The words "low-priced" and "insurance" really should not be used together, in particular when you are trying to find the best car insurance rates for high risk drivers. To save some money, let's learn about a few of the factors that influence auto insurance prices, and find out if we can help you take a little off the next policy you buy.
Deciphering which insurers offer the best auto insurance rates for high risk drivers involves a little more effort than just comparing rates from one or two companies. Each auto insurer has their own process for determining rates in each state, so to begin we'll rank the auto insurance companies with the overall best prices in Santa Ana.
Find Cheaper Auto Insurance for Risky Drivers
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | USAA | $1,155 |
| 2 | Wawanesa | $1,157 |
| 3 | CSAA | $1,198 |
| 4 | Nationwide | $1,213 |
| 5 | Century National | $1,214 |
| 6 | 21st Century | $1,379 |
| 7 | Grange | $1,433 |
| 8 | Mercury | $1,488 |
| 9 | Allstate | $1,497 |
| 10 | GEICO | $1,529 |
| 11 | Allied | $1,541 |
| 12 | Progressive | $1,542 |
| 13 | MetLife | $1,638 |
| 14 | The Hartford | $1,639 |
| 15 | Unitrin | $1,699 |
| 16 | Esurance | $1,705 |
| 17 | State Farm | $1,750 |
| 18 | Bristol West | $1,831 |
| 19 | Travelers | $1,842 |
| 20 | Farmers | $1,966 |
| View More Rates Go | ||
USAA may offer some of the best car insurance rates in Santa Ana at around $1,155 per year. Wawanesa, CSAA, Nationwide, and Century National would also make the list of some of the best Santa Ana, CA car insurance companies.
As illustrated above, if you are currently insured with Wawanesa and switched to USAA, you might achieve an annual savings of in the neighborhood of $2. Drivers with CSAA could save as much as $43 a year, and Nationwide customers might reduce prices by as much as $58 a year.
It's important to note that these premium estimates are averaged across all insureds and vehicles and and are not calculated with a specific zip code for high risk drivers. So the car insurance company that has the lowest price for you may not even be in the top 24 companies shown above. That's why you need to quote rates from many companies using your own personalized driver profile and vehicle information.
For high risk drivers, one of the more important criteria that help determine the price you pay for insurance is the neighborhood you call home. More populated areas tend to have more expensive auto insurance rates, whereas areas that tend to be more rural benefit from lower rates.
The information below sorts the most expensive places in California for high risk drivers to buy car insurance in. Santa Ana is ranked #14 with an annual rate of $1,497 for the average policy, which is about $125 per month.
| Rank | City | Average Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles | $2,146 |
| 2 | Glendale | $2,121 |
| 3 | San Francisco | $1,745 |
| 4 | Oakland | $1,687 |
| 5 | Sacramento | $1,669 |
| 6 | San Bernardino | $1,628 |
| 7 | Stockton | $1,603 |
| 8 | Fontana | $1,581 |
| 9 | Santa Clarita | $1,580 |
| 10 | Long Beach | $1,578 |
| 11 | Modesto | $1,532 |
| 12 | Garden Grove | $1,524 |
| 13 | Moreno Valley | $1,506 |
| 14 | Santa Ana | $1,497 |
| 15 | Riverside | $1,482 |
| 16 | Fresno | $1,472 |
| 17 | Anaheim | $1,444 |
| 18 | San Jose | $1,423 |
| 19 | Fremont | $1,403 |
| 20 | Bakersfield | $1,381 |
| 21 | San Diego | $1,381 |
| 22 | Huntington Beach | $1,374 |
| 23 | Irvine | $1,330 |
| 24 | Oxnard | $1,318 |
| 25 | Chula Vista | $1,298 |
| Find the Best Rates Go | ||
Table data uses approximated as the specific geographic location can revise premium rates significantly.
The type of vehicle that needs insurance is probably the largest consideration when shopping for low-cost auto insurance for high risk drivers. Vehicles with high performance features, poor passenger safety features, or high incidents of liability claims will cost much more to insure than safer models.
The information below presents coverage rates for a selection of the most cost-effective automobiles to insure in California.
| Make, Model, and Trim Level | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Honda CR-V EX 2WD | $3,728 |
| Ford Escape Limited 4WD | $3,853 |
| Honda Accord EX-L 4-Dr Sedan | $3,975 |
| Toyota Prius | $4,019 |
| Honda Odyssey LX | $4,050 |
| Jeep Wrangler Sport Islander Package 4WD 2-Dr | $4,168 |
| Nissan Altima 2.5 4-Dr Sedan | $4,287 |
| GMC Sierra SL Extended Cab 2WD | $4,294 |
| Toyota Tacoma Double Cab TRD Off-Road Package 4WD | $4,327 |
| Ford F-150 Lariat Super Cab 4WD | $4,333 |
| Ford Explorer Limited 4WD | $4,327 |
| Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid | $4,416 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LS AWD | $4,426 |
| Toyota RAV4 Sport 4WD | $4,416 |
| Ford Focus SEL 4-Dr Sedan | $4,441 |
| Start a Quote Go | |
Data based on single male driver age 50, two speeding tickets, two at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-vehicle, and multi-policy. Rate quotes do not factor in garaging location in Santa Ana, CA which can lower or raise coverage rates substantially.
Looking at the rates, you can presume that vehicles like the Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, Honda Accord, Toyota Prius, and Honda Odyssey are some of the most affordable vehicles to insure for high risk drivers. Prices will tend to be higher because of the fact that there is a higher risk for high risk drivers, but in general those particular models will probably have the best rates compared to all other vehicles.
Liability only or full coverage
Buying cheaper auto insurance is the goal of most people, and one good way to pay lower rates for insurance for high risk drivers is to buy only liability coverage. The illustration below illustrates the comparison of insurance rates with full coverage compared to only the California minimum liability coverage. The price estimates are based on no claims or driving violations, $100 deductibles, marital status is single, and no discounts are factored in.
If we average the cost for ages 20 through 70, physical damage insurance costs an extra $3,385 per year over liability only. At some point, every insured wonders if it's worth it to buy full coverage. There isn't a written rule for eliminating physical damage coverage on your policy, but there is a broad guideline. If the annual cost of comprehensive and collision coverage is more than around 10% of replacement cost minus your deductible, then you might want to think about dropping full coverage.
For example, let's pretend your vehicle's replacement value is $7,500 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is destroyed, the most you would receive is $6,500 after paying your policy deductible. If it's costing you more than $650 annually for physical damage coverage, then it may be the right time to buy liability only.
There are a few situations where eliminating full coverage is not a good plan. If you still owe money on your vehicle, you have to carry full coverage in order to prevent the bank from purchasing higher-priced coverage. Also, if you can't afford to buy a different vehicle in the even your car is totaled, you should not eliminate full coverage.
Bad driving habits will cost you more
The easiest method to maintain low auto insurance prices in California for high risk drivers is to be a cautious driver and avoid accidents and keep your driving record clean. The chart below illustrates how speeding tickets and accident claims impact annual premium costs for different ages of insureds. The price estimates are based on a single male driver, comp and collision included, $100 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 a clean driving record and no accidents is $2,812. Factor in two speeding tickets and the average cost swells to $3,745, an increase of $933 each year. Then add in one accident along with the two speeding tickets and the annual cost of auto insurance for high risk drivers jumps again to an average of $4,679. That's an increase of $1,866, or $156 per month, just for not driving responsibly!
Why are you paying too much for car insurance?
California auto insurance rates are impacted by many things that control the price you have to pay for coverage. Simply turning a year older, buying higher coverage limits, or having a fender bender can cause premium changes that can make some companies cheaper than before.
In addition, auto insurance companies file new rates as needed in order to remain profitable. Higher than normal claims can cause higher priced premiums, while profitable underwriting may result in more affordable Santa Ana car insurance rates.
As an example, the bar chart below shows which company has the cheapest car insurance in Santa Ana, CA for a 35-year-old male driver with a clear driving record, no claims, and a high credit rating. When comparing rates based on his personal profile, USAA might quote the cheapest car insurance rates in Santa Ana at $1,273 a year. This is $378 less than the average rate paid by California drivers of $1,651. Wawanesa, CSAA, Century National, and Nationwide round out the rest of the most affordable Santa Ana, CA auto insurance companies.
Let's now give the driver from the first example a couple of claims, slightly worse credit, and a traffic ticket or two. Since each company has a different process to set their prices, comparing prices may now present a different set of cheap Santa Ana auto insurance companies as shown below.
Grange now has the cheapest rate in Santa Ana with Allstate, Progressive, GEICO, and Allied now rounding out the top five. This example demonstrates why drivers need to shop around to find the most budget-friendly auto insurance quotes for high risk drivers.
Auto insurance prices are calculated by many different factors and change dramatically, so the best company when you bought your policy may now be quite expensive.
Tips for buying cheaper insurance for high risk drivers
The list below shows a few money-saving suggestions that can help California drivers get cheaper coverage.
- Do not pay for full coverage on older vehicles
- Drive a car with a high safety rating
- Avoid at-fault accidents and claims
- Insure your home and auto with the same company
- Drivers with good credit often pay less
- Shop around for lower rates once a year
The last tip in the list is highly critical, as was pointed out in the article above. Car insurance prices vary greatly, so don't hesitate to buy a different policy if a more affordable price is available.
Brand loyalty is great, but it isn't a good idea if it's costing you thousands of dollars over several years. In just a couple of minutes you could compare prices and find cheaper car insurance for high risk drivers in Santa Ana.
The insurance agencies below can probably answer your questions and help you decide which car insurance policy is best, as many people would rather have a consultation when comparing insurance rates for high risk drivers. It's not always simple to find the best coverage on your own, so getting professional guidance from a licensed agent can provide you peace of mind knowing your policy gives you adequate protection. To locate a Santa Ana car insurance agency nearest to you, click the link at the bottom.
- Insurance Partners Inc
2107 N Broadway #108 - Santa Ana, CA 92706 - (714) 285-4800 - Nano Insurance Services
423 E First St - Santa Ana, CA 92701 - (714) 564-0398 - Farmers Insurance: Patricia Kelly
310 N Tustin Ave #A - Santa Ana, CA 92705 - (714) 541-3334 - Monica Drevon - State Farm Insurance Agent
3740 S Bristol St - Santa Ana, CA 92704 - (714) 966-2679