The words “low-cost” and “insurance” really shouldn’t be used together, in particular when you are looking for the best insurance rates for low credit scores. In an attempt to save some money, let’s introduce you to some of the things that influence insurance prices, and come up with some ways to shave a little off the next policy you buy.
The vehicle model to be insured is probably the biggest factor that determines the availability of cheaper coverage for low credit scores. Vehicles with average performance, a great safety record, or a track record of few liability claims will cost quite a bit less to insure than high performance models.
The data below ranks car insurance prices for a handful of the more affordable vehicles to insure in California.
| Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Honda Accord LX-P 4-Dr Sedan | $836 |
| Hyundai Elantra SE Touring Station Wagon | $907 |
| Toyota Prius | $926 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan CV | $938 |
| Chevrolet Malibu LS | $990 |
| Ford Escape XLS 4WD | $1,027 |
| Toyota Camry SE | $1,042 |
| Honda CR-V EX-L 2WD | $1,052 |
| Kia Optima LX | $1,058 |
| Honda Odyssey EX | $1,108 |
| Ford Focus S 4-Dr Sedan | $1,114 |
| Ford Edge SE AWD | $1,108 |
| Toyota RAV4 Limited 4WD | $1,129 |
| Ford Explorer XLT AWD | $1,150 |
| Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD LTZ Crew Cab Diesel 2WD | $1,152 |
| Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport 4WD 4-Dr | $1,172 |
| GMC Sierra 2500HD SLE Extended Cab 2WD | $1,181 |
| Chevrolet Impala LTZ | $1,189 |
| Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD LT Extended Cab Diesel 2WD | $1,202 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LTZ 2WD | $1,212 |
| Hyundai Sonata GLS 4-Dr Sedan | $1,214 |
| Ford F-250 XL Super Cab Harley Edition 4WD | $1,216 |
| Honda Civic EX 2-Dr Coupe | $1,228 |
| Compare Rates Now Go | |
Data assumes single female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, claim-free, safe-driver, multi-vehicle, and homeowner. Price estimates do not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can modify auto insurance rates substantially.
Based upon these rates, vehicles like the Honda Accord, Hyundai Elantra, Toyota Prius, Dodge Grand Caravan, and Chevrolet Malibu will definitely be the cheaper vehicles to insure for bad credit.
For bad credit, one of the more important criteria that help determine the amount you pay each year for auto insurance is where your residence is. Areas with high crime rates or more dense population tend to pay slightly more, whereas areas with fewer weather claims and lower vehicle theft rates have the enjoyment of a little cheaper coverage.
The information below rates the most expensive areas in California for low credit scores to purchase auto insurance in. Bakersfield makes the list at #23 with an annual cost of $1,340 for the average insured, which is about $112 monthly.
| Rank | City | Annual Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles | $2,168 |
| 2 | Glendale | $2,079 |
| 3 | Oakland | $1,738 |
| 4 | San Francisco | $1,693 |
| 5 | Sacramento | $1,652 |
| 6 | San Bernardino | $1,644 |
| 7 | Long Beach | $1,626 |
| 8 | Stockton | $1,588 |
| 9 | Fontana | $1,566 |
| 10 | Moreno Valley | $1,551 |
| 11 | Santa Clarita | $1,548 |
| 12 | Modesto | $1,547 |
| 13 | Garden Grove | $1,508 |
| 14 | Riverside | $1,497 |
| 15 | Fresno | $1,472 |
| 16 | Santa Ana | $1,453 |
| 17 | Anaheim | $1,430 |
| 18 | San Jose | $1,395 |
| 19 | Fremont | $1,389 |
| 20 | San Diego | $1,381 |
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Information shown are comparative as the specific Bakersfield residence address can affect insurance rates noticeably.
Finding reliable, cost effective car insurance is not most people’s favorite thing to do, and finding out which company offers the lowest-priced auto insurance rates for low credit scores will require additional perseverance. Each company uses different criteria for setting rates, so let’s begin by examining the most affordable auto insurance companies in Bakersfield, CA.
We do need to point out that California auto insurance rates are impacted by many factors that will increase or decrease the price you pay. Events like a birthday, filing a claim, or getting caught speeding can trigger changes in premium resulting in some rates now being much higher than others.
Cheapest Insurance Rates in California
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | USAA | $1,121 |
| 2 | Wawanesa | $1,181 |
| 3 | Century National | $1,190 |
| 4 | CSAA | $1,198 |
| 5 | Nationwide | $1,213 |
| 6 | 21st Century | $1,338 |
| 7 | Grange | $1,477 |
| 8 | Mercury | $1,488 |
| 9 | Allstate | $1,513 |
| 10 | GEICO | $1,529 |
| 11 | Progressive | $1,558 |
| 12 | Allied | $1,588 |
| 13 | The Hartford | $1,591 |
| 14 | MetLife | $1,606 |
| 15 | State Farm | $1,682 |
| 16 | Unitrin | $1,733 |
| 17 | Esurance | $1,756 |
| 18 | Bristol West | $1,831 |
| 19 | Travelers | $1,860 |
| 20 | Farmers | $1,946 |
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USAA normally has some of the most affordable car insurance rates in Bakersfield at around $1,121 each year. Wawanesa, Century National, CSAA, and Nationwide are also some of the most economical Bakersfield, CA car insurance companies.
As the rates illustrate above, if you are a customer of CSAA and switched to Wawanesa, you may realize a yearly savings of in the neighborhood of $17. Drivers with Nationwide may save as much as $32 a year, and 21st Century customers might reduce prices by as much as $157 a year.
Be aware that those policy prices are averaged for all ages of drivers and types of vehicles and do not factor in an exact zip code location for low credit scores. So the insurer that fits you best may not even be in the top 24 companies shown above. That helps illustrate why you need to get rate quotes from many companies using your own driver data and vehicle information.
California auto insurance companies
Picking the right insurance provider can be a challenge considering how many companies sell coverage in California. The company ratings in the lists below may help you select which insurers you want to consider purchasing a policy from.
The rankings below are only comprised of large nationwide companies, so companies without a large exposure will not be included in this list. To compare rates from these and other companies in California, follow this link.
Top 10 Major Auto Insurance Companies in Bakersfield Ranked by Claims Service
- AAA of Southern California
- State Farm
- Esurance
- AAA Insurance
- Progressive
- Liberty Mutual
- GEICO
- Allstate
- Titan Insurance
- The Hartford
Top 10 Major Auto Insurance Companies in Bakersfield Ranked by Value
- USAA
- American Family
- The Hartford
- AAA of Southern California
- Titan Insurance
- The General
- AAA Insurance
- State Farm
- Mercury Insurance
- Nationwide
The chart below shows how choosing a deductible can change yearly insurance costs when trying to find cheap insurance for low credit scores. The rate quotes are based on a married female driver, comp and collision included, and no discounts are applied.
The data above shows that a 40-year-old driver could lower their policy premium by $408 a year by increasing from a $100 deductible up to a $500 deductible, or save $614 by switching to a $1,000 deductible. Youthful drivers, like the Age 20 chart data, could lower their rates up to $1,008 each year by choosing larger deductibles on their policy.
When raising deductibles, it will be important to have spare funds to enable you to cover the extra out-of-pocket expense. That is the one disadvantage of using higher deductibles.
Poor driving habits will raise your auto insurance rates
In a perfect world, the best way to enjoy the best auto insurance premiums in California for bad credit is to be a good driver and avoid at-fault accidents and violations. The example below illustrates how speeding tickets and accidents impact insurance costs for each age group. The premiums are based on a single female driver, full physical damage coverage, $1,000 deductibles, and no additional discounts are factored in.
In the previous example, the average cost of a car insurance policy in California per year with no accidents and a clean driving record is $1,909. Get written up for two speeding tickets and the average cost surges to $2,549, an increase of $640 each year. Now throw in one accident along with the two speeding tickets and the annual cost of auto insurance for low credit scores increases to an average of $3,198. That’s an increase of $1,290, or $107 per month, just for not driving carefully!
If you have coverage questions and would like to have some professional guidance when shopping for cheaper insurance for bad credit, the agents shown below can most likely aid you in deciding which auto insurance policy fits you best.
To locate a Bakersfield car insurance agency by location nearest to you, click the button at the bottom of the list.
- Jeremy Scheidle – State Farm Insurance Agent
2017 24th St – Bakersfield, CA 93301 – (661) 861-9797 - Mike Brazzell – State Farm Insurance Agent
3721 Columbus St – Bakersfield, CA 93306 – (661) 872-7770 - Nationwide Insurance – Michaud Insurance Agency Inc
3795 Niles St – Bakersfield, CA 93306 – (661) 633-9900 - Fallgatter Rhodes Insurance
1701 G St – Bakersfield, CA 93301 – (661) 324-2424 - Nationwide Insurance: Michaud Insurance Agency Inc
201 California Ave – Bakersfield, CA 93304 – (661) 633-9900
View map of Bakersfield, CA insurance agents
Tips to find economical car insurance for low credit scores
It’s not impossible to find cheaper rates, and here are a few penny-pinching suggestions that can help California drivers get low-cost auto insurance.
- Do not get traffic tickets
- Buy vehicles with five-star safety ratings
- Raise deductibles
- Do not pay for full coverage if not needed
- Good credit scores may make rates cheaper
- Avoid at-fault accidents and claims
- Keep rates low by comparing prices once a year
That last piece of advice is certainly necessary, as was noted in the prior information. Car insurance rates can change considerably in a year, so don’t be hesitant to buy from a different company if a lower price can be found. Many drivers prefer to stick with one company, but it’s not a good idea if that faithfulness ends up costing you hundreds of dollars a year. Now is a great time to shop around and find cheaper auto insurance for low credit scores in Bakersfield.