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Get Cheap Car Insurance in Santa Barbara County, CA

We monitor insurance prices, helping the average driver in Santa Barbara County save up to 33.7% on car insurance.

 

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The Cheapest Minimum Coverage in Santa Barbara County

The chart below shows the cheapest car insurance company in Santa Barbara County for a driver with a good record seeking minimum coverage on a mid-grade used vehicle. Values are estimated, and premiums may be lower or higher, but should be in an accurate order for a good driver. In general, drivers with good records will get the best prices through Metromile, followed by Geico, Progressive, and Travelers.

 
Santa Barbara County Insurer Monthly Cost
Metromile $51
Geico $57
Progressive $61
Travelers $63

Savings for Every Kind of Santa Barbara County Driver

The table shows how much the average auto insurance customer in Santa Barbara County might save by following our recommendations.

Based on our extensive insurance data, we know the average Santa Barbara County driver will save about 32% on car insurance. This isn’t marketing: this is unbiased data with no financial influence. The best auto insurance company depends on factors such as your driving record, home location, marital status, and age. The average driver will find themselves saving $645 per year by choosing the right vehicle insurance company. Some Santa Barbara County residents are paying out over $2,018 extra every year for auto insurance in Santa Barbara County. That cost may be even higher if you haven’t requested a new quote as your life situation changed.

Situation
Santa Barbara County, CA Savings / Yr.
Drivers with good records
$645
Drivers with accidents
$1,182
Drivers with speeding tickets
$935
Drivers with a DUI conviction
$1,642
Young drivers
$843
Married drivers
$366
Drivers with bad credit
$0

Santa Barbara County Car Insurance vs. California

People living in Santa Barbara County pay an average of 0.51% more than the typical driver in the state. The average driver in Santa Barbara County can expect to pay about $945 per year, or $2,018 for full coverage.

Based on our analysis, Metromile will be the cheapest provider in Santa Barbara County for most people.

Car Insurance Prices by Santa Barbara County Neighborhood

Santa Barbara County, CA map of insurance costs by zip code and neighborhood

Insurance Prices

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Average
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Where is insurance cheapest within Santa Barbara County?

The map shows insurance prices in and around Santa Barbara County, with more expensive areas in red and places with cheaper car insurance in green. Insurance can vary by as much as $689 per year within the county boundaries, with insurance premiums ranging from a high of $2,414 to a low of $1,725. Insurance prices tend to be higher for those living in the West area, and lower for those with homes in the Northeast parts of Santa Barbara County.

Pick the Best Car Insurance Company for You in Santa Barbara County

We have analyzed insurance costs for auto insurance customers based on the major variables that impact pricing. The results of our analysis are below, including US dollar savings. What about when you meet one or more of the criteria? For example, if you have both a DUI and a speeding ticket? Simply start with the Santa Barbara County insurance provider for whom we have posted the highest savings dollar figure.

The best car insurance provider for most drivers in Santa Barbara County

For drivers with clean driving records and no major strikes, Metromile is the best option, with annual savings of $645 over the average Santa Barbara County car insurance company.

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We use the average good driver, paying $114 per month, as our baseline for pricing in Santa Barbara County. Allstate, Metromile, and Esurance are all good choices for quotes if you have a clean record. See also the best providers for married people if you are married, and look for repeated company names.

The best car insurance provider for Santa Barbara County drivers with accidents on their records

In Santa Barbara County getting into an accident will raise premiums an average 44% for a yearly cost of $3,629. That's $1,611 per year more than a driver with no at-fault crashes on their driving record might pay. To avoid paying out more than you need to, Travelers, Metromile, and Mercury Insurance are good choices for drivers with accidents.

In our analysis, Metromile saved the average person who had been in an accident the most, with annual savings averaging $1,182 over the competition.

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The best car insurance company for Santa Barbara County drivers with speeding tickets

>Metromile gave the average person with a speeding ticket the most savings, averaging $935 better than other car insurance companies.

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Depending on the insurance company, a speeding ticket can actually raise insurance premiums more than getting in an accident. In Santa Barbara County, tickets raise premiums on new quotes about $1,024. If you have a speeding ticket, we recommend Geico, Metromile, and Mercury Insurance for savings that beat the average insurance cost of $3,042 per year.

The best auto insurance for Santa Barbara County drivers with a DUI conviction

Getting a DUI can increase the cost of insurance dramatically. The average person with a DUI paid $5,111 per year in auto insurance premiums, which was $3,093 more than a driver with no major issues. Progressive, Travelers, and Mercury Insurance penalized their customers the least for a DUI.

Getting a quote from Mercury Insurance may cost the average person with a DUI about $1,642 less each year.

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The least expensive car insurance company for new and young drivers in Santa Barbara County

In Santa Barbara County, State Farm costs young drivers $843 less each year versus the average auto insurance bill.

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Teen drivers account for more than their share of accidents, and thus end up paying about 62% more for insurance than more mature drivers in Santa Barbara County. With an average cost of $5,355 per year (for young drivers who aren't on a parent's plan), car insurance for inexperienced drivers can’t ever be called "cheap." A few companies like State Farm, Geico, and Mercury Insurance try to attract these younger drivers with lower prices in the hopes that they will stay with the company.

The best marriage discounts for vehicle insurance in Santa Barbara County

Not everything is an excuse for the auto insurance companies to charge you more. Getting married provides an average discount of $200. Geico, Progressive, and Mercury Insurance provided the largest discounts to couples living in Santa Barbara County.

Progressive gave the largest car insurance discounts to married couples, averaging $366 saved each year compared to an average Santa Barbara County couple's premiums.

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The cheapest car insurance in Santa Barbara County for drivers with bad credit

The state of California does not allow companies to use credit score to figure out premiums, so the prices are unchanged regardless of credit score

The best Santa Barbara County car insurance company for customer service

Many car insurance companies over the years have struggled with customer service. In Santa Barbara County, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) ranks Nationwide as the best. Another valuable metric: JD Power ranks American Family Insurance as the best provider in Santa Barbara County.

Nationwide was the best company for customer service in Santa Barbara County according to the NAIC.

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Recent price drops

Due to improvements in our tracking and methodology, we are unable to show price change data for the most recent year. This data will return next year (2023).

In 2020, at the peak of the global pandemic, {{top1_2020pricedrop_company}} changed their average price {{top1_2020pricedrop_company_percentage}}% in Santa Barbara County, which was better than other insurers.

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During the Covid-19 pandemic a few insurance companies realized people were driving less and struggling overall. They proactively lowered their rates for many customers in Santa Barbara County. We think helping communities in a time of need deserves special attention. Many insurance companies have advertisements telling us how much they care: we prefer to look at their actions.

The cheapest large national provider in Santa Barbara County

Many customers have informed us that they prefer to work with large national brands. Maybe they're one of the 46% of Santa Barbara County residents who are renting, and don't plan to be in the county or state for very long. Or maybe national recognition and funds make people feel more secure with a large provider. Regardless, Allstate tends to have the lowest prices for most drivers.

For customers who prefer to work with large national providers, we recommend Allstate for pricing. The average Santa Barbara County driver can expect to pay about $129 per month.

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What About USAA?

JD power consistently ranks USAA as the top car insurance company in the United States. We don’t compare their rates because most people can’t sign up. USAA only allows active military members and their spouses and children to apply. In Santa Barbara County, USAA has the best prices for good drivers, drivers with a DUI conviction, drivers with speeding tickets, young drivers, and drivers with accidents.
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Auto Insurance Prices in and Around Santa Barbara County

What Influences the Cost of Car Insurance in Santa Barbara County?

On average, car insurance in Santa Barbara County is more expensive than the rest of the state. These high prices are no mystery to us. Coverage Watch tracks car insurance costs and uses a complex AI that finds related variables, and has determined car insurance prices in the county are influenced by the following factors:

  • The average commute time in Santa Barbara County is 25 minutes, which is far less than average for a driver in the state.
  • California state insurance regulations may require higher prices.
  • An average of 0 weeks with snow on the ground, which impacts accident rates.
  • Marriage rates in Santa Barbara County are lower than average in the state, and marriage often results in car insurance discounts.
  • Vehicle theft rates in the area are very high, with a Vehicle Theft Crime Grade of F according to CrimeGrade.org.
  • Santa Barbara County has an average population density in the state. The county’s density could result in a price increase for drivers.

As a result of these and other factors, the average cost of car insurance in Santa Barbara County is $79 per month for minimum coverage and $168 per month for full coverage. Costs vary widely based on your situation, and will likely be lower if you have a clean driving record and follow our insurance company research to find the best car insurance company for you.

Car Insurance in Nearby Counties

Counties with Similar Populations

* Who is the average Santa Barbara County driver? Based on national demographic data provided by BestNeighborhood, we took a single unmarried man living in central Santa Barbara County with good (but not perfect) credit driving a used midsized sedan. Data sources: proprietary data collection and analysis, unique to CoverageWatch.org All content copyright CoverageWatch.org. Journalists and other websites are free to cite any data with attribution.