Most everyone can understand why auto insurance is important to have, but risks vary depending on where you are. Here’s some risks that LA drivers face when they hit the road:

• Traffic Congestion: Whether it’s tourists or people moving to the city, LA’s 405 faces heavy traffic congestion, increasing the chance of an accident.
• High Rates of Vehicle Theft: Urban areas such as Hollywood or Downtown LA have higher reports of theft.
• Uninsured Drivers: LA has some of the highest statistics for uninsured drivers.
• Natural Risks: Earthquakes, wildfires, and mudslides can damage vehicles.

Los Angeles follows the California state minimums for car insurance. Drivers must have at the very least, the following minimums on their policies:

• $15,000 for bodily injury per person
• $30,000 for bodily injury per accident
• $5,000 for property damage per accident
• Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage

It’s often highly recommended to increase these minimums in the event of more serious accidents.

Visit our California car insurance page to read the definitions of these state requirements.

If you’re at fault and want your insurance to help pay for your own repairs or medical expenses, additional coverage is necessary.

Here’s some commonly recommended options for LA drivers:

• Collison Coverage: Helps pay for damages to your vehicle caused by an accident.
• Comprehensive Coverage: Helps pay for non-collision damages to your vehicle caused by a covered incident.
• Rental Reimbursement: Helps pay for the cost of rental car while your vehicle is being repaired.
• Roadside Assistance: Helps pay for towing or other covered incidents if the vehicle cannot be driven.
• Rideshare Coverage: Only applicable when you’re on the clock and also use your personal vehicle for a rideshare service. Has options for liability, collision, comprehensive, and medical payments.

This isn’t a list of every coverage option available, and the descriptions are generic in nature to give you an idea of what they cover.

Goosehead specializes in creating customized policies for our clients, so be sure to explain your situation to our agents so they can find the coverage you need.

Drivers that only meet the state requirements for a policy pay around $1,200 a year. Those with higher coverage pay a range of $3,200 to $4,200 a year.

Keep in mind that, in addition to coverage selections, car insurance rates are based on several factors, such as:

• Age & Length of License: Younger drivers are considered “new drivers” by California standards because they do not have much driving experience and have not been licensed drivers for very long. Because of this, new drivers will have higher rates.
• Location: Areas such as Downtown LA or Hollywood might see higher rates because of their higher theft rates.
• Mileage: The State of California requires carriers to verify annual mileage.
• Type of Vehicle: New, high-value, or customized vehicles might be more expensive to ensure because of the higher costs of repairs.
• Driving Record: Those with no violations or minimal claims see lower rates.

Los Angeles is an expensive city to live in, but your insurance policy doesn’t need to strain your wallet. Here are some common savings techniques:

• Bundle: Carriers offer multi-policy discounts if you bundle auto insurance with another policy.
• Safe Driver Programs: Taking defensive driving courses or maintaining an accident-free record can help qualify you for safe driver discounts
• Install Safety Features: Installing anti-theft measures or dashcams can help qualify you for discounts.
• Ask About Discounts: Other discounts may be available based on certain criteria or situations, so be sure to ask about them.
• Shop Pre-Renewal: You can change policies any time, but you may find the best savings by shopping around right before your policy renews. Goosehead can do this for you, saving you time and effort.

Goosehead is all about making sure our clients have a policy that meets their specific needs. Here’s why LA drivers trust us:

• Area Expertise: Our agents are trained experts for California, so they know what to look out for.
• Custom policies: We take the time to learn your needs so we can find the coverage that fits you best.
• Top-Rated Carriers: Our partner network includes top-rated insurance carriers. We make comparisons for you to save you time and effort.
• High-Quality Service: Goosehead agents make insurance easy to understand and answer all your questions.