Things would sure be easy if we could just give you the name of the one best company that has the cheapest policy rates in California. It’s not that easy, however, as there are a ton of unknowns like the miles you drive each year, if you want full coverage included, whether or not your vehicle has good safety ratings, and how well you maintain your credit, that all have an effect on the price of a policy. The content below covers the best ways to shop for cheaper coverage and will hopefully give you a good beginning to your quest for cheaper car insurance.
For people with poor credit, one of the big components that determine the cost of insurance is where you call home in Bakersfield. More densely populated places are more likely to pay higher prices, whereas areas with less crime or weather claims have the enjoyment of a little cheaper coverage.
The information below shows the most expensive areas in California for drivers with bad credit to buy car insurance in. Bakersfield is ranked #23 with an annual rate of $1,353 for the average policyholder, which is about $113 each month.
Rank | City | Average Per Year |
---|---|---|
1 | Los Angeles | $2,168 |
2 | Glendale | $2,058 |
3 | San Francisco | $1,711 |
4 | Oakland | $1,704 |
5 | Sacramento | $1,703 |
6 | San Bernardino | $1,644 |
7 | Fontana | $1,581 |
8 | Long Beach | $1,562 |
9 | Stockton | $1,556 |
10 | Riverside | $1,542 |
11 | Moreno Valley | $1,536 |
12 | Santa Clarita | $1,533 |
13 | Modesto | $1,532 |
14 | Garden Grove | $1,508 |
15 | Anaheim | $1,488 |
16 | Santa Ana | $1,483 |
17 | Fresno | $1,457 |
18 | Huntington Beach | $1,416 |
19 | Irvine | $1,384 |
20 | San Jose | $1,381 |
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Prices are estimated as the vehicle garaging location can alter coverage prices noticeably.
The vehicle needing coverage is probably the most important factor that determines if you can find cheap coverage for drivers with bad credit. Vehicles with high performance, poor passenger safety features, or a history of substantial liability claims will cost more to insure than more economical and safe models. The table below estimates insurance costs for a handful of the cheaper vehicles to buy coverage for.
Make, Model, and Trim Level | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
---|---|
Hyundai Elantra GLS Touring Station Wagon | $679 |
Honda Accord EX 4-Dr Sedan | $687 |
Honda CR-V EX 4WD | $695 |
Ford Escape XLT 4WD | $780 |
Honda Odyssey EX | $790 |
Ford Edge SE 2WD | $812 |
Chevrolet Malibu LT | $822 |
Toyota Prius | $826 |
Ford Explorer XLT 2WD | $830 |
Ford F-150 XLT Crew Cab 2WD | $837 |
Volkswagen Jetta S 2.5 Station Wagon | $830 |
Toyota Corolla LE | $848 |
Toyota Camry SE | $855 |
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Data variables include married male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, claim-free, homeowner, safe-driver, and multi-policy. Table data does not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can modify premium rates greatly.
Based upon the rates shown, models like the Hyundai Elantra, Honda Accord, Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, and Honda Odyssey are going to be some of the cheaper vehicles to insure for people with poor credit. The cost of auto insurance will be more costly just due to the fact that there is more claim risk for drivers with bad credit, but generally speaking those models will probably have the cheapest car insurance rates compared to all other vehicles.
Locating low-priced car insurance is not most people’s favorite thing to do, and figuring out which insurers offer the most affordable car insurance rates for drivers with bad credit requires even more shopping around. Every auto insurer has a different process for establishing rates, so first we will examine the most affordable car insurance companies in California.
Cheapest Insurance Rates with Bad Credit
Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
---|---|---|
1 | USAA | $1,143 |
2 | Wawanesa | $1,146 |
3 | Century National | $1,214 |
4 | CSAA | $1,222 |
5 | Nationwide | $1,263 |
6 | 21st Century | $1,325 |
7 | Grange | $1,447 |
8 | Mercury | $1,533 |
9 | Progressive | $1,542 |
10 | Allstate | $1,543 |
11 | Allied | $1,556 |
12 | GEICO | $1,559 |
13 | MetLife | $1,606 |
14 | The Hartford | $1,623 |
15 | State Farm | $1,699 |
16 | Unitrin | $1,699 |
17 | Esurance | $1,739 |
18 | Bristol West | $1,777 |
19 | Travelers | $1,806 |
20 | Farmers | $1,946 |
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USAA has some of the cheapest car insurance rates in Bakersfield at around $1,143 annually. Wawanesa, Century National, CSAA, and Nationwide would also be considered some of the lowest-priced Bakersfield, CA auto insurance companies.
In the above rates, if you are a customer of Century National and switched to USAA, you might see an annual savings of upwards of $71. Insureds with CSAA could save as much as $79 a year, and Nationwide insureds might reduce prices by as much as $120 a year.
It’s important to note that these policy prices are averaged for all types of drivers and the different vehicles they drive and do not factor in an exact zip code location for drivers with bad credit. So the car insurance company that fits you best may not even be in the top 24 companies shown above. That illustrates why you need to get car insurance quotes using your own driver data and vehicle information.
Do you need full coverage?
Saving on car insurance is probably important to most vehicle owners, and a great way to pay less for insurance for drivers with bad credit is to buy liability only. The example below visualizes the comparison of insurance rates with liability coverage only compared to full coverage. The data is based on no accidents, no driving violations, $250 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
If we average the cost for all age groups, physical damage coverage on your policy costs $3,093 per year more than buying just liability insurance. At some point, every insured wonders if you should buy full coverage. There isn’t a steadfast formula that is best for determining when to drop comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, but there is a guideline you can consider. If the annual cost of comprehensive and collision coverage is 10% or more of any settlement you would receive from your insurance company, then it may be the right time to buy liability only.
For example, let’s pretend your vehicle’s replacement cost is $8,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled in an accident, the most your company will settle for is $7,000 after paying the physical damage deductible. If you are paying more than $700 annually to have full coverage, then it may be the right time to buy liability only.
There are some conditions where dropping physical damage coverage is not in your best interest. If you still have a loan on your vehicle, you must maintain physical damage coverage in order to keep the loan. Also, if your savings is not enough to buy a different vehicle if your current one is damaged, you should keep full coverage.
Best car insurance company in Bakersfield
Finding a high-quality car insurance provider can be difficult considering how many choices drivers have in California. The rank data below may help you analyze which providers to look at when shopping around. These ratings are only made up of companies that insure vehicles across America, so companies that have a smaller presence are not factored into the list.
Top 10 Large Auto Insurers in Bakersfield 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 Insurers Overall in Bakersfield
- USAA
- American Family
- AAA of Southern California
- State Farm
- The Hartford
- AAA Insurance
- GEICO
- The General
- Titan Insurance
- Progressive
Tips for buying more affordable insurance for drivers with bad credit
It is possible to find better rates, and here are some thrifty suggestions that can help drivers locate cheaper auto insurance.
- Raise comprehensive and collision coverage deductibles
- Just one traffic violation will increase your rates
- Good credit can save money
- Staying accident-free helps keep rates low
- Safe vehicles generally have lower rates
- Keep rates low by shopping around frequently
That last piece of advice is highly significant, as was noted in the prior information. Insurance prices in Bakersfield can be modified anytime, so don’t hesitate to change insurance companies if a more affordable rate is found. Staying with the same company for years is fine, but it’s not recommended if that inflexibility results in costing you a wad of cash every year. If you have a few minutes, shop around to find cheaper auto insurance for drivers with bad credit.