It would sure be easy if we could simply give you the name of the one company in California that has the cheapest coverage in California. Unfortunately, it's just not that easy, as there are a ton of unknown aspects such as the vehicle you drive, the number of miles you drive each year, if you are currently insured, and what physical damage coverage deductibles you want. In this article, we will cover the causes of high insurance rates and hopefully give you enough understanding to have a good start in finding the cheapest car insurance in Santa Ana.
For poor drivers, one of the more important factors that determine the annual cost of car insurance is the neighborhood you call home in Santa Ana. Cities with larger populations likely pay more, whereas areas with less people or fewer weather incidents have the benefit of cheaper auto insurance prices.
The information below lists the highest-priced places in California for low income drivers to purchase auto insurance in. Santa Ana is listed at #16 with an annual premium of $1,453 for the average insured, which is about $121 per month.
| Rank | City | Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles | $2,146 |
| 2 | Glendale | $2,079 |
| 3 | San Francisco | $1,763 |
| 4 | Sacramento | $1,720 |
| 5 | Oakland | $1,687 |
| 6 | San Bernardino | $1,628 |
| 7 | Long Beach | $1,626 |
| 8 | Fontana | $1,566 |
| 9 | Stockton | $1,556 |
| 10 | Santa Clarita | $1,533 |
| 11 | Modesto | $1,532 |
| 12 | Riverside | $1,527 |
| 13 | Garden Grove | $1,508 |
| 14 | Moreno Valley | $1,491 |
| 15 | Fresno | $1,457 |
| 16 | Santa Ana | $1,453 |
| 17 | Anaheim | $1,444 |
| 18 | San Jose | $1,423 |
| 19 | Bakersfield | $1,381 |
| 20 | Huntington Beach | $1,374 |
| 21 | Fremont | $1,348 |
| 22 | Chula Vista | $1,337 |
| 23 | Irvine | $1,330 |
| 24 | San Diego | $1,327 |
| 25 | Oxnard | $1,304 |
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Premium costs are comparative as the specific geographic location can affect premiums significantly.
The vehicle you are trying to insure is one of the primary factors when shopping for the best cheap coverage for low income drivers. Vehicles with economical engines, modern passenger safety features, or a low likelihood of having liability claims will cost quite a bit less to insure than higher performance models.
The next list illustrates car insurance premiums for a selection of the cheapest vehicles to insure.
| Vehicle Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Honda CR-V LX 4WD | $1,021 |
| Ford Escape XLS 4WD | $1,115 |
| Ford F-150 XL Super Cab 2WD | $1,119 |
| Honda Accord EX-L 4-Dr Sedan | $1,244 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan CV | $1,249 |
| Honda Odyssey LX | $1,267 |
| Toyota Camry XLE | $1,271 |
| Toyota Corolla LE | $1,277 |
| Toyota Prius | $1,276 |
| Volkswagen Jetta 2.0T 4-Dr Sedan | $1,294 |
| Chevrolet Impala LS | $1,301 |
| Jeep Wrangler Sahara 4WD 2-Dr | $1,296 |
| Toyota RAV4 Limited 2WD | $1,322 |
| Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4WD | $1,330 |
| Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 4WD | $1,347 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LT 2WD | $1,360 |
| Honda Civic LX 4-Dr Sedan | $1,367 |
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Data based on single male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, claim-free, and homeowner. Rate information does not factor in vehicle garaging location which can raise or lower price quotes significantly.
Looking at the rates, you can expect makes and models like the Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, Ford F-150, Honda Accord, and Dodge Grand Caravan will be the most budget-friendly vehicles to insure for poor drivers.
The illustration below demonstrates how deductible levels can change insurance costs when trying to find cheap insurance for low income drivers. The rates are based on a single male driver, full coverage, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
A 50-year-old driver could lower their car insurance rates by $362 a year by switching their comprehensive and collision coverages from a $100 deductible to a $500 deductible, or save $546 by using a $1,000 deductible. Young drivers, like the 20-year-old example, could reduce their rates $1,190 every year just by choosing higher deductibles. If you do decide to increase your deductibles, it will be necessary to have enough funds in savings to allow you to cover the extra out-of-pocket expense, which is the one disadvantage of using larger deductibles.
Cost difference between full coverage and liability
Paying less for auto insurance should be important to the majority of vehicle owners, and an easy way to find cheaper insurance for low income drivers is to not buy full coverage. The chart below shows the comparison of yearly insurance costs with full coverage and liability only. The information is based on no claims or violations, $250 deductibles, single marital status, and no discounts are factored in.
If averaged for all ages, comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy costs an additional $3,093 per year more than buying just liability insurance. Lot's of drivers question if paying for full coverage is worth it. There isn't a steadfast formula to stop paying for full coverage, but there is a general guideline you can use. If the yearly cost of full coverage is more than 10% of replacement cost minus your deductible, then you might want to think about dropping full coverage.
For example, let's assume your vehicle's settlement value is $10,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, you would only receive $9,000 after paying your policy deductible. If premiums are more than $900 annually to have full coverage, then it could be time to drop full coverage.
Insurance rate increases from tickets or accidents
The recommended way to receive the best auto insurance rates in California for poor drivers is to pay attention while driving and avoid accidents and traffic citations. The example below highlights how speeding tickets and accident claims can raise auto insurance costs for different categories of driver ages. The data is based on a single male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $500 deductibles, and no other discounts are factored in.
In the previous chart, the average cost of auto insurance per year with no accidents and a clean driving record is $2,273. Receive two speeding tickets and the average cost surges to $3,012, an increase of $739 each year. Then add one accident along with the two speeding tickets and the annual cost of auto insurance for low income drivers increases to an average of $3,753. That's an increase of $1,480, or $123 per month, just for not driving safely!
How to find more affordable auto insurance for low income drivers
The list below shows a few money-saving suggestions that can help Santa Ana drivers find low-cost car insurance.
- Do not get into accidents that are your fault
- Full coverage may not be needed on older vehicles
- Save money by staying claim-free
- Serious violations like DUI or reckless driving can increase rates dramatically
- Increase your policy deductibles
- Compare rates often to find the best deal
That last piece of advice is remarkably crucial, as we stressed in this piece. Car insurance prices in Santa Ana change frequently, so drivers shouldn't hesitate to buy from a new company if a lower price can be found.
Brand loyalty is great, but it's not a good idea if your bullheadedness ends up costing you a small fortune year after year. In just a couple of minutes you could compare prices to find cheaper car insurance for low income drivers.