Find Car Insurance in Oakland, CA

What You Should Know About Car Insurance in Oakland, California

You may have guessed how Oakland got its name and, yes, it does have to do with oak trees. In fact, the areas plentiful stands of oak – and other trees – were used to construct Oakland’s large neighbor to the west, San Francisco. And although San Francisco is larger than Oakland, give the city its due: It is still the 8th most populous city in California. After the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, many if its residents moved to Oakland. It is also a major west coast port city, one of busiest in the U.S.

There are many good reasons to choose to live in Oakland, which has contributed to its high cost of living. However, residents enjoy plentiful sunny days (an average of 260 annually), access to some stunning nature and waterways where they can hike in Redwood Regional Park or boat around on Lake Merritt and the San Francisco Bay. The city has a multitude of cuisines for even the most adventurous, as well as a thriving arts and culture scene.

More than 400,000 people call Oakland home and there is plenty to do and see. If you will be driving rather than taking BART or the excellent public transit system around, make sure you have the required amount of car insurance. At InsureOne, agents are standing by to help you find the best car insurance in California with flexible costs and white-glove service.

How Much Does Car Insurance Cost in Oakland, California?

The minimum liability insurance in this city averages $52 monthly, while opting for full coverage and policy limits of $100K/$300K/$100K averages $226 per month. Traffic congestion may be one reason Oakland comes in slightly higher than California’s average of $216 for full coverage and $53 for the state-required minimum. When comparing to what people pay on average across the country, $195 is where full coverage lands and $53 is the cost of minimum.

What Does Full Coverage vs Minimum Liability Mean?

Your decision to purchase full coverage or the required minimum liability (or something in between) will be based on several factors unique to your situation. There are many different types of car insurance and, for the most part, as long as your package includes what California requires, you can customize it as you want. There is a caveat to that: If your vehicle is financed, your lender will probably require you to carry full coverage, which consists of liability, collision and comprehensive. Once you pay it off, you can build your own policy.

Let’s break down how it works. Liability consists of two parts: Property damage and bodily injury (and death).

The state-required minimum liability is designed to help pay for injuries and damage to other people and their property if you are at fault for an accident. In California, those minimums are not much. For example, the property damage liability is only $5,000. With today’s repair costs, if you dent the fender on a luxury car, you could be looking at more than $5K – the remainder of which will come out of your pocket. And you can be sued for any assets you may own to help pay the bill.

This is one reason many drivers choose higher limits. For example, you could raise the limits of your property damage up to $100,000. What’s the difference in monthly cost? It may be as little as $10 more for 6 months of coverage. You should shop around and compare car insurance quotes (or let InsureOne do it for you).

Full coverage is an insurance term that means liability, plus collision coverage and comprehensive coverage. These last two protections cover your car in a variety of situations, whether you are at fault or not. So, going back to the dented fender on the luxury car, maybe your car took the brunt of the accident. Even though you are at fault, your collision will kick in to pay the damages minus your deductible.

There are other add-ons you should at least consider, such as uninsured motorist coverage. It’s not required in California but for what amounts to pennies per day, you can protect yourself financially if you are hit by a driver with no (or not enough) insurance. It’s estimated that 17% of California drivers are uninsured.

If you are looking for the best car coverage to protect what is important, contact your neighborhood InsureOne agent. We will listen to what you need and research the best options for you.

Car Insurance Rates Comparison by Zip Code in Oakland

Here are five sample zip codes in the Oakland area. Insurers use zip codes to learn about traffic congestion, accident incidents and claims, as well as vehicle crime, such as stolen vehicles and vandalism.

Zip Code	Full Coverage Insurance	Liability Insurance Coverage
94501 (Alameda)	$185	$50
94603 (Oakland)	$226	$52
94607 (Oakland)	$227	$55
94659 (Oakland)	$247	$61
95705 (Berkeley)	$183	$50

What Types of Car Insurance Discounts are Available in Oakland?

Bundling is one of the biggest discounts, but there is another one. Most insurers offer up to 30% off for drivers with a clean driving record for at least the last 3-5 years. If you’ve served in the military or currently are a member of the Armed Forces, you can receive a nice discount as a way of saying thanks for your service. Some carriers offer these same programs to first responders and teachers.

Here are a few other common discounts and how much they could save on your premium.

Discount	What It’s Worth
Good or Safe Driver	10-30% Off
Affiliation (School, Employer, Team, Military)	20-25% Off
Senior (Over the Age of 65)	15-35% Off
Low Mileage	5% Off
Good Student	15% Off

Notable Car Insurance Laws in Oakland

Although Oakland is a great place to raise a family, it suffers from a high crime rate. In fact, one of the highest in the U.S. The vehicle theft rate there is much higher than California and the rest of the U.S. Although there are not specific laws here around vehicle crime, it explains why rates are higher here than in many parts of the state.

What are the Mandatory Car Insurance Requirements in Oakland?

The minimum legal requirement for car insurance in California is:

• Bodily Injury Liability: $15,000 for one person and $30,000 for two or more people per accident
• Property Damage Liability: $5,000 per accident

These amounts are how much your carrier will pay out if you cause an accident with injuries and damages to others. Keep in mind, there is nothing in these minimums to help you pay for your repairs and damages or if you are hit by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver.

Anything over these amounts will come out of your pocket.

What is the Penalty for Driving without Insurance in Oakland?

California takes driving without insurance seriously. Fines can be as much as $500, which goes up even further when you add on penalty assessments. Penalty assessments are an additional amount equal to $27.29 on every $10 of the fine.

California is also a state that takes part in the “no pay, no play” regulations. This means if you are driving without insurance and somebody else with insurance causes an accident, you will not be able to sue them for non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering.

Factors That Determine Your Insurance Premiums in Oakland

Every person applying for insurance gets a different quote, depending on their individual factors. One important factor is claims history. Because filing claims can make your rates go up, it’s best to use this ability judiciously. Keep in mind there is no deductible with liability insurance, so if you file for a dented fender, it could make your premium go up more than just paying out of pocket would have cost. It’s a balancing act, but your Insurance agent can help you navigate these waters. Here are some other factors:

• Driving History: Keeping your record clean of accidents and violations is the greatest thing you can do to help your premium stay as low as possible.
• Age: Unfortunately, it isn’t something you have control over, but thankfully, with a clean record and a little time behind the wheel, you should see your rates drop as you enter your 20s.
• Coverage Levels: As discussed, increasing your coverage levels makes sense, but it will increase your premium. Keep in mind with Oakland’s congested traffic, it will still be worth it in the long run.
• Where You Live: Oakland has high statistics for vehicular crime rate, as well as traffic accidents. Anything that makes a claim more likely will increase your premium.

Here’s What You Need to Know When Driving in California

If you don’t travel much outside of the Oakland area, you won’t be facing the blizzards of the north or the parched dryness of the desert. However, you will be competing with lots of other drivers on the road. Learning how to drive defensively could really save you some aggravation.

How Many Car Accidents Happen in Oakland Per Year?

The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) reported 1,963 total fatal and injury car crashes in 2021 in Oakland. Alcohol was involved in 157 of the total crashes and 4 of those involved someone under the age of 21. Speed was related to 237 of the total number of crashes in 2021.

Crash Category	VICTIMS KILLED & INJURED	OTS RANKING
Total Fatal and Injury	1,963	6/15
Alcohol Involved	157	13/15
Motorcycles	123	5/15
Pedestrians	217	3/15
Bicycle	91	7/15

How Many Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists are in Oakland?

Of the 1,963 fatal and injury accidents reported in Oakland in 2021, 479 of those are attributed to hit and run drivers. California has a high ranking when it comes to uninsured motorists and hit-and-run accidents. The best way to protect yourself is to add uninsured motorist coverage to your policy. It’s not very expensive – maybe 40 cents per day. You probably spend more than that at your favorite coffee shop.