Santa Cruz, CA Car Insurance
Santa Cruz drivers pay, on average, around $45 a month for their car insurance. To find out more check out our guide below.
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Table of contents
How much can residents of Santa Cruz expect to pay for their car insurance? How does Santa Cruz stack up to the rest of the area, or even California as a whole? You can see the cost breakdowns and contributing factors in the charts and writeups below:
How much is car insurance in Santa Cruz?
Area | Average Monthly Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $45 |
| CA | $56 |
| United States | $81 |
Based on the chart above, you can see that coverage in Santa Cruz typically costs about $11 a month less than it does in the rest of California.
Similarly, car insurance rates in Santa Cruz are more affordable than the national average. Auto insurance coverage in Santa Cruz is about $36 cheaper than it is for the rest of the U.S.
Although these are the average rates for auto insurance in Santa Cruz, that doesn't mean it's exactly what you'll pay. There are a variety of factors that car insurance companies consider to determine how much to charge you to insure your vehicle. Things like age, gender, vehicle make and model, driving record and, in some areas, credit score can all play a part in your policy's monthly price.
But don't worry, we've broken down the average rate for Santa Cruz residents based on several different factors so that you can get a more accurate idea of your policy's monthly premium. If you're not certain that you're getting the cheapest rate for your area, just enter your ZIP below to find out!
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Average Car Insurance Rates by Age
Age Range | Average Premium |
|---|---|
| Under 18 | Not Enough Data |
| 18-24 | $69 |
| 25-34 | $41 |
| 35-44 | $40 |
| 45-54 | $33 |
| 55-64 | $33 |
| 65+ | $41 |
The longer you've been behind the wheel, the more experienced of a driver you are. When it comes to auto insurance rates, that experience pays off. In this case, 18-24-year-olds pay a lot more than someone who is at retirement age.
As you get older, you can expect to see a drop in your monthly premium every 10 years. Santa Cruz drivers may see their rates start to rise again once they hit retirement.
Average Car Insurance Rates by Gender
Gender | Average |
|---|---|
| Male | $45 |
| Female | $45 |
In general, female drivers pay less for car insurance than their male counterparts. In Santa Cruz, however, male and female drivers both pay, on average, $45 for their monthly policy premium.
Average Auto Insurance Rates by Driving Record
Infractions | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| 1 Accident | $58 |
| Multiple Accidents | $88 |
| 1 Ticket | $68 |
| Multiple Tickets | $64 |
Depending on your driving record, your rates can vary quite a lot. Drivers with clean records will pay lower rates than those with accidents or violations. Drivers in Santa Cruz with a single accident will pay around $58 a month. Likewise, if you have one ticket, you'll be looking at an average rate of around $68.
Regardless of where you live, accidents, tickets, and other driving infractions can greatly increase your premium. In order to minimize your monthly rate, practice safe driving habits and keep your record clean.
Average Insurance Rates by Vehicle
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Compare.com's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Vehicle Age | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Less Than 1 Year | $38 |
| 2-3 Years | $55 |
| 4-5 Years | $54 |
| 6-7 Years | $46 |
| 8-10 Years | $48 |
| 11-14 Years | $44 |
| 15 Years or Older | $43 |
According to the first table above, trucks and vans are usually the cheapest vehicles to insure in Santa Cruz, with drivers paying around $39 per month to insure their vehicle.
Car owners can expect to pay an average of around $45 a month for their policy, while SUVs usually cost around $52 a month to insure.
In addition to vehicle type, you can also expect to see slightly different rates based on how old your vehicle is. Newer vehicles are generally going to be the most expensive to insure. Once your car is about 5 years old, however, your monthly bill may start to dip back down. The most expensive vehicles to insure in Santa Cruz are vehicles four-to-five years old.
Average Car Insurance Rates by Relationship Status
Relationship | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Single (never married) | $47 |
| Married | $39 |
| Divorced | $39 |
| Widowed | $33 |
Generally, those who have settled down into marriage will pay slightly less for insurance coverage. This can usually be attributed to their policies having multiple vehicles, a factor some companies will reward with discounts.
The difference in rates based on relationship status in Santa Cruz can be as much as $8 a month, so it's worth keeping that in mind.
Average Car Insurance Rates by Housing Situation
Housing Status | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Own | $41 |
| Rent | $43 |
| Live with parents | $67 |
Another factor that comes into play is your housing status. Renters can expect to pay around $2 a month more than those who own their own home in Santa Cruz. But if you live with your parents, your rates will be significantly higher.
Bundling your home or rental insurance and auto insurance policies can oftentimes reduce your car insurance premiums, depending on your insurance company.
Recent trends in car insurance for Santa Cruz drivers
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Compare.com's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Since car insurance rates are constantly changing, it's a good idea to know the local trends in your area before selecting an insurance provider.
Car insurance rates in Santa Cruz declined from 2017-2018, before leveling out in 2019. They finished down in 2022, at $36 a month
How does Santa Cruz compare to neighboring areas?
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Compare.com's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Why are car insurance rates in Santa Cruz different from other areas?
Car insurance companies look at a number of factors when they're deciding how much to charge for a policy. The price of your insurance policy will depend largely on where you live and will be influenced by things such as:
Amount of drivers in the region
Off-street parking availability
Prevalence of crime
Local laws
Road Safety (how many accidents each locality has)
Having an awareness of these factors is critical when thinking about buying a new policy or potentially moving to a new home. Get started with a guide like this to get familiar with the average rates of your area.
How can I find the cheapest car insurance in Santa Cruz?
In the end, the only way to know exactly what your rate will be is by requesting a quote from car insurance companies. Understanding what the average costs are for drivers prior to seeking out a quote can help you understand how closely the quote reflects local trends.
Fortunately, Compare.com does all of that work for you. Just put in your ZIP Code below, answer a few questions regarding the factors mentioned above, and you'll be comparing the cheapest quotes from dozens of car insurance companies offering plans in Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz Insurance FAQs
Why is the cost of car insurance in Santa Cruz different from other neighboring cities?
Car insurance companies take local factors into consideration when determining how much to charge for coverage. Things like local laws, parking situations, and crime rates -- which can vary from city to city -- can significantly affect your rate.
Which car insurance company will offer me the cheapest rate in Santa Cruz?
Since the factors that car insurance companies take into consideration when calculating the rate you might pay differ from person to person, there is no one insurance company that will offer the cheapest rate to everybody. Things like your driving record, the number of drivers on the policy, and vehicle make and model, plus a number of others, are all taken into account. Because of this, it's a good idea to use sites like Compare.com to compare multiple quotes at once.
Do I need to change my insurance if I move to Santa Cruz?
Whenever you relocate or experience another major life event, such as getting married or finding a new job, you should consider re-evaluating your current insurance policy. By using services like Compare.com to compare quotes from multiple companies at once, you can be sure to capture any new savings brought about by your new situation.
Do I need to wait for my policy to expire to switch to a different car insurance company?
No. You can switch companies at any time, regardless of how long is left on your current policy. So, if you've recently moved to Santa Cruz or it's been a while since you last compared car insurance rates, you may want to take 10 minutes and see if Compare.com can save you money.
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