Car insurance in Long Beach, CA: Cheapest insurance and average rates

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Car insurance in Long Beach costs $2,681 per year for full coverage – $223 per month. USAA offers the cheapest car insurance policies at an average of $166 per month. With a population of around 451,000, Long Beach is the seventh-largest city in the state. 

Learn about the cheapest car insurance companies in Long Beach, how much car insurance you need in Long Beach and how its insurance rates compare to other large U.S. cities.

How to find the best car insurance in Long Beach

Getting multiple quotes is the key to finding the best car insurance in Long Beach. When you have multiple quotes in hand for similar policies, you can find the cheapest option for your situation. As you explore your options, don’t forget to ask if you qualify for any discounts. 

Cheapest car insurance company in Long Beach, CA

USAA offers the cheapest insurance coverage in Long Beach, California, with an annual average rate of $1,990 for full coverage. But remember, USAA only works with drivers with qualifying connections to the military. The next cheapest company is Geico at $2,142 per year. 

See other cheap car insurance rates in Long Beach in the table below.

Average annual rates from insurers in Long Beach, CA

How much is car insurance in Long Beach per month?

Car insurance in Long Beach costs $53 per month for a state minimum policy and $223 per month for a full coverage car insurance policy, on average, according to recent data. See monthly rates from California insurers in the table below.

Monthly rates for car insurance in Long Beach, California

How do rates in Long Beach compare to other large cities in the U.S.?

Car insurance is cheaper in Long Beach than in larger cities in the state. Compare Long Beach’s monthly average rate of $223 to Los Angeles’ $262. But Long Beach drivers tend to pay more than drivers in larger cities from other parts of the country, such as San Diego, Sacramento and San Jose.

James Brau, professor of finance at Brigham Young University, says that the more risk the insurance company must bear, the higher the premium they must charge to stay in business and make a profit. 

“Large cities tend to present more risk to the insurance companies than rural areas. Large cities have more people, more cars and higher chances of getting in wrecks or having other damage done to vehicles,” Brau says. “As such, insurance firms must charge higher premiums in cities. Cities that are relatively more dangerous, in turn, must charge higher premiums than cities that are not as risky. Insurance companies study damage losses per metropolitan area and assign premiums depending on the number of wrecks in an area.”

See how much you can expect to pay for car insurance in several major U.S. cities in the table below.

Monthly full-coverage car insurance costs in major U.S. metropolitan areas

Here’s what you need to know when driving in Long Beach

Long Beach drivers spend an average of 30 minutes commuting to work each way. 

Here are a few tips for drivers in Long Beach:

• Use a maps app to get directions even if you know where you’re going – the map can reroute you to avoid traffic.
• Rush hour runs from 7:30-9 a.m. and 4-6 p.m. If possible, avoid the roads during these times. 

And there are a few city restrictions in Long Beach. Miscellaneous driving restrictions in the city of Long Beach, California:

• It’s illegal to drive any vehicle on a beach. 
• Many of the streets next to schools are closed during school hours.

How much car insurance do I need in Long Beach?

In Long Beach, the car insurance requirements follow the state of California’s guidelines. Here are the types of acceptable insurance:

• Motor vehicle liability insurance policy with 15/30/5 limits
• Cash deposit of $35,000 with DMV
• DMV-issued self-insurance certificate
• Surety bond for $35,000 from a company licensed to do business in California

For cash deposits or self-insurance information, contact the DMV Financial Responsibility Unit at 916-657-6677 and select Option 3. To locate a company that issues surety bonds, contact the Department of Insurance at insurance.ca.gov or 1-800-927-4357.

Remember, state minimums are merely that – the minimum insurance you must buy, according to state law. Most drivers need significantly higher coverage limits.

Average cost of car insurance in Long Beach

The average annual cost of full coverage car insurance in Long Beach is $2,681 – $265 more expensive than the California statewide average of $2,416. That’s quite a bit higher than the nationwide average of $1,895

Annual average rates in Long Beach for state minimum coverage and full coverage

How much does car insurance in Long Beach cost with violations?

A history of moving violations can push your car insurance costs higher. That’s especially true if you commit a serious violation, like a DUI. 

For example, Long Beach drivers see their rates increase by an average of 76% after an at-fault accident. If you are caught speeding, that ticket could push your car insurance rates up by an average of 48%. DUIs also lead to higher costs, with an average rate increase of 221%. However, in California, credit scores cannot be used to determine car insurance rates.

See rate increases in Long Beach in the table below, by violation.

Cheapest car insurance in Long Beach by age

Car insurance for teens in Long Beach can get expensive – the annual rate for an 18-year-old is $6,974 per year for a full coverage policy. Plan for rates to start to head down at age 25 and back up in your late 60s. See more rates by age in the table below.

Annual rates for state minimum and full coverage car insurance in Long Beach, by age

Compare auto insurance rates in Long Beach by ZIP code 

Where you live also plays a role in car insurance costs. In Long Beach, the cheapest ZIP codes for car insurance are 90808, 90815 and 90803. The most expensive are 90813, 90802 and 90805.

See the tables below for the cheapest and most expensive ZIP codes for car insurance in Long Beach. 

Cheapest annual car insurance rates in Long Beach, by ZIP code 

Most expensive annual car insurance rates in Long Beach, by ZIP code 

Our recommendations: Car insurance for drivers in Long Beach

On average, Long Beach drivers get the cheapest coverage by purchasing a policy with USAA. But every driver has a unique situation, which impacts rates, making it important to shop around. 

Don’t forget to look beyond the price point. Make sure to look at the policy details to confirm you are getting the coverage you want and need. Gather quotes from several insurance companies to find the best price for your unique situation. 

Many drivers get the most value from a full coverage insurance policy with liability limits of 100/300/100. But as you accumulate wealth, consider choosing higher liability limits. Robust coverage can give you the peace of mind you need as you navigate Long Beach roads. 

What our expert says

Q. Why do insurance rates vary from city to city?

Dr. James BrauJoel C. Peterson Professor of Finance Brigham Young University

“Large cities tend to present more risk to the insurance companies than rural areas. Large cities have more people, more cars and higher chances of getting in wrecks or having other damage done to vehicles. As such, insurance firms must charge higher premiums in cities. Cities that are relatively more dangerous, in turn, must charge higher premiums than cities that are not as risky. Insurance companies study damage losses per metropolitan area and assign premiums depending on the number of wrecks in an area.”

Resources & Methodology

Methodology

In 2024, Insure.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services to pull rates for a 40-year-old who has a 12-mile commute and drives a 2023 Honda Accord LX 10k miles annually. The hypothetical driver has full coverage, carrying policy limits of 100/300/100 with $500 deductibles for comprehensive and collision coverages. We analyzed 51,088,003 insurance quotes from 167 companies across 34,588 ZIP codes in every state and Washington, D.C.

Sarah Sharkey

Contributing Researcher

 

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Sarah Sharkey is a personal finance writer with a master’s degree in management from the Hough School of Business at the University of Florida. She enjoys helping readers find money solutions that work. She has written for numerous personal-finance publications including Money Under 30 and The College Investor.