California Title Insurance Cost: What an Owner's and Lender's Policy Costs

An owner's title insurance policy on a $854,000 California home costs about $2,159, and the lender's policy issued with it about $175, under the filed rate schedule. The owner's policy premium comes from the rate table in the filed manual (a fixed dollar amount per price bracket, minimum $477).

California title insurance by purchase price

Purchase priceOwner's policyLender's policy (issued together)Both policies
$150,000$818$175$993
$200,000$959$175$1,134
$250,000$1,073$175$1,248
$300,000$1,203$175$1,378
$350,000$1,287$175$1,462
$400,000$1,400$175$1,575
$450,000$1,484$175$1,659
$500,000$1,596$175$1,771
$600,000$1,737$175$1,912
$700,000$1,896$175$2,071
$800,000$2,068$175$2,243
$1,000,000$2,388$175$2,563

California uses filed rates: each underwriter files its own rate manual with the state insurance department, so premiums differ by a few hundred dollars from one title company to another. The schedule below is one underwriter's filed rate. Schedule shown: Stewart Title Guaranty Company.

California title insurance calculator

Enter a purchase price to see the owner's and lender's policy premiums from the filed California rate schedule.

Who pays for the owner's policy

Who pays for the owner's policy in California varies by county and by contract. By strong regional custom (not officially sourced in this extraction): in Northern California the SELLER customarily pays for the owner's title policy; in Southern California (including Los Angeles County) it is more often negotiated or split by local custom. Not confirmed against a primary source, same caveat as data/closing/california.json.

When the owner's and lender's policies are issued together at closing, the lender's policy is charged at the reduced simultaneous-issue rate (a flat $175); that is the lender figure used on this page.

Title insurance at the county median price

The rate schedule is statewide; what changes from county to county is the home price. The ten most populous counties are shown; every California county is in the list below.

CountyMedian home priceOwner's policy
Contra Costa County$830,800$2,125
Fresno County$362,600$1,325
Kern County$310,600$1,231
San Diego County$791,600$2,057
San Francisco County$1,380,500
San Joaquin County$494,500$1,585
San Mateo County$1,494,500
Sonoma County$779,000$2,023
Stanislaus County$426,600$1,451
Ventura County$768,400$2,007
All 58 California counties

Title insurance in California cities

CityMedian home priceOwner's policy
Los Angeles$879,500$2,200
San Diego$848,500$2,150
San Jose$1,187,800
San Francisco$1,380,500
Fresno$348,500$1,287
Sacramento$484,600$1,563
Long Beach$762,200$2,000
Oakland$924,700$2,270
Bakersfield$347,300$1,287
Anaheim$771,700$2,014
All 188 California cities over 50,000 people

What the two policies cover

The owner's policy protects your equity against title defects that predate your purchase: undisclosed liens, forged deeds, missing heirs, recording errors. The lender's policy protects only the mortgage lender for the loan amount and is required by nearly every lender. Premiums are one-time and paid at closing. Because underwriters file competing rates, getting two quotes at your purchase price is worth a few hundred dollars.

Frequently asked questions

How much is title insurance in California?

On a $854,000 home, the California median, an owner's title policy costs about $2,159 under the filed rate schedule, and the lender's policy issued with it costs $175, so both policies together are about $2,334. The premium rises with the purchase price; the table on this page shows it from $150,000 to $1,000,000.

Who pays for title insurance in California?

Who pays for the owner's policy in California varies by county and by contract. By strong regional custom (not officially sourced in this extraction): in Northern California the SELLER customarily pays for the owner's title policy; in Southern California (including Los Angeles County) it is more often negotiated or split by local custom. Not confirmed against a primary source, same caveat as data/closing/california.json.

Is title insurance a one-time cost?

Yes. Both the owner's policy and the lender's policy are paid once at closing and cover the property for as long as you (or your lender) hold an interest in it. There are no annual premiums.

Can I shop for title insurance in California?

Yes. California underwriters file their own rate manuals, so premiums differ by company; ask two or three title companies for a quote at your price and compare their settlement fees as well.

Sources

Rates as filed or promulgated, checked September 22, 2026. Premiums are computed from the schedule above and rounded to the dollar; endorsements, settlement fees and search fees are separate. All sources.

See all California buyer closing costs →

Premiums are computed from the rate schedule cited above and rounded to the dollar; your title company's quote may add endorsements, search and settlement fees. This is general information, not financial advice.

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