The words “affordable” and “insurance” really should not be used together, specifically when you are looking for the best car insurance rates for veterans. Because of the high cost, let’s introduce you to a few of the things that can significantly affect auto insurance rates, and figure out some ways to take the sting out of the next policy you buy.
For veterans, one of the largest factors that are looked at to determine the amount you pay for auto insurance is your zip code. Areas with increased crime or more people tend to have higher rates, whereas areas that tend to be more rural tend to receive slightly lower rates.
The information below ranks the most expensive cities in California for veterans to purchase a policy in. Bakersfield comes in at #24 with an annual cost of $1,340 for the average policyholder, which is about $112 monthly.
| Rank | City | Average Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles | $2,146 |
| 2 | Glendale | $2,121 |
| 3 | San Francisco | $1,763 |
| 4 | Oakland | $1,687 |
| 5 | Sacramento | $1,669 |
| 6 | Long Beach | $1,610 |
| 7 | Santa Clarita | $1,595 |
| 8 | San Bernardino | $1,580 |
| 9 | Garden Grove | $1,570 |
| 10 | Stockton | $1,541 |
| 11 | Riverside | $1,527 |
| 12 | Fontana | $1,519 |
| 13 | Moreno Valley | $1,491 |
| 14 | Modesto | $1,487 |
| 15 | Santa Ana | $1,483 |
| 16 | Anaheim | $1,474 |
| 17 | Fresno | $1,457 |
| 18 | San Jose | $1,437 |
| 19 | Huntington Beach | $1,402 |
| 20 | Fremont | $1,389 |
| 21 | Irvine | $1,384 |
| 22 | San Diego | $1,368 |
| 23 | Chula Vista | $1,350 |
| 24 | Bakersfield | $1,340 |
| 25 | Oxnard | $1,318 |
| Find Cheaper Rates Go | ||
Premium amounts are approximated as the specific zip code location can decrease or increase premiums significantly.
Deciphering which companies quote the best auto insurance rates for veterans involves a tad more effort than just comparing rates from one or two companies.
Every car insurance company has a unique approach to set premium rates, so let’s take a look at the overall cheapest auto insurance companies in Bakersfield. It’s a good idea to know that Bakersfield, CA auto insurance rates are calculated based on many things which can significantly increase or decrease the price of your policy. Turning one year older, filing a claim, or getting a reckless driving citation may generate price changes resulting in some companies being cheaper than others.
Best Insurance Companies for Vets
USAA may offer some of the cheapest car insurance rates in Bakersfield at around $1,109 per year. Wawanesa, Century National, CSAA, and Nationwide also make the cut as some of the most economical Bakersfield, CA insurance companies.
As the rates illustrate above, if you currently buy coverage from Century National and switched to USAA, you might see annual savings of roughly $69. California drivers with CSAA could save as much as $89 a year, and Nationwide customers might lower prices by up to $104 a year.
Remember that these policy rates are averaged across all types of drivers and the different vehicles they drive and are not factoring in an exact zip code location for veterans. So the insurer that has the lowest price for you may not even be in the top 24 companies in the list above. That underscores the importance of why you need to quote rates from many companies using your own specific driver and vehicle information.
Get discounts on Bakersfield auto insurance
Insurance providers that provide coverage for veterans may also give you rate discounts that can reduce rates by 25% or more if you meet the requirements. A list of auto insurance companies and a selection of discounts are:
- Progressive may have discounts that include online quote discount, continuous coverage, good student, multi-vehicle, and homeowner.
- GEICO offers discounts for driver training, air bags, multi-vehicle, seat belt use, five-year accident-free, membership and employees, and multi-policy.
- State Farm has discounts for anti-theft, multiple autos, Steer Clear safe driver discount, accident-free, good driver, driver’s education, and good student.
- Esurance offers discounts including emergency road assistance, online quote, anti-theft, paid-in-full, DriveSense, homeowner, and defensive driver.
- The Hartford discounts include bundle, driver training, anti-theft, defensive driver, vehicle fuel type, and air bag.
The illustration below visualizes the comparison of insurance premiums with and without discounts applied to the policy rates. The data assumes a male driver, no violations or claims, California state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $100 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows the average rate with no discounts. The second bar shows the rates with passive restraint, claim-free, safe-driver, accident-free, marriage, and homeowner discounts applied. When taking advantage of discounts, theaverage amount saved on auto insurance for veterans is 28% or $957.
Liability only or full coverage
Saving on auto insurance is probably important to the majority of vehicle owners, and one easy way to save on the cost of insurance for veterans is to not insure for full coverage. The illustration below compares car insurance costs with full coverage compared to only the California minimum liability coverage. The data is based on a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, marital status is single, and no discounts are factored in.
If we average the cost for ages 20 through 70, full coverage costs $2,467 per year more than carrying just liability coverage. Many drivers will wonder if buying full coverage is worth the expense. There isn’t a written rule to drop full coverage, but there is a guideline you can use. If the annual cost of your full coverage insurance is more than about 10% of replacement cost minus your deductible, then it could be time to drop full coverage.
Why you should shop around
Bakersfield auto insurance rates are determined by lots of factors which can significantly increase or decrease the cost of having a policy. Simply getting older, increasing deductibles, or getting a DUI can trigger rate changes that can make some companies more affordable than the competition.
Not only may your risk profile change, but auto insurance companies change prices multiple times each year to adjust for unexpected claims or profits. Higher than normal claims can result in higher priced premiums, while lower claim levels can cause lower-cost Bakersfield car insurance rates.
To illustrate this point, the data below shows the company with the cheapest car insurance in Bakersfield, CA for a 35-year-old female driver with a good driving record, no prior claims, and solid credit. When quoting prices based on her current risk factors, USAA has the best car insurance rates in Bakersfield at $1,166 a year. This is $485 less than the average premium paid by California drivers of $1,651. Wawanesa, Century National, CSAA, and Nationwide round out the rest of the cheapest Bakersfield, CA auto insurance companies.
In this example, we will give the driver from the first rate comparison a claim surcharge, poor credit, and a blemish on her driving record. Due to the fact that every auto insurer has a different formula for determining rates in each state, getting updated rate quotes will most likely result in a slightly different list of cheap Bakersfield auto insurance companies as shown below.
Grange now has the lowest car insurance rate in Bakersfield, CA with Allstate, GEICO, Progressive, and Mercury also having competitive pricing. This example demonstrates why it is critical to shop around when trying to get the lowest car insurance quotes for veterans.
Prices are influenced by many things and can increase or decrease at any time, so the most affordable company the last time you compared rates may now not even be in the top five.
How to find low-cost insurance for veterans
It is possible to find better rates, and here are many money-saving solutions that can help you find more affordable auto insurance.
- Drivers with good credit ratings often pay less
- Assess whether full coverage is needed
- Increase your comprehensive and collision deductibles
- Safe vehicles cost less to insure
- Keep your driving record clean
- Having at-fault accidents will increase rates
- Compare rates regularly and switch companies to save money
The final tip is certainly critical, as we emphasized in this piece. Auto insurance rates in Bakersfield vary considerably, so don’t be hesitant to change insurance companies if a more affordable price is available. Having a favorite company is great, but we do not recommend it if that dedication is costing lots of hard earned cash every month. Now is a great time to compare prices and find cheaper auto insurance for veterans.
If you aren’t sure which coverage to buy and prefer to get some professional advice when shopping around for cheaper insurance for veterans, the agents shown below are a good start to aid you in deciding which coverages and limits you need. To find a Bakersfield insurance agent using an interactive map, click the button below the list.
- William K Lyons Agency Inc
2100 F St # 200 – Bakersfield, CA 93301 – (661) 327-9731 - Miroslava Hernandez Insurance Agency
6433 E Brundage Ln # 2 – Bakersfield, CA 93307 – (661) 326-7200 - Mike Brazzell – State Farm Insurance Agent
3721 Columbus St – Bakersfield, CA 93306 – (661) 872-7770 - Fallgatter Rhodes Insurance
1701 G St – Bakersfield, CA 93301 – (661) 324-2424 - Omega Financial and Insurance Services Inc
400 H St – Bakersfield, CA 93304 – (661) 326-6870