The type of vehicle that is being insured is one of the primary factors when quoting low-cost auto insurance for drivers with bad credit. Vehicles with more horsepower, a lack of modern safety features, or an increased likelihood of liability claims will cost more to insure than more modest models. The next list ranks car insurance premiums for a number of the more affordable automobiles to insure in California.
| Vehicle | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Honda CR-V LX 2WD | $1,025 |
| Jeep Wrangler Sport 4WD 2-Dr | $1,064 |
| Ford Escape XLT 2WD | $1,126 |
| Honda Accord EX 4-Dr Sedan | $1,132 |
| Toyota Prius | $1,137 |
| Honda Odyssey EX | $1,194 |
| Chevrolet Impala LS | $1,200 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LT AWD | $1,217 |
| Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4WD | $1,240 |
| Chevrolet Silverado LT Regular Cab | $1,302 |
| Kia Optima LX | $1,309 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 2WD | $1,306 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan CV | $1,313 |
| GMC Sierra SLE Crew Cab 4WD | $1,306 |
| Volkswagen Jetta SE 4-Dr Sedan | $1,313 |
| Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD LT Crew Cab 2WD | $1,331 |
| Toyota RAV4 Limited 4WD | $1,340 |
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Premium data assumes single male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, multi-policy, and homeowner. Premium amounts do not factor in garaging location in Santa Ana, CA which can affect insurance rates noticeably.
Based upon the rates shown, you can conclude that cars like the Honda CR-V, Jeep Wrangler, Ford Escape, and Honda Accord are going to be some of the most economical vehicles to insure for people with poor credit. The price for an auto insurance policy will be more costly because of the fact that there is a higher risk for drivers with bad credit, but overall those specific models will probably have the lowest insurance prices compared to all other vehicles.
Comparing quotes for low-priced auto insurance is not the easiest thing to accomplish, and determining which insurers offer the cheapest auto insurance rates for drivers with bad credit calls for even more rate comparisons. Every insurance provider uses their own calculation for setting prices, so let's take a look at the most budget-friendly auto insurance companies in Santa Ana.
It's important that you understand Santa Ana, CA auto insurance rates are calculated based on many things which can significantly increase or decrease the price you have to pay. Getting older, buying a home instead of renting, or getting a ticket for careless driving can produce rate changes resulting in some rates now being less affordable than competitors.
Best Cheap Insurance Rates with Bad Credit
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | USAA | $1,109 |
| 2 | Wawanesa | $1,157 |
| 3 | Century National | $1,178 |
| 4 | CSAA | $1,222 |
| 5 | Nationwide | $1,250 |
| 6 | 21st Century | $1,366 |
| 7 | Grange | $1,477 |
| 8 | Progressive | $1,512 |
| 9 | GEICO | $1,529 |
| 10 | Mercury | $1,548 |
| 11 | Allstate | $1,559 |
| 12 | Allied | $1,588 |
| 13 | MetLife | $1,590 |
| 14 | The Hartford | $1,639 |
| 15 | State Farm | $1,733 |
| 16 | Unitrin | $1,750 |
| 17 | Esurance | $1,756 |
| 18 | Travelers | $1,842 |
| 19 | Bristol West | $1,849 |
| 20 | Farmers | $2,026 |
| Quote Your Rates Go | ||
USAA generally has some of the lowest car insurance rates in Santa Ana at around $1,109 per year. Wawanesa, Century National, CSAA, and Nationwide would also make the list of some of the best Santa Ana, CA car insurance companies.
As the example above demonstrates, if you currently buy coverage from CSAA and switched to Wawanesa, you may realize an annual premium reduction of in the vicinity of $65. Drivers with Nationwide may save as much as $93 a year, and 21st Century insureds might realize rate reductions of up to $209 a year.
To find cheaper insurance rates for your vehicle, click here to start a quote or visit several of the following companies.
Be aware that those estimates are averages for all insureds and vehicles and are not factoring in a specific vehicle garaging location for drivers with bad credit. So the insurer that is best suited for you may not even be in the top 24 companies shown above. That illustrates why you need to compare rates from as many companies as possible using your own driver information and specific vehicle type.
For people with poor credit, one of the big considerations that are looked at to determine car insurance rates is your zip code in Santa Ana. Regions with larger populations or more claims likely pay more, whereas areas with less people or fewer weather incidents have the enjoyment of a little cheaper coverage.
The information below ranks the most costly cities in California for drivers with bad credit to buy an auto insurance policy in. Santa Ana is ranked #17 with the yearly price of $1,453 for the average policy, which is around $121 per month.
| Rank | City | Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glendale | $2,121 |
| 2 | Los Angeles | $2,104 |
| 3 | San Francisco | $1,763 |
| 4 | Oakland | $1,738 |
| 5 | Sacramento | $1,720 |
| 6 | San Bernardino | $1,644 |
| 7 | Long Beach | $1,626 |
| 8 | Santa Clarita | $1,595 |
| 9 | Stockton | $1,556 |
| 10 | Riverside | $1,542 |
| 11 | Moreno Valley | $1,536 |
| 12 | Garden Grove | $1,524 |
| 13 | Fontana | $1,519 |
| 14 | Modesto | $1,487 |
| 15 | Anaheim | $1,474 |
| 16 | Fresno | $1,472 |
| 17 | Santa Ana | $1,453 |
| 18 | Irvine | $1,384 |
| 19 | San Jose | $1,381 |
| 20 | San Diego | $1,368 |
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Prices are estimated as the vehicle garaging location can influence coverage prices significantly.
Should you buy full coverage?
Finding the cheapest auto insurance is important to the majority of people, and one easy way to find cheap insurance for drivers with bad credit is to buy liability only. The example below shows the difference between insurance costs with full physical damage coverage and with liability coverage only. Data assumes no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, marital status is single, and no additional discounts are factored in.
If averaged out across all ages, comp and collision coverage costs $2,075 per year over and above liability only. At some point, every insured wonders when is the right time to remove full coverage. There is no set rule to eliminate full coverage on your policy, but there is a guideline you can use. If the annual cost of having full coverage is about 10% or more of the replacement cost minus the deductible, then it could be time to drop full coverage.
There are some conditions where removing full coverage is not recommended. If you still have a lienholder on your title, you are required to maintain full coverage as part of the loan conditions. Also, if your savings is not enough to buy a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should keep full coverage.
How violations and accidents impact rates
The common sense way to find the most affordable auto insurance premiums in Santa Ana for people with poor credit is to drive safe and avoid accidents and violations. The illustration below demonstrates how traffic citations and at-fault claims drive up insurance costs for different age groups of insureds. Data assumes a single female driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $100 deductibles, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
In the previous example, the average cost of a car insurance policy in California per year with no accidents or violations is $3,262. Add in two speeding tickets and the average cost rises to $4,398, an increase of $1,136 each year. Now add in two accidents along with the two speeding tickets and the yearly cost of auto insurance for drivers with bad credit goes up to an average of $8,399. That's an increase of $5,137, or $428 per month, just for being a little careless behind the wheel!
How to get discounts on Santa Ana auto insurance rates
Insurance companies that offer quotes for drivers with bad credit could also offer premium discounts that can reduce rates by as much as 35% if you can meet the requirements. A list of companies and a summarized list of policyholder discounts are detailed below.
- 21st Century offers discounts including driver training, teen driver, automatic seat belts, defensive driver, and air bags.
- State Farm has savings for good student, passive restraint, driver's education, multiple autos, accident-free, Drive Safe & Save, and Steer Clear safe driver discount.
- AAA includes discounts for good driver, education and occupation, multi-policy, AAA membership discount, and anti-theft.
- Liberty Mutual may have discounts that include multi-car, newly married, multi-policy, safety features, new move discount, teen driver discount, and new graduate.
- Progressive offers premium reductions for online signing, online quote discount, homeowner, multi-policy, good student, and continuous coverage.
The information below compares insurance premiums with and without discounts applied to the premium. Data assumes a female driver, no claims or violations, California state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $1,000 deductibles.
The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multiple policy, passive restraint, safe-driver, claim-free, anti-theft, and vehicle safety discounts applied. When drivers qualify for the discounts, theaverage amount saved on auto insurance for drivers with bad credit is 28% or $493.
Why you should compare rates
Santa Ana, CA auto insurance rates are influenced by many factors which can substantially change the cost of a policy. Simply turning a year older, filing a claim, or getting caught speeding may cause policy rate changes that may make certain companies more affordable than competitors. Additionally, insurers change the rates they charge in California without warning to adjust for heavy claims or excess profits. A period of increased losses can cause higher prices, while lower claim levels may result in more affordable Santa Ana car insurance rates.
For instance, the chart below demonstrates which company has the cheapest car insurance in Santa Ana, CA for a 35-year-old female driver with a clear driving record, no claims, and a good credit rating. If we estimate prices based on her current risk profile, USAA might quote the best car insurance rates in Santa Ana at $1,306 a year. This is $345 less than the average premium paid by California drivers of $1,651. Wawanesa, Century National, CSAA, and Nationwide are also included in the cheapest Santa Ana, CA auto insurance companies.
The example below compares rates after we give the driver in the first chart a claim or two, less-than-perfect credit, and a traffic ticket or two. Due to the fact that each insurance company has their own formula for determining rates in each state, comparing insurance quotes may now present a different list of the cheapest companies as shown below.
Grange now has the best price in Santa Ana, CA with Allstate, Mercury, Progressive, and GEICO now being in the top five. This illustrates why Santa Ana drivers need to shop around to get cheap auto insurance rates for drivers with bad credit. Auto insurance prices are calculated by many things and can decrease or increase without notice, so the most affordable company the last time you compared rates may now be an over-priced policy.