4+ years writing insurance and personal finance content
MBA from Roosevelt University
Anna leverages her personal finance and insurance knowledge to create educational content that helps people make smart financial decisions.
Featured in
3+ years producing insurance and personal finance content
Main architect of the Insurify Quality Score
Courtney’s deep personal finance knowledge extends beyond insurance to credit cards, consumer lending, and banking. She thrives on creating actionable content.
Featured in
30+ years in financial services
Clinical Professor of Finance, University of San Diego
Dan is a well-recognized and widely quoted financial services expert, regularly appearing in a variety of national and local media as a subject matter expert.
Updated October 30, 2024
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Table of contents
Located outside of Los Angeles and surrounded by mountains within driving distance, Riverside, California, has a vibrant arts and recreation community. Residents enjoy car insurance rates that are on par with state averages but lower than costs in other California cities. The city’s smaller population and lower accident rates, compared to nearby cities, could partly explain its competitive car insurance rates.[1]
The average cost of car insurance in Riverside is $280 per month for full coverage and $141 for liability-only coverage, according to Insurify data. California’s state averages, by comparison, are $296 for full coverage and $142 for liability coverage.
Riverside drivers can find cheap car insurance that fits their needs by comparing quotes from multiple insurance companies. Here’s what to know about car insurance in Riverside, California.
Mile Auto, Sun Coast, and Mercury are the three cheapest insurance companies for Riverside drivers.
Riverside drivers pay an average of $3,356 per year for full-coverage car insurance.
California is updating its minimum car insurance requirements to 30/60/15 in 2025.[2]
3 of the cheapest car insurance companies in Riverside
Finding the best car insurance company for you depends on your particular budget, coverage preferences, and driving record. Insurify analyzed and identified the best auto insurers in Riverside based on customer satisfaction, AM Best ratings, average quotes, and more.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. ▲▼ | Full Coverage ▲▼ | Liability Only ▲▼ | Best For ▲▼ |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mile Auto | 7.5 | $112 | $60 | Liability coverage |
Clearcover | 6.8 | $137 | $67 | Teen drivers |
Sun Coast | 2.3 | $218 | $94 | Senior drivers |
Our editorial team spent more than 350 hours developing the Insurify Quality (IQ) Score and scoring insurance companies. The IQ Score objectively analyzes and calculates a score for insurers using more than 15 crucial criteria. The team weighted criteria by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings.
We rate each company on a 1 to 10 scale based on five categories: financial ratings, customer satisfaction, affordability, customer support and transparency, and availability. Insurify updates ratings once a year or as more recent information becomes available.
- Third-party financial ratings: Insurify uses data from AM Best, S&P, Moody’s, and more to compare insurance companies’ credit and ability to pay out future claims.
- Customer satisfaction: To calculate this score, Insurify analyzed more than 28,000 customer reviews across 155 car insurance companies. We also consider third-party ratings from J.D. Power, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and Trustpilot.
- Affordability: Our data scientists analyzed more than 90 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partners across the U.S., as well as available discounts, to calculate an affordability score.
- Customer support and transparency: This measures coverage options, ease of claims filing, and the insurer's transparency surrounding discounts, coverages, and claims process.
- Availability and reach: Insurify scores availability and reach by identifying the number of states in which insurers offer coverage and company size by market share.
Best insurer for liability coverage: Mile Auto
User Reviews | 4.1 |
---|---|
IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 7.5 /10 |
Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $60/mo |
Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $110/mo |
Cookie
October 15, 2024
Excellent
Tasha
October 10, 2024
Not pleased
Thomas
October 8, 2024
Mixed Review
Mile Auto is a pay-per-mile insurer, meaning its rates are based on how many miles you drive. It offers basic coverage options and a few add-ons. If you don’t drive very often, you may score the best rates on a policy with Mile Auto.
Affordable coverage for infrequent drivers
An A rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
Limited discounts available
No mobile app
Best insurer for teen drivers: Clearcover
User Reviews | 3.3 |
---|---|
IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 6.8 /10 |
Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $94/mo |
Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $179/mo |
Drivers appreciate the helpful customer service, initial low prices, and reasonable coverage but dislike the significant price increases over time.
Drivers appreciate the helpful customer service, initial low prices, and reasonable coverage but dislike the significant price increases over time.
Catherine
October 22, 2024
Great Customer Service
Brett
October 12, 2024
Unexpected Rate Increases
Richard
October 7, 2024
T.B.
Clearcover uses AI technology and a robust mobile app to simplify the way customers purchase and manage their auto policies. It only sells car insurance but partners with Hippo to provide home insurance as well.
Offers discounts at select maintenance shops
Comprehensive mobile app
No bundling discounts
Few discounts compared to competitors
Best insurer for senior drivers: Sun Coast
User Reviews | 3.8 |
---|---|
IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | NR |
Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $75/mo |
Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $219/mo |
Drivers appreciate the payment options and knowledgable adjusters but dislike the expensive premiums and unavailable customer service.
Drivers appreciate the payment options and knowledgable adjusters but dislike the expensive premiums and unavailable customer service.
Marylou
September 9, 2024
Surprise!
Patricia
August 14, 2024
Great so far
Tiffany
August 12, 2024
Unpleasant Experience
Based in Laguna Beach, Sun Coast offers car insurance as well as other insurance products, like boat insurance and business insurance. Its lineup of auto policies includes basic coverage, like liability protection, and optional coverage, such as 24/7 roadside assistance.
Long list of discounts available
A+ BBB rating
No home insurance product for bundling
No online claims process
How to get the cheapest car insurance in Riverside
Finding the cheapest car insurance requires a little work on your part during the insurance-shopping process. To score a great deal on an auto policy in Riverside, follow these tips:
Shop around. It may be tempting to choose a policy from the first car insurance company you find. But if you’d like to save as much money as possible, it’s a good idea to get quotes from several companies and compare your insurance options.
Take advantage of discounts. It’s quite common for car insurance companies to offer discounts. A few examples include a good driver discount and multi-vehicle discount.
Bundle policies. Chances are you need more than one type of insurance policy. If this is the case, you may lock in a discount for bundling an auto policy with homeowners insurance, renters insurance, or life insurance.
Consider usage-based insurance. Usage-based or pay-per-mile insurance might make sense if you only drive occasionally. You’ll only pay for the number of miles you drive, plus a base rate.
Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Riverside: Mile Auto
The state of California requires liability-only car insurance minimum limits of 15/30/5. This type of policy pays for the other driver’s property damage and injuries after an accident you cause.
Due to the bare-bones nature of this auto policy type, it’s generally cheaper than full-coverage insurance, and drivers can get low premiums with this policy. But you need to carefully consider your ability to cover potentially large out-of-pocket expenses in case of an accident.
Liability-only coverage in Riverside costs an average of $141 per month.
If you only want to meet California’s minimum requirements, these are the cheapest liability-only insurance companies in Riverside.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Average Monthly Quote ▲▼ |
---|---|
Mile Auto | $60 |
Sun Coast | $75 |
Mercury | $94 |
Anchor | $100 |
USAA | $115 |
National General | $130 |
GEICO | $153 |
Direct Auto | $154 |
Allstate | $159 |
Farmers | $163 |
State Farm | $177 |
Travelers | $186 |
21st Century | $202 |
Bristol West | $222 |
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Riverside: Mile Auto
For extra protection, you might want full-coverage car insurance, which typically includes liability, collision, and comprehensive insurance. If you drive a newer or expensive vehicle, full-coverage car insurance may provide the extra protection you’re looking for. Plus, drivers who lease or finance their vehicles may have to buy full-coverage insurance while paying off their auto loans. Full coverage is typically more expensive than minimum coverage car insurance.
Riverside drivers pay an average of $280 per month for full-coverage policies.
The table below shows the most affordable full-coverage car insurance companies in Riverside.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Average Monthly Quote ▲▼ |
---|---|
Mile Auto | $110 |
Mercury | $174 |
Sun Coast | $219 |
Anchor | $232 |
USAA | $238 |
GEICO | $317 |
National General | $317 |
Allstate | $328 |
Farmers | $337 |
Direct Auto | $364 |
State Farm | $366 |
Travelers | $384 |
Bristol West | $415 |
21st Century | $418 |
Cheapest recent rates near Riverside, California
Drivers using Insurify have found quotes as cheap as $51/mo for liability only and $67/mo for full coverage in Riverside and other California cities.
*Quotes generated for Insurify users in and around Riverside, California within the last 10 days. Last updated on October 30, 2024
*Quotes generated for Insurify users in and around Riverside, California within the last 10 days. Last updated on October 30, 2024
Car insurance requirements in California
Like many states, California is an at-fault state, also called a tort state. This means that the driver responsible for the accident must pay for the other driver’s damage or injury costs. Drivers must carry bodily injury and property damage liability coverage but may purchase additional coverage for more financial protection.
These are the minimum liability limits California requires for all drivers:[3]
Bodily injury liability
$15,000 per person
$30,000 per accident
Property damage liability
$5,000 per accident
California liability limits are increasing on Jan. 1, 2025, to $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident for bodily injury liability and $15,000 per accident for property damage liability.[2]
While you can purchase liability-only insurance to maintain legal requirements, more coverages may help you feel more protected on the road. You can consider adding these different types of auto insurance coverage options to your policy:
Comprehensive coverage
Comprehensive insurance covers vehicle damage from non-collision related incidents, like vandalism, falling objects, hitting an animal, or natural disasters.
Collision coverage
Collision insurance pays for repairs after an accident with another vehicle or object, regardless of fault.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage can protect you if you get involved in an accident with a driver who doesn’t have insurance or doesn’t have enough insurance to cover your injuries and damages.
Medical payments coverage
Medical payments coverage, or MedPay, pays for your medical bills after a collision, even if you caused it.
California’s low-cost auto insurance plan
The state government manages California’s Low Cost Automobile Insurance program (CLCA) to help low-income drivers afford car insurance. To be eligible for the program, you must meet the following requirements:
Have a valid California driver’s license
Meet income eligibility requirements
Own a vehicle valued at $25,000 or less
Be at least 16 years old
Have a good driving record or be a new driver
Car insurance through the CLCA costs $232 to $932 a year, depending on the county. But drivers can add coverage like uninsured/underinsured motorist and medical payments insurance for an extra $37 to $107 a year. You can learn more and apply for the car insurance program at MyLowCostAuto.com.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident
At-fault accidents, speeding tickets, and DUIs are examples of incidents that can raise your car insurance premiums in Riverside, California. Drivers in the city with clean records usually lock in the lowest prices. But even with incidents on your driving record, it’s still possible to find affordable car insurance.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket: Mile Auto
Speeding reduces the amount of time drivers have to react to dangerous situations and often results in accidents. This higher risk for accidents is why you can expect higher premiums after a speeding ticket in Riverside.
On average, Riverside drivers with speeding tickets pay $185 per month for liability coverage and $367 for full coverage. The table below shows the cheapest car insurance companies for Riverside drivers with a speeding ticket on their records.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Clean Driving Record ▲▼ | With Speeding Ticket ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
Mile Auto | $60 | $77 |
Sun Coast | $75 | $98 |
Mercury | $94 | $126 |
Anchor | $100 | $124 |
USAA | $115 | $143 |
National General | $130 | $163 |
GEICO | $153 | $191 |
Direct Auto | $154 | $192 |
Allstate | $159 | $198 |
Farmers | $163 | $202 |
State Farm | $177 | $219 |
Travelers | $186 | $234 |
21st Century | $202 | $261 |
Bristol West | $222 | $277 |
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: Mile Auto
In 2022, Riverside had 40 fatal car accidents out of the 1,803 total crashes in the city.[4] If you cause an accident, your insurance premiums will usually increase because of your higher risk of another accident. How much your car insurance will increase depends on the severity of the crash and the total claim amount.
Riverside drivers with accidents on their records pay average car insurance rates of $340 per month for full coverage and $171 for liability only. If you’re searching for cheap car insurance after an accident in Riverside, start by getting quotes from the insurers below.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Clean Driving Record ▲▼ | With Accident ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
Mile Auto | $60 | $78 |
Sun Coast | $75 | $91 |
Mercury | $94 | $125 |
Anchor | $100 | $133 |
USAA | $115 | $142 |
National General | $130 | $162 |
GEICO | $153 | $190 |
Direct Auto | $154 | $195 |
Allstate | $159 | $197 |
Farmers | $163 | $201 |
State Farm | $177 | $217 |
Travelers | $186 | $232 |
21st Century | $202 | $257 |
Bristol West | $222 | $273 |
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI: Mile Auto
Not only can a DUI result in hefty fines and jail time, it may also lead to higher car insurance premiums — especially if California requires you to file an SR-22. Furthermore, a DUI can cause your insurance company to not renew your policy at the end of its term.
A DUI pushes the average monthly cost of car insurance in Riverside to $396 for full coverage and $200 for liability-only policies. The table below shows average car insurance quotes for Riverside drivers with a DUI on their records.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Clean Driving Record ▲▼ | With DUI ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
Mile Auto | $60 | $92 |
Sun Coast | $75 | $106 |
Mercury | $94 | $131 |
Anchor | $100 | $137 |
USAA | $115 | $176 |
National General | $130 | $199 |
GEICO | $153 | $235 |
Direct Auto | $154 | $236 |
Allstate | $159 | $244 |
Farmers | $163 | $250 |
State Farm | $177 | $271 |
Travelers | $186 | $285 |
21st Century | $202 | $310 |
Bristol West | $222 | $340 |
Cheapest car insurance for seniors: Mile Auto
Seniors may cause car accidents due to physical and mental limitations, like poor vision and slow reflexes.[5] Average premiums go down around age 35 and go up a bit around age 70.
Senior drivers in Riverside pay average car insurance costs of $249 per month for full coverage and $126 for minimum coverage. In Riverside, seniors may find the lowest auto insurance quotes from the insurance companies below.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Full Coverage ▲▼ | Liability Only ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
Mile Auto | $87 | $47 |
Mercury | $140 | $76 |
Anchor | $186 | $80 |
Sun Coast | $195 | $67 |
USAA | $198 | $96 |
National General | $254 | $104 |
GEICO | $263 | $127 |
Allstate | $274 | $133 |
Farmers | $274 | $133 |
Direct Auto | $296 | $125 |
State Farm | $297 | $143 |
Travelers | $313 | $152 |
21st Century | $326 | $157 |
Bristol West | $346 | $185 |
Cheapest car insurance for teens: Mile Auto
Teenagers have less driving experience and are more likely to be involved in accidents than older drivers, and face higher car insurance costs as a result. To save money on a policy, teens can stay on their parents’ insurance, enroll in a defensive driving course, and secure a discount.
“Most carriers offer a good student discount for teens with a GPA of at least 3.0,” says Earl Jones, insurance agent and owner at Earl L. Jones Insurance Agency in California. “In addition, most providers offer a ‘student away’ discount for those students who [attend college] hours away from home.”
Teens who purchase their own policies in Riverside face average car insurance rates of $422 per month for full coverage and $212 for liability-only coverage. For teens and young adults looking for cheap car insurance in Riverside, start with the insurers in the table below.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Full Coverage ▲▼ | Liability Only ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
Mile Auto | $200 | $109 |
Mercury | $292 | $158 |
Sun Coast | $330 | $113 |
USAA | $369 | $178 |
Anchor | $371 | $160 |
GEICO | $465 | $224 |
Allstate | $540 | $262 |
Farmers | $550 | $266 |
State Farm | $581 | $281 |
National General | $587 | $241 |
Direct Auto | $619 | $262 |
Travelers | $647 | $313 |
Bristol West | $652 | $349 |
21st Century | $655 | $316 |
Is car insurance more expensive in Riverside?
The average cost of a liability-only auto policy in Riverside is $141 per month. For full coverage, the average monthly cost is $280.
These rates are higher than the national averages of $104 per month for liability coverage and $211 per month for full coverage.
Car insurance premiums vary by city and ZIP code within California due to factors like population, crime rates, and the number of uninsured drivers.[6]
More cities in California
More populated cities typically have higher rates than Riverside due to their higher rates of car accidents and crime.
Here’s an overview of average car insurance quotes for other cities in California.
City ▲▼ | Full Coverage ▲▼ | Liability Only ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
Anaheim | $302 | $148 |
Bakersfield | $256 | $117 |
Fresno | $252 | $128 |
Long Beach | $307 | $153 |
Los Angeles | $369 | $203 |
Modesto | $290 | $133 |
Oakland | $309 | $155 |
Sacramento | $310 | $140 |
San Diego | $252 | $120 |
San Francisco | $338 | $150 |
San Jose | $276 | $128 |
Stockton | $303 | $128 |
Riverside car insurance FAQs
Check out Insurify’s guide on how much car insurance you need to help you during the quote-comparison process, and read the answers to common questions about car insurance in Riverside, California, below.
How much is car insurance in Riverside?
Car insurance in Riverside costs an average of $141 per month for liability coverage and $280 per month for full coverage, according to Insurify data.
What are the cheapest car insurance companies in Riverside?
Mile Auto is the cheapest insurer for Riverside drivers, with liability-only rates as low as $60 per month. Riverside drivers can also find cheap coverage with the city’s second- and third-cheapest companies, Sun Coast and Mercury. They have liability rates starting at $75 and $94, respectively.
What are the best car insurance companies in Riverside?
The best car insurance companies in Riverside include Allstate, GEICO, and USAA. Although these insurers don’t have the lowest average quotes compared to other insurers in Riverside, they have above-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction ratings and high Insurify Quality Scores.
While Insurify identified these companies as the best for Riverside drivers, the best insurance company for you will depend on your coverage needs and budget, so you should compare auto insurance quotes from multiple insurers.
Can credit history affect your car insurance rates in Riverside?
No. California doesn’t allow auto insurers in the state to use customer credit history when underwriting premiums. This means that your credit, whether good or bad, won’t influence your auto insurance rates.[7]
How much car insurance do you need in Riverside, California?
California requires drivers to carry 15/30/5 minimum liability limits. These requirements translate to $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident for bodily injury liability and $5,000 per accident for property damage liability.
Methodology
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 90 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 50+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).
Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:
- Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
- Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
- No additional coverage
- Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
- Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible
Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.
Related articles
More cities in California
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau. "QuickFacts Riverside city, California."
- California Legislative Information. "SB-1107 Vehicles: insurance."
- California Department of Motor Vehicles. "Insurance Requirements."
- University of California Berkeley. "Transportation Injury Mapping System."
- Insurance Information Institute. "Senior driving safety and insurance tips."
- Insurance Information Institute. "What determines the price of an auto insurance policy?."
- Federal Trade Commission. "Credit-Based Insurance Scores."
Anna Baluch is a Cleveland-based personal finance and insurance expert. With an MBA from Roosevelt University, she enjoys writing educational content that helps people make smart financial decisions. Her work can be seen across the internet on many publications, including Freedom Debt Relief, Credit Karma, RateGenius, and the Balance. Connect with Anna on LinkedIn.
3+ years producing insurance and personal finance content
Main architect of the Insurify Quality Score
Courtney’s deep personal finance knowledge extends beyond insurance to credit cards, consumer lending, and banking. She thrives on creating actionable content.
Featured in
30+ years in financial services
Clinical Professor of Finance, University of San Diego
Dan is a well-recognized and widely quoted financial services expert, regularly appearing in a variety of national and local media as a subject matter expert.