Shopping for auto insurance can be a confusing process. In California, the Department of Insurance surveys insurers to understand the range of premiums offered. These surveys, conducted in accordance with California Insurance Code Sections 12959, 10234.6, and 10192.20, are designed to provide consumers with a tool to compare premiums across different insurance companies. It’s important to note that these survey results, further explained in our Premium Survey Notes, are not actual quotes. They serve as indicators of premium differences among insurers.
How Auto Insurance Premiums Are Determined
Insurance premiums are built upon rates that insurance companies file with and are approved by the California Department of Insurance. These rates are the foundation of your premium and incorporate both discounts and surcharges based on various risk factors. For instance, an auto insurance rate might include a discount for customers bundling multiple policies or a surcharge for high-performance vehicles. After evaluating all relevant risk characteristics, the insurer calculates your specific premium.
The California Department of Insurance acts as a regulatory body, not an insurance agent. Therefore, we cannot provide individual auto insurance quotes. Our surveys are intended solely to allow for a Comparative Auto Insurance analysis across a selection of companies. Keep in mind the following points when reviewing survey results for comparative auto insurance purposes:
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While our surveys include companies representing over 90% of the market, there are other licensed insurers in California not featured in these comparisons.
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Critically, the premium you are ultimately charged by an insurer might differ from the survey amounts. These surveys offer general premium insights and may not reflect discounts or surcharges applicable to your unique circumstances.
For detailed questions about the information presented in these comparative auto insurance surveys, please reach out to our Consumer Hotline.
