You have most likely seen the catchy commercials from insurers like GEICO and State Farm claiming dirt cheap rates, so drivers should just choose the one with the best commercial, right?
It’s just not that easy, however, as there are many unknown elements such as if you have points on your license, what liability limits you need, and if you are married. In this article, we will cover the best ways to find cheap auto insurance and also should give you some help in finding cheaper rates.
The vehicle needing coverage is a significant factor when consumers are trying to find the most affordable coverage for active military. Vehicles with lower acceleration and performance, good safety features, or a low likelihood of having liability claims will cost significantly less to insure than high performance models.
The data below outlines auto insurance prices for a number of the most cost-effective automobiles to insure.
| Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Ford Escape XLS 2WD | $815 |
| Honda Accord LX-P 4-Dr Sedan | $822 |
| Volkswagen Jetta S 2.5 Station Wagon | $885 |
| Honda CR-V EX 2WD | $919 |
| Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4WD | $962 |
| Jeep Wrangler Sport 4WD 2-Dr | $964 |
| Toyota Prius | $990 |
| Honda Odyssey LX | $1,013 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LTZ AWD | $1,033 |
| Ford Fusion SE 4-Dr Sedan | $1,043 |
| Ford F-350 XL Crew Cab Cabela Package 2WD | $1,051 |
| Toyota RAV4 Limited 4WD | $1,055 |
| Chevrolet Impala LT | $1,060 |
| Ford Explorer Limited 4WD | $1,078 |
| Chevrolet Malibu LS | $1,086 |
| Nissan Rogue SL AWD | $1,091 |
| GMC Sierra Denali Crew Cab 2WD | $1,102 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan SXT | $1,110 |
| Ford Edge Limited AWD | $1,114 |
| Toyota Camry XLE | $1,120 |
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Cost estimates assume single male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, multi-vehicle, claim-free, homeowner, and multi-policy. Information does not factor in specific location which can change insurance rates greatly.
Looking at the numbers, cars like the Ford Escape, Honda Accord, Volkswagen Jetta, and Honda CR-V are most likely going to be the cheaper vehicles to insure for military personnel.
Finding dependable, low-cost car insurance is challenging, and finding out which companies have the cheapest car insurance rates for active military calls for a little more work. Every auto insurer has a different process for determining rates in each state, so let’s take a look at the most affordable car insurance companies in California.
It’s important that readers know that San Diego car insurance rates are impacted by many factors which can substantially change the price you pay for coverage. Improving your credit score, becoming a homeowner, or getting a speeding ticket can trigger rate changes that may make certain companies higher-priced than the competition.
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| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | USAA | $1,109 |
| 2 | Wawanesa | $1,181 |
| 3 | Century National | $1,190 |
| 4 | CSAA | $1,198 |
| 5 | Nationwide | $1,213 |
| 6 | 21st Century | $1,366 |
| 7 | Grange | $1,447 |
| 8 | GEICO | $1,529 |
| 9 | Progressive | $1,542 |
| 10 | Mercury | $1,548 |
| 11 | Allstate | $1,559 |
| 12 | The Hartford | $1,575 |
| 13 | Allied | $1,588 |
| 14 | MetLife | $1,590 |
| 15 | Unitrin | $1,699 |
| 16 | Esurance | $1,705 |
| 17 | State Farm | $1,750 |
| 18 | Bristol West | $1,795 |
| 19 | Travelers | $1,806 |
| 20 | Farmers | $2,026 |
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USAA may offer some of the best car insurance rates in San Diego at around $1,109 each year. This is $542 less than the average premium paid by California drivers of $1,651. Wawanesa, Century National, CSAA, and Nationwide also rank well as some of the best San Diego, CA insurance companies.
In this example, if you currently have a policy with CSAA and switched to Wawanesa, you could earn an annual premium reduction of around $17. Insureds with Nationwide might save as much as $32 a year, and 21st Century customers might realize rate reductions of up to $185 a year.
Bear in mind that those prices are averaged across all drivers and vehicles in California and and are not calculated with a specific location for active military. So the insurer that fits you best may not even be in the top 24 companies shown above. That points out the importance of why you need to compare rates from as many companies as possible using your own personal information and vehicle type.
Discounts on San Diego insurance rates
Insurers that provide policies for active military may also give you rate discounts that may potentially lower prices by 40% or more if you meet specific criteria. A list of car insurance companies and a selection of discounts can be found below.
- Progressive offers premium reductions for multi-policy, continuous coverage, online signing, homeowner, multi-vehicle, and good student.
- Farmers Insurance discounts include distant student, business and professional, electronic funds transfer, pay in full, and early shopping.
- Farm Bureau includes discounts for multi-vehicle, 55 and retired, youthful driver, driver training, multi-policy, safe driver, and renewal discount.
- State Farm offers discounts including Steer Clear safe driver discount, student away at school, Drive Safe & Save, anti-theft, defensive driving training, and good student.
- GEICO may include discounts for five-year accident-free, daytime running lights, anti-lock brakes, air bags, and seat belt use.
- SAFECO may have discounts that include anti-theft, multi-car, safe driver, accident prevention training, bundle discounts, teen safe driver, and teen safety rewards.
- Liberty Mutual may offer discounts for teen driver discount, new move discount, hybrid vehicle, preferred payment discount, new vehicle discount, newly married, and new graduate.
The illustration below illustrates the difference between premium costs with and without some available policy discounts. The rates are based on a male driver, a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, California state minimum liability limits, full physical damage coverage, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows the average annual price with no discounts. The second bar shows the rates with marriage, claim-free, multiple policy, multiple vehicle, anti-theft, and vehicle safety discounts applied. When taking advantage of discounts, theamount saved on car insurance for active military is 28% or $875.
Full coverage versus liability-only
Finding the cheapest car insurance is the goal of most vehicle owners, and one of the quickest ways to buy cheaper insurance for active military is to buy liability only. The chart below visualizes the comparison of insurance premiums with full coverage and liability only. The data is based on no tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, single marital status, and no policy discounts are applied.
As an average, comp and collision coverage costs an extra $3,147 per year more than buying just liability insurance. At some point, almost every driver questions if buying full coverage is worth the expense. There is no definitive formula that works best for making the decision to drop physical damage insurance, but there is a guideline you can use. If the annual cost of having full coverage is more than about 10% of the settlement you would receive from your company, the it may be a good time to stop paying for full coverage.
For example, let’s pretend your vehicle’s claim settlement value is $8,500 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, the most you would get paid by your company is $7,500 after paying your deductible. If it’s costing you more than $750 a year for your policy with full coverage, then it could be time to drop full coverage.
Here’s why you should compare rates often
San Diego, CA car insurance rates are calculated based on many things which can substantially change the price you pay. Simply getting older, adding a teenager to your policy, or getting a speeding ticket can produce rate changes resulting in some rates now being cheaper than others. In addition, car insurance companies change their prices as often as every three months in order to be able to pay unexpected claims. Higher than usual claims may cause rate increases, while lower claim levels can cause lower-cost San Diego car insurance rates.
To illustrate this example, the chart below shows rates for the cheapest car insurance in San Diego, CA for a 40-year-old male driver with a clean driving record, no accidents, and good financial standing. When comparing rates based on his personal risk profile, USAA has the most affordable car insurance rates in San Diego at $1,128 annually. This is $523 less than the average rate paid by California drivers of $1,651. Wawanesa, CSAA, Century National, and Nationwide are the remaining best San Diego, CA auto insurance companies.
The next chart shows rates after we give the driver in the first chart a claim or two, a lower credit score, and a traffic citation. Due to the fact that every insurance company has their own process for determining rates in each state, getting updated rate quotes may now present a new list of the cheapest San Diego car insurance companies as shown below.
Grange now has the best price on car insurance in San Diego, CA with Progressive, Mercury, Allstate, and GEICO also being competitive. This example shows why consumers need to shop around when trying to get the lowest car insurance rates for active military. Prices consist of many different factors and can change without notice, so the lowest-price company the last time you checked may now not even be in the top five.
The insurance agents in San Diego listed below are a good start to provide answers to your questions and help you determine which auto insurance policy would work best for you, as some drivers have questions and prefer to have professional advice when trying to find the best insurance rates for active military. It can be hard to find the best policy yourself, and a professional agent can provide you comfort knowing your policy gives you adequate coverage when you need it most.
To locate a San Diego car insurance agency using an interactive map, click the button following the list or click here to compare rates now.
- Stanley Wong Insurance
4619 Convoy St # C – San Diego, CA 92111 – (858) 569-0383 - Allstate Insurance: David James
8333 Clairemont Mesa Blvd Ste 110 – San Diego, CA 92111 – (858) 278-4880 - R J Blake – State Farm Insurance Agent
1040 University Ave B201 – San Diego, CA 92103 – (619) 681-0060
View map of San Diego, CA insurance agents
How to find budget-friendly insurance for active military
Below you’ll find many money-saving solutions that can help California drivers find cheap coverage.
- Multi-policy discounts save money
- Being accident-free can lower rates significantly
- Older vehicles may not need full coverage
- Good credit scores may make rates cheaper
- Safer vehicles generally have cheaper insurance rates
- Shop around once a year for cheaper rates
The last tip is especially necessary, as was stressed in the prior article. Prices charged by car insurance companies go up and down frequently, so don’t be hesitant to buy from a new company if you find a cheaper price. Staying with the same company for years is fine, but it’s not a great idea if that loyalty results in overpaying money that could be going to better use. Take a couple minutes and compare prices to find cheaper insurance for active military in San Diego.