The Most Expensive ZIP Codes for Auto Insurance in California (2025 Data)

Introduction

Auto insurance premiums in California vary wildly by ZIP code — but by how much, exactly? We extracted rate data from SERFF regulatory filings for 6 major California carriers (GEICO, State Farm, Mercury, Allstate, Liberty Mutual, and Farmers) and computed median premiums for a standard coverage profile at every ZIP code in the state.

The coverage profile: 50/100/50 liability limits, $500 deductibles for comprehensive and collision, on a 2024 Toyota Camry LE. The driver: 35 years old, married, 17 years licensed, clean record, 12,000 miles per year.

Here's what we found across 1,746 California ZIP codes.

The 10 Most Expensive ZIP Codes

The most expensive ZIP codes are concentrated in the greater Los Angeles area — particularly Glendale, North Hollywood, and Van Nuys.

Three of the top four most expensive ZIP codes are in Glendale. The city's dense urban environment, high traffic volume, and elevated theft rates all contribute to higher premiums.

The 10 Cheapest ZIP Codes

On the other end of the spectrum, rural and suburban communities enjoy significantly lower rates.

Most Expensive Cities (by Average)

When we aggregate across all ZIP codes within a city, these metro areas have the highest average premiums:

The Price Spread

The most expensive ZIP code (91205 in Glendale, at $1,659/6mo) costs 2.8x more than the cheapest (92096 in San Marcos, at $588/6mo). That's a difference of over $1,071 every six months — or $2,142 per year — for the exact same driver and vehicle.

Within a single ZIP code, the spread between the cheapest and most expensive carrier can exceed $1,900. That means shopping around isn't just smart — it's potentially worth thousands of dollars annually.

Which Carrier Is Cheapest?

We computed which carrier offers the lowest premium at each ZIP code. The results are striking:

• Mercury is the #1 cheapest carrier in 83% of California ZIP codes
• Farmers is the #1 cheapest in 37% of ZIP codes (there is overlap — multiple carriers can tie for cheapest in a given ZIP)
• State Farm and Allstate are rarely the cheapest option in any California ZIP code

If you're a California driver and you're not getting a Mercury or Farmers quote, you're likely leaving money on the table.

Methodology

Data extracted from SERFF regulatory rate filings filed with the California Department of Insurance. Premiums calculated for a standardized safe driver profile (35 years old, married, 17 years licensed, clean record, 12,000 miles/year) with standard 50/100/50 coverage and $500 deductibles, on a 2024 Toyota Camry LE. Median computed across 6 carriers: GEICO, State Farm, Mercury, Allstate, Liberty Mutual (Safeco), and Farmers.

For full rate data, explore our California auto insurance rate tables.