This would be a real easy article to write if we could simply give you the name of the one California auto insurance company that has the most affordable insurance in California. It’s just not that easy, however, as there are a whole bunch of unknown factors like your age, whether or not you own a home, the safety features built into your vehicle, and if you have ever had a coverage lapse, that all have an effect on the price of a policy. This article goes into detail about the best ways to find cheap car insurance and also should give you a good start in finding the cheapest insurance in California.
The make and model of vehicle on the policy is one of the primary factors when consumers are trying to find low-cost car insurance for drivers under 25. Vehicles with lower performance, excellent safety ratings, or a positive history of liability claims will cost less to insure than high performance models. The information below presents auto insurance rates for the more affordable vehicles to buy insurance for.
| Make, Model, and Trim Level | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Ford Escape XLS 4WD | $2,309 |
| Honda Accord LX 4-Dr Sedan | $2,319 |
| Honda CR-V EX-L 4WD | $2,343 |
| Volkswagen Jetta S 2.5 Station Wagon | $2,515 |
| Toyota Prius | $2,549 |
| Ford F-150 FX2 Super Cab 2WD | $2,568 |
| Toyota Tacoma 2WD | $2,707 |
| Chevrolet Impala LS | $2,712 |
| Ford Edge SEL AWD | $2,707 |
| Toyota RAV4 Limited 4WD | $2,741 |
| Chevrolet Silverado LS Extended Cab 4WD | $2,749 |
| Ford Fusion S 4-Dr Sedan | $2,741 |
| GMC Sierra SLE Regular Cab 2WD | $2,747 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4WD | $2,741 |
| Dodge Ram 3500 Crew Cab Laramie 2WD | $2,775 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan SXT | $2,781 |
| Chevrolet Malibu LT | $2,775 |
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Data based on single male driver age 20, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, and safe-driver. Premium costs do not factor in vehicle garaging location which can alter insurance rates considerably.
Looking at the numbers, we can presume that makes and models like the Ford Escape, Honda Accord, Honda CR-V, Volkswagen Jetta, and Toyota Prius are most likely going to be a few of the most budget-friendly vehicles to insure for drivers age 25 and younger. The cost of auto insurance will tend to be more expensive anyway just because there is more exposure for drivers under 25, but in general those particular models will tend to have the least expensive rates possible.
For drivers age 25 and younger, one of the largest factors that aid in calculating the price you pay for insurance is where your car is garaged. Areas with more people or higher crime rates tend to have higher auto insurance costs, whereas areas that tend to be more rural tend to receive cheaper rates.
The following table sorts the most expensive places in California for drivers under 25 to buy car insurance in. Bakersfield is ranked at #22 with a yearly premium of $1,381 for car insurance, which is approximately $115 monthly.
| Rank | City | Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles | $2,083 |
| 2 | Glendale | $2,058 |
| 3 | Oakland | $1,738 |
| 4 | San Francisco | $1,711 |
| 5 | Sacramento | $1,703 |
| 6 | Long Beach | $1,626 |
| 7 | San Bernardino | $1,580 |
| 8 | Stockton | $1,556 |
| 9 | Garden Grove | $1,554 |
| 10 | Moreno Valley | $1,551 |
| 11 | Santa Clarita | $1,548 |
| 12 | Fontana | $1,519 |
| 13 | Fresno | $1,502 |
| 14 | Modesto | $1,487 |
| 15 | Riverside | $1,482 |
| 16 | Anaheim | $1,444 |
| 17 | Santa Ana | $1,439 |
| 18 | San Jose | $1,423 |
| 19 | Fremont | $1,403 |
| 20 | Irvine | $1,384 |
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Rates are estimated as zip code location can change prices noticeably.
Selecting the top insurer is difficult considering how many choices there are in California. The ranking data below could help you pick which companies to look at when shopping car insurance rates for drivers under 25. The rankings below are only made up of large, nationwide insurance companies, so smaller companies that only insure vehicles in California will not be included in the list.
Top 10 Large Auto Insurance Providers in Bakersfield Ranked by A.M. Best Rating
- USAA – A++
- Travelers – A++
- State Farm – A++
- GEICO – A++
- Esurance – A+
- Nationwide – A+
- Allstate – A+
- Mercury Insurance – A+
- Progressive – A+
- Titan Insurance – A+
The example below shows how choosing a deductible can increase or decrease yearly insurance costs when researching cheap insurance for drivers under 25. The costs are based on a married male driver, full coverage, and no discounts are applied.
As shown above, a 50-year-old driver could pocket $308 a year by increasing from a $100 deductible to a $500 deductible, or save $466 by changing to a $1,000 deductible. Young drivers, like the 20-year-old, could reduce their rates up to $1,026 each year by choosing a larger deductible amount. If you do raise deductibles, it is essential to have plenty of money set aside to allow you to pay the extra out-of-pocket expense associated with higher deductibles.
Discount Bakersfield car insurance rates
Insurers that offer quotes for drivers under 25 may also offer price discounts that can reduce rates by 35% or more if you meet the requirements. Larger auto insurance companies and their offered discounts are:
- State Farm includes discounts for anti-theft, multiple policy, Drive Safe & Save, safe vehicle, Steer Clear safe driver discount, and defensive driving training.
- GEICO has savings for good student, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, military active duty, federal employee, air bags, and five-year accident-free.
- Progressive may offer discounts for online quote discount, multi-vehicle, good student, continuous coverage, online signing, multi-policy, and homeowner.
- 21st Century offers premium reductions for homeowners, student driver, driver training, automatic seat belts, early bird, 55 and older, and theft prevention.
- American Family may include discounts for bundled insurance, defensive driver, mySafetyValet, air bags, TimeAway discount, Steer into Savings, and multi-vehicle.
- The Hartford policyholders can earn discounts including good student, driver training, anti-theft, bundle, vehicle fuel type, air bag, and defensive driver.
- AAA has discounts for anti-theft, education and occupation, multi-car, multi-policy, and good student.
The diagram below illustrates the comparison of car insurance rates with and without policy discounts. The prices are based on a male driver, a clean driving record, no claims, California state minimum liability limits, full physical damage coverage, and $1,000 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows insurance cost with no discounts. The second shows the rates with paperless filing, passive restraint, paid-in-full, anti-theft, continuous coverage, and vehicle safety discounts applied. In this example, theamount saved on auto insurance for drivers under 25 is 19% or $354.
How to find budget-friendly insurance for drivers under 25
The list below shows some of the recommended money-saving ideas that can help California drivers quote cheaper car insurance.
- Increase your credit rating
- Full coverage may not be needed on older vehicles
- Staying accident-free helps keep rates low
- Do not get tickets or violations
- Vehicles with safetly features generally cost less to insure
- Raise deductibles
- Compare rates regularly to ensure the best deal
The last item on the list is remarkably vital, as we discussed in this write-up. Prices charged by auto insurers in Bakersfield can change significantly in a year, so drivers shouldn’t be resistant to buy a different policy if you find a better deal. Loyalty to a specific company is fine, but is isn’t recommended if your bullheadedness ends up costing you lots of money. Spend a few minutes and compare rates to find cheaper car insurance for drivers under 25.