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Home Insurance and Car Insurance in California
As one of the nation’s largest states, California offers its residents some of the widest variety when it comes to geography and topography. From the beaches of sunny SoCal, the hustle and bustle of downtown living in Los Angeles or the sweeping vistas of the Sierra Nevada mountains, there’s plenty to offer when it comes to life in the Sunshine State.SelectQuote can help you find affordable home and auto insurance coverage and even point you toward discounted insurance bundles that can add to your savings.Homeowners Insurance in California
Buying home insurance in California is especially important given the number of hazards that can be encountered in the state. In recent years, California has become known for rampant wildfires that damage homes and lead to billions of dollars in insurance claims. Finding the right homeowners insurance to fit your needs is important, especially to ensure you’ve purchased enough coverage to help rebuild after a disaster. Home insurance coverage falls under two umbrellas, actual cash value recovery and replacement cost.Actual cash value insurance policies will pay either the policy limit or the fair market value of your home’s structure after a total loss, whichever is lower. If your claim only includes a partial loss, the policy will pay the amount it would cost or repair or rebuild minus physical depreciation or your policy limit, whichever is less. In practice, this means that if your home is priced at $250,000 to rebuild but is only insured for $200,000, you would be responsible for the remaining $50,000.
Replacement cost policies, by contrast, will pay the full replacement value of your home’s rebuilding costs regardless of the coverage limit. As construction and labor costs increase throughout the state, failure to buy a policy with full replacement cost may result in you being unable to completely rebuild or have your claim totally covered.
Homeowners Insurance Coverage Options in California
Most home insurance policies sold in California provide both property and liability coverage. The common types of home insurance coverage in most policies includes:- Dwelling coverage: This type of coverage provides coverage to the structure of your home if it’s damaged by a covered (named) peril. This includes the walls, roof and windows.
- Other structures coverage: For detached garages, tool sheds and other types of structures on the property, your insurance policy will likely provide some degree of coverage. In many cases it’s limited to 10% of the dwelling coverage limit, but you can purchase more at an additional cost.
- Personal property coverage: This coverage offers protection for your home’s contents. Usually limited to 50% of the dwelling coverage or an established amount agreed upon by you and the insurance company, this coverage protects items such as appliances, furniture, clothing and other items.
- Loss of use/additional living expenses coverage: If a covered loss renders your home uninhabitable, this coverage will pay for lodging, food and other associated costs.
- Personal liability coverage: If you are held responsible for someone’s injury or property damage while they’re on your property, this type of coverage can provide a defense and pay for damages.
- Guest medical protection or payments coverage: If someone is injured on your property due to an accident, this type of coverage can help pay for their medical expenses. It does not apply to injuries or accidents to people who live in your household, and isn’t a substitute for health insurance.
Common Causes of Loss in California
Some of the most common types of insurance claims its residents can encounter include:- Fire and lightning: Wildfires and lightning storms that can cause fires are a major concern for California residents. For this reason, it’s important your dwelling coverage limits are high enough to help you rebuild after a total loss.
- Earthquakes: Because major fault lines run through California, homes and businesses in the state are very susceptible to earthquake damage. However, earthquakes aren’t covered by many standard home insurance policies. While earthquake insurance can be purchased separately through both the California Earthquake Authority or private insurers, it doesn’t impact your basic homeowners insurance rates.
- Theft: Purchasing additional personal property coverage can help you quickly replace any items that may be stolen from your home or vehicle.
- Windstorm damage: High winds can cause direct damage to homes in California, but they’re also a means for wildfires to spread.
Additional Coverage Options Recommended for California Homeowners
The sheer volume of potential catastrophes that affect California homeowners make it essential to understand your insurance policy limits and exclusions. In addition to standard insurance protection for your home, many experts recommend buying additional coverage that includes:- Flood insurance: No home insurance policy covers flooding as a matter of course, but you can purchase additional coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program and through private insurance companies.
- Fire Insurance: The increased prevalence of wildfires in California makes buying additional coverage for fire protection even more important. If you live in a part of the state where buying home insurance is made difficult due to increased risk, you can consider a separate policy exclusively for fire coverage.
- Scheduled personal property coverage: Many home insurance policies cover personal property, but there are some items whose value is either too high to insure fully or that may not be covered. Priceless artwork, antiques and other high-value items may be too expensive to be covered as part of your personal property policy. In these cases, scheduled property coverage can help. These items must be professionally appraised to be covered.
Our Home Insurance Partners in California
SelectQuote partners with highly rated home insurance companies in California. We compare prices from several companies at once to help you save time and money when shopping for your home insurance coverage.What is the average home insurance cost in California?
On average, SelectQuote customers across the state of California pay $111.95+ per month for coverage. Your rates will differ based on where you live, your credit rating and your policy limits.Homeowners Insurance Discounts in California
Home insurance discounts are available for a variety of reasons. You just need to know where to look! Common discounts that are offered in California include, but aren’t limited to:- Customer loyalty discounts
- Discounts for filing few or no claims
- Home security system installation
- Bundling home and auto insurance coverage
Bundle Your Home and Auto Insurance to Save Money
SelectQuote customers who bundle their home and auto insurance coverage can see an average savings of $693 on their yearly premiums.Average Home and Auto Insurance Rates in California
The rates listed below are real premiums paid by SelectQuote customers in several California cities. Your insurance premiums will vary based on your ZIP code, age and condition of your home and/or vehicle, credit rating deductible, coverage limits and other factors.| City | Avg. Monthly Home Insurance Rate | Avg. Monthly Auto Insurance Rate | Avg. Monthly Rate of Bundled Policies |
| Bakersfield | $96.05 | $132.32 | $210.61 |
| Escondido | $115.57 | $317.68 | NA |
| Fresno | $91.50 | $119.11 | $210.85 |
| Los Angeles | $119.17 | $232.84 | $316.23 |
| Riverside | $46.50 | $258.35 | NA |
| Sacramento | $105.82 | $124.88 | $244.18 |
| San Diego | $128.78 | $171.56 | $324.04 |
| San Francisco | $154.32 | $171.65 | $357.00 |
| San Jose | $108.10 | $129.61 | $227.58 |
| Stockton | $107.42 | $190.27 | $269.15 |
Average monthly rates are from effective SelectQuote customer policies between 4/1/2022 and 3/31/2023.
Auto Insurance in California
California boasts the highest number of registered vehicles in the United States with more than 14.3 million cars and nearly 27.2 million licensed drivers.1,2 All those cars and people on the road add up to increased potential for thousands of car crashes each year. For these reasons, purchasing auto insurance is one of the most important decisions a California driver can make.California Auto Insurance Laws and Requirements
California requires all drivers to show proof of insurance and financial responsibility in case they cause an injury or property damage. Without proof of liability insurance, you can be fined or face license suspension. The minimum legal requirements for auto insurance are as follows:- Bodily injury liability insurance pays for medical bills or funeral costs for people that you injure in an auto accident where you are found to be at fault. Minimum legal limits for this coverage $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident. The $30,000 is split between all people that you injure in the event of an accident.
- Property damage liability insurance pays for property damage that you cause as a result of an auto accident in which you are found to be at fault. California requires that you carry $5,000 for damage to other people’s property.
- Uninsured motorist coverage (UMC) and underinsured motorist coverage (UIM)can help pay for expenses related to an accident where another driver is found at fault but either has no auto insurance or doesn’t have enough car insurance coverage to pay for damages.
- Medical payments coverage can pay for immediate medical care after an accident if you or your passengers are injured. This insurance works regardless of who is at fault.
- Collision coverage pays for damage to your car caused by physical collision with another vehicle or object, including trees, rocks, animals, guardrails or people.
- Comprehensive coverage pays for damages from something other than a collision, including fire, vandalism, windstorms, falling objects and even theft. It doesn’t cover mechanical breakdowns or normal wear and tear.
- Gap insurance pays the difference between the value of a leased or financed vehicle and what you owe on the car. Many auto lenders require gap insurance coverage for vehicles, which tend to lose 10% of their value in the first year.All data on average expenditures is provided by the Insurance Information Institute.
| Types of Coverage | Minimum State Requirement |
| Bodily Injury Liability | $15,000 per person/$30,000 per accident |
| Property Damage Liability | $5,000 |
| Uninsured Motorist | Not required |
| Underinsured Motorist | Not required |
| Medical Payments | Not required |
| Collision | Not required |
| Comprehensive | Not required |
| Gap Insurance | Not required |
California Teen Driving Laws
California uses a graduated licensing system to help get teens used to the rules of the road and operations of a motor vehicle.3 Minors must prove that they have completed driver education and training courses and complete 50 hours of supervised practice.Teen drivers are limited to driving between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. for the first year of their license period, except for school and school activities, medical emergencies, employment or religious services. They are also subject to passenger limits unless accompanied by a California licensed parent, guardian or another California licensed driver who is 25 years of age or older. As long as they meet certain requirements including a clean driving record, they can get an unrestricted license at age 18.California Car Registration Information
To register a vehicle in California, you must provide proof of ownership/transfer (title) and insurance.4 You may also be required to put the vehicle through smog certification and an emission system statement.What is the average car insurance cost in California?
Among SelectQuote customers, the average cost of car insurance in California is $170.85+ per month. Car insurance rates in California will vary based on driving record, credit score, age and condition of vehicle and more.Our Car Insurance Partners in California
SelectQuote partners with some of the most trusted auto insurance companies in California to help you find affordable auto coverage that meets your needs. We shop from dozens of insurance companies at once in the time it would take you to get a quote from a single carrier, saving you time. We’re then able to present you with several unbiased insurance quotes and help you choose the policy that best meets your needs.Home and Auto Insurance Frequently Asked Questions
As we help California customers find affordable home and auto coverage, we see some common questions.How do I shop for insurance in California?
When shopping for insurance, some general guidelines include knowing your required coverage limits and that shopping around for coverage is often the best way to get a good deal.
How should I shop for homeowners insurance in California?
Before you sit down to shop for insurance, know a general based on common hazards near your home as well as what you need to insure. You should then:- Create a personal inventory of property in and around your home.
- Determine needed coverage, both in terms of dollar amount and types of insurance (including fire and earthquake coverage).
- Get quotes from several insurance companies at one time to compare rates and discounts.
- Make a decision based on customer service reviews, claims processing and price. Shop with SelectQuote to streamline this process and find the right coverage for your home.
How do I shop for auto insurance in California?
Shopping for auto insurance is similar to buying home insurance, with the added wrinkle that you are required to buy minimum levels of liability insurance.- Determine necessary coverage based on legal requirements and rules from your lender.
- Get quotes from several insurance companies at one time. Compare rates and discounts, especially if you plan on bundling your coverage.
- Make a decision based on price, customer reviews and other available information. SelectQuote can help with this!
Can my home or auto insurance cover me in case of a fire in California?
Your home and auto insurance policy will usually cover you in the event of a fire, but you’ll want to read your policy documents closely to make sure you know the limits of that coverage. In some areas at increased risk to wildfires, additional insurance coverage may be required.
Can I buy mobile home insurance in California?
You can buy mobile home insurance and are encouraged to do so. Mobile home insurance may be more expensive than other types of home insurance due to the risks that come with owning a mobile home, such as additional risk to wind damage or fire.
Can I get earthquake insurance in California?
You may buy earthquake insurance either from the California Earthquake Authority or some private insurers.
SelectQuote Can Shop California Home or Auto Insurance to Help Save You Time and Money
SelectQuote can help if you’re looking for the best auto and home insurance in California. Our technology and experienced licensed insurance agents help quickly and effectively narrow down the policies that fit your lifestyle, budget and coverage requirements. We’re also always on the hunt for discounts, which means saving you money. Shop with us today!Sources
- https://www.statista.com/statistics/196010/total-number-of-registered-automobiles-in-the-us-by-state/#:~:text=In%202021%2C%20California%20had%20the,overall%3A%20nearly%2031.4%20million%20registrations.
- https://www.statista.com/statistics/198029/total-number-of-us-licensed-drivers-by-state/
- https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/handbook
- https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-registration
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