Bakersfield, CA Auto Insurance | Cheap Car Insurance in Bakersfield, CA

Bakersfield, CA auto insurance rates average $1,004 per year or $83.66 per month for full coverage. The best way to get cheap auto insurance quotes in Bakersfield, CA, is to compare your insurance options using our FREE comparison tool. Read through our extensive guide to learn more about auto insurance in Bakersfield, CA. Also, we'll include factors that you may miss when determining auto insurance. Read on to learn more.

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Maria Hanson

Insurance and Finance Writer

Maria Hanson grew up with a unique passion and understanding of both the automotive and insurance industries. With one grandfather in auto mechanics and another working in insurance, you could say automotive insurance is in her blood. Her love of research and finance serves her well in studying insurance trends and liability.  Maria has expanded her scope of expertise to home, health, and life...

Insurance and Finance Writer

Michael Leotta

Insurance Operations Specialist

Michael earned a degree in Business Management with an insurance focus, which led to a successful 25-year career in insurance claims operations and support. He possesses a high-level of business acumen across multiple areas of the insurance industry. Over the course of his career, he served in multiple roles supporting claims operations including: Claims Specialist, Claims Trainer, Claim Automatio...

Insurance Operations Specialist

UPDATED: Nov 27, 2023

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It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.

Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We partner with top insurance providers. This doesn’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own.

Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.

Can't-Miss Facts

  • California requires 15/30/5 minimum liability auto insurance coverage.
  • 21st Century and Allied offer auto insurance rates that are among the lowest in Bakersfield, CA.
  • The average cost of full coverage auto insurance in California is about $84 per month.
  • Auto insurance rates in Bakersfield, CA are anywhere from 25 percent to 50 percent lower than rates in Los Angeles.

California auto insurance lists its minimum liability coverage as 15/30/5. Drivers searching for cheap Bakersfield, CA auto insurance, will be able to find affordable premiums. Allied, 21st Century, Kemper Specialty, Mercury, and Nationwide rank as some of the best Bakersfield, CA car insurance companies. The 21st Century insurance company leads the way in offering Bakersfield, CA auto insurance at $56/month.

Are you one of the many drivers looking for cheap auto insurance quotes in Bakersfield, CA? We have what you need to lower your monthly premiums while getting the best available coverage in your area. Use our FREE quote tool to compare cheap auto insurance quotes in Bakersfield, California now or enter your ZIP code to find auto insurance in your local area.

California Auto Insurance Coverage Requirements

The city of Bakersfield has a long and storied past. Native Americans lived in the area for thousands of years until Spanish missionaries started exploring the site in the late 1700s. It was spared most of the tragedies of colonialism until the Mexican War of Independence sent settlers flocking to the region.

Watch this video to learn more about Bakersfield, CA.

The city was officially founded in the late 1800s and is a beacon of production and fossil fuel.

Fun fact: Did you know that this city has an entire sub-genre of country music named after it? Unsurprisingly, it’s called “Bakersfield Sound.”

Here are the requirements for California insurance, according to the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

Coverage Requirements Most Common
Bodily Injury Liability 15,000/30,000 100,000/300,000
Property Damage Liability 5,000 100,000
Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury Not required 20,000/40,000
Medical Payments Not required 5,000
Collision Not required 500 deductible
Comprehensive Not required 250 deductible

Different types and amounts of coverage will work better for some vehicles than others. A newer, more expensive car will need extra, optional coverages like comprehensive and collision.

An older vehicle that wouldn’t cost much to repair/replace, on the other hand, might be sufficiently protected with liability auto insurance coverage only. It varies from one driver to another.

According to our research, many California drivers are paying $139 or more each month just to maintain coverage on their vehicles. We think that’s absurd.

 

Bakersfield, CA Average Monthly Auto Insurance RatesLegend: Bakersfield 21st CenturyMercuryKemper SpecialtyNationwideAllied 5101520253035404550556065707580859095$56$85$97$74$64

Our research shows that Bakersfield residents like you could be paying nearly 59 percent less for your premiums if you know how to shop the right way.

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Cheap Auto Insurance in Bakersfield, CA

California is a big state, and Bakersfield is a big city. This means you have your pick of the litter when it comes to auto insurance options. There are some reasonably reliable Bakersfield, CA auto insurance companies out there such as Nationwide or Allied that are offering decent coverage at some pretty comfortable prices.

But don’t just accept the first recommendation that crosses your path – do your due diligence and make sure you find the right company at the right price for you.

Companies that offer California auto insurance policies may calculate your premiums based on factors like credit, age, marital status, or even the number of miles you drive each year.

If you are a responsible driver, you should take every opportunity to change these factors in your favor. But not all of them are so easy to control. It’s important to know what they are so that you can plan a strategy that will get you the most affordable Bakersfield, CA, auto insurance.

Major Factors in the Cheapest Auto Insurance in Bakersfield, California

Below, we’re going to discuss some of the most important things that your Bakersfield, CA, auto insurance company will want to know before they issue you a policy.

They need this information to figure out how risky a driver you are and how much they need to charge you for their services. The better your profile, the better your monthly rate.

Your ZIP Code

Well over 300,000 people are living in Bakersfield right now – 376,371 to be precise. With so many fellow residents driving their cars and sharing the road with you, it makes the likelihood of an accident frighteningly high.

Unfortunately, this is an aspect of your profile that you can’t necessarily control. Big cities tend to cost drivers more money in monthly premiums – and it’s not exactly easy to pick up and move just to pay a little bit less for your coverage.

California Average Monthly Auto Insurance Rate by CityLegend: Bakersfield Los Angeles Oakland 21st CenturyMercuryKemper Specialty 714212835424956637077849198105112119126133$56$102$59$85$108$63$97$135$68

 

Automotive Accidents

The odds that a Bakersfield resident will get into a fatal crash and perish are well below 1%. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t any risk at all.

This lower-than-average risk can help some motorists save money when they buy Bakersfield, CA, auto insurance, especially if they don’t drive that much in the first place.

Fatal Accidents in Bakersfield, CALegend: Bakersfield Fatal AccidentsVehicles Involved in Fatal AccidentsFatal Crashes Involving Drunk PersonsFatalitiesPersons Involved in Fatal CrashesPedestrians Involved in Fatal Crashes 7142128354249566370$34$56$13$36$76$12

 

Auto Thefts in Bakersfield

There were a total of 3,048 cars stolen in Bakersfield last year. That’s almost 805 vehicles per 100,000 residents. Many insurance companies may see this as a higher than average risk of auto theft.

Not only will they charge you more money for this, but they will charge you more money on top of that if they think your car is a high-profile target.

Prove them wrong by installing an anti-theft device and making sure you park your car somewhere safe at night like a garage or some other secured area.

 

Bakersfield, CA Average Monthly Basic vs. Comprehensive Auto Insurance RatesLegend: Basic Coverage Comprehensive Coverage 21st CenturyMercuryKemper Specialty 153045607590105120135150165180195210225240255270$56$132$85$172$97$279

 

Your Credit Score

Did you know that California is one of three states where it is legally forbidden for your car insurance company to use your credit score against you when determining premiums?

For people with credit problems, this can be a huge blessing. But for people with excellent credit, it can be a curse. Many car insurance companies hedge their bets by charging everyone across the board a little bit more money.

So someone was good credit may end up paying a little bit more than they usually would in another state, while someone with poor credit may not get a discount.

Your Age

Older drivers who have had their license for many years (and used it) are some of the least risky drivers in the eyes of an insurance company. Motorists in their thirties and forties tend to get the best age-related discounts, especially since most of them can do things like bundling their auto policy with homeowners’ insurance or other assets.

Young drivers, on the other hand, usually lack the experience and the decision-making necessary to avoid serious accidents. This makes them very expensive to insure.

Bakersfield, CA Average Monthly Auto Insurance Rates by AgeLegend: 17 Year Old Driver 35 Year Old Driver 21st CenturyMercuryKemper Specialty 20406080100120140160180200220240$252$56Does Not Sell$85$151$97

 

Your Driving Record

If you haven’t had any tickets, accidents, or filed any auto insurance claims in the last three to five years, then you’ll have an opportunity to score some serious discounts.

If nothing in that previous sentence applies to you, don’t despair just yet. As we said, your insurance company is only allowed to evaluate the most recent years of your driving history.

Keeping your nose clean and your driving record spotless for as long as you can from this moment on will eventually scrub your record and give you opportunities to save.

Bakersfield, CA Average Monthly Auto Insurance Rates by Driving HistoryLegend: Perfect Record Minor Violation Major Violation 21st CenturyMercuryKemper Specialty 255075100125150175200225250275300325$56$132$163$85$149$188$97$278$344

 

Your Vehicle

Specific vehicles are riskier and more expensive to insure than others. This is a simple fact of life. An expensive sports car that most owners like to drive fast (and many thieves like to steal), for example, is going to have much higher premiums than a 2010 Toyota Corolla driven by a soccer mom.

Just remember one rule: the flashier and more expensive your vehicle is, the more you should expect to pay for your premiums.

Bakersfield, CA Average Monthly Auto Insurance Rates by Vehicle Make and ModelLegend: 2015 Honda Accord 2015 Chevy Corvette 21st CenturyMercuryKemper Specialty 153045607590105120135150165180195210$56$203$85$219$97Does Not Sell

 

Minor Factors in Auto Insurance in Bakersfield, California

The factors we just finished discussing can have a potentially serious impact on how expensive your coverage will be. If there are parts of your profile that aren’t so appealing to your insurance provider, these minor factors could still help you save some money on Bakersfield insurance companies like Freeway Insurance and Personal Express Insurance.

Your Marital Status

In an ideal world, your relationship status shouldn’t be anybody’s business. But for your insurance company, it can be their business. This may work out in your favor if you happen to be married or involved in some other serious domestic partnership.

Not only can you bundle coverage on the same policy with your significant other, but being married in general makes car insurance companies think that you are less of a risk.

Find cheap Bakersfield, CA, auto insurance quotes right now. Just enter your ZIP code in the FREE comparison tool.

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Your Gender

If your gender has any effect at all on your car insurance rates, it is highly variable from one company to another. Some insurance providers don’t e factor gender in at all.

Still, others could charge you as much as 3 percent or more extra based on whether you are male or female. And the favorite sex will vary from one company to the next!

Your Driving Distance to Work

Working in Bakersfield means that you have short work commutes. The average driver will spend about 15 to 20 minutes behind the wheel on their way to work each day. Let’s take a look at the average annual auto insurance rates based on commute in California.

California Average Annual Auto Insurance Rates by Commute
CompaniesAverage Annual Rates for
10-Mile Commute
6,000 Miles Annually
Average Annual Rates for 25-Mile Commute
12,000 Miles Annually
USAA$2,482.96$2,906.28
Progressive$2,587.19$3,115.09
Geico$2,621.93$3,150.55
Liberty Mutual$2,786.10$3,284.23
Travelers$3,014.07$3,687.49
State Farm$4,049.89$4,355.54
Allstate$4,086.25$4,979.93
Nationwide$4,108.79$5,198.37
Farmers$4,535.69$5,462.84

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There’s also a decent population of carpoolers in the city, which reduces your likelihood of an accident.

Getting a better rate for your coverage can be easier said than done when it comes to reporting your mileage to your insurance agent. The average is about 15,000 miles per year for most drivers.

Going above or below that may get you a discount, but you may have to install a device in your vehicle to track those miles. If you guess wrong and you end up driving more miles than less, you could end up paying more money!

Your Coverage and Deductibles

If you’re worried about getting into an accident or if you have a history of collisions, you may want to keep your deductible low. Yes, this will cost you more money each month for your premiums, but it could be a lifesaver if you ever need to file a claim and get back on the road sooner rather than later.

You could also try putting a little extra money away in your savings just in case that high-deductible rainy day ever comes along.

Education in Bakersfield, CA

At least one-quarter of the adult population in Bakersfield has a high school diploma or a GED. That’s good news. The bad news is that another 20 percent have less education than that.

In many other categories, such as bachelor’s and master’s degrees, Bakersfield is significantly below the California average.

For better or worse, your insurance company will likely charge you more if they don’t think you have a good enough education. But well-educated drivers should be in store for a discount.

If you would like to improve your education, hopefully, for reasons that go beyond just lower Bakersfield, CA auto insurance rates, you have several options in Bakersfield. CSU has a Bakersfield campus that offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees to students.

Bakersfield College is another public option. There are private schools such as Kaplan College Bakersfield and San Joaquin Valley College, but these are for-profit institutions, so be wary.

Just because searching for a cheaper auto insurance rate is difficult doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it. Not only can you save money by doing this, but you may be able to get as good or better coverage than what you are getting now.

All you have to do is let us know what ZIP code you live in, and we can take care of the hard work for you. You can start saving in a matter of minutes!

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How We Conducted Our Auto Insurance Analysis

We calculated our average rate based on the following metrics: a married, 34-year-old male with good credit, a 12-month history of maintaining auto insurance, a clean driving record, who owns his own home.

Miles driven annually were based on the national average. The average rate was also calculated based on a financed 2015 Honda Accord with a pre-installed anti-theft device.

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