policy bundle: If you also have renters or homeowners insurance, bundling these policies with your auto insurance can lead to discounts.
  • Defensive driving courses: Completing a driving course demonstrates your commitment to being a safe driver and could help get you a discount.
• Maintain a clean driving record: One of the best ways to keep the cost of car insurance in Los Angeles is to avoid tickets, accidents, and insurance claims. Insurance providers give your driving and claim history a lot of weight in determining your premiums.
• Increase your deductible: Your deductible is the amount you must pay out of pocket to repair your vehicle before your insurance coverage kicks in. In most cases, the higher your deductible, the lower your premiums. However, never increase your deductible to the point where you cannot afford to pay it when you need to use your coverage.
• Choose your vehicle wisely: Insurers also use the type of car you drive to establish risk. If you drive a performance car or a make or model prone to theft, you may have higher premiums.
• Compare rates regularly: The auto insurance landscape and your circumstances are always changing, which can impact your premiums. You should compare car insurance quotes in Los Angeles every year or two to ensure you’re still getting a fair deal.

Compare Options & Insure Your Car

It’s crucial to ensure you have at least the state minimum car insurance to protect others and yourself while avoiding potential legal issues. But you also want the best car insurance in Los Angeles at the best price.

EverQuote is here to help with that. Our online interface allows you to compare multiple auto insurance quotes in one place, making it easy to find the best policy.

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