How to Find Cheap Car Insurance in California (2026)
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Insurance and Finance Writer
Alexandra Arcand is an outreach administrator and insurance expert located in North Central Ohio. She has a passion for writing, investing, and education. As an insurance content writer for over three years, Alexandra has first-hand experience in business finance, economics, and real estate. She leads an outreach writing team that specializes in travel, real estate, healthcare, law, finance, an...
Alexandra Arcand
Licensed Insurance Agent
Eric Stauffer is an insurance agent and banker-turned-consumer advocate. His priority is educating individuals and families about the different types of insurance coverage. He is passionate about helping consumers find the best coverage for their budgets and personal needs. Eric is the CEO of C Street Media, a full-service marketing firm and the co-founder of ProperCents.com, a financial educat...
Eric Stauffer
Updated March 2026
Finding affordable car insurance in California may seem impossible, but California now offers a Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program that allows you to insure your car for under $400 a year, and even less that $300 a year in some counties.
Started by SB20 which was passed in 2005, the California Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program authorized the insurance commissioner to offer lower cost car insurance in counties that qualified. The plan was expanded in December 2007 to include the entire state of California.
Eligible counties include: Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Lake, Lassen, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Modoc, Mono, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Placer, Plumas, Riverside, Sacramento, San Benito, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Sierra, Shasta, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Ventura, Yolo and Yuba.
The purpose of the California Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program is to allow lower income good drivers to obtain car insurance at rates that are affordable in their county. To be eligible, drivers must have no more than one minor moving violation or one at-fault property damage accident in the last three years. Additionally, family income must be less than $25,525 for a single person, $34,225 for two persons, $51,625 for a family of four and $86,425 for a family of eight. The value of an insurance vehicle cannot exceed $20,000.
Payment plans are available, with installments available in up to six payments. If a driver is an unmarried male age 19-24, there is a 25% surcharge for the car insurance premium. Drivers must have had prior car insurance coverage for the past three years and be at least 19 years old.
The California Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program is administered by the California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan and more information can be obtained by calling the CLCA hotline at 1-866-602-8861.
Source: CarInsuranceQuotes-California.com
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