Car Insurance in Modesto, California
Estimated full coverage in Modesto runs about $1,645 a year ($137/month) — ▲ +6% versus the California average, ranking 30th most expensive of the 77 California cities we cover.
Why car insurance in Modesto costs more than the California average
Insurers price by territory, and Modesto's numbers explain most of the gap. With 220,592 residents on 43.4 square miles, the city's density (5,088 people per square mile) is 2.2 times the density where the typical California resident lives (2,278). The average commute is 30.2 minutes (California: 28.7), and 75% of workers drive alone. Together these put our location factor at 1.06× the state baseline for liability and collision, and 1.02× for comprehensive once FEMA weather risk for Stanislaus County is included.
| Factor | Modesto | California ref. | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population density | 5,088 / sq mi | 2,278 / sq mi | More vehicles per mile of road means more fender-benders and claims. |
| Average commute | 30.2 min | 28.7 min | Longer daily drives add exposure to crashes. |
| Commutes over 60 min | 13.7% | — | Long highway commutes raise mileage-based risk. |
| Drive alone to work | 74.9% | — | Share of workers commuting by car. |
| Public transit to work | 1.6% | — | Transit use lowers how much residents drive. |
| Work from home | 8.4% | — | Remote workers may qualify for low-mileage pricing. |
| Households without a car | 6.3% | — | Context for non-owner and occasional-driver policies. |
| Weather hazard score (FEMA) | 51.1 | 64.0 | Hail, wind, flood and hurricane exposure drive comprehensive claims. |
Car insurance cost by ZIP code in Modesto
Rates can change from one ZIP code to the next. Across 6 Modesto ZIP codes, our full-coverage estimate ranges from $1,455 in 95358 to $1,670 in 95355. Denser, longer-commute neighborhoods estimate higher. Click a column to sort.
| ZIP | Population | Density / sq mi | Commute | No car | Est. full / yr | vs. city |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95355 | 60,710 | 6,496 | 30.7 min | 4.8% | $1,670 | +2% |
| 95350 | 57,136 | 6,466 | 28.7 min | 7.2% | $1,645 | 0% |
| 95351 | 48,498 | 5,454 | 30.6 min | 9.1% | $1,655 | +1% |
| 95356 | 33,233 | 1,496 | 29.9 min | 5.3% | $1,540 | −6% |
| 95358 | 30,469 | 262 | 33.7 min | 2.0% | $1,455 | −12% |
| 95354 | 25,684 | 3,356 | 27.4 min | 9.5% | $1,575 | −4% |
Minimum car insurance in Modesto
Modesto drivers follow California's rules: at least 30/60/15 liability coverage. California is at-fault (tort). We estimate state-minimum coverage in Modesto at $605 a year, and $845 for 100/300/100 limits.
| Coverage | Required? | Minimum | What it pays for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | Yes | $30,000 per person / $60,000 per accident | Injuries you cause to other people |
| Property damage liability | Yes | $15,000 | Damage you cause to other vehicles and property |
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | No | — California does not require personal injury protection. | Your own medical bills and lost wages, regardless of fault |
| Uninsured motorist (UM) | No | — Insurers must offer uninsured motorist bodily injury and property damage coverage; declining it requires a signed waiver. | Your injuries when the at-fault driver has no insurance |
| Underinsured motorist (UIM) | No | — Underinsured motorist coverage is offered with uninsured motorist coverage and can be waived in writing. | The gap when the at-fault driver’s limits are too low |
| Medical payments (MedPay) | No | — Medical payments coverage is optional. | Medical bills for you and your passengers |
Income-eligible good drivers can meet the law through the California Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program at lower limits of 10/20/3.
Minimums were raised recently from 15/30/5.
Risk factors that shape Modesto premiums
Accidents
California recorded 3,876 traffic deaths, or 1.19 per 100 million vehicle miles (U.S.: 1.19), in the latest full year of federal crash data. Local crash frequency is folded into our density and commute factors.
Vehicle theft
California's vehicle theft rate is 317 per 100,000 residents (U.S.: 197). The most-stolen vehicle in the state is the Chevrolet Pickup (Full Size) (NICB). Theft losses are paid by comprehensive coverage.
Weather
FEMA rates Stanislaus County as relatively low for hail, relatively high for inland flooding and relatively low for strong wind.
Traffic & commuting
13.7% of Modesto commuters spend an hour or more getting to work, and there are 1.96 vehicles per household. 8.4% work from home — worth mentioning to insurers that offer low-mileage pricing.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Score (0–100) | Insurance impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 52.2 | Comprehensive (car); roof claims (home) | |
| Tornado | 27.8 | Comprehensive; dwelling | |
| Hurricane | — | Comprehensive; wind/hurricane deductibles (home) | |
| Inland (river) flooding | 96.0 | Comprehensive; home needs a separate flood policy | |
| Coastal flooding | — | Comprehensive; home needs a separate flood policy | |
| Strong wind | 28.3 | Comprehensive; dwelling | |
| Winter weather | 36.8 | Collision (icy roads); frozen pipes (home) |
Scores are national percentiles of FEMA's county risk (higher means more expected loss than most other U.S. counties).
Estimated car insurance in Modesto by driver profile
A clean-record driver in their 50s pays the least in our Modesto model (about $1,510 for full coverage); an 18-year-old on their own policy pays about $4,515, and a DUI pushes a 30-something to $3,040.
| Driver | Minimum | Standard | Full coverage | Full / month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teen driver (18, own policy) | $1,670 | $2,325 | $4,515 | $376 |
| Young adult (22) | $970 | $1,355 | $2,630 | $219 |
| Adult in their 30s | $605 | $845 | $1,645 | $137 |
| Adult in their 50s | $560 | $780 | $1,510 | $126 |
| Senior (72) | $680 | $945 | $1,840 | $153 |
| 30s, one at-fault accident | $880 | $1,225 | $2,380 | $198 |
| 30s, DUI on record | $1,120 | $1,565 | $3,040 | $253 |
Minimum vs. standard vs. full coverage in Modesto
| Coverage level | What it includes | Per year | Per month | Typical range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State minimum liability | Only the liability (and PIP/UM where required) limits your state mandates. No coverage for your own car. | $605 | $51 | $495–$715 |
| Standard liability (100/300/100) | Higher liability limits plus uninsured motorist coverage. Still no coverage for damage to your own car. | $845 | $70 | $695–$1,000 |
| Full coverage | Standard liability plus collision and comprehensive, typically required on a financed or leased car. | $1,645 | $137 | $1,345–$1,940 |
Estimate your premium in Modesto
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Cheap car insurance in Modesto: how to lower your rate
The cheapest policy is the one that fits your situation. These levers are priced with Modesto's own numbers:
| Change | Est. yearly savings | Good fit if… |
|---|---|---|
| Raise collision/comprehensive deductible from $500 to $1,000 | $115 | You have savings to cover a bigger out-of-pocket repair. |
| Low-mileage / usage-based pricing (under 7,500 mi) | $115 | You're among the 8.4% of Modesto workers who work from home, or you rarely drive. |
| Drop collision & comprehensive on an older car | $440 | The car is paid off and worth little more than a year of premiums. |
| Standard (100/300/100) instead of full coverage | $800 | No loan or lease requires physical-damage coverage. |
| Avoid one speeding ticket | $360 | Everyone — violations typically affect rates for three to five years. |
Also ask about bundling, good-student, paid-in-full and defensive-driving discounts, and re-shop at every renewal — the same driver can be priced very differently by different insurers. We don't recommend specific companies. Common car insurance discounts.
Comparing car insurance quotes in Modesto
- Use identical limits and deductibles on every quote — e.g. 100/300/100 liability with $1,000 deductibles — or prices aren't comparable.
- Get quotes from different channels: captive agents, independent agents who quote several insurers, and direct online insurers. There are 42 offices listed below.
- Check complaint records with the California Department of Insurance (complaint information) before you buy.
- Mention your ZIP code accurately — within Modesto, our estimates differ by up to $215 a year between neighborhoods.
Car insurance agents near Modesto, CA
We found 42 insurance offices within about 5 miles of central Modesto, from open map data. Hover over a listing to show it on the map, click it to open the address in Google Maps, or tap it on a phone to start navigation. We don't sell insurance, rate these offices or receive anything from them.
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Marsha Lynn Harris - Farmers Insurance
1003 10th St, Modesto, CA 95354 -
Danielle Lohmann - Farmers Insurance
1327 K Street, Modesto, CA 95354 -
Royal Lion Insurance
142 North 9th Street, , CA -
Freeway Insurance
1801 H St, Modesto, CA 95354 -
Verle Bartels - State Farm
1136 Tully Road, Suite 4, Modesto, CA 95350 -
Deborah Leigh Huber - Farmers Insurance
1050 N Carpenter, Modesto, CA 95351 -
Joseph Elijah Fagundes - Farmers Insurance
1429 College Ave, Modesto, CA 95350 -
Rosa Maria Godinez - Farmers Insurance
205 W Hatch Rd, Modesto, CA 95351 -
Mary Sanchez - Allstate
1620 N Carpenter Rd, Ste C20, Modesto, CA 95351 -
Allstate
CA -
Wylie Insurance
CA -
Jim Uhlenhop - State Farm
1600 Sunrise Ave, Suite 7A, Modesto, CA 95350 -
Imelda Aracely Ruiz - Farmers Insurance
1800 Tully Rd, Modesto, CA 95350 -
SaveDirect Insurance
CA -
Joshua Christopher Lail - Farmers Insurance
1508 Coffee Rd, Modesto, CA 95355 -
The Giuliano Insurance Agency Inc
1508 Coffee Rd, Ste G, Modesto, CA 95355 -
Stephanie Leigh Jacobson - Farmers Insurance
2200 Mchenry Ave, Modesto, CA 95350 -
Jeff Blizzard - State Farm
2209 Coffee Rd, Ste E, Modesto, CA 95355 -
Colleen Wallace Myrtakis - State Farm
1317 Oakdale Road, Suite 1220, Modesto, CA 95355 -
Pronto Insurance
CA -
Timothy Dean McCain - Farmers Insurance
1236 Floyd Ave, Modesto, CA 95350 -
Christina Rotondo - State Farm
3025 McHenry Avenue, Suite R, Modesto, CA 95350 -
Peter Pappas - Farmers Insurance
145 Woodrow Ave, Modesto, CA 95350 -
Maria Candelaria Melara - Farmers Insurance
2507 E Hatch Rd, Modesto, CA 95351 -
Shawn Phillips - State Farm
3340 Tully Blvd, Suite B6, Modesto, CA 95350 -
Skeet's Insurance Service Inc
2307 Oakdale Road, #400, Modesto, CA 95355 -
Gordon Arnold Little - Farmers Insurance
2307 Oakdale Rd, Modesto, CA 95355 -
Debra Webb - State Farm
1101 Standiford Ave, Suite B1, Modesto, CA 95350 -
State Farm
1532 Standiford Avenue, , CA -
Confidence Plus Insurance Services, LLC
3507 Tully Rd, Ste 20, Modesto, CA 95356 -
Silva Insurance
CA -
Freeway Insurance
1300 Sylvan Ave, Modesto, CA 95355 -
AAA Insurance
CA -
Claudia Anguiano - State Farm
1416 Mitchell Rd., Suite B, Modesto, CA 95351 -
Cost U Less Insurance
CA -
Juan Manuel Cisneros - Farmers Insurance
2445 E Whitmore Ave, Ceres, CA 95307 -
Ruby Salazar - Farmers Insurance
2600 E Whitmore Ave, Ceres, CA 95307 -
Pam Shelton Allen - State Farm
3516 Oakdale Road, Suite A, Modesto, CA 95357 -
Syed Kasafaddoza - Farmers Insurance
2937 Veneman Ave, Modesto, CA 95356 -
Freeway Insurance
2517 Mitchell Rd, Ceres, CA 95307
Map © Google. Office list: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0) - https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright; All The Places (alltheplaces.xyz), data released under the CC-0 waiver; run 2026-09-19-13-32-18. OSM license. Listings are informational and may be out of date.
Insurance cost of popular cars in Modesto
| Model | Segment | Est. full coverage / yr | vs. average car |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honda CR-V | Small SUV | $1,225 | −26% |
| Subaru Outback | Wagon | $1,205 | −27% |
| Tesla Model 3 | Midsize car | $1,785 | +9% |
| Subaru Forester | Small SUV | $1,180 | −28% |
| Honda Civic | Compact car | $1,900 | +16% |
| Toyota Corolla | Compact car | $1,760 | +7% |
| Jeep Wrangler | Midsize SUV | $1,360 | −17% |
| Mazda CX-5 | Small SUV | $1,395 | −15% |
| MINI Cooper | Subcompact car | $1,245 | −24% |
| Tesla Model Y | Midsize SUV | $1,605 | −2% |
More car insurance topics in Modesto
Car insurance in nearby California cities
- Stockton $1,670/yr · 29 mi
- Merced $1,600/yr · 37 mi
- Antioch $1,795/yr · 49 mi
- San Jose $1,610/yr · 50 mi
- Fremont $1,600/yr · 52 mi
- Santa Clara $1,565/yr · 56 mi
- Elk Grove $1,635/yr · 58 mi
- Sunnyvale $1,570/yr · 59 mi
- Concord $1,660/yr · 59 mi
- Hayward $1,640/yr · 60 mi
- Oakland $1,680/yr · 67 mi
- Sacramento $1,575/yr · 69 mi
All California cities and state rules · Homeowners insurance in Modesto
Frequently asked questions
How much is car insurance in Modesto, CA?
We estimate full coverage in Modesto at about $1,645 a year ($137 a month) for a driver in their 30s with a clean record, and about $605 for California's minimum liability coverage. Real quotes vary by insurer, driver and vehicle.
Why is car insurance in Modesto more expensive than the California average?
Our Modesto estimate is 6% higher than the statewide figure. The model reflects a population density of 5,088 people per square mile (the typical California resident lives at about 2,278) and an average commute of 30.2 minutes versus 28.7 statewide. Denser traffic and longer drives mean more claims, which insurers price into local rates.
What car insurance is required in Modesto?
Drivers in Modesto follow California law: at least 30/60/15 liability coverage.
Which ZIP code in Modesto has the cheapest car insurance?
Among Modesto's 6 ZIP codes, 95358 has the lowest estimate (about $1,455 a year for full coverage) and 95355 the highest (about $1,670), mainly because of differences in density and commute times.
How much is car insurance for a teenager in Modesto?
An 18-year-old with their own full-coverage policy would pay around $4,515 a year in Modesto by our estimate ($1,670 for minimum coverage). Adding a teen to a parent's policy is usually cheaper.
Does weather affect car insurance in Modesto?
Yes. FEMA's National Risk Index rates Stanislaus County for inland (river) flooding (relatively high) risk. Weather mainly affects the comprehensive part of a policy, which pays for hail, flood and wind damage.
Are there car insurance agents near me in Modesto?
We list 42 insurance offices in and around Modesto, with addresses, phone numbers where published, and directions. We don't sell insurance or rank these offices.
How we estimate this
We start from the state's average liability, collision and comprehensive premiums published by the NAIC, then apply a location factor (population density and commute time from the Census ACS, weather hazard scores from FEMA's National Risk Index), a vehicle factor (HLDI insurance-loss data where available, otherwise vehicle segment), and a driver-profile multiplier. Results are rounded ranges for comparison, not quotes. Read the full methodology.
- California DMV: Auto Insurance Requirements
- California Department of Insurance: Automobile Insurance guide
- California DMV: Financial Responsibility (Insurance)
- California Department of Insurance: Compare Insurance Premiums
- California Department of Insurance: File a Complaint
- NAIC 2022/2023 Auto Insurance Database Report
- NAIC Homeowners Insurance Report: Data for 2023
- Insurance Research Council uninsured motorist estimates (via Triple-I)
- IIHS Fatality Facts: state by state
- FBI Crime Data Explorer: Crime in the United States 2025 (Table 4)
- NICB 2022 Vehicle Theft Data: top 10 stolen vehicles by state
- FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, Table DL-1C (licensed drivers)
- FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, Table MV-1 (registrations)
- FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, Table VM-2 (vehicle-miles traveled)
- U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2024 population estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (Modesto and ZIP code tabulation areas)
- U.S. Census Bureau population estimates and Gazetteer files
- FEMA National Risk Index (county hazard ratings)
- Insurance office locations: OpenStreetMap contributors and All The Places