As the most populated state, California also has the highest number of drivers on the roads. With over 27 million licensed drivers, the state takes a hard line on violations like DUIs, at-fault accidents and speeding. Drivers with these infractions, along with inexperienced drivers, typically pay much higher premiums for insurance coverage. In some cases, drivers might struggle to find insurance providers willing to extend them coverage. We analyzed the latest data from Quadrant Information Services to help you understand how infractions affect your car insurance in California—and offer strategies that might help you find more affordable coverage.
Rates for high-risk car insurance in California
A driver with a clean record in California pays an average rate of $844 per year for state-mandated minimum coverage, while full coverage, which includes optional collision and comprehensive insurance, averages $2,935. Rates for high-risk drivers generally exceed these averages, as the tables below show. The rate of increase may vary depending on the severity of the violation, however, and number of violations within a certain period of time. Someone with a single speeding ticket, for example, is unlikely to see as much of an increase as a driver who accumulates several speeding tickets within a year.
Because car insurance for high-risk drivers in California can be pricey, it’s important to shop around when looking for affordable coverage, asking for quotes from several insurers to see who offers the cheapest coverage for your situation.
Bankrate collected rates from Quadrant Information Services for multiple insurance companies to help drivers see average rate impacts following different high-risk incidents.
Rates after a speeding ticket
A driver with a single speeding ticket can expect to pay an average of $1,169 per year for minimum coverage and $4,085 per year for full coverage, which is a 39 percent increase. Be aware that these rates don’t take other expenses into account, such as the cost of a speeding ticket or additional state fines you may be charged. To get an idea of how much you might pay after a single speeding conviction, you can look over the average costs from the three providers below. It’s worth noting that Geico won Bankrate’s 2025 Bankrate Award for Best auto insurance company for high-risk drivers, so it may be worth checking out (Progressive won the same award in 2024).
California average annual full coverage premiums
| Car insurance company | Rate before a speeding ticket conviction* | Rate after a speeding ticket conviction* | % increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geico | $2,312 | $3,218 | 39% |
| Progressive | $2,166 | $2,953 | 36% |
| Travelers | $2,836 | $3,811 | 34% |
| *As of March 2025 |
Rates after an at-fault accident
California drivers found responsible for an at-fault accident pay an average of $1,473 per year for minimum coverage and $4,984 per year for full coverage, which is a 70 percent increase from what you pay for full coverage with a clean driving record. Again, this does not include other expenses you may be responsible for paying, such as the other driver’s injuries or property damage, which you may have to pay out of pocket if the costs exceed your policy limits. You can see the average cost of high-risk auto insurance in the table below, but be aware that even the best car insurance companies might charge higher premiums if you have multiple accidents on your driving record.
California average annual full coverage premium
| Car insurance company | Rate before an at-fault accident* | Rate after an at-fault accident* | % increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geico | $2,312 | $3,390 | 47% |
| Progressive | $2,166 | $3,933 | 82% |
| Travelers | $2,836 | $4,226 | 49% |
| *As of March 2025 |
Rates after a DUI
California drivers with a DUI tend to pay some of the highest rates for car insurance since it is one of the most serious driving violations and has the potential to cause extensive injury. Getting a single DUI causes your full coverage insurance to jump by 149 percent in California. The average cost of minimum coverage after a DUI in the state jumps to $2,131 per year, while full coverage costs $7,315 per year. You may also be required to pay fines, face probation, lose your license or be required to carry an SR-22 certificate, which is proof that you carry the minimum insurance required in the state. To get an idea of how much you might pay for high-risk auto insurance, take a look at sample average rates from a few major carriers in California. Keep in mind that not all carriers will offer you a policy after a DUI; the only way to know for sure if you can get coverage is to ask for a quote.
California average annual full coverage premium
| Car insurance company | Rate before a DUI conviction* | Rate after a DUI conviction* | % increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geico | $2,312 | $5,022 | 117% |
| Progressive | $2,166 | $4,714 | 118% |
| Travelers | $2,836 | $5,781 | 104% |
| *As of March 2025 |
Rate after adding a teen driver
The price you pay for car insurance also depends largely upon your age (and experience behind the wheel). Teenage drivers are considered high-risk because they lack experience and are more prone to risky behavior. To save on auto insurance, many parents add their teen to their policies. Even though this doesn’t require a special high-risk insurance policy, just adding a teen can increase your full insurance coverage by 135 percent on average. A California couple with a teen driver on the policy pays an average of $2,052 per year for minimum coverage and $6,885 per year for full coverage. Although these rates typically decrease as your teen gets older and more experienced, here is what you may expect to pay.
California average annual full coverage premiums for married policyholders
| Car insurance company | Rate without a 16-year-old insured | Rate with a 16-year-old insured | % increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geico | $2,312 | $4,657 | 101% |
| Progressive | $2,166 | $5,776 | 167% |
| Travelers | $2,836 | $5,614 | 98% |
| *As of March 2025 |
Who is a high-risk driver?
High-risk drivers come in all ages and experience levels. Bankrate defines a high-risk driver as one with at least one speeding ticket conviction, at-fault accident, or DUI conviction on their driving record. Most car insurance companies in California also consider drivers with a DUI conviction or with more than one accident or moving violation to be high-risk.
California’s points system for violations is one of the stricter in the country. Many states may suspend or revoke your license after accumulating six points. California could suspend your license after getting four points in one year. Considering that one at-fault crash may cost you three points for driver negligence, your license could be suspended after a second accident or ticket.
How to lower your rate if you’re a high-risk driver
High-risk drivers may have limited carrier options and higher premiums. However, once you find a carrier willing to write you a policy, there are a few steps you can take to help lower your premium:
- Compare rates: Shop around to find the cheapest car insurance company and most affordable policy based on your current needs. You may want to use the same coverage types and limits when requesting quotes so it’s easier to compare your offers. You might also want to shop around every time your policy is up for renewal since rates fluctuate.
- Look for discounts: Take advantage of as many discounts as possible, like low mileage, student driver or multi-line discounts. Some insurance providers automatically apply eligible discounts to your account, while you may have to specifically request discounts or do an account review if they aren’t automatically added.
- Consider telematics: Enroll in your provider’s telematics program, which collects driving data to support your rededication to safe and responsible driving. Be aware that some insurance providers reserve the right to raise your rates if the program reveals unsafe driving habits.
- Look into a driving course after an infraction: Complete an approved, eight-hour traffic school course to keep points off your driving record.
- Raise your deductible: Increase your deductible to a higher amount that you can reasonably afford. Raising your deductible lowers your premium, but you will be on the hook for higher out-of-pocket costs should you need to file a claim. You might consider how much you have in emergency savings before selecting a deductible you would feel comfortable paying.
- Drive safely: Maintain a clean driving record by avoiding car accidents and traffic violations. Getting even just one or two points can significantly increase the price you pay for coverage, so prioritize safe driving practices.
Saving even as little as 5-10 percent on your vehicle insurance by utilizing discounts could translate to hundreds of dollars per year.
Car insurance for high-risk drivers in California who can’t get standard insurance
If you are considered high-risk and have struggled to find coverage, there may be state resources that can help you. One important one is the California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan (CAARP), which is administered by the American Property Casualty Insurance Association. CAARP is not the same thing as California’s Low-Cost Automobile Program (CLCA), which provides insurance for state residents who cannot afford regular insurance.
CAARP provides liability-only auto insurance to California residents who cannot find regular coverage due to past infractions on their license. When you apply to the CAARP program, you are assigned to an insurance company that will work with you. All the companies working with CAARP are required to charge the same premium levels, so there is no need for you to shop around. Once the infractions have dropped off your record, you should be able to find a standard policy.
Note that CAARP is not an insurance company itself. It simply connects high-risk drivers with companies that are required to extend liability coverage to them. Drivers looking for collision and comprehensive insurance must find other insurance providers willing to cover them.
Frequently asked questions
Methodology
Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze March 2025 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates are based on a 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:
- $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $50,000 property damage liability per accident
- $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
- $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
- $500 collision deductible
- $500 comprehensive deductible
To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2023 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.
These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.
Incidents: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the following incidents applied: clean record (base), at-fault accident, single speeding ticket and single DUI conviction.
Teens: Rates were determined by adding a 16-year-old teen to their 40-year-old married parents’ policy. The rates displayed reflect the total cost of a driver this age added to their parents’ policy.
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