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Get Cheap Car Insurance in Santa Cruz County, CA

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

 

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The Cheapest Minimum Coverage in Santa Cruz County

The chart below shows the cheapest car insurance company in Santa Cruz 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 Cruz County Insurer Monthly Cost
Metromile $50
Geico $56
Progressive $60
Travelers $62

Savings for Every Kind of Santa Cruz County Driver

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

Based on our extensive insurance data, we know the average Santa Cruz 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 $631 per year by choosing the right vehicle insurance company. Some Santa Cruz County residents are paying out over $1,974 extra every year for auto insurance in Santa Cruz County. That cost may be even higher if you haven’t requested a new quote as your life situation changed.

Situation
Santa Cruz County, CA Savings / Yr.
Drivers with good records
$631
Drivers with accidents
$1,156
Drivers with speeding tickets
$914
Drivers with a DUI conviction
$1,606
Young drivers
$825
Married drivers
$358
Drivers with bad credit
$0

Santa Cruz County Car Insurance vs. California

People living in Santa Cruz County pay an average of 1.69% less than the typical driver in the state. The average driver in Santa Cruz County can expect to pay about $924 per year, or $1,974 for full coverage.

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

Car Insurance Prices by Santa Cruz County Neighborhood

Santa Cruz 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 Cruz County?

The map shows insurance prices in and around Santa Cruz County, with more expensive areas in red and places with cheaper car insurance in green. Insurance can vary by as much as $426 per year within the county boundaries, with insurance premiums ranging from a high of $2,247 to a low of $1,821. Insurance prices tend to be higher for those living in the Southeast area, and lower for those with homes in the Northeast parts of Santa Cruz County.

Pick the Best Car Insurance Company for You in Santa Cruz 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 Cruz County insurance provider for whom we have posted the highest savings dollar figure.

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

For drivers with clean driving records and no major strikes, Metromile is the best option, with annual savings of $631 over the average Santa Cruz County car insurance company.

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We use the average good driver, paying $112 per month, as our baseline for pricing in Santa Cruz 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 Cruz County drivers with accidents on their records

In Santa Cruz County getting into an accident will raise premiums an average 44% for a yearly cost of $3,550. That's $1,576 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 $1,156 over the competition.

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

>Metromile gave the average person with a speeding ticket the most savings, averaging $914 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 County, tickets raise premiums on new quotes about $1,002. If you have a speeding ticket, we recommend Geico, Metromile, and Mercury Insurance for savings that beat the average insurance cost of $2,976 per year.

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

Getting a DUI can increase the cost of insurance dramatically. The average person with a DUI paid $4,999 per year in auto insurance premiums, which was $3,025 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 $1,606 less each year.

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

In Santa Cruz County, State Farm costs young drivers $825 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 County. With an average cost of $5,238 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 County

Not everything is an excuse for the auto insurance companies to charge you more. Getting married provides an average discount of $196. Geico, Progressive, and Mercury Insurance provided the largest discounts to couples living in Santa Cruz County.

Progressive gave the largest car insurance discounts to married couples, averaging $358 saved each year compared to an average Santa Cruz County couple's premiums.

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

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

Nationwide was the best company for customer service in Santa Cruz 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 Cruz 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 Cruz 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 Cruz County

Many customers have informed us that they prefer to work with large national brands. Maybe they're one of the 41% of Santa Cruz 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 Cruz 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 Cruz 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 Cruz County

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

On average, car insurance in Santa Cruz County 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 county are influenced by the following factors:

  • The average commute time in Santa Cruz County is 35 minutes, which is a little more 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 County are among the lowest in the state, and marriage often results in car insurance discounts.
  • Vehicle theft rates in the area are high, with a Vehicle Theft Crime Grade of D- according to CrimeGrade.org.
  • Santa Cruz County is one of the least populated areas in the state. The county’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 County is $77 per month for minimum coverage and $165 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 Cruz County driver? Based on national demographic data provided by BestNeighborhood, we took a single unmarried man living in central Santa Cruz 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.