Los Angeles Car Insurance [Costs and Companies]

Los Angeles, also known as “The City of Angels,” is the most populous city in the state of California and the second-most populous city in the entire United States. Rich in culture and thriving in entertainment, business, and innovation, Los Angeles is the epicenter of creativity and opportunity.

For anyone who wants to get around Los Angeles, having affordable car insurance is a must.  Thankfully, learning about the best Los Angeles car insurance doesn’t have to be difficult.

In this comprehensive car insurance guide, we’ll talk about LA auto insurance coverage, affordable rates, and how rates are affected by certain conditions.

We’ll also dive deeper and take a look at roadways and laws to give you an overarching view of driving in Los Angeles. So whether you’re a local, someone looking to relocate, or simply planning to drive through the city, you’ll want to read this before you step out on the roads again in the beautiful City of Angels.

To learn more, all you need to do is keep reading. But if you’re ready to begin comparing car insurance rates in Los Angeles now, enter your ZIP Code in our free quote comparison tool.

Let’s get to it.

The Cost of Car Insurance in Los Angeles

Naturally, as a driver in LA, you have probably asked yourself this question: What is the average car insurance cost in Los Angeles?

According to Quadrant data, Los Angeles drivers pay on average $453.66 a month, or $5,443.97 a year.

Keep in mind, what one driver pays will differ from one to the other. This is due to a variety of factors, ranging from ZIP code, driving record, coverage level, and more.

Before we get to that, it’s also important to keep in mind that LA drivers will be expected to have car insurance coverage that lines up with the states’ minimum requirements. When it comes to how much car insurance you need, here’s what you need to know:

The minimum requirement for bodily injury liability is $15,000 per person/ $30,000 per accident. The minimum requirement for property damage liability is $5,000 per accident.

Now that we’ve covered those basics, let’s take a closer look at what factors can make your rates higher or lower.

Male vs Female vs Age

Your age and gender are two critical components that will be used to determine your Los Angeles car insurance rates.

Don’t worry. That doesn’t mean you won’t be able to find great deals. Knowing these factors, however, will better prepare you when you’re choosing an insurer.

Looking at the table below, one can see how your age and gender could determine your coverage rates in Los Angeles, CA.

According to a study done by DataUSA, the median age for individuals living in Los Angeles is 35.8.  Thus, more residents living in The City of Angels don’t have to worry about the higher cost that usually accompanies younger individuals, who tend to pay higher rates.

Not surprising, but the cheaper rates go to 60-year-old drivers; this supports the theory that older drivers are less of a liability as they tend to drive less.

Overall, there’s nearly a $7,000 difference between the highest and lowest rate; seeing the disparity between that, teen drivers and senior drivers, proves that companies in Los Angeles, CA, factor in age when establishing rates.

But what about your age and gender?

The data table above displays the variance between age, gender, and even marital status of individuals living in Los Angeles, CA.

As you can see, except for the married 35-year-old demographic, females tend to pay less for their annual rates.

It’s important to note that in 2019, California passed a law that outlaws gender discrimination by insurance companies.

Ricardo Lara, the current state insurance commissioner for California also shared his views on the matter.

Gender, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation are beyond your control, and it is not a fair or even an effective way to predict risk.

So while age is now a primary factor and still has an effect on individuals living in Los Angeles, drivers are now catching a break when it comes to gender affecting their insurance rates.

Cheapest ZIP Codes for Car Insurance in Los Angeles

Where you live could also affect the amount you pay out for Los Angeles car insurance. For instance, living in areas with high crime rates, and areas prone to natural disasters could spike up costs.

Below is a table for rates by zip code in Los Angeles, CA.

Let’s take a look.

The cheapest area in the Los Angeles region is the San Pedro area.

The area with the most expensive rates is the area south of Central Los Angeles, surrounding Koreatown and Brookside. Again, Koreatown is known for its extensive crime rates, which is why rates in the area could be higher.

What’s the best car insurance company in Los Angeles?

Factors like age and location aren’t the only component that car insurance companies utilize to determine your rates.

If you are looking to make a switch, or curious about what these insurance companies are up to, you don’t want to miss these other factors that could affect your car insurance premiums.

We’ll take a look at the cheapest car insurance company rates to find the best auto insurance in Los Angeles.

Cheapest Car Insurance Rates by Company

This table displays the cheapest rates for car insurance in Los Angeles, CA, by company.

According to the data, USAA offers the cheapest car insurance in California (this insurance, however, is strictly for military members and their families.)

The runner-up, in this case, would be Geico car insurance. Farmers, on the other hand, had the highest rates, with single 17-year-old males estimated at $20,810.33.

When looking for insurance, finding the company that offers the cheapest rates is often what brings many to ease.

It is worthy to note that just because a company is cheaper, doesn’t mean they offer the best coverage for your particular circumstance. For instance, married 60-year-olds at Geico have a cheaper rate than those at USAA, though USAA has the cheapest rates overall out of the bunch.

Best Car Insurance for Commute Rates

Does it take you a long time to get to work? Or is your commute time on the shorter side? Some companies actually penalize drivers for commuting longer distances, while in some cases, longer commuters have no effect on rates.

Let’s take a look at the chart (keep in mind that the average miles driven per licensed driver in California is approximately 13,414 miles per year).

As you can see, all companies listed bump their rates up when it comes to individuals having longer commutes in LA.

Again, USAA and Geico had the lowest increase with $558.17 and $740.08, respectively. Nationwide and Allstate displayed the highest increase with $1,702.14 and $1,372.05, respectively.

Drivers in California tend to drive more than 12,000 miles a year; thus, they would fall in the longer commute group and would benefit from looking at the lowest increase in rates.

Best Car Insurance for Coverage Level Rates

Accidents happen. As a result, it can, at times, make sense to take extra measures to ensure the best coverage. This can really come in handy if you face injuries and need to supplement your LA medical insurance with car insurance coverage.

Let’s take a look at the chart below to see the various coverage levels by companies for drivers in Los Angeles.

Allstate and Farmers were among those companies that had the lowest rate change if you wanted to get yourself extra coverage without hurting your pockets too much.

Geico and Nationwide had the highest rate change percentage-wise.

Keep in mind that though the rate change may be smaller, like in the case of Allstate and Farmers, you might be paying more overall. For instance, USAA has a rate change of 19.38 percent, but compared to Geico and Nationwide is, on average, much cheaper.

Best Car Insurance for Credit History Rates

The state of your credit score could also affect having cheap car insurance in Los Angeles.

Some states forbid insurers from using your credit history as a factor when determining rates — California is one of them.

In fact, it is illegal for insurers to utilize credit scores when establishing rates in the state of California.

Best Car Insurance for Driving Record Rates

It is very common knowledge that one’s driving record could affect the amount you pay in premiums as well. This data table highlights how one’s rates could go up or down based on the history of your driving.

Take a look.

Accidents are bound to happen, especially in busy and congested cities like Los Angeles. If you haven’t been in an accident, you probably know someone who has.

Keep that in mind as we break down the data from this table a bit.

Companies like State Farm and USAA are more forgiving when one is involved in a motor vehicle collision. Travelers and Allstate, for example, increase their prices the most when it comes to having a collision.

While safety is the biggest payoff for having a cleaner record, it is also worthy to note that driving safely could cost you less financially as well when it comes to the money you pay out of pocket for your car insurance rates.

Safety is always first.

Car Insurance Factors in Los Angeles

In addition to factors like your age, commute length, credit score, and driving record, there are some other surprising influences that will affect how much you pay in premiums each month.

Metro Report — Growth and Prosperity

The Brookings Institute’s annual Metro Monitor Report indicates the economic performance of the 100 largest metropolitan regions in the U.S. According to the report, The City of Angels ranks 54th in growth and 13th in prosperity nationwide.

Check out the details for growth in Los Angeles.

Below are details for prosperity in LA.

Median Household Income

First, let’s take a closer look at the median household income in Los Angeles, California, as compared to the average cost of auto insurance in the city. In 2017, households in Los Angeles, CA, had a median annual income of $60,197. This displays an increase of 10.6 percent from the previous year when the median income was $54,432 in 2016.

Let’s break these numbers down in terms of auto insurance premiums (remember, the average cost of auto insurance in Los Angeles is $5,443.97).

 This means that residents are paying approximately 9.04 percent of their yearly income to cover the cost of auto insurance premiums.

Feel free to use the calculator below to see how much of your current annual income is being eaten up by your yearly auto insurance rates.

Homeownership in Los Angeles

Individuals sometimes look over the fact that homeownership is a factor when determining insurance rates as well.

When you own your own home, you are seen as less than a liability, which could work out in your favor and cut costs.

In 2017, 36.6 percent of the housing units in Los Angeles, CA, were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year’s rate of 35.9 percent

This percentage, however, is lower than the national average of 63.9 percent. This is likely a reflection of the costs of homes and LA home insurance.

And just how does Los Angeles fare when it comes to neighboring areas?

Los Angeles, CA, has a noticeably lower owner-occupation rate than Orange County and San Bernardino County.

Furthermore, as of Data USA’s most recent 2017 study, the median property value in Los Angeles, CA, grew to $647,000 from the previous year’s value of $593,500.

Education in Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA, is home to a number of accredited universities and community colleges.

In 2016, universities in Los Angeles, CA, awarded 75,386 degrees.

In 2016, 31,441 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Los Angeles, CA, which is 0.715 times less than the 43,945 female students who received degrees in the same year.

The largest universities in the city by the number of degrees conferred are as follows:

• University of Southern California (USC), with 15,664 degrees awarded degrees awarded
• University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA), with 12,961 degrees awarded
• California State University-Northridge, with 9,890 degrees awarded

Furthermore, in the same year, the top three majors in Los Angeles in terms of popularity were General Business Administration & Management (2,797 degrees awarded), General Psychology (1,981 degrees awarded), and Sociology (1,804 degrees awarded).

Los Angeles also offers an array of community colleges. With over 60 accredited colleges in the area, individuals have a wide array of subjects to choose from.

Wage by Race & Ethnicity in Common Jobs

Components like race and ethnicity can altogether affect laborers’ wages for common jobs.

In 2017 the highest paid race/ethnicity of California workers was Asian at $69,782.

These workers were paid 1.11 times more than White workers, who made the second highest salary of any race/ethnicity at $63,110.

Individuals of two of more races proceeding White workers for salary earned during that year at $51,776.

Remembering that the average annual premium for Los Angelenos is $5443.97, this means that the following premiums for these individuals were:

• Asian: 7.8 percent
• White: 8.6 percent
• Two or more races: 10.51 percent

Wage by Gender in Common Jobs

Again, wages can significantly impact workers’ wages for common jobs, which could affect their pockets when paying for car insurance.

According to DataUSA, in 2017, full-time male employees in California made 1.26 times more than female employees. Furthermore, in 2017, the average male salary in the city was $75,050, while the average female salary was $59,658.

When you factor in the average cost of auto insurance in Los Angeles at $5,443.97, this means that men are paying 7.25 percent of their income to cover premiums while women are paying 9.13 percent of their salary for car insurance.

Interesting, right?

Poverty by Age and Gender

While Los Angeles is often romanticized as the place where dreams come true, for many, that is not the case. Take Skid Row, for instance, a neighborhood in downtown Los Angeles containing thousands of homeless individuals.

Age and gender can now and then impact and wind up costing you more significant expenses for vehicle protection, even with protective measures put in place but the California Department of Insurance.

The largest demographic living in poverty are females, 25-34. This is followed by females, 18-24. Lastly, females 35-44 are the third demographic living in poverty in Los Angeles, CA.

Furthermore, 20.4 percent of the population for those in a state of poverty in Los Angeles, CA (790k out of 3.88M), live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 13.4 percent.

Poverty by Race and Ethnicity

You know now how race and ethnicity can affect wages and how much of your income could be eaten up by insurance premiums.

The Census Bureau utilizes a set of money income thresholds that fluctuate by family size and composition to establish who characterizes as “impoverished.”

In the event that a family’s total income measures to be less than the family’s threshold, it is concluded that that family and each individual member is to be considered living in neediness.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Los Angeles, CA, is Hispanic (491,448).

This was followed by White (353,34) and lastly, Other (247,947).

Employment by Occupations

Los Angeles is a leader in my industries, including healthcare, industry jobs, and construction.

If either of these industries doesn’t appease you, no need to worry.

According to DataUSA, most individuals living in The City of Angels had Office & Administrative Support Occupations (649,173 people).

This was followed by Sales & Related Occupations (521,610 people), which was followed by Management Occupations (496,987 people).

Driving in Los Angeles

Whether you’re a local Los Angelenos who are familiar with the roadways in the city or someone planning a visit, this section is for you.

We’ve taken the liberty of compiling data from various sources, including interstate guides and reports, to bring you information that will give you an all-around informed driving experience.

Roads in Los Angeles

So you’re on the road in Los Angeles. Perhaps you are driving through the polished streets of Rodeo, or passing through a bustling downtown.

Here’s what you need to know about major highways in your area, popular road trip sites for your next adventure weekend, road conditions, and more.

Major Highways in Los Angeles

Those active routes are:

• I-5, I-8, I-10, I-15, I-40, I-80
• I-105, I-205, I-305, I-405, I-505, I-605, I-805, I-905, I-110, I-210, I-710, I-215, I-238, I-280, I-380, I-580, I-680, I-780, I-880, I-980

Some of the Los Angeles freeways have toll lanes, but they can be easily ignored with GoogleMaps or Wayz.

If you are passing through tolls regularly in Los Angeles, however, you most likely have a FasTrak. FasTrak is a toll monitoring used on tollways in California that allow drivers to drive through designated “FasTrak Only” lanes without stopping.

To get a FasTrak, individuals must start by selecting a plan.

Qualifying people in Los Angeles County will get a rebate of a one-time $25 credit when they set up their account (confirmation of qualification required).

This credit would then be able to be applied to either the transponder deposit or prepaid toll deposit. The $1 monthly expense will be deferred.

To qualify for the Low-Income Assistance Plan, you must be an LA County resident and have an annual household income equal to or less than these household incomes.

Popular Road Trips/Sites

Los Angeles is home to some of the most famous attractions and sites in the world. Whether you’re visiting the Griffith Observatory, walking along the Hollywood Walk of Fame, taking in a fast-paced professional sporting event at the Staples Center, or relaxing at the beaches of Santa Monica —there is a lot to see and enjoy.

Road Conditions in Los Angeles

Though Los Angeles is one of the top cities in the nation, the city is full of roads in bad conditions. This is important because it may affect the wear and tear on your vehicle and ultimately spike up repair costs.

Furthermore, a study by the National Transportation Research Group recorded the pavement conditions and extra vehicle operating costs in a variety of urban areas with populations of 500,000 individuals or more.

Los Angeles was included in this study, with the following stats revealed:

• Poor share: 57 percent
• Mediocre share: 22 percent
• Fair: 11 percent
• Good: 10 percent
• VOC: $921

So be sure to keep great maintenance on your vehicle as a preventative measure to combat bad roads in Los Angeles.

Does Los Angeles use speeding or red-light cameras?

Red-light cameras have been up for debate since they began to surface. Opposing views tend to believe that speed light cameras only benefit the government who makes tons of revenue. However, those in favor believe it could make the roads a bit safer.

Los Angeles City has also struggled with speed-light legislation in the past, though it hopes to find a solution.

Vehicles in Los Angeles

Most cities have unique and interesting trends for vehicle ownership, and Los Angeles is no exception.

Let’s take a look at the average number of vehicles per household in Los Angeles, California along with important data like speed traps and vehicle theft rates.

Most Popular Vehicles Owned

While some people prefer energy-efficient cars, other drivers are more concerned that their cars have a powerful engine.

That being said, the most popular vehicle owned in Los Angeles, CA, is the Mitsubishi Montero.

The Montero has a legitimate racing pedigree, rock-solid off-road chops, a raft of unique and interesting features, and right now you can pick one up for next to nothing.

Affordable yet savvy, we can see why Los Angelenos love this car. It can be driven on the street and taken on long road trips like to Vegas or San Diego. This shows that people in LA are an adventurous bunch as well, who like to be frugal.

How many cars per household?

So just how many cars does Los Angelenos own? The largest share of households in Los Angeles, CA, according to DataUSA,  have two cars, followed by one.

Households Without a Car

Even though many Los Angelelenos own a car, there are some households that do not.

The data below from 2015 and 2016 shows the percentage of households in the city that rely on transportation options other than their own vehicles.

As you can see, the percentage of households without vehicles slightly increased between 2015 and 2016, as well as the number of vehicles.

Speed Traps in Los Angeles

Speed traps are instances where law enforcement conceals their car, all the while tracking drivers’ speeds through the use of radar guns.

There are several cities in Los Angeles County that are more susceptible to speed traps. They are the following:

• 4th–Hacinda Heights, four-speed traps
• 8th–Burbank, two-speed traps
• 10th–Montebello, two-speed traps

Vehicle Theft in Los Angeles

Have you ever wondered how safe your vehicle is in The City of Angels? Well, the FBI’s 2018 Crime in the U.S. Report revealed that there were a whopping 17,316 motor vehicle thefts in Los Angeles City in that year alone.

Neighborhood Scout has indicated that the following neighborhoods are the safest areas in the city that residents should consider:

1. Palisades Dr / Ave De Santa Ynez
2. Victory Blvd / Balboa Blvd
3. Topanga Canyon Blvd / S Topanga Canyon Blvd
4. Riviera
5. Sesnon Blvd / Tuscan Dr
6. Sesnon Blvd / Crystal Ridge Ln
7. Valley Circle Blvd / Stagg St
8. Castellammare
9. W Sunset Blvd / N Kenter Ave
10. Pacific Coast Hwy / Entrada Dr

According to Neighborhood Scout, your chance of becoming a victim is one of out 132. This is relatively low compared to the chances of becoming a victim in the state, which is one out of 224.

Neighborhood Scout also reported that Los Angeles, California is safer than 12 percent of U.S. cities, rating it number 12 in the crime index (with 100 being the safest).

The table below reveals the incidents of violent crime in Los Angeles, California alone.

Below are the annual number of crimes in Los Angeles, CA, reported in 2017.

Even in the City of Angels, Crime is real and prevalent.

Traffic in Los Angeles

One of the worst things that occur while on the road is getting stuck in traffic.

Read on or a closer look at the average commute time residents face daily, transportation statistics, data on road safety, and so much more in Los Angeles, CA.

Traffic Congestion

Los Angeles is infamous for its traffic congestion. But just how bad is it? Below are the statistics that INRIX found regarding the City of Angels.

So the speculation is not false. Traffic congestion in LA is among the worst in the world.

Transportation

On average, employees in Los Angeles, CA, have a longer commute time (29.8 minutes) than the normal US worker (25.5 minutes).

Additionally, 3.43 percent of the workforce in Los Angeles, CA, have “super commutes” in excess of 90 minutes. In 2017, the most common method of travel for workers in Los Angeles, CA, was those who drove alone (69.7 percent).

This was followed by those who carpooled (9.11 percent) and those who took public transit (8.94 percent).

Busiest Highways

If you live in Los Angeles, it’s probably no surprise that traveling can get a bit tricky, depending on where you’re going.

Then it should come to no surprise that freeways like the 405 made a list for the busiest highways in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana area.

Here’s a complete list of the busiest highways in Los Angeles.

• I-405, 14 lanes
• I-5, 12 lanes
• I-91, 12 lanes
• I-110, 12 lanes

How safe are Los Angeles streets and roads?

Given that we learned about the key crime stats in the city of Los Angeles, we’ll now look at the road dangers on Los Angeles’ streets and roads.

The table below reveals the total fatal crashes in Los Angeles County in 2018, according to data provided by The National Highway Traffic Administration.

All crash types showed a decline from 2017-2018; perhaps the tougher driving legislation had something to do with these results.

Moving on, the following table reveals additional data released by NHTSA regarding Los Angeles highways with the highest incidence of crash fatalities.

As you can see, there were 498 freeway and expressway fatalities in 2018 on California roadways, while urban roads had more fatalities than rural areas.

Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report

Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report helps identify which of the 200 largest U.S. cities have the safest drivers.

According to the report, Los Angeles is listed as the 195th-safest city to drive in 2018.

On average, residents of the City of Angels also went around 5.5 years between filing each claim, an 81.40 percent possibility of filing compared to the national average.

Ridesharing

With its infamous attractions and sights to see, Los Angeles is one of the most popular places in the world to visit. And traveling throughout the city is easy, thanks to the ridesharing services available.

Here is a list of ridesharing operations currently operating within the city according to Rideguru.com:

• Uber
• Lyft
• Taxi
• Curb
• Ride Yellow
• Uber Select
• Lyft Premier
• Uber Black
• Lyft Lux
• Carmel DX
• Carmel LX
• Carmel
• HopSkipDrive
• Zum

EStar Repair Shops

Accidents do happen. And unfortunately, living in a congested city can make you prone to more incidents than others.

If you live in Los Angeles and find yourself in this predicament, don’t panic. Esurance created E-star to assist individuals with car damage to find reputable shops in their network of over 1,400 facilities.

Check out the top 10 repair shops in Los Angeles (Central LA) below if you were recently involved in a collision.

Weather in Los Angeles

Sunny weather year-round, with little precipitation each year, sounds too good to be true right?

Well not for residents living in Los Angeles.

While there might be occasional heavy rainfall due to storms, it doesn’t stick around very often, making it an ideal place to be. On the flip side, this kind of climate may get too warm for comfort, be too arid for some, and may make it difficult for residents to sustain their yards, gardens, and even lawn care businesses. But for most, getting to avoid the hassles that come with winter seasons is the reward.

U.S. Climate Data releases studies regarding average temperatures nationwide by city.

Here are the average temperatures for Los Angeles, California:

• Annual High Temperature — 71.7 F
• Annual Low Temperature — 55.9 F
• Average Temperature — 63.8 F
• Average Sunshine — unavailable
• Average Annual Precipitation
  • Rainfall– 18.67 inch
  • Snowfall–unavailable

While the city may be prone to beautiful weather, it is also prone to natural disasters, just like any other region.

In fact, close to 10,000 earthquakes occur unfelt each year in the California region alone. And Los Angeles is no stranger to earthquakes.

The number of natural disasters in Los Angeles (52) is greater than the U.S. average (13).

LA is subject to fires, floods, storms, landslides, winter storms, mudslides, earthquakes, freezing, heavy rain, hurricanes, snow, tornados, and wind.

Even in a golden area like Los Angeles, it may be best to look at additional coverage to protect your vehicle.

Public Transit in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is home to one of the country’s most major public transportation networks. Subways, light rail, buses, and shuttles stretch out to nearly every corner of the Greater Los Angeles area.

Contrary to popular belief, it is getting easier to discover the Los Angles area, and its unique neighborhoods, without a car.

If you’re looking for a base fare of transit rates, then you’re looking at approximately $1.75. In addition to a single-ride fare, options include the Metro Day Pass ($7) and the 7-Day Pass ($25). The monthly 30-day pass is $100, and for low-income individuals, the monthly pass is only $76.

On the Metro Rail and the Metro Orange Line, single-ride fares, passes, and stored values must be loaded on a Metro TAP card. TAP is a plastic card that you can repeatedly.

You can buy and add value to a reusable TAP card from TAP vending machines located at Metro Rail or Metro Orange Line stations. The TAP card allows you to add money and/or choose from a daily, weekly, or monthly pass to add to your card. Buying a pass is often less expensive than the base fare price per ride.

Seniors (62+) and those with disabilities receive up to 80 percent discounted fares. Students (K-12) and those in college/vocational school are discounted as well.

To get started, the Metro Trip Planner is a great tool to use when planning your way around the City of Angels. The tool generates detailed instructions on how to get to and from your destination.

And if you’re on the go around the city, you can download the Go Metro Los Angeles mobile app.

LA Mobile is also a useful tool, making it convenient for riders to purchase, store, and utilize fares. LA real-time information and trip planning tools are featured within the app and available for both android and iPhones.

Regular fare options for both DASH and Commuter Express services are available on LA Mobile as well.

Cost of Alternate Transportation in Los Angeles

If you’re in the city, you may have seen individuals zooming past on bicycles or scooters. These alternative forms of transportation get people where they need to go without all the car-hassles, like parking and bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Lime-E is a bike program that allows individuals to cruise throughout the city and experience a personal and intimate experience.

Lime-S are electric scooters that get you around town as well.

Lime is serviced in these areas in the Greater Los Angeles region:

• Culver City
• Long Beach
• Los Angeles
• Santa Monica

Bird is also a scooter-rental service. It services the same areas as well.

So whether you’re looking for an intimate night on the town, or looking to do some exploring in the daylight, these alternative modes of transportation will allow you to partake on your next Los Angeles adventure.

Parking in Los Angeles

Parking in major cities in Los Angeles can be a hassle, but it doesn’t need to be if you know where to go.

LADOT, a division of the Bureau of Parking Management, lists several types of metered parking in the city of Los Angeles.

Single Space Meters

• Coin Payment: simply insert nickels, dimes, quarters, and half dollars.
• Credit Card Payment: insert card, add or subtract time, retrieve a ticket

Multi-Space Meters

• On-Street Multi-Space Meter
  • Coin Payment: simply insert nickels, dimes, quarters, and half dollars.
  • Card Payment: Enter space number, add or subtract time, insert payment into the card slot, wait for confirmation to appear before heading off.
• Off-Street Muli-Space Meter
  • Coin Payment: Enter space number. Enter coins.
  • Card Payment: Enter space number, enter card, add or subtract time, wait until the confirmation message appears.

Furthermore, many online parking reservation services have surfaced over the years to help make it easier to avoid the hassle of finding a spot.

Take Spot Hero, for example, a parking reservation company that helps drivers reserve parking with garages and lots at a discounted rate.

Spot Angeles also services Los Angeles, showing rates for as little as $0.01 in places like Chinatown.

Los Angeles has approximately 40,000 on-street and off-street public metered parking spaces. The city also offers its own parking locator, making it easy for residents and visitors to know where to secure a space.

And what about space for charging electric vehicles?

California leads the nation with 18,000 charging stations for electric vehicles, and 1,818 of those charging stations belong to the city of Los Angeles.

Only 7 percent are fast chargers, and many of those are available to Tesla owners only.

You can download the ChargeHub mobile app to get started on locating your next charging station.

Parking decks, like any major city, also accompany Los Angeles. LADOT boasts 118 public parking facilities throughout the City of Los Angeles with more than 11,500 parking spaces.

Still, with all of these helpful resources, parking in certain places in Los Angeles is still a major problem the city faces.

Air Quality in Los Angeles

While things such as fires and global warming have an impact on air quality in Southern California, vehicles can still contribute to bad air quality, though not as much as in previous years.

The following table reveals the air quality in the Los Angeles area, based on data drawn from the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2016, 2017, and 2018 reports.

Los Angeles had more days spent in the moderate category than in any other type. These days still pose a potential health risk, though acceptable on general terms.

Military and Veterans in Los Angeles

If you are currently in active service or previously served in the military, you could be eligible for auto insurance discounts in Los Angeles.

Keep scrolling for everything from a breakdown of veteran stats in the city by service period to the top providers that offer discounts to veterans and members of the military.

Veterans by Service Period

Los Angeles, CA, has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.82 times greater than any other conflict.

As of 2017, approximately 27,880 of the veterans living in the City of Angels served in the Vietnam war, while 15,343 individuals served in the second Gulf War. Lastly, 10,948 individuals served in the war in the first Gulf War.

Military Bases within an Hour

There are a couple of military bases within about an hour of the city (keep in mind that the city borders the Pacific Ocean).

Los Angeles Air Force Base and Naval Base Ventura County (depending on traffic) are all an hour within Los Angeles.

Military Discounts by Provider

Veterans in Los Angeles can find the best military car insurance discounts with the following providers:

• Allstate
• Esurance–LA only
• Farmers
• Geico–active or retired
• Liberty Mutual
• Metlife
• Liberty Mutual–must be active duty
• Safe Auto–in LA only, must be active duty
• Safeco–active and retired
• StateFarm–only in select states
• The General–LA only
• USAA–you, your spouse, or your parents must be active or retired military to get USAA auto insurance

USAA Available in State

USAA is explicitly accessible to U.S. military workforce and their families. Through the following table, one can perceive the amount you can spare with USAA, contrasting the insurer’s rates with its opposition and the state average (that is, $3,688.93).

Looking at the data, USAA, which comes in at $995.06 below the state average, beats out its competitors with the most affordable car insurance rates.

Unique Los Angeles Laws

The scenic beaches and unique neighborhoods that make up Los Angeles are a sight to see. It is important, however, that you know the rules and laws of the city, and parking laws, whether you’re a local or someone visiting out of town.

Los Angeles’ laws are very telling of its unique persona. For instance, it is illegal to hunt for moths under a streetlight. Strange, right?

But in recent years, the state of California has passed more serious laws that Los Angeles is no exception to. Like prohibiting Canibus usage while driving, which could add detrimental points to your driving record.

Furthermore, in 2017, California passed a hand’s free law that prohibits you from holding your cellphone in hand while driving.

Food Trucks

The food truck trend in Los Angeles was birthed in 2008. And while popular trends like DoorDash and PostMates have offered individuals a newer way of ordering food, there are still some hot spots that create style, experience, and most importantly, flavor.

But what are the requirements for food trucks? Before you obtain your license, you must register your business.

Here are some additional requirements:

• California law requires that all mobile food vendors rent space from a food facility, known as a commissary, to park your vehicle when not in use — you may not park your vehicle in your driveway.
• All equipment in the truck must be certified by an American National Standard Institute (ANSI) accredited certification program
• You must obey all posted parking restrictions, including restrictions on stopping, loading, and parking from either posted signs or painted curbs
• If you want to operate in one location for more than an hour, you must have access to a bathroom within 200 ft travel distance of where you’ll be doing business
• You can only serve customers on the sidewalk side of your vehicle (not roadside)
• You must have a clearly marked trash can outside your food truck

From Hollywood to Downtown, and Venice to Santa Monica, be sure to ensure your food truck.

Tiny Homes

The ability to build a tiny home depends on the jurisdiction and zoning area. Good news for Los Angelenos, it is legal to build a small or tiny house on foundations in the city as long as zoning and building code requirements are met.

Frequently Asked Questions: Los Angeles Car Insurance

Now that you’re an expert on car insurance in Los Angeles, we’ve taken the liberty of answering some commonly asked questions about the city.

#1 – How much is car insurance per month in LA?

According to our partners with Quadrant, Los Angeles drivers pay an average of $453.66 a month in car insurance costs.

#2 – Why is car insurance so expensive in LA?

As we mentioned earlier, where you live plays a huge role in how much your car insurance costs. Urban areas with higher populations and more crime tend to have higher car insurance rates. As a result, a number of Los Angeles communities will see higher car insurance costs.

#3 – Is LA car insurance higher?

When comparing LA to the rest of the nation, yes, the average rates of car insurance are higher. However, a number of factors and strategies can lead to lower rates, including your past driving record, where you live, and the amount of overage you choose to purchase for your car.

#4 – Will/can Los Angeles burn?

California is hot, dry, and windy. Those conditions alone are enough to continue the saga of fires has glazed over California in recent waves.

According to VOX, manmade climate change and urban areas are a sweet recipe for California wildfire as well.

#5 – Can I tour Los Angeles without a car?

The streets of the Greater Los Angeles Area are filled with subways, light rail, buses, and shuttles.

The Metro Trip Planner is a great resource to use when planning your way around the City of Angels. Again, this tool generates detailed instructions on how to get to and from your destination in Los Angeles.

And if you’re already on the go around the city, you can download the Go Metro Los Angeles mobile app, which includes real-time schedules, offline maps, and more.

There you have it: you now have the ins and outs of Los Angeles car insurance. Now, you’re ready to get behind the wheel and drive into more affordable rates and the best coverage for your needs.

Now it’s time to secure the best Los Angeles car insurance rates. Start now by entering your ZIP code into our free car insurance comparison tool.

 

References:

1. https://www.brookings.edu/
2. https://www.nhtsa.gov/
3. https://www.epa.gov/