FOSTER CITY, Calif., March 30, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Los Angeles ZIP code 90029 has the highest average car insurance rate in California at $2,416 a year, according to a CarInsurance.com analysis.
Other Los Angeles ZIPs comprise the bulk of pricey premiums for The Golden State, but once you move beyond the City of Angels to the state's other major cities, Glendale and Oakland rank second and third, respectively.
The average car insurance rate for all California ZIP codes was $1,433.
CarInsurance.com, an independent quote-comparison website, analyzed rates for a 2014 Honda Accord with full coverage in more than 1,800 ZIP codes in California and for 30,713 ZIP codes across the U.S.
Consumers can explore California car insurance rates by using CarInsurance.com's average rates tool. Enter a ZIP code to see the average premium for the location, as well as the highest and lowest rates from the six major carriers surveyed.
The most expensive ZIP codes for car insurance, on average, in California's largest cities are:
-
Los Angeles ZIP 90029 - $2,416
-
Glendale ZIP 91204 - $2,365
-
Oakland ZIP 94607 - $1,868
-
Sacramento ZIP 95824 - $1,833
-
San Francisco ZIP 94134 - $1,815
-
Long Beach ZIP 90813 - $1,702
-
San Bernardino ZIP 92410 - $1,656
-
Fresno ZIP 93701 - $1,624
-
Stockton ZIP 95202 - $1,612
-
Modesto ZIP 95351 - $1,585
-
Anaheim ZIP 92804 - $1,559
-
Santa Ana ZIP 92703 - $1,543
-
Riverside ZIP 92501 - $1,528
-
San Jose 95122 - $1,475
-
San Diego ZIP 92135 - $1,467
-
Fremont ZIP 94555 - $1,430
-
Bakersfield ZIP 93305 - $1,413
-
Oxnard ZIP 93033 - $1,388
-
Huntington Beach ZIP 92646 - $1,370
-
Chula Vista ZIP 91911 - $1,340
"A driver moving from ZIP code 93441 – Los Olivos, the place with the cheapest rate at $996 -- to Los Angeles ZIP code 90029, the location with the highest rate in the state, could pay 143 percent more for car insurance, even as his coverage levels, vehicle and driving record remain the same," said Michelle Megna, managing editor of CarInsurance.com.
Many factors go into calculating car insurance rates, but a driver's location is an integral part the process. ZIP codes are judged to have different risk levels based on the number and severity of car insurance claims within the area.
California is somewhat of an exception because state laws require California insurers to give your driving record, annual mileage and years of experience more weight than your location. Still, every car insurance company has its own base rate and does its own calculations, which is why it's important to comparison shop to get the best car insurance rates. Even within pricey Los Angeles ZIP code 90029, the survey found rates as cheap as $1,464 a year and as high as $3,194.
For more information on California car insurance laws and rates for ZIP codes in California, visit http://www.carinsurance.com/state/California-car-insurance.aspx
Methodology
CarInsurance.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services to run auto insurance rates for a 2014 Honda Accord for 30,713 ZIP codes in the United States. We calculated rates using six large carriers -- Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, Nationwide, Progressive and State Farm. (In cases where an insurer's rate wasn't available, another major carrier's rate was substituted.)
Insurance companies use a process called territorial rating when assessing your location. Each insurer has its own formula for creating these territories and the territories' boundaries do not always match those of ZIP codes. As a result, a specific ZIP code may sometimes be in more than one rating territory, which means insurance companies may assign different rates within the same ZIP code.
Averages are based on insurance for a single 40-year-old male who commutes 12 miles to work each day, with policy limits of 100/300/50 ($100,000 for injury liability for one person, $300,000 for all injuries and $50,000 for property damage in an accident) and a $500 deductible on collision and comprehensive coverage. This hypothetical driver has a clean record and good credit. The rate includes uninsured motorist coverage. Average rates are for comparative purposes. Your own rate will depend on your personal factors and vehicle.
About CarInsurance.com
CarInsurance.com, an independent quote comparison website, has been offering drivers expert advice about the different types of car insurance and how to shop for them since 2003. Using a combination of industry expertise and information drawn from thousands of online quotes delivered without obligation each month, CarInsurance.com is a source for unbiased answers and data about what consumers should expect from an insurance policy. The site lets consumers compare multiple car insurance quotes online and purchase a policy online in minutes. CarInsurance.com is owned and operated by QuinStreet, Inc. (NASDAQ: QNST), one of the largest Internet marketing and media companies in the world. QuinStreet is committed to providing consumers and businesses with the information they need to research, find and select the products, services and brands that best meet their needs.
CONTACT: Michelle Megna
413-923-1814
MichelleM (at) quinstreet.com
Twitter: @carinsurance
