Find Car Insurance in San Jose, California
What You Should Know About Car Insurance in San Jose, CA
San Jose is the third-most populous municipality in California, with over 970,000 people living across 181 square miles. As the home of the Sharks and the Earthquakes, there is a lot of hockey and soccer pride around town. With Silicon Valley located within city limits, San Jose is at the center of technology and innovation. Major corporations such as Cisco, Apple, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, and PayPal maintain their headquarters in this city.
In addition to its robust metropolitan center, major cities such as San Francisco, Oakland, and even Sacramento are within commuting distance from San Jose. Contact the expert agents at InsureOne to find the best auto insurance at the best price in California and start exploring the amazing opportunities this city has to offer.
How Much Does Car Insurance Cost in San Jose, California?
Car insurance in California is more expensive than in other states. On average, a minimum liability policy costs $636 yearly, only slightly more than the national average of $622. But a full coverage plan costs $2,291 per year, which is significantly more than the $2,014 average for the rest of the country.
What Does Full Coverage vs. Minimum Liability Mean?
When shopping for a policy, there is a wide variety of options available. You can decide to get a minimum level of coverage or choose higher levels of protection. If your primary concern is how you will pay for damages you cause to others if you are ever at fault for a crash, then a minimum liability policy would satisfy your needs. It will not cover damages to your own vehicle, but it will help you pay for losses you cause to others up to the limits of your policy.
On the other end of the spectrum, a full coverage policy will provide you with the highest levels of protection available. Even if you are at fault for an accident, your insurer will pay for damages to your vehicle. You will also be covered for theft, natural disasters, and if an uninsured driver crashes into you and has no way of paying for your losses. While this type of policy can be more costly, it will bring you peace of mind if your goal with obtaining insurance is to have an insurer cover the cost of keeping your car in good condition, regardless of how it is damaged.
Affordable Car Insurance Rates Comparison by Cities in California
Coverage costs can vary by location due to various local conditions. The table below compares rates for various California cities.
| City | Full Coverage Insurance | Liability Insurance Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose | $174 | $79 |
| San Francisco | $183 | $114 |
| San Diego | $179 | $61 |
| Sacramento | $214 | $76 |
| Los Angeles | $305 | $114 |
How Bundling Your Car and Homeowners Insurance Can Save You Money in San Jose
Many car owners also need homeowners insurance. While it is smart to price shop multiple carriers for each of these types of policies, you should also consider looking for the company that will give you the best deal on both policies combined. Doing this is called bundling, which might get you a discount of as much as 25%. That is why you should bundle your home and auto coverage whenever possible. Bundling also removes the need to deal with more than one insurer and streamlines your paperwork.
Getting the most out of this discount involves shopping both policies with many carriers to get the most affordable pricing on each policy and the steepest reduction as a bundle. While this requires a lot of research, you can rely on the concierge services of your expert InsureOne agent. They will do all the work necessary to create a personalized package of policies so you get the best insurance with maximum cost savings.
What Types of Car Insurance Discounts Are Available in San Jose?
To get you the most competitive rates available, InsureOne’s white-glove treatment includes pairing you with high-quality carriers that offer you additional discounts. Not all insurers offer these, but here are some examples of discounts for which you might qualify:
- Student discounts
- Usage-based (telematics) discounts
- Autopay discounts
- Paid-in-full discounts
- Retention
Notable Car Insurance Laws in San Jose
Below are some California laws you should know about as you shop for coverage.
What Are the Mandatory Car Insurance Requirements in San Jose?
Like all other states, California has a set of minimum requirements you must meet in order to operate a vehicle. Before getting behind the wheel, you must obtain the following levels of coverage:
- $15,000 liability of coverage for bodily injury per person
- $30,000 liability of coverage for bodily injury per accident
- $5,000 of coverage for property damage
What Is the Penalty for Driving Without Insurance in San Jose?
You may not register or drive a car in California if you do not have a suitable policy in place. If an officer catches you violating the law, you may face the following consequences:
- $100 to $200 fine or $200 to $500 for a second offense
- Possible license suspension
- Possible vehicle impoundment
- A judge may assess additional penalties or fines
Do San Jose–Specific Laws Play a Role in Determining Your Insurance Premiums?
California is fairly strict with insurers. The state does not allow them to base rates on criteria such as gender, credit scores, and education level. They may only use details that affect their costs or risk levels. Here are some examples of factors insurers are allowed to use:
- Type of vehicle: Some vehicles are statistically less likely to get into a crash than others, and insurers may, therefore, charge owners of these cars lower premiums.
- Your deductible: A deductible is a dollar amount you agree to pay before your carrier starts covering your losses. The lower your deductible, the higher your premiums, and vice versa.
- Driving experience: Experienced drivers are less likely to get into accidents, so insurers may charge them less for coverage.
- Theft rates: If you live in an area with a low car theft rate, your carrier might charge you less since the chances of your car getting stolen are low.
- Safety features: If your car has safety features that help you avoid causing an accident, your insurer might charge you less for coverage
Insurance That Helps You Prepare for the Future
Financially responsible people budget for future expenses, like college tuition for their kids, a new car, or a house. The same should be true for incidents that might happen on the road. In a world without insurance, you would have to set aside funds in case you cause an accident. But it would be impossible to predict how much you need to save since an accident could cause $100 or $100,000 — or even more — in damages, depending on the severity of the accident.
Insurance eliminates the need for you to budget money for accident-related expenses since your insurer would pick up the tab for losses you suffer. You just have to make sure to get the right insurance that will cover the damages you cause. At InsureOne, our expert agents help you find the best auto insurance with customizable options that best meet your needs.
Typical Driving Conditions in San Jose
San Jose often has heavy traffic on weekdays. In addition to the morning rush, expect delays throughout the work week. The city has a comprehensive transportation system that can help you avoid congestion. Its Micro Mobility program offers e-bikes, e-scooters, and bike shares. The Valley Transportation Authority and the Bay Area Rapid Transit provide a mix of buses, trains, and a light rail system. But if you are traveling by car, San Jose is a major economic hub for the area, with employees working flexible hours and tens of thousands of students making their way around the area, causing traffic throughout the day.
How Many Car Accidents Happen in San Jose Per Year?
California’s Office of Traffic Safety reports the following stats on the number of accidents that caused injuries or fatalities in 2021:
<tdSan Jose
| City | Crashes Resulting in Injuries or Fatalities |
|---|---|
| San Jose | 2,745 |
| San Francisco | 3,435 |
| San Diego | 5,056 |
| Sacramento | 4,296 |
| Los Angeles | 11,202 |
How Many Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists Are in San Jose?
Based on a report from the Insurance Information Institute, 17% of California drivers were uninsured in 2022.
Get Covered by the Best Car Insurance in San Jose, California Today
If you are in the market for car insurance, turn to InsureOne for personalized service tailored to your preferences. Every customer has unique, specific requirements, and our agents are ready to customize a policy that matches your needs at competitive prices.
We will contact multiple carriers until we find one that will offer you the best coverage at the rates. Stop by one of our physical locations, call us at (800) 836-2240, or visit our website to get in touch with one of our expert agents.