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Get Cheap Car Insurance in Santa Cruz, CA

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

 

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The Cheapest Minimum Coverage in Santa Cruz

The chart below shows the cheapest car insurance company in Santa Cruz 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 Cruz Insurer Monthly Cost
Metromile $49
Geico $55
Progressive $59
Travelers $61

Savings for Every Kind of Santa Cruz Driver

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

Based on our extensive insurance data, we know the average Santa Cruz 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 $623 per year by choosing the right vehicle insurance company. Some Santa Cruz residents are paying out over $1,949 extra every year for auto insurance in Santa Cruz. That cost may be even higher if you haven’t requested a new quote as your life situation changed.

Situation
Santa Cruz, CA Savings / Yr.
Drivers with good records
$623
Drivers with accidents
$1,141
Drivers with speeding tickets
$903
Drivers with a DUI conviction
$1,586
Young drivers
$814
Married drivers
$353
Drivers with bad credit
$0

Santa Cruz Car Insurance vs. California

People living in Santa Cruz pay an average of 2.95% less than the typical driver in the state. The average driver in Santa Cruz can expect to pay about $912 per year, or $1,949 for full coverage.

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

Car Insurance Prices by Santa Cruz Neighborhood

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

Insurance Prices

More expensive
Average
Less expensive

Where is insurance cheapest within Santa Cruz?

The map shows insurance prices in and around Santa Cruz, with more expensive areas in red and places with cheaper car insurance in green. Insurance can vary by as much as $356 per year within the city boundaries, with insurance premiums ranging from a high of $2,198 to a low of $1,842. Insurance prices tend to be higher for those living in the South area, and lower for those with homes in the North parts of Santa Cruz.

Pick the Best Car Insurance Company for You in Santa Cruz

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 Cruz insurance provider for whom we have posted the highest savings dollar figure.

The best car insurance provider for most drivers in Santa Cruz

For drivers with clean driving records and no major strikes, Metromile is the best option, with annual savings of $623 over the average Santa Cruz car insurance company.

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We use the average good driver, paying $111 per month, as our baseline for pricing in Santa Cruz. 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 Cruz drivers with accidents on their records

In Santa Cruz getting into an accident will raise premiums an average 44% for a yearly cost of $3,504. That's $1,556 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 $1,141 over the competition.

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The best car insurance company for Santa Cruz drivers with speeding tickets

>Metromile gave the average person with a speeding ticket the most savings, averaging $903 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 Cruz, tickets raise premiums on new quotes about $989. If you have a speeding ticket, we recommend Geico, Metromile, and Mercury Insurance for savings that beat the average insurance cost of $2,938 per year.

The best auto insurance for Santa Cruz drivers with a DUI conviction

Getting a DUI can increase the cost of insurance dramatically. The average person with a DUI paid $4,935 per year in auto insurance premiums, which was $2,986 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 $1,586 less each year.

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

In Santa Cruz, State Farm costs young drivers $814 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 Cruz. With an average cost of $5,171 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 Cruz

Not everything is an excuse for the auto insurance companies to charge you more. Getting married provides an average discount of $193. Geico, Progressive, and Mercury Insurance provided the largest discounts to couples living in Santa Cruz.

Progressive gave the largest car insurance discounts to married couples, averaging $353 saved each year compared to an average Santa Cruz couple's premiums.

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The cheapest car insurance in Santa Cruz 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 Cruz car insurance company for customer service

Many car insurance companies over the years have struggled with customer service. In Santa Cruz, 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 Cruz.

Nationwide was the best company for customer service in Santa Cruz 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 Cruz, 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 Cruz. 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 Cruz

Many customers have informed us that they prefer to work with large national brands. Maybe they're one of the 49% of Santa Cruz residents who are renting, and don't plan to be in the city 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 Cruz 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 Cruz, 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 Cruz

What Influences the Cost of Car Insurance in Santa Cruz?

On average, car insurance in Santa Cruz is actually less expensive than the rest of the state. These low 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 city are influenced by the following factors:

  • The average commute time in Santa Cruz is 31 minutes, which is a little 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 Cruz are among the lowest in the state, and marriage often results in car insurance discounts.
  • Vehicle theft rates in the area are low, with a Vehicle Theft Crime Grade of D- according to CrimeGrade.org.
  • Santa Cruz has an average population density in the state. The city’s density could result in a price decrease for drivers.

As a result of these and other factors, the average cost of car insurance in Santa Cruz is $76 per month for minimum coverage and $162 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 Cities

Cities with Similar Populations

* Who is the average Santa Cruz driver? Based on national demographic data provided by BestNeighborhood, we took a single unmarried man living in central Santa Cruz 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.