For a 40-year-old driver with a clean record, car insurance across all five ZIP codes we price in Humboldt County, including Eureka, Arcata and Fortuna, averages about $254 a month ($3,042 a year) for full coverage, based on the rates insurers had filed with state regulators as of Aug. 31, 2026. That’s 23% below the California average of $332 a month. CSAA and GEICO are effectively tied for the lowest full-coverage average of the five major insurers we compared (Allstate, CSAA, Farmers, GEICO and State Farm), at about $172 and $173 a month.
Eureka, the Humboldt County seat, averages about $264 a month across its two ZIP codes, Fortuna about $253, McKinleyville $246 and Arcata $240, the least expensive of the four.
Fortuna, about 14 miles south of Eureka, costs about $11 a month less than Eureka for our benchmark driver, and Arcata, about six miles northeast, about $24 less.
Cost data comes from the auto rates insurers file with state regulators, priced across all five Humboldt County ZIP codes in our data, compiled by Quadrant Information Services and updated as new rates are filed.
Rates as of Aug. 31, 2026. Page reviewed Oct. 7, 2026.
How Much Is Car Insurance in Eureka–Arcata–Fortuna, CA?
Full coverage in Eureka–Arcata–Fortuna averages $3,042 a year, or about $254 a month, for our benchmark driver. Liability-only coverage at 15/30/5 limits averages $971 a year ($81 a month), and 50/100/50 liability with comprehensive and collision averages $2,867 ($239 a month).
- Full coverage (100/300/100, $500 deductibles): $3,042 a year ($254 a month)
- 50/100/50 with $500 deductibles: $2,867 a year ($239 a month)
- Liability only (15/30/5): $971 a year ($81 a month)
- Eureka: $3,173 a year ($264 a month) for full coverage
- Arcata: $2,876 a year ($240 a month) for full coverage
- Fortuna: $3,041 a year ($253 a month) for full coverage
- California average: $3,979 a year ($332 a month) for full coverage
- ZIP code range: $240 (95521) to $265 (95503) a month for full coverage
Cheap Car Insurance in Eureka–Arcata–Fortuna: Companies Compared
- Lowest averages in our data, full coverage: CSAA (AAA Northern California) and GEICO, effectively tied at about $172 and $173 a month.
- Next lowest among the five major insurers we compared: State Farm at $255, then Allstate at $318.
- Lowest liability-only average in our data (15/30/5): CSAA, at about $38 a month, then GEICO at $40.
- Also on our list: USAA at about $174 a month, Mercury at $200, Progressive at $204, Travelers at $272 and Nationwide at $282 (USAA sells only to military families).
- Most expensive in our data: Farmers, at about $350 a month, $2,136 a year more than CSAA for the same driver and car.
CSAA and GEICO are effectively tied for the lowest full-coverage average among the five insurers in our Eureka–Arcata–Fortuna rate data. Statewide, five of the eight published 2026 California rate studies we reviewed rank GEICO cheapest for full coverage, apart from USAA, which sells only to military families, and a sixth ties GEICO with Progressive. In one of the eight, CSAA comes in below GEICO. For liability-only coverage at 15/30/5 limits, CSAA has the lowest average among these five insurers, at about $38 a month, with GEICO close behind at $40.
Full-coverage averages by insurer in Eureka–Arcata–Fortuna
Monthly, for the same driver and car. Insurers marked with an asterisk in the table below aren’t in the chart.
Rates insurers filed with state regulators, compiled by Quadrant Information Services, as of Aug. 31, 2026. Benchmark 40-year-old driver, 100/300/100 with $500 deductibles.
| Insurance Company: | Liability Only 15/30/5 (Yearly): | Liability Only 15/30/5 (Monthly): | Full Coverage (Yearly): | Full Coverage (Monthly): |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSAA (AAA Northern California) | $454 | $38 | $2,059 | $172 |
| GEICO | $480 | $40 | $2,078 | $173 |
| State Farm | $1,143 | $95 | $3,060 | $255 |
| Allstate | $1,240 | $103 | $3,818 | $318 |
| Farmers | $1,540 | $128 | $4,195 | $350 |
| USAA (military families)* | $731 | $61 | $2,089 | $174 |
| Mercury Insurance* | $891 | $74 | $2,394 | $200 |
| Progressive* | $795 | $66 | $2,452 | $204 |
| Travelers* | $1,294 | $108 | $3,261 | $272 |
| Nationwide* | $1,207 | $101 | $3,384 | $282 |
| Eureka–Arcata–Fortuna average | $971 | $81 | $3,042 | $254 |
This table uses Humboldt County ZIP codes only. See how we calculated these rates. Your own price depends on your car, driving record and coverage, so compare auto insurance quotes before you buy.
Eureka–Arcata–Fortuna Car Insurance Rates by ZIP Code
Across the five Humboldt County ZIP codes we price, full coverage for our driver ranges from about $240 a month in 95521 to $265 in 95503, a gap of $300 a year. Arcata’s 95521 is the least expensive Humboldt County ZIP code in our data, and Eureka’s two ZIP codes, 95501 and 95503, the most expensive, at about $264 and $265 a month.
Lowest-priced Humboldt County ZIP codes
Highest-priced Humboldt County ZIP codes
Search the table for your ZIP code. The last column shows how far each ZIP code is above or below the Humboldt County average.
| ZIP Code: | Liability Only 15/30/5 (Yearly): | Liability Only 15/30/5 (Monthly): | Full Coverage (Yearly): | Full Coverage (Monthly): | Full Coverage vs. Humboldt County Average: |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95501 (Eureka) | $1,037 | $86 | $3,169 | $264 | +4% |
| 95503 (Eureka) | $1,030 | $86 | $3,176 | $265 | +4% |
| 95519 (McKinleyville) | $906 | $76 | $2,948 | $246 | -3% |
| 95521 (Arcata) | $927 | $77 | $2,876 | $240 | -6% |
| 95540 (Fortuna) | $958 | $80 | $3,041 | $253 | About average |
Your ZIP code matters
How Much More Does Better Coverage Cost in Eureka–Arcata–Fortuna?
Raising liability limits from 50/100/50 to 100/300/100 adds about $175 a year on average in our Eureka–Arcata–Fortuna data, with the same $500 deductibles. That’s about $15 a month for double the per-person injury limit, three times the per-crash limit and double the property damage limit, and the full-coverage package also raises uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage to 100/300.
Is Car Insurance Going Up in Eureka–Arcata–Fortuna?
For our benchmark driver, full coverage isn’t going up. Comparing the four insurers that are in both sets of rates, in the same Humboldt County ZIP codes, their full-coverage average fell from $2,884 a year nine months earlier to $2,754 in rates as of Aug. 31, 2026, a 4.5% drop. State Farm cut its Humboldt County average 14.5%, while Allstate’s, CSAA’s and GEICO’s averages were unchanged. Farmers is new in our rates over the past nine months, so it’s left out, which is why these averages differ from the Eureka–Arcata–Fortuna average above. Liability-only coverage at 15/30/5 limits rose 7.5%, led by State Farm, which raised its liability-only average 25.7%.
How Humboldt County Compares With Its Neighbors
Humboldt County averages about $254 a month for full coverage, the ninth-least expensive of the 55 California counties we price. Del Norte County, to the north, averages $251 and Mendocino County, to the south, $265.
Across the county’s five ZIP codes, full coverage varies by only about $25 a month, from Arcata to Eureka. Where you live is one of the factors California insurers use, so neighboring cities can be priced differently.
How Eureka–Arcata–Fortuna Car Insurance Compares With Other California Cities
More California cities and towns are in the California rates by city table, and you can compare states on our car insurance rates by state page.
The closest city guides are a long drive away: Chico, about 145 miles southeast, averages $243 a month, and Yuba City, about 175 miles southeast, $294. Closer to home, Redding, about 95 miles east in Shasta County, averages $246, and Crescent City, about 65 miles north in Del Norte County, $251.
What Car Insurance Is Required in Eureka–Arcata–Fortuna?
Drivers in Humboldt County follow California’s rules. The minimum rose for policies issued or renewed on or after Jan. 1, 2025, and every policy must now carry at least:
- Bodily injury liability of $30,000 per person and $60,000 per crash
- Property damage liability of $15,000 per crash
Our California requirements guide covers uninsured motorist coverage, proof of insurance and the penalties for driving uninsured.
How to Lower Your Car Insurance Rate in Eureka–Arcata–Fortuna
- Compare CSAA and GEICO first. They have the two lowest full-coverage averages in our Humboldt County data, about $172 and $173 a month.
- Quote several insurers. In our Humboldt County data, the lowest and highest insurer averages are about $178 a month apart for the same driver and car.
- Get help with a claim or complaint. The California Department of Insurance takes complaints about insurers online and through its consumer hotline, 1-800-927-4357, and its auto insurance guides explain each coverage.
- Compare at every renewal. Over the past nine months, State Farm has cut its Humboldt County average 14.5%, so the order in our table can shift.
- Ask about discounts and check your deductible. Many insurers lower rates for a clean driving record, paying in full or insuring more than one car, so ask which auto insurance discounts you qualify for. Our full-coverage prices use $500 deductibles. A higher deductible lowers your premium but means you pay more yourself after a claim; see how deductibles affect your rate.
- Insure your car and home together. A multi-policy discount is a common way to save, so check average home insurance rates in California, and compare home insurance quotes alongside your car quotes. Renting? A renters insurance policy can qualify too.
Ready to compare
How We Calculated Eureka–Arcata–Fortuna Car Insurance Rates
Insurers must file their rates and rating rules with each state’s insurance regulator. Quadrant Information Services uses those filings to calculate what each insurer would charge a specific driver, and InsuranceQuotes analyzes those prices. This page uses rates in effect on Aug. 31, 2026.
- Sample: 25 full-coverage premiums from five insurers across five ZIP codes in Humboldt County, plus the same number of liability-only and 50/100/50 premiums.
- Area: this page covers all five ZIP codes we price in Humboldt County, with mailing addresses in Eureka, Arcata, Fortuna and McKinleyville.
- Driver: a single 40-year-old driver, licensed 24 years, with good credit and no accidents or violations, driving a 2024 Toyota Camry LE they own, for personal use.
- Coverage: full coverage is 100/300/100 liability with $500 comprehensive and collision deductibles and 100/300 uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. We also price 50/100/50 with the same deductibles, and liability-only coverage at 15/30/5 limits, with 15/30 uninsured motorist coverage and no comprehensive or collision. California’s minimum has been 30/60/15 since Jan. 1, 2025, so our liability-only prices use lower limits than the law requires.
- Calculation: for each insurer we take its lowest eligible price in each ZIP code and average those prices across the ZIP codes. The overall average is the mean of every insurer-and-ZIP price. Monthly figures are annual premiums divided by 12 and rounded.
- Rankings: we name a cheapest insurer only where it’s priced in at least half the ZIP codes and its lead over the next insurer isn’t so wide that it looks like an outlier. Annual prices within 3% of each other are called effectively tied.
- Rate changes: we compare the same insurer in the same ZIP codes, for the same driver and coverage, in rates as of Nov. 30, 2025, and Aug. 31, 2026. Farmers is new in our rates since November 2025, so it’s left out of rate-change comparisons; the other four insurers, Allstate, CSAA, GEICO and State Farm, are in both sets of rates. Rate-change percentages are calculated from the annual premiums shown; other percentages use the rounded monthly figures.
- Insurers marked *: priced from published 2026 California rate studies, scaled to our benchmark driver. They aren’t included in our averages or rankings.
- What this isn’t: a quote. These are modeled prices for one driver profile, calculated from insurers’ rate filings. Your price depends on your ZIP code, vehicle, driving record, coverage choices and discounts.
Coverage requirements come from California law and the California Department of Insurance. We refresh these figures when new rate data is released.
Eureka–Arcata–Fortuna Car Insurance FAQ
For our benchmark driver, full coverage in Eureka–Arcata–Fortuna averages about $254 a month ($3,042 a year) and liability-only coverage at 15/30/5 limits about $81 a month, based on the rates insurers had filed with state regulators as of Aug. 31, 2026. Full coverage is 23% below the California average of $332 a month.
CSAA and GEICO are effectively tied for the lowest full-coverage average in our Eureka–Arcata–Fortuna rate data, at about $172 and $173 a month. State Farm’s average is next among the five major insurers we compared, at $255. For liability-only coverage at 15/30/5 limits, CSAA has the lowest average in our Eureka–Arcata–Fortuna data, at about $38 a month. Statewide, five of the eight published 2026 California rate studies we reviewed rank GEICO cheapest for full coverage, apart from USAA, and a sixth ties GEICO with Progressive. One of the eight puts CSAA below GEICO. Rates vary by driver, so compare quotes for your own car and ZIP code.
For our benchmark driver, full coverage in Fortuna, CA, averages about $253 a month ($3,041 a year) and liability-only coverage at 15/30/5 limits about $80 a month, based on rates in its one ZIP code, 95540. That’s about $11 a month less than Eureka for full coverage.
In our data, 95521, in Arcata, has the lowest full-coverage average in Humboldt County, at about $240 a month, and 95503, in Eureka, the highest, at about $265. The ZIP code table on this page lists all five with the town for each.
In our Eureka–Arcata–Fortuna data, full coverage (100/300/100 with $500 deductibles) averages about $254 a month and liability-only coverage at 15/30/5 limits, below California’s 30/60/15 minimum, about $81, a difference of about $173 a month ($2,071 a year). Liability-only coverage won’t pay to repair or replace your own car after a crash, a theft or a storm. California law doesn’t require full coverage, but a lender or leasing company may.
Not for full coverage, for our benchmark driver. Comparing the four insurers in both sets of rates (Farmers is new over the past nine months), their Eureka–Arcata–Fortuna full-coverage average fell 4.5%, from about $2,884 to $2,754 a year. That’s lower than the Eureka–Arcata–Fortuna average of $3,042 because it leaves out Farmers. State Farm cut its Eureka–Arcata–Fortuna average 14.5%. Liability-only coverage at 15/30/5 limits rose 7.5%.
For our benchmark driver, full coverage in Eureka–Arcata–Fortuna averages about $254 a month. Nearby, Chico averages about $243, Yuba City about $294 and Santa Rosa–Petaluma about $276. Chico is cheaper; prices depend mostly on ZIP code, so compare quotes for your own address.
- About the Author
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Michael Giusti is a senior insurance analyst, business journalist, and university professor with over 20 years of experience. He serves as department chair at Loyola University New Orleans and contributes to Insurance Thought Leadership, U.S. News, and other leading financial outlets.
