For new drivers, one of the big factors that are looked at to determine the amount you pay each year for auto insurance is where your car is garaged in Santa Ana. Cities with larger populations tend to have more expensive auto insurance rates, whereas areas with fewer weather claims and lower vehicle theft rates have the luxury of lower rates.
The table below rates the most costly cities in California for a learners permit to purchase a policy in. Santa Ana makes the list at #16 with an annual premium of $1,439 for coverage, which is approximately $120 each month.
| Rank | City | Annual Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles | $2,168 |
| 2 | Glendale | $2,121 |
| 3 | San Francisco | $1,763 |
| 4 | Oakland | $1,755 |
| 5 | Sacramento | $1,703 |
| 6 | San Bernardino | $1,644 |
| 7 | Long Beach | $1,610 |
| 8 | Santa Clarita | $1,580 |
| 9 | Garden Grove | $1,570 |
| 10 | Fontana | $1,566 |
| 11 | Stockton | $1,556 |
| 12 | Moreno Valley | $1,536 |
| 13 | Modesto | $1,532 |
| 14 | Fresno | $1,517 |
| 15 | Riverside | $1,497 |
| 16 | Santa Ana | $1,439 |
| 17 | San Jose | $1,437 |
| 18 | Anaheim | $1,430 |
| 19 | Irvine | $1,384 |
| 20 | Bakersfield | $1,381 |
| 21 | San Diego | $1,381 |
| 22 | Fremont | $1,361 |
| 23 | Huntington Beach | $1,360 |
| 24 | Chula Vista | $1,350 |
| 25 | Oxnard | $1,318 |
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Information shown are estimated as the specific garaging location can revise rates greatly.
The car, truck, or SUV on the policy is a significant factor when shopping for cheaper car insurance for a learners permit. Vehicles with high performance, poor crash test ratings, or high incidents of liability claims will cost much more to insure than more economical and safe models.
The information below features auto insurance premiums for a number of the most cost-effective automobiles to insure.
| Vehicle Insured | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Honda Accord LX 4-Dr Sedan | $3,710 |
| Honda CR-V EX 4WD | $3,744 |
| Ford Escape XLT 4WD | $3,750 |
| Toyota Prius | $4,015 |
| Ford F-150 XLT Regular Cab 2WD | $4,131 |
| Volkswagen Jetta SE 2.5 Station Wagon | $4,249 |
| Ford Edge SE AWD | $4,365 |
| Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4WD | $4,399 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 2WD | $4,407 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LS 2WD | $4,399 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan Hero | $4,405 |
| Toyota RAV4 Limited 4WD | $4,399 |
| Chevrolet Malibu LT | $4,435 |
| Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 4WD | $4,445 |
| Ford Focus SEL 4-Dr Sedan | $4,599 |
| Honda Civic LX 4-Dr Sedan | $4,609 |
| Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport Islander Package 4WD 4-Dr | $4,631 |
| Hyundai Elantra GLS 4-Dr Sedan | $4,633 |
| Toyota Camry XLE | $4,641 |
| Toyota Corolla LE | $4,633 |
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Prices above based on single female driver age 17, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, and safe-driver. Estimates do not factor in specific zip code location which can lower or raise coverage prices noticeably.
Looking at the rates, we can assume that cars like the Honda Accord, Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, and Toyota Prius are most likely going to be a few of the most budget-friendly vehicles to insure for new drivers. The price of auto insurance will be higher anyway just due to the fact that there is more exposure for a learners permit, but overall those particular models will probably have the best rates possible.
Insuring your vehicle with the right insurer can be difficult considering how many companies sell insurance in California. The company ratings in the next section can help you select which car insurance providers you want to consider when trying find the best insurance for a learners permit. These ratings include large nationwide companies, so companies that focus mainly on California business are not taken into consideration for the list.
Top 10 Major Auto Insurers in Santa Ana Ranked by Value
- USAA
- American Family
- The Hartford
- AAA of Southern California
- Titan Insurance
- The General
- AAA Insurance
- State Farm
- Mercury Insurance
- Nationwide
Top 10 Major Auto Insurers 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
Careless driving habits raise auto insurance rates
The obvious way to enjoy the best auto insurance rates for new drivers is to drive safely and have a clean driving record. The chart below demonstrates how traffic citations and at-fault accidents can drive up insurance prices for different age groups. The information is based on a married female driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $100 deductibles, and no discounts are applied.
The data above shows the average cost of auto insurance in California per year with no accidents or violations is $1,948. Get written up for two speeding tickets and the average cost jumps to $2,776, an increase of $828 each year. Now add two accidents along with the two speeding tickets and the 12-month cost of auto insurance for a learners permit jumps again to an average of $5,713. That's an increase of $3,765, or $314 per month, just for not being attentive to the road!
How to get discounts on Santa Ana car insurance
Insurers that offer cheap quotes for a learners permit may also give you price discounts that can reduce rates by as much as 40% or more if you qualify. Larger auto insurance companies and their offered discounts can be found below.
- Progressive policyholders can earn discounts including homeowner, continuous coverage, multi-policy, online quote discount, good student, and online signing.
- SAFECO may include discounts for accident prevention training, teen safety rewards, safe driver, anti-theft, and homeowner.
- American Family offers premium reductions for defensive driver, air bags, good driver, mySafetyValet, Steer into Savings, TimeAway discount, and accident-free.
- MetLife may offer discounts for good student, accident-free, good driver, defensive driver, multi-policy, and claim-free.
- GEICO has savings for defensive driver, anti-theft, driver training, emergency military deployment, and federal employee.
- The Hartford discounts include defensive driver, driver training, vehicle fuel type, air bag, anti-theft, and bundle.
The information below illustrates the difference between insurance rates with and without discounts applied to the policy premium. The premiums assume a male driver, no claims or driving citations, 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 lower bar shows the rates with passive restraint, paperless filing, continuous coverage, good student, anti-theft, and vehicle safety discounts applied. When drivers qualify for the discounts, theaverage yearly reduction on auto insurance for a learners permit is 28% or $666.
How to find the cheapest car insurance for a learners permit
Here are a few thrifty ideas that can help drivers find cheap auto insurance.
- Accidents can significantly increase rates
- Do not waste money insuring older vehicles for full coverage
- Good credit can mean cheaper rates
- Safe vehicles cost less to insure
- Multi-policy discounts save money
- Compare rate quotes frequently
That final tip is extremely critical, as was pointed out in this write-up. Coverage prices fluctuate considerably, so don't hesitate to buy a different policy if a cheaper rate is available. Many consumers stick with the same company and that's fine, but it isn't a good idea if that faithfulness ends up costing you potentially thousands of dollars a year. Now is a great time to compare rates and find cheaper auto insurance for a learners permit in Santa Ana.