Wouldn’t it be perfect if you could just know the one perfect auto insurance company that has the best deal on coverage for veterans? That is not the case, however, as there are a whole slew of unknowns like tickets or driving violations, where you live, and if you just need liability coverage, that all factor into the price you pay. The information below covers the different ways to avoid overpaying and educate you enough to have a good start in finding the cheapest car insurance.
For veterans, one of the largest criteria that determine the amount you pay for auto insurance is your zip code in San Diego. More densely populated places are more likely to pay higher prices, whereas areas with lower vehicle theft rates and fewer weather claims tend to receive slightly lower rates.
The following table lists the most expensive places in California for veterans to buy car insurance in. San Diego is listed at #21 with a yearly cost of $1,381 for car insurance, which is approximately $115 per month.
| Rank | City | Premium Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles | $2,146 |
| 2 | Glendale | $2,079 |
| 3 | Oakland | $1,738 |
| 4 | San Francisco | $1,711 |
| 5 | Sacramento | $1,703 |
| 6 | San Bernardino | $1,628 |
| 7 | Long Beach | $1,626 |
| 8 | Santa Clarita | $1,595 |
| 9 | Stockton | $1,588 |
| 10 | Fontana | $1,581 |
| 11 | Garden Grove | $1,570 |
| 12 | Modesto | $1,547 |
| 13 | Moreno Valley | $1,536 |
| 14 | Riverside | $1,527 |
| 15 | Fresno | $1,517 |
| 16 | Santa Ana | $1,497 |
| 17 | Anaheim | $1,444 |
| 18 | San Jose | $1,423 |
| 19 | Huntington Beach | $1,402 |
| 20 | Fremont | $1,389 |
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Rate quotes are estimated as specific San Diego zip code can impact auto insurance rates noticeably.
The type of vehicle that is being insured is one of the largest considerations when shopping around for low-priced coverage for veterans. Vehicles with reasonable performance levels, a great safety record, or low incidents of liability claims will cost less to insure than higher performance models. The next list outlines coverage rates for a number of the cheapest automobiles to buy insurance for.
| Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Ford Escape XLS 4WD | $776 |
| Honda Odyssey LX | $854 |
| Toyota Prius | $858 |
| Ford Edge SEL AWD | $902 |
| Ford Focus S 4-Dr Sedan | $911 |
| Chevrolet Silverado LT Extended Cab 4WD | $920 |
| Ford Explorer Limited 2WD | $936 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan Crew | $941 |
| Chevrolet Impala LTZ | $968 |
| Honda CR-V EX 4WD | $974 |
| Volkswagen Jetta SEL 4-Dr Sedan | $984 |
| Ford F-150 XL Regular Cab 4WD | $998 |
| Dodge Ram Crew Cab ST 2WD | $1,002 |
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Above prices assume single female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, homeowner, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, and claim-free. Information does not factor in specific San Diego, CA garaging location which can modify coverage prices greatly.
Looking at the numbers, we can assume that cars like the Ford Escape, Honda Odyssey, Toyota Prius, Ford Edge, and Ford Focus are most likely going to be a few of the most economical vehicles to insure for veterans.
Determining which company has the cheapest car insurance rates for veterans requires more work than just comparing a company or two.
Each auto insurer uses different criteria for setting prices, so to begin we’ll rank the car insurance companies that tend to be cheaper in San Diego. It’s important to understand that San Diego car insurance rates are determined by lots of factors which can substantially change the price you have to pay. Improving your credit score, getting married, or getting caught speeding may cause policy rate changes that can now make some companies more affordable than the competition.
Find the Cheapest Auto Insurance for Vets
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wawanesa | $1,146 |
| 2 | USAA | $1,155 |
| 3 | Nationwide | $1,213 |
| 4 | Century National | $1,226 |
| 5 | CSAA | $1,234 |
| 6 | 21st Century | $1,338 |
| 7 | Grange | $1,491 |
| 8 | Allstate | $1,497 |
| 9 | Mercury | $1,503 |
| 10 | GEICO | $1,513 |
| 11 | Allied | $1,541 |
| 12 | Progressive | $1,542 |
| 13 | The Hartford | $1,623 |
| 14 | MetLife | $1,654 |
| 15 | Esurance | $1,688 |
| 16 | State Farm | $1,733 |
| 17 | Unitrin | $1,750 |
| 18 | Bristol West | $1,777 |
| 19 | Travelers | $1,806 |
| 20 | Farmers | $2,026 |
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Wawanesa normally has some of the most affordable car insurance rates in San Diego at around $1,146 annually. USAA, Nationwide, Century National, and CSAA are also some of the best San Diego, CA car insurance companies.
In the above example, if you currently have a policy with Century National and switched to Wawanesa, you could see yearly savings of in the vicinity of $80. Customers with CSAA may save as much as $88 a year, and 21st Century policyholders might reduce rates by $192 a year.
To see if your current coverage is too expensive, click here to get a free quote or visit any of the companies below.
Bear in mind that those estimates are averages for all types of drivers and the different vehicles they drive and are not factoring in an exact location for veterans. So the company that is best suited for you may not even be in the top 24 companies shown above. That is why you need to quote rates from many companies using your own individual information.
Does full coverage make sense?
Finding the cheapest car insurance is important to the majority of drivers, and one of the quickest ways to find cheaper insurance for veterans is to not pay for full coverage. The illustration below illustrates the comparison of auto insurance rates with full coverage and liability only. The data is based on no claims or driving citations, $100 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no additional discounts are factored in.
If we average the cost for all age groups, comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy costs $2,812 per year more than insuring for liability only. Many drivers may wonder when is the right time to remove full coverage. There is no clear-cut rule of when to eliminate full coverage, but there is a guideline you can use. If the yearly cost of comp and collision coverage is more than 10% of any settlement you would receive from your insurance company, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.
For example, let’s say your vehicle’s settlement value is $8,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is severely damaged, the most your company would pay you is $7,000 after you pay the deductible. If it’s costing in excess of $700 a year to have full coverage, then it might be time to buy liability only.
There are some situations where buying only liability insurance is not advised. If you still have a lienholder on your title, you have to carry full coverage in order to satisfy the requirements of the loan. Also, if your emergency fund is not enough to purchase a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should not consider dropping full coverage.
Bad driving habits will cost you more
The common sense way to score the most affordable car insurance rates in San Diego for veterans is to drive safely and have a clean driving record. The example below highlights how speeding tickets and at-fault fender-benders can impact annual premium costs for different age categories. Data assumes a married female driver, full coverage, $1,000 deductibles, and no additional discounts are factored in.
The data above shows the average cost of auto insurance in San Diego per year with no accidents or violations is $1,418. Receive one speeding ticket and the average cost rises to $1,657, an increase of $239 each year. Now get two accidents along with the one speeding ticket and the 12-month cost of car insurance for veterans increases to an average of $3,897. That’s an increase of $2,480, or $207 per month, just for not driving attentively!
Ideas to find economical auto insurance for veterans
Lowering your rates is not difficult, and here are many penny-pinching suggestions that can help San Diego drivers locate low-cost coverage.
- Just one traffic violation will increase your rates
- Buy your auto and home insurance from the same company and save
- Buy safe vehicles
- Avoid having at-fault accidents
- Save money by staying claim-free
- Shop around once a year for cheaper rates
The last tip is especially vital, as we hit on in the article above. Prices in San Diego can change considerably based on profitability, so you should be ready to buy from a new company if a better rate can be found. Staying with the same car insurance company is fine, but it’s not a good idea if it’s costing you lots of hard earned cash every month. Take a few minutes and compare prices to find cheaper auto insurance for veterans.