Christy Rakoczy has been a personal finance and insurance writer for over a decade. Her work has been published on USA Today, MSN, Yahoo Finance, Credit Karma, Forbes Advisor, and more. Christy has a JD from UCLA School of Law and previously worked as a data analyst for Blue Cross and as a paralegal studies instructor before transitioning to writing full time.
15+ years in content creation
7+ years in business and financial services content
Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.
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 November 21, 2024
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Table of contents
Average car insurance costs for Santa Barbara drivers are lower than California averages. Full-coverage car insurance in Santa Barbara averages $203 per month, and liability-only policies average $122 monthly. The state averages are $283 and $140, respectively.
Santa Barbara is one of California’s smaller cities by population.[1] It’s also considered a very walkable city. These factors result in fewer drivers on the road, which can lower driving risks and result in reduced auto insurance premiums.
However, while rates remain lower in Santa Barbara, you can still find ways to cut your costs even more. Here’s how.
Mile Auto, Sun Coast, and Mercury are the three cheapest insurers for Santa Barbara drivers.
Santa Barbara saw just three fatalities in 2023, and 492 accidents that resulted in injuries, according to the California Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System.
California doesn’t allow insurers to use your credit history during the underwriting process.
3 of the cheapest car insurance companies in Santa Barbara
While auto insurance is generally affordable in Santa Barbara, California car insurance rates vary by insurer as well as by driver profile. Some insurers offer more affordable coverage than others for drivers who have certain driving records, live in certain ZIP codes, or are in certain age groups. That’s why it’s important to compare rates from several insurers to find the best coverage for you.
The table below shows some of the top auto insurers in Santa Barbara, including their statewide rates for full and liability coverage. Include them in your car insurance search.
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 ▲▼ |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mercury | 8.0 | $190 | $104 | Students |
Clearcover | 6.8 | $113 | $54 | Drivers with a DUI |
USAA | 9.4 | $248 | $123 | Military members |
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 students: Mercury Auto Insurance
User Reviews | 3.6 |
---|---|
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. | 8.0 /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. | $79/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. | $146/mo |
Drivers appreciate the exceptional service, fair prices, and attentive support, but some find the premiums can increase unexpectedly.
Drivers appreciate the exceptional service, fair prices, and attentive support, but some find the premiums can increase unexpectedly.
Patricia
November 4, 2024
Too Expensive
Carol
November 2, 2024
Auto Insurance Costs Rise in Sanctuary States
Patricia
November 1, 2024
Excellent Service
Numerous colleges are in the Santa Barbara area, including the University of California, Santa Barbara; Antioch University; Westmont College; and Santa Barbara City College. While younger drivers often pay higher prices for coverage, Mercury, which is based in California, tends to offer more affordable coverage options for drivers who are students.
Offers many options to save, including good student discounts for drivers younger than 25
Has an extensive network of local agents
Not available in every state
Below-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction rating in California
Best insurer for drivers with a DUI: 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. | $102/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. | $183/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.
In Santa Barbara County, there were 1,811 DUI arrests in 2019.[2] Drivers with a DUI on their record often pay higher auto insurance rates, but Clearcover’s prices may be more affordable. Because Clearcover uses AI technology to help set premiums, it can offer more personalized, and often lower, pricing than many other insurers.
Eligible claims are paid within seven minutes
Mobile app has positive reviews on App Store and Google Play
Premiums change more often because Clearcover offers a maximum six-month coverage term instead of the 12 months many competitors offer
Coverage isn’t available in all states, and the agent network is small
Best insurer for the military community: USAA
User Reviews | 4.9 |
---|---|
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. | 9.4 /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. | $191/mo |
Drivers appreciate the ease of working with the carrier, competitive rates, and responsive service but dislike the price increases and lack of rideshare add-ons in some areas.
Drivers appreciate the ease of working with the carrier, competitive rates, and responsive service but dislike the price increases and lack of rideshare add-ons in some areas.
Gloria
November 15, 2024
Not Good for Claims
Martin
November 11, 2024
Price Shopping
Rena Sabine
November 8, 2024
Disappointing and inflexible service
Santa Barbara is home to 3,217 veterans.[1] Vandenberg Space Force Base is also located in Santa Barbara County. Both veterans and active-duty military members should consider getting auto insurance through USAA, as this insurer offers top-notch customer service and affordable rates aimed at the military community.
Received the highest customer satisfaction rating in California in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Auto Insurance Study
More affordable rates than many competitors
Only people with certain military affiliations are eligible
Gap insurance not available and car replacement coverage not available on leased vehicles
How to get the cheapest car insurance in Santa Barbara
The car insurance rates you get will depend on many things, including your age, driving record, marital status, credit history, and more. While some of these aspects are out of your control, you can do some things to lower your car insurance rates, including:
Get multiple insurance quotes. Many insurers cover drivers in California, and the cheapest company for one driver may not be the cheapest for someone else. Try to get at least three quotes from different insurers to find the best plan for you. Independent insurance agents can help, or you can answer a few simple questions to get online auto insurance quotes.
Take advantage of discounts. Many insurers offer savings for being accident-free, bundling home and auto coverage, earning good grades, or working for a certain business. It’s a good idea to explore available discounts and make sure to ask for all the savings you and your family are eligible for.
Be smart about your vehicle. Cars with anti-theft devices and certain safety features cost less to insure. Compare insurance quotes for different cars before deciding which to buy.
Drive safely. Avoiding accidents and moving violations will help you keep your insurance costs down.
Bundle your insurance policies. Buying your auto and homeowners (or renters) insurance through the same company could make you eligible for a bundling discount of 5% or more.
Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Santa Barbara
Liability-only insurance provides the state-minimum required liability coverage. California requires every driver to buy liability insurance to protect others. If you’re at fault in a collision, this coverage will pay for the other party’s injuries and property damage. But it won't pay for damages to your vehicle, so liability-only insurance is usually best for drivers with older, less-expensive vehicles.
The average rate for liability-only insurance in California is $140, and you can see average quotes from area insurers in the table below.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Average Monthly Quote ▲▼ |
---|---|
Mile Auto | $46 |
Sun Coast | $72 |
Mercury | $79 |
Anchor | $83 |
USAA | $94 |
National General | $101 |
Direct Auto | $117 |
GEICO | $125 |
Allstate | $130 |
Farmers | $134 |
State Farm | $145 |
Travelers | $151 |
21st Century | $165 |
Bristol West | $177 |
Nationwide | $204 |
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Santa Barbara
Full-coverage auto insurance adds additional protections beyond the required state-minimum liability insurance. It typically includes both collision and comprehensive insurance. Collision insurance pays for your losses in a crash, no matter who caused it. Comprehensive coverage pays for your losses from something other than a collision, such as falling objects, theft, or vandalism.
If you lease or finance your vehicle, your leasing company or lender will require you to buy full coverage for greater financial protection.
The table below shows how quotes in Santa Barbara compare with the state full-coverage average rate of $283 per month.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Average Monthly Quote ▲▼ |
---|---|
Mile Auto | $83 |
Mercury | $146 |
Sun Coast | $176 |
USAA | $191 |
Anchor | $221 |
National General | $253 |
GEICO | $254 |
Allstate | $263 |
Farmers | $271 |
Direct Auto | $272 |
State Farm | $293 |
Travelers | $308 |
Bristol West | $317 |
21st Century | $335 |
Nationwide | $414 |
Cheapest recent rates near Santa Barbara, California
Drivers using Insurify have found quotes as cheap as $49/mo for liability only and $71/mo for full coverage in Santa Barbara and other California cities.
*Quotes generated for Insurify users in and around Santa Barbara, California within the last 10 days. Last updated on November 21, 2024
*Quotes generated for Insurify users in and around Santa Barbara, California within the last 10 days. Last updated on November 21, 2024
Car insurance requirements in California
California requires every driver to have liability coverage to protect others in case they cause a collision. Here are the minimum requirements for California liability insurance:
Coverage ▲▼ | Minimum Requirements ▲▼ |
---|---|
Bodily injury liability | $15,000 per person / $30,000 per accident |
Property damage liability5 | $5,000 |
While the table above includes your minimum requirements, you may want to expand your protection with some additional coverages. Some other kinds of coverage you may want include:
Physical damage protection
This includes comprehensive insurance to pay for non-crash losses, as well as collision insurance to pay for damage to your own vehicle after a crash.
Medical payments coverage
This pays for medical expenses for you and your passengers after an accident, regardless of who was to blame.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
This pays for damage when the responsible driver doesn’t have sufficient insurance coverage to pay for losses.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident
Speeding tickets, at-fault accidents, driving under the influence, and other moving violations make you a riskier driver in the eyes of insurers. As a result, insurers charge higher premiums when motorists have such incidents on their driving record. Depending on the incident, your rates in California could almost double compared to what a driver with a clean record might pay.
The table below shows the cheapest auto insurance for drivers who have various incidents on their record.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Clean Record ▲▼ | With At-Fault Accident ▲▼ | With Speeding Ticket ▲▼ | With DUI ▲▼ |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mile Auto | $46 | $59 | $58 | $71 |
Sun Coast | $72 | $88 | $93 | $102 |
Mercury | $79 | $106 | $106 | $111 |
Anchor | $83 | $111 | $102 | $127 |
USAA | $94 | $117 | $117 | $144 |
National General | $101 | $126 | $126 | $155 |
Direct Auto | $117 | $149 | $146 | $179 |
GEICO | $125 | $156 | $155 | $192 |
Allstate | $130 | $162 | $162 | $199 |
Farmers | $134 | $166 | $166 | $205 |
State Farm | $145 | $179 | $178 | $222 |
Travelers | $151 | $189 | $189 | $231 |
21st Century | $165 | $211 | $213 | $253 |
Bristol West | $177 | $220 | $222 | $271 |
Nationwide | $204 | $256 | $256 | $313 |
Average cost of car insurance by age
People at the beginning and end of their driving lives present a higher risk of auto accidents. For teens, this is because of their inexperience. For older drivers, it’s due to their reduced faculties. This is why auto insurance rates are generally higher for drivers younger than 25 and older than 70, although rates do vary by insurer.
The table below shows what Santa Barbara drivers of different ages can expect to pay for auto insurance.
Age ▲▼ | Average Monthly Quote ▲▼ |
---|---|
Teens | $233 |
20s | $170 |
30s | $124 |
40s | $116 |
50s | $111 |
60s | $97 |
70s | $101 |
Santa Barbara car insurance FAQs
Looking for more information to help you find the lowest rates in Santa Barbara? Consult the answers below.
How much is car insurance in Santa Barbara?
The average rate for car insurance in Santa Barbara is $122 for liability-only policies and $203 for full coverage. This makes Santa Barbara more affordable than the California state averages of $140 and $283 per month, respectively.
Which insurance company has the lowest rates in Santa Barbara?
Mile Auto offers the cheapest car insurance rates in Santa Barbara. Its liability-only coverage starts at $46 per month. Santa Barbara drivers can also find affordable rates from the city's second- and third-cheapest insurance providers, Sun Coast, and Mercury. Their monthly liability quotes start at $72 and $79, respectively.
Can insurers review your credit history in California?
No. California law prevents insurers from reviewing your credit history as part of their underwriting process. In the states where this is legal (which is most states), people with good or excellent credit pay significantly less for insurance compared to people with poor credit histories.
What are the best car insurance companies in Santa Barbara?
Mercury, Clearcover, and USAA are three of the top insurers in Santa Barbara, and each is known for serving specific groups. Mercury’s student discounts are appealing to the thousands of college students in the area, while Clearcover offers some of the lowest rates for drivers with a DUI on their record. Finally, USAA is dedicated to serving the military community and has several offerings military members can take advantage of.
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
- United States Census Bureau. "QuickFacts Los Angeles city, California; Santa Barbara city, California; Anaheim city, California."
- California Department of Motor Vehicles. "ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CALIFORNIA DUI MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM."
Christy Rakoczy has been a personal finance and insurance writer for over a decade. Her work has been published on USA Today, MSN, Yahoo Finance, Credit Karma, Forbes Advisor, and more. Christy has a JD from UCLA School of Law and previously worked as a data analyst for Blue Cross and as a paralegal studies instructor before transitioning to writing full time.
15+ years in content creation
7+ years in business and financial services content
Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.
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.