The words “cheap” and “auto insurance” probably shouldn’t be used in the same sentence, specifically when searching for the cheapest coverage for drivers with good credit. Let’s open your eyes to some things that have an impact on insurance rates, and see if you can take the bite out of your next policy.
The car, truck, or SUV requiring insurance is one of the biggest factors in finding the most economical car insurance for drivers with good credit. Vehicles with lower acceleration and performance, modern passenger safety features, or a track record of few liability claims will cost less to insure than adrenaline junky models. The table below shows auto insurance rates for a selection of the most affordable automobiles to insure.
| Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Ford Escape XLT 2WD | $825 |
| Honda Accord LX 4-Dr Sedan | $902 |
| Honda CR-V EX 2WD | $911 |
| Toyota Tacoma 4WD | $923 |
| Honda Odyssey EX W/Rear Entertainment | $955 |
| Ford Edge SE AWD | $962 |
| Chevrolet Malibu LT | $992 |
| Jeep Wrangler Sahara 4WD 2-Dr | $1,009 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan CV | $1,019 |
| Ford F-150 STX Super Cab 2WD | $1,023 |
| Hyundai Elantra GLS 4-Dr Sedan | $1,027 |
| Toyota Corolla XLE | $1,035 |
| Toyota Prius | $1,029 |
| GMC Sierra SLE Extended Cab 4WD | $1,045 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 2WD | $1,068 |
| Volkswagen Jetta S 4-Dr Sedan | $1,076 |
| Honda Civic DX 4-Dr Sedan | $1,074 |
| Ford Focus SES 2-Dr Coupe | $1,097 |
| Toyota RAV4 Sport 4WD | $1,099 |
| Chevrolet Impala LT | $1,109 |
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Above prices assume single male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, and claim-free. Rates do not factor in specific location which can influence rates substantially.
Looking at the rates, models like the Ford Escape, Honda Accord, and Honda CR-V will definitely be some of the most economical vehicles to insure for financially responsible drivers.
Finding low-cost insurance is not the easiest thing to do, and deciding which companies have the most affordable insurance rates for drivers with good credit may require even more perseverance. Each auto insurance company has a proprietary method for setting rates, so let’s begin by examining the most competitive insurance companies in California.
Find Cheaper Auto Insurance for High Credit
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | USAA | $1,109 |
| 2 | Wawanesa | $1,181 |
| 3 | Century National | $1,190 |
| 4 | CSAA | $1,234 |
| 5 | Nationwide | $1,263 |
| 6 | 21st Century | $1,325 |
| 7 | Grange | $1,477 |
| 8 | Mercury | $1,488 |
| 9 | Progressive | $1,512 |
| 10 | Allied | $1,541 |
| 11 | Allstate | $1,543 |
| 12 | GEICO | $1,559 |
| 13 | The Hartford | $1,575 |
| 14 | MetLife | $1,654 |
| 15 | State Farm | $1,682 |
| 16 | Unitrin | $1,699 |
| 17 | Esurance | $1,705 |
| 18 | Bristol West | $1,831 |
| 19 | Travelers | $1,860 |
| 20 | Farmers | $1,946 |
| Find Your Rate Go | ||
USAA may have some of the most affordable car insurance rates in San Diego at around $1,109 annually. Wawanesa, Century National, CSAA, and Nationwide also make the cut as some of the more affordable San Diego, CA insurance companies.
As illustrated above, if you are currently insured with Wawanesa and switched to USAA, you could realize yearly savings of in the vicinity of $72. Policyholders with Century National may save as much as $81 a year, and CSAA customers might reduce rates by $125 a year.
To see if your current coverage is too expensive, click here to start a quote or click several companies below for low rates.
It’s important to note that these premium estimates are averaged across all drivers and vehicles and and are not figured with an exact location for drivers with good credit. So the auto insurance company that fits you best may not even be in the top 24 companies shown above. That’s why you need to compare rates from as many companies as possible using your own specific driver and vehicle information.
For financially responsible drivers, one of the more important criteria that aid in calculating the amount you pay each year for auto insurance is where you call home. Regions with larger populations or more claims tend to have more expensive car insurance rates, whereas areas with less congestion benefit from lower rates.
The information below rates the most expensive areas in California for drivers with good credit to purchase car insurance in. San Diego comes in at #20 with an annual cost of $1,368 on average, which is about $114 monthly.
| Rank | City | Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles | $2,146 |
| 2 | Glendale | $2,121 |
| 3 | San Francisco | $1,763 |
| 4 | Oakland | $1,755 |
| 5 | Sacramento | $1,669 |
| 6 | Long Beach | $1,610 |
| 7 | Stockton | $1,603 |
| 8 | San Bernardino | $1,580 |
| 9 | Moreno Valley | $1,551 |
| 10 | Santa Clarita | $1,548 |
| 11 | Garden Grove | $1,524 |
| 12 | Fontana | $1,519 |
| 13 | Fresno | $1,502 |
| 14 | Modesto | $1,487 |
| 15 | Santa Ana | $1,483 |
| 16 | Riverside | $1,482 |
| 17 | Anaheim | $1,430 |
| 18 | San Jose | $1,423 |
| 19 | Huntington Beach | $1,416 |
| 20 | San Diego | $1,368 |
| 21 | Fremont | $1,348 |
| 22 | Irvine | $1,343 |
| 23 | Bakersfield | $1,340 |
| 24 | Oxnard | $1,318 |
| 25 | Chula Vista | $1,298 |
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Table data uses estimated as the specific San Diego residence address can impact prices noticeably.
Full coverage rates compared to liability-only
Reducing premiums for insurance is the goal of the majority of vehicle owners, and an easy way to find cheap insurance for drivers with good credit is to buy only liability coverage. The diagram below illustrates the comparison of car insurance costs with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying the minimum liability limits required in California. The price estimates are based on a clean driving record, no claims, $500 deductibles, single marital status, and no additional discounts are factored in.
Averaged out for all age groups, physical damage coverage costs $2,772 per year over having just liability coverage. Many drivers may wonder when is it a good idea to stop buying full coverage. There isn’t a written rule of when to phase out physical damage coverage on your policy, but there is a broad guideline. If the annual cost of comprehensive and collision coverage is more than 10% of the vehicle’s replacement cost less your deductible, then you might consider buying liability only.
The diagram below shows how choosing a deductible can affect insurance rates when trying to find cheap insurance for drivers with good credit. The premiums are based on a single female driver, full physical damage coverage, and no policy discounts are applied.
A 30-year-old driver could pocket $400 a year by changing from a $100 deductible to a $500 deductible, or save $604 by choosing a $1,000 deductible. Younger drivers, like the Age 20 chart data, can save up to $888 every year just by choosing higher deductibles when buying full coverage.
When increasing deductibles, it will be required to have plenty of money set aside to enable you to pay the extra out-of-pocket expense, which is the main inconvenience of larger deductibles.
Careless San Diego drivers pay higher rates
The best way to find good insurance prices in San Diego for financially responsible drivers is to be a good driver and not get tickets or have accidents. The chart below shows how speeding tickets and fender-benders can impact premium costs for different ages of insureds. The price estimates are based on a single male driver, comp and collision included, $500 deductibles, and no other discounts are factored in.
In the prior example, the average cost of car insurance per year with a clean driving record and no accidents is $2,075. Receive one speeding ticket and the average cost swells to $2,341, an increase of $266 each year. Now add in one accident along with the one speeding ticket and the 12-month cost of insurance for drivers with good credit goes up to an average of $3,077. That’s an increase of $1,002, or $84 per month, just for not driving attentively!
How to find cheaper auto insurance for drivers with good credit
Lowering your rates is not difficult, and here are many thrifty solutions that can help California drivers quote lower-cost coverage.
- Get cheaper liability coverage by choosing a safer vehicle
- At-fault accidents will increase rates
- Buying home and auto insurance together can earn discounts
- Serious violations like DUI or careless driving can make car insurance unaffordable
- Claim-free drivers earn discounts
- Compare rates regularly to ensure the best deal
The final tip is notably important, as was pointed out in the prior information. Prices charged by auto insurers go up and down frequently, so you should be ready to switch companies if a cheaper price is available. Having a favorite company is great, but it isn’t a good idea if that inflexibility results in costing you a wad of cash every year. Now is a great time to compare rates and find cheaper insurance for drivers with good credit in San Diego.