Top 7 Car Insurance Companies in California

With more than 50 auto insurance companies operating in the state of California, picking the right one is a hard task. These companies include major players, such as Farmers Insurance, with each company offering unique benefits and services.

While most people are familiar with Allstate, Geico, Progressive and State Farm Insurance, there are many other top car insurance companies in California that might be the right fit for certain drivers. The following list of the top seven car insurance companies in California is based on in-state market share.

Interinsurance Exchange of the Automobile Club and AAA Northern are two companies that combine to service AAA members in the state of California. The former serves AAA members in Southern California, while the latter services AAA members in Northern California. The two companies are the second- and third-largest California auto insurers individually; they combine to form the largest California auto insurer, with a market share of 15.73%.

The two companies offer California residents cheaper insurance than the larger insurance companies. However, to purchase insurance through AAA, a person's license can't be less than three years old, and he cannot have a speeding ticket or an at-fault accident in the past three years.

State Farm Insurance is the second-largest auto insurance company in California, with a 14.4% market share in the state. In addition to basic insurance coverage, State Farm also offers antique and classic car insurance coverage quotes through its agents. Overall, State Farm has a low complaint ratio and is large enough to provide insurance options to fit almost any driver's needs.

Allstate Insurance is the third-largest auto insurance company in California, with a market share of 6.7%. While the company offers a range of policies, Your Choice Auto is the most popular policy that Allstate issues. In addition, the company offers special insurance for expensive and luxury cars, such as Porsches.

Mercury Insurance Group is the fourth-largest California auto insurance company, with a market share of 6.5%. The company is known for selling reasonably priced auto insurance. It has great customer service, proven through its track record of very few justified complaints. Mercury's justified complaint ratio is the lowest among California auto insurance companies, making it the best California auto insurance company in terms of customer service.

Mid-Century Insurance Company is a subsidiary of the Farmers Insurance Exchange. With a market share of 5.7%, Mid-Century is the fifth-largest auto insurance company in California. However, the company operates as a non-standard high-risk insurance company. Mid-Century specializes in insuring people who have more than one at-fault accident or too many speeding tickets.

While Mid-Century Insurance might be a good option for people who qualify for high-risk insurance, its premiums are fairly high. However, with a safe driving discount of up to 9% and a good driver discount of as much as 20%, even drivers who are looking for standard insurance should consider Mid-Century.

21st Century Insurance Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Farmers 21st Century Insurance Company. The company specializes in insuring luxury cars, such as Ferraris and Jaguars, and it has a 3% market share within California.

The company offers a superior driver discount of as much as 10% if a driver is accident-free for four years. If a driver is accident-free for more than five years, that superior driver discount increases to 20%. However, the average insurance premium is slightly high when compared to other companies in California.

Access Insurance Company is a specialty auto insurance company with a 2% market share in California. The company offers cheap auto insurance for basic cars as well as comparatively cheap auto insurance for more expensive cars, such as BMWs.