The words "affordable" and "auto insurance" probably shouldn't be used in the same sentence, in particular when trying to find the cheapest car insurance for retired military. Let's go over a few of the things that have an effect on car insurance rates, and find a way to take the sting out of your next policy.
The vehicle you are insuring is one of the largest considerations that determines the availability of the cheapest coverage for retired military. Vehicles with average performance, good safety features, or low incidents of liability claims will cost quite a bit less to insure than adrenaline junky models.
The information below outlines insurance rates for a selection of the more affordable vehicles to insure.
| Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Honda Accord LX-P 4-Dr Sedan | $948 |
| Honda CR-V LX 4WD | $956 |
| Ford Escape Limited 2WD | $1,098 |
| Chevrolet Impala LS | $1,102 |
| Chevrolet Silverado LS Regular Cab 2WD | $1,122 |
| Ford Explorer Limited 2WD | $1,144 |
| Toyota Prius | $1,155 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan CV | $1,161 |
| Toyota Tacoma 4WD | $1,170 |
| Ford Focus SEL 4-Dr Sedan | $1,161 |
| Nissan Rogue S 2WD | $1,203 |
| Hyundai Sonata GLS 4-Dr Sedan | $1,211 |
| Jeep Wrangler Sahara 4WD 2-Dr | $1,205 |
| Toyota RAV4 2WD | $1,229 |
| Chevrolet Malibu LT | $1,253 |
| Ford Fusion Sport AWD 4-Dr Sedan | $1,286 |
| Honda Odyssey EX-L W/Navigation | $1,297 |
| Ford Edge Limited AWD | $1,304 |
| Dodge Ram 3500 Crew Cab SLT 2WD | $1,306 |
| Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD LTZ Crew Cab Diesel 2WD | $1,316 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 2WD | $1,322 |
| Hyundai Elantra SE 4-Dr Sedan | $1,324 |
| Ford F-250 XL Turbo Diesel 2WD | $1,346 |
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Table data represents single male 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, homeowner, multi-vehicle, and safe-driver. Table data does not factor in vehicle location which can influence premiums considerably.
Based upon these rates, we can assume that makes and models like the Honda Accord, Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, and Chevrolet Impala are most likely to be the more affordable vehicles to insure for veterans.
One of the more important factors that are looked at to help calculate the amount you pay each year for auto insurance is where your car is garaged. Areas with increased crime or more people tend to have more expensive car insurance rates, whereas areas that tend to be more rural have the benefit of cheaper car insurance.
The following table sorts the most costly cities in California for retired military to buy an auto insurance policy in. Santa Ana is listed at #16 with an annual rate of $1,497 for the average policyholder, which is around $125 monthly.
| Rank | City | Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles | $2,168 |
| 2 | Glendale | $2,121 |
| 3 | San Francisco | $1,763 |
| 4 | Oakland | $1,755 |
| 5 | Sacramento | $1,703 |
| 6 | Long Beach | $1,610 |
| 7 | Stockton | $1,588 |
| 8 | San Bernardino | $1,580 |
| 9 | Moreno Valley | $1,551 |
| 10 | Santa Clarita | $1,533 |
| 11 | Modesto | $1,532 |
| 12 | Riverside | $1,527 |
| 13 | Fontana | $1,519 |
| 14 | Fresno | $1,517 |
| 15 | Garden Grove | $1,508 |
| 16 | Santa Ana | $1,497 |
| 17 | Anaheim | $1,444 |
| 18 | Fremont | $1,403 |
| 19 | San Jose | $1,395 |
| 20 | Huntington Beach | $1,374 |
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Rates are approximated as specific Santa Ana garaging address can increase or decrease premium rates noticeably.
Trying to find low-cost auto insurance is not most people's favorite thing to do, and figuring out which company quotes the cheapest car insurance rates for retired military may require more quotes for comparison. Each insurance company has their own process for filing rates in each state, so first we will examine the overall cheapest car insurance companies in California.
Compare Cheap Insurance Quotes for Vets
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | USAA | $1,109 |
| 2 | Wawanesa | $1,181 |
| 3 | CSAA | $1,222 |
| 4 | Century National | $1,226 |
| 5 | Nationwide | $1,263 |
| 6 | 21st Century | $1,366 |
| 7 | Grange | $1,477 |
| 8 | Allstate | $1,497 |
| 9 | Mercury | $1,503 |
| 10 | Progressive | $1,512 |
| 11 | Allied | $1,556 |
| 12 | GEICO | $1,575 |
| 13 | The Hartford | $1,575 |
| 14 | MetLife | $1,606 |
| 15 | Unitrin | $1,699 |
| 16 | Esurance | $1,705 |
| 17 | State Farm | $1,750 |
| 18 | Bristol West | $1,795 |
| 19 | Travelers | $1,842 |
| 20 | Farmers | $2,006 |
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USAA generally has some of the most affordable car insurance rates in Santa Ana at around $1,109 per year. Wawanesa, CSAA, Century National, and Nationwide would also be considered some of the most economical Santa Ana, CA car insurance companies.
As shown in the rates above, if you currently buy coverage from Nationwide and switched to Wawanesa, you could earn yearly savings of about $82. Policyholders with 21st Century may save as much as $185 a year, and Grange policyholders might lower prices by up to $296 a year.
To find out how your current rates compare, click here to start a quote or quote prices from the following companies.
It's important to note that these prices are averages for all drivers and vehicles in California and are not factoring in a specific location for retired military. So the insurer that fits your needs best may not even be in the list above. That underscores the importance of why you need to compare prices as often as possible using your own driver data and vehicle information.
Choosing the best company can be a challenge considering how many companies there are in California. The company ratings in the lists below may help you decide which insurers to look at purchasing coverage from.
These ratings include large insurance companies, so smaller companies that only insure vehicles in California are not factored into these rankings. To check rates from these companies and more, click this link.
Top 10 Large Auto Insurance Providers in Santa Ana 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+
Top 10 Large Auto Insurance Providers in Santa Ana Ranked by Claims Service
- AAA of Southern California
- State Farm
- Esurance
- AAA Insurance
- Progressive
- Liberty Mutual
- GEICO
- Allstate
- Titan Insurance
- The Hartford
Full coverage rates vs. liability-only
Paying less for car insurance is probably important to the majority of people, and one great way to pay less for insurance for retired military is to only buy liability coverage. The example below shows the difference between insurance prices with full coverage compared to only the California minimum liability coverage. The rates are based on no accidents, no driving violations, $100 deductibles, marital status is single, and no additional discounts are factored in.
If averaged out across all ages, full coverage costs an additional $2,525 per year over and above liability only. That amount may make you wonder if you should buy full coverage at all. There is no written rule to drop physical damage insurance, but there is a broad guideline. If the yearly cost of full coverage is more than about 10% of the replacement cost minus the deductible, then you might want to consider buying only liability coverage.
For example, let's assume your vehicle's claim settlement value is $10,500 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is destroyed, the most you would receive is $9,500 after paying the physical damage deductible. If it's costing in excess of $950 a year for your policy with full coverage, then it could be time to drop full coverage.
There are some scenarios where eliminating full coverage is not a good idea. If you have an outstanding loan on your vehicle, you have to carry full coverage as part of the loan requirements. Also, if your finances do not allow you to purchase a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should not drop full coverage.
Types of discounts on Santa Ana insurance rates
Insurance companies that offer cheap quotes for retired military could also offer discounts that can reduce rates by 30% or more if you qualify for them. The best car insurance companies and their possible discounts include:
- 21st Century includes discounts for homeowners, theft prevention, anti-lock brakes, automatic seat belts, and 55 and older.
- State Farm may offer discounts for good student, multiple autos, Drive Safe & Save, accident-free, defensive driving training, safe vehicle, and Steer Clear safe driver discount.
- AAA discounts include pay-in-full, education and occupation, good student, AAA membership discount, anti-theft, multi-policy, and multi-car.
- Liberty Mutual may have discounts that include multi-policy, hybrid vehicle, safety features, multi-car, and newly married.
- Progressive offers discounts including online quote discount, multi-vehicle, online signing, homeowner, multi-policy, and continuous coverage.
The information below illustrates the comparison of car insurance rates with and without discounts applied. The data is based on a female driver, no accidents, no driving violations, California state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $250 deductibles.
The first bar for each age group shows the average rate with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multiple policy, multiple vehicle, accident-free, passive restraint, defensive driving course, and anti-theft discounts applied. When taking advantage of discounts, theaverage yearly reduction on car insurance for retired military is 28% or $608.
Can you find cheaper Santa Ana car insurance?
Santa Ana, CA car insurance rates are calculated based on many things which can substantially change the price of coverage. Turning one year older, buying a home instead of renting, or getting a speeding ticket may generate price changes that can cause some rates to be cheaper in comparison to the competition.
Additionally, auto insurance companies change their prices every year or even multiple times each year in order to offset underwriting gains or losses. An extended period of higher than normal claims can result in increased rates, while profitable underwriting may result in lower-cost Santa Ana car insurance rates.
The data below analyzes the cheapest car insurance in Santa Ana, CA for a 35-year-old female driver with no prior accidents, a clean driving record, and solid credit. When quoting prices based on her personal risk profile, USAA has the cheapest car insurance rates in Santa Ana at $1,230 annually. This is $421 less than the average premium paid by California drivers of $1,651. Wawanesa, Century National, CSAA, and Nationwide are the remaining most affordable Santa Ana, CA auto insurance companies.
Now we will pretend the driver in the first chart an at-fault accident, less-than-perfect credit, and a few traffic violations. Due to the fact that every insurance company has a unique approach to set their prices, analyzing rate quotes most likely will result in a different list of the cheapest car insurance companies in Santa Ana as shown below.
Grange now has the lowest price in Santa Ana with Mercury, Progressive, Allied, and Allstate also having competitive pricing. This example proves why it is so important to shop around with many companies to find the cheapest auto insurance rates for retired military.
Car insurance prices are influenced by many different factors and change substantially, so the cheapest company when you bought your policy may now be quite expensive.