For infrequent drivers, one of the largest factors that determine the cost of insurance is your zip code. Larger areas tend to have higher auto insurance costs, whereas areas with lower crime rates and fewer weather claims can boast about having cheaper rates.
The following table rates the highest-priced areas in California for low mileage drivers in which to purchase auto insurance. Bakersfield ranks #24 with the annual price of $1,340 for the average policyholder, which is around $112 per month.
| Rank | City | Average Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glendale | $2,121 |
| 2 | Los Angeles | $2,083 |
| 3 | Oakland | $1,755 |
| 4 | Sacramento | $1,720 |
| 5 | San Francisco | $1,693 |
| 6 | San Bernardino | $1,628 |
| 7 | Long Beach | $1,610 |
| 8 | Santa Clarita | $1,595 |
| 9 | Stockton | $1,588 |
| 10 | Garden Grove | $1,524 |
| 11 | Fontana | $1,519 |
| 12 | Modesto | $1,502 |
| 13 | Santa Ana | $1,497 |
| 14 | Riverside | $1,497 |
| 15 | Moreno Valley | $1,491 |
| 16 | Anaheim | $1,474 |
| 17 | Fresno | $1,472 |
| 18 | San Jose | $1,437 |
| 19 | Fremont | $1,389 |
| 20 | Irvine | $1,384 |
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Prices are comparative as the vehicle garaging location can lower or raise rates greatly.
Buying low-cost car insurance is not always easy, and finding out which companies have the lowest-priced auto insurance rates for low mileage drivers calls for even more rate comparisons. Every auto insurer uses a little different formula to establish rates, so let’s begin by taking a look at the auto insurance companies that tend to have lower prices in California.
Lowest Insurance Price Quotes in California
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | USAA | $1,109 |
| 2 | Wawanesa | $1,146 |
| 3 | Century National | $1,214 |
| 4 | CSAA | $1,222 |
| 5 | Nationwide | $1,250 |
| 6 | 21st Century | $1,379 |
| 7 | Grange | $1,433 |
| 8 | Mercury | $1,503 |
| 9 | GEICO | $1,513 |
| 10 | Allied | $1,541 |
| 11 | Allstate | $1,543 |
| 12 | Progressive | $1,558 |
| 13 | MetLife | $1,590 |
| 14 | The Hartford | $1,623 |
| 15 | State Farm | $1,682 |
| 16 | Unitrin | $1,699 |
| 17 | Esurance | $1,756 |
| 18 | Bristol West | $1,795 |
| 19 | Travelers | $1,860 |
| 20 | Farmers | $2,006 |
| Quote Your Rates Go | ||
USAA may have some of the best car insurance rates in Bakersfield at around $1,109 each year. This is $542 less than the average rate paid by California drivers of $1,651. Wawanesa, Century National, CSAA, and Nationwide are also some of the cheapest Bakersfield, CA auto insurance companies.
As shown above, if you currently have coverage with CSAA and switched to USAA, you may see an annual premium reduction of about $113. Drivers with Nationwide could save as much as $141 a year, and 21st Century customers might reduce rates by $270 a year.
Remember that these estimates are averaged for all ages of drivers and types of vehicles and do not take into consideration an exact location for low mileage drivers. So the company that can offer you the best rate may not even be in the list above. That illustrates why you need to get quotes using your own driver and vehicle profiles.
Full coverage rates compared to liability-only
Saving money when shopping for auto insurance is important to the majority of people, and a great way to find cheap insurance for low mileage drivers is to only buy liability insurance. The information below illustrates the comparison of annual premium costs with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying liability only. The premium estimates are based on no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, single status, and no discounts are factored in.
Averaged for all age groups, full coverage on your policy costs an extra $1,849 per year more than carrying just liability coverage. That is a significant amount which raises the question when is the right time to remove full coverage. There isn’t a written rule to eliminate full coverage, but there is a general guideline. If the yearly cost of full coverage is more than 10% of any settlement you would receive from your insurance company, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.
For example, let’s pretend your vehicle’s book value is $10,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, the most you would get paid by your company is $9,000 after the deductible is paid. If you are currently paying more than $900 annually to have full coverage, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.
There are some cases where dropping full coverage is not a good plan. If you haven’t paid off your loan, you have to keep full coverage in order to keep the loan. Also, if your savings is not enough to buy a different vehicle in case of an accident, you should keep full coverage in place.
Buying coverage from the highest-rated insurer can be challenging considering how many different companies insure vehicles in Bakersfield. The ranking data shown below can help you select which companies you want to consider when trying to find the cheapest insurance for low mileage drivers.
These ratings are for companies with a nationwide focus, so companies with more of a regional focus will not be included in the list. To compare prices from these top-rated insurers and more, click this link.
Top 10 Major Car Insurance Companies in Bakersfield Ranked by Customer Satisfaction
- Titan Insurance – 95%
- USAA – 94%
- AAA of Southern California – 92%
- AAA Insurance – 91%
- Nationwide – 90%
- State Farm – 90%
- The Hartford – 89%
- GEICO – 89%
- The General – 88%
- 21st Century – 88%
Responsible drivers pay cheaper Bakersfield auto insurance rates
The recommended way to get the cheapest auto insurance prices for infrequent drivers is to be a careful driver and avoid tickets and accidents. The diagram below highlights how traffic violations and accident claims influence auto insurance rates for different insured age categories. The premium estimates are based on a single female driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $100 deductibles, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
The chart shows that the average cost of auto insurance per year with no accidents and a clean driving record is $2,394. Add in two speeding tickets and the average cost jumps to $3,222, an increase of $828 each year. Now add two accidents along with the two speeding tickets and the annual cost of auto insurance for low mileage drivers goes up to an average of $6,160. That’s an increase of $3,766, or $314 per month, just for not driving carefully!
How to find more affordable auto insurance for low mileage drivers
The list below shows some of the recommended thrifty suggestions that can help drivers quote lower-cost auto insurance.
- Buy vehicles with good safety ratings
- Ensure your driving record is clean
- Remain accident-free and save
- Assess whether full coverage is needed
- Increase deductibles to save money
- Drivers with good credit ratings often pay less
- Comparison shop at least every other year
That last idea is extraordinarily crucial, as we noted in the article above. Prices charged by car insurance companies fluctuate constantly, so don’t hesitate to buy a policy from a new company if a lower price can be found. Many drivers tend to have loyalty to a certain company, but is isn’t recommended if that inflexibility results in costing you a considerable chunk of change every month. Take a couple minutes and shop around to find cheaper car insurance for low mileage drivers in Bakersfield.