The average monthly cost of auto insurance in Glendale is $289, which is much higher than the California state average of $151 per month. Rates may be higher in Glendale than in other California cities because it’s in Los Angeles County, the California county with the highest population and more frequent and severe accidents.
With attractions like the Los Angeles Zoo, Warner Bros Studios, and Griffith Park nearby, Glendale residents are also at risk of accidents caused by tourists unfamiliar with Southern California roadways.
While rates in Glendale may be higher, you can take steps to lower your car insurance expenses — starting with comparing rates from multiple insurers. Here’s how.
3 of the cheapest car insurance companies in Glendale
The best car insurance companies are the ones that provide the best level of coverage for your budgetary needs. The right auto insurer for you will align with your specific needs, including customer service, discounts, roadside assistance, and other help your family needs. That’s why it’s always a good idea to compare quotes from multiple insurers before deciding.
Best insurer for cheap liability rates: Clearcover
Best insurer for low-mileage drivers: Mile Auto
Best insurer for coverage options: Sun Coast
How to get the cheapest car insurance in Glendale
Whether you shop with a national insurance brand or choose to work with a local Glendale independent insurance agent, you want the lowest rates available. Many insurers offer a range of discounts to pair with their coverage options. But you can also save by following these tips:
Bundle insurance policies with the same insurer.
Take advantage of programs for people with clean driving records, such as deductibles that decrease periodically the longer you drive without a claim.
Find an insurer that offers pay-per-mile insurance if you rarely use your vehicle yet live in a ZIP code with traditionally higher insurance rates.
Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Glendale: USAA
Liability car insurance pays for the injuries and damages you cause another person or structure in an accident that was your fault. In general, this coverage meets minimum state requirements and usually includes bodily injury liability, property damage liability, and in some cases, medical payments or personal injury protection.1
Liability-only car insurance in Glendale costs $187 per month, on average. The table below shows how average monthly quotes for liability-only insurance in Glendale vary between different insurers.
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Glendale: Anchor
While liability-only coverage pays for the damages and injuries you cause to others, full-coverage policies go beyond this coverage level to protect your vehicle in the event of collisions (your car colliding with another vehicle or an object like a telephone pole or pothole) and non-collision events, like vehicle theft, vandalism, extreme weather, and animal damage.2
A full-coverage policy typically contains both collision and comprehensive coverages and may be ideal if you drive frequently and want to be financially protected from the unexpected.
Glendale drivers pay an average of $391 per month for full coverage. The table below illustrates the average monthly quotes available from insurance companies serving Glendale.
Car insurance requirements in California
California is an at-fault state, which means the driver at fault for the incident is liable for the injuries and property damage they cause.
State lawmakers approved an increase in coverage limits, which will take effect Jan. 1, 2025. The table below reflects this change and the types and amount of coverage all drivers need to carry:3
Rates in Glendale are typically lowest with liability-only insurance, but you may want to consider additional coverage options for better protection, including the following:
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident
Drivers with a clean record pay lower insurance rates, but if yours is marred by an incident, including at-fault car accidents, speeding tickets, driving under the influence, and other moving violations, you could see your rates rise dramatically for three to five years.
The severity and frequency of your incidents will affect your rate increases, primarily because your insurance company will use this information to determine what it believes is your likelihood of being in another incident.
In the sections that follow, you’ll see how unique incident types affect your rates in different ways.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket: USAA
Speeding and aggressive driving accounts for 28% of statewide fatalities, and the Los Angeles region ties with the San Diego region for the highest percentage of fatalities from accidents involving speeding and aggressive driving.4
In Glendale and the surrounding Los Angeles area, unsafe speed is a major factor in most collisions, including collisions with bicycles, commercial vehicles, and motorcycles, as well as distracted driving. Because speed plays such a big role in accident rates, insurance companies may raise your rate with a multi-year surcharge based on your driving history and the severity of the speeding ticket.
The average monthly rate for car insurance with a speeding ticket in Glendale is $352. The table below shows how insurance policies with a speeding ticket compare to policies offered to people with clean driving records.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: USAA
Due to the high population and congested highways, 49% of statewide driving fatalities occur in accidents around the Greater Los Angeles Area, which includes Glendale.4
Not surprisingly, insurers take at-fault accidents very seriously. An at-fault accident requires your insurance company to pay for the property damage, injuries, and other expenses you cause. To compensate for this expense, your auto insurance premium may increase for several years if you have a history of at-fault accidents or even when you’re in your first accident. But your rates may decrease again after the accident drops off your motor vehicle record.
The average monthly rate for car insurance in Glendale with an accident on your record is $334, and the table below shows quotes for Glendale drivers after an at-fault car accident.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI: USAA
California falls slightly below the national average for alcohol-impaired driving deaths in all age groups.5 But LA County does have a higher percentage of alcohol-related fatalities than regions like Sacramento, San Diego, and San Francisco.4
People under the influence of drugs or alcohol may have impaired driving skills, increasing their likelihood of being in an accident. This increase in injury, property damage, and death potential is one reason DUI-convicted drivers receive some of the highest rates.
The overall average monthly rate for insurance coverage with a DUI in Glendale is $465. The table below shows liability quotes for Glendale drivers with DUI convictions compared to rates for drivers with a clean record.
Cheapest car insurance for seniors: USAA
While auto insurance rates typically begin to decline for drivers around age 25, car insurance rates for seniors tend to increase again around age 70. Seniors have an increased risk of getting into an accident and being more severely injured in accidents.
Seniors in Glendale pay an overall average of $257 for monthly coverage, and you can see how quotes break down in the table below.
Cheapest car insurance for teens: USAA
Car crashes are a leading cause of death for teenagers across the nation.6 Not surprisingly then, teens pay higher car insurance rates than adults, as insurers rate them the highest-risk demographic.
Fortunately, Glendale teens can save on car insurance by staying on their parents’ insurance plan, driving a safe vehicle, or asking their insurance agent if they’re eligible for discounts for good grades. Teens younger than 18 won’t be able to buy their own policy without the written consent of a parent or guardian.
The average monthly rate for car insurance for teens in Glendale with their own policy is $556. The table below shows quotes for both liability and full-coverage policies for young drivers in Glendale.
Is car insurance more expensive in Glendale?
The nationwide overall average cost of car insurance is $144 per month, which is much less than Glendale’s monthly average of $289. Glendale car insurance rates may be higher than in other cities, such as Modesto, because it’s in the California county with the highest population: Los Angeles County.
More drivers on the road can increase car insurance rates in a specific area, though other area factors can also affect rates, like frequency of accidents, vehicle theft and vandalism rates, and the age of Glendale drivers.
More cities in California
Here, you can see how average quotes in Glendale compare to those in several other California cities.