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Workers’ comp insurance cost for auto repair shops in California
Published 2026-06-05 · Updated 2026-06-11 · by Brokly
- 68% of CA auto repair shops have <5 employees — the chart below prices every size band from its own observed payroll.
- California sits 6th of 51: NJ pays more ($5.19), AL less ($2.61).
- Workers’ comp is one of several coverages — see everything your repair shop needs in California →
What do California auto repair shops pay for workers’ comp?
Modeled annual premium across the real size distribution of CA auto repair shops
bar height = how many auto repair shops are that size · figures = modeled annual cost
Cohort: size distribution of 9,799 CA auto repair shops (Census CBP 2023); premiums modeled from one filed rate ($3.11/$100 payroll, 2024). Bands shown cover 9,782 of 9,799 establishments (99.8%) — 17 establishments in larger, very small-count, or data-suppressed size bands are not shown. 2023 payroll dollars, not inflation-adjusted. Illustrative benchmark — not a quote or coverage recommendation.
Sources: Oregon DCBS workers' compensation premium rate ranking study, June 2025 (calendar-year 2024 rates) (as of calendar year 2024, retrieved 2026-06-04) · US Census County Business Patterns 2023, state file (General automotive repair (NAICS 811111)) (as of 2023, retrieved 2026-06-05)
How does California compare to nearby ranks?
Calculated manual rates, $ per $100 payroll, NCCI class 8380 (Automobile Service or Repair Center), 2024. See all 51 jurisdictions →
| Rank | State | Rate / $100 payroll |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Maine | $3.38 |
| 3 | New York | $3.28 |
| 4 | Vermont | $3.17 |
| 5 | Washington | $3.15 |
| 6 | California | $3.11 |
| 7 | Montana | $3.10 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | $3.03 |
| 9 | Illinois | $2.93 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $2.80 |
Sources: Oregon DCBS workers' compensation premium rate ranking study, June 2025 (calendar-year 2024 rates) (as of calendar year 2024, retrieved 2026-06-04)
Frequently asked questions
What does workers' comp cost auto repair shops in California?
Modeled from the 2024 filed manual rate of $3.11 per $100 of payroll: a <5-employee repair shop lands around $1.5k–$6k per year before experience mods and schedule credits.
What drives the rate up or down?
Three levers: payroll (the exposure base), claims history (the experience modifier), and schedule credits/debits the insurer applies. Auto service and repair work is NCCI class 8380 — mechanical repair and service centers, including their drivers.
Auto repair shops in nearby-ranked states: Wisconsin ($3.03) · Illinois ($2.93) · New York ($3.28) · Connecticut ($2.80)
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Illustrative benchmark — not a quote or coverage recommendation. Figures are modeled from public filings and Census data for 9,799 California auto repair shops; your premium depends on your payroll, claims history, and carrier.