A recent insurance study discovered that most insurance policyholders in California have stayed with the same insurance company for a minimum of four years, and approximately 40% of consumers have never compared rate quotes at all. Drivers in the U.S. could save as much as $860 a year just by getting comparison quotes, but most just don’t grasp the amount of savings they would get if they just switched companies.
The recommended way to get affordable car insurance rates is to begin comparing prices regularly from companies in Bakersfield. Rates can be compared by completing these steps.
- It will benefit you to learn about how insurance companies determine prices and the things you can change to drop your rates. Many rating criteria that are responsible for high rates like accidents, careless driving, and a bad credit score can be improved by making small lifestyle or driving habit changes.
- Quote rates from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Exclusive agents and direct companies can only give rate quotes from a single company like GEICO or Allstate, while agents who are independent can quote rates from multiple sources.
- Compare the quotes to the price on your current policy and see if you can save money. If you find better rates, verify that coverage does not lapse between policies.
- Give notification to your current company of your intention to cancel the current policy. Submit a down payment and signed policy application to your new agent or company. Don’t forget to keep the new certificate of insurance somewhere easily accessible.
One important bit of advice is that you’ll want to compare the same deductibles and limits on every quote and to quote with as many companies as feasibly possible. This enables an apples-to-apples comparison and the best price selection.
Finding the cheapest insurance coverage in Bakersfield can be much easier if you know how to start. If you have insurance now, you will surely be able to cut your premiums using the following tips. Vehicle owners only need an understanding of how to compare price quotes online from multiple companies.
Companies offering competitive prices in Bakersfield, CA
The companies in the list below are ready to provide quotes in Bakersfield, CA. If several companies are displayed, it’s a good idea that you click on several of them to get a more complete price comparison.
| Make, Model, and Trim Level | Annual Policy Premium | 6-month Policy Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Silverado LS Regular Cab 2WD | $1,048 | $524 | $87 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan SXT | $1,070 | $535 | $89 |
| Dodge Ram Crew Cab ST 2WD | $1,146 | $573 | $96 |
| Ford Escape XLS 4WD | $886 | $443 | $74 |
| Ford Explorer XLT AWD | $992 | $496 | $83 |
| Ford F-150 XLT Crew Cab 2WD | $992 | $496 | $83 |
| Ford Focus SE 4-Dr Sedan | $1,028 | $514 | $86 |
| Honda Accord EX 4-Dr Sedan | $886 | $443 | $74 |
| Honda CR-V EX 4WD | $906 | $453 | $76 |
| Honda Civic SI 4-Dr Sedan | $1,158 | $579 | $97 |
| Hyundai Elantra Blue 4-Dr Sedan | $1,082 | $541 | $90 |
| Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport Islander Package 4WD 4-Dr | $1,082 | $541 | $90 |
| Nissan Altima 3.5 SR 4-Dr Sedan | $1,124 | $562 | $94 |
| Nissan Rogue SL 2WD | $1,124 | $562 | $94 |
| Toyota Camry Hybrid | $1,200 | $600 | $100 |
| Toyota Corolla LE | $1,102 | $551 | $92 |
| Toyota RAV4 Limited 4WD | $1,048 | $524 | $87 |
| Volkswagen Jetta S 2.5 Station Wagon | $962 | $481 | $80 |
| Get Rate Quotes for Your Vehicle Go | |||
Prices based on married male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, claim-free, multi-policy, safe-driver, and homeowner. Price information does not factor in Bakersfield location which can influence coverage prices significantly.
Discounts mean cheaper rates
Auto insurance companies don’t always publicize every discount they offer very clearly, so we break down a few of the more well known as well as the least known discounts that may be available.
- First Accident Forgiveness – This isn’t a discount exactly, but some insurance companies will let one accident slide without raising rates so long as you are claim-free prior to being involved in the accident.
- Distant Student – College-age children who are enrolled in higher education away from home and won’t have access to an insured vehicle can receive lower rates.
- New Car Discount – Adding a new car to your policy is cheaper compared to insuring an older model.
- Sign Online – Some of the larger companies will provide an incentive get Bakersfield auto insurance digitally online.
- Drive Less and Save – Keeping the miles down could earn cheaper prices.
- Discounts for Government Workers – Having worked for a branch of the government may reduce rates when you quote Bakersfield auto insurance depending on your company.
- Renewal Discounts – Select companies give a discount for switching companies prior to your current policy expiration. This discount can save up to 10%.
We need to note that most credits do not apply to the whole policy. Most cut specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. So even though you would think all those discounts means the company will pay you, companies wouldn’t make money that way.
A list of companies and some of their more popular discounts are shown below.
- GEICO includes discounts for good student, defensive driver, membership and employees, seat belt use, daytime running lights, anti-lock brakes, and emergency military deployment.
- MetLife may include discounts for claim-free, good student, good driver, multi-policy, accident-free, and defensive driver.
- Progressive offers discounts for continuous coverage, multi-vehicle, homeowner, online quote discount, online signing, multi-policy, and good student.
- Travelers offers discounts including multi-car, good student, payment discounts, new car, and continuous insurance.
- SAFECO has discounts for homeowner, drive less, teen safety rewards, safe driver, anti-lock brakes, teen safe driver, and accident prevention training.
- AAA offers premium reductions for multi-policy, multi-car, education and occupation, good student, and AAA membership discount.
When quoting, ask every insurance company how you can save money. A few discounts might not be offered in Bakersfield.
Insurance agent or online?
Many people would rather talk to a local agent and that is not a bad decision Good agents are very good at helping people manage risk and help in the event of a claim. An additional benefit of getting free rate quotes online is that you can find cheaper auto insurance rates and still buy from a local agent.
By using this short form, your insurance data is emailed to companies in Bakersfield who can give free rate quotes for your business. It simplifies rate comparisons since you won’t have to even leave your home because quoted prices will be sent to your email. In the event you want to quote rates for a specific company, just jump over to their website and fill out their quote form.
Finding the right insurer requires more thought than just the price. The answers to these questions are important, too.
- If they are an independent agency in Bakersfield, which companies do they recommend?
- Do they offer accident forgiveness?
- Do they feel the quoted coverages are adequate?
- Do they specialize in personal lines auto insurance in Bakersfield?
- Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
- Can they provide you with a list of referrals?
- Can they help ensure a fair claim settlement?
When narrowing the list to find a reliable insurance agent, you need to know there are two different agency structures and how they can write your policy. Car insurance agents in Bakersfield are considered either exclusive agents or independent agents. Either can properly insure your vehicles, but it’s worth mentioning how they differ because it can influence which type of agent you select.
Exclusive Insurance Agents
Exclusive agents can only provide one company’s prices and some examples include AAA, State Farm, Farmers Insurance, and Allstate. They usually cannot provide prices from multiple companies so it’s a take it or leave it situation. Exclusive agencies are well schooled on their products and sales techniques and that enables them to sell even at higher rates. Consumers often purchase coverage from exclusives primarily because of the brand legacy rather than low price.
Listed below are exclusive insurance agents in Bakersfield who may provide you with price quote information.
- Keith Goree – State Farm Insurance Agent
11350 Ming Ave #230 – Bakersfield, CA 93311 – (661) 663-9000 – View Map - Farmers Insurance – E Bob White
3811 Auburn St – Bakersfield, CA 93306 – (661) 871-3000 – View Map - Farmers Insurance: Ruth Escobar
400 Chester Ave – Bakersfield, CA 93301 – (661) 631-2420 – View Map
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
Agents that elect to be independent do not work for one specific company so they have the ability to put coverage through many companies depending on which coverage is best. If they quote lower rates, your policy is moved internally and you don’t have to switch agencies. When comparing car insurance rates, it’s recommended you check rates from several independent agencies in order to compare the most rates. Many independent agencies also insure through small mutual carriers which can save you money.
Below is a short list of independent agents in Bakersfield willing to provide price quotes.
- Nationwide Insurance – Michaud Insurance Agency Inc
3795 Niles St – Bakersfield, CA 93306 – (661) 633-9900 – View Map - Baldwin Georgenton Insurance
4200 Truxtun Ave # 102 – Bakersfield, CA 93309 – (661) 327-8010 – View Map - Walter Mortensen Insurance
8500 Stockdale Hwy – Bakersfield, CA 93311 – (661) 834-6222 – View Map
What insurance coverages do you need?
Understanding the coverages of your policy can help you determine the right coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. Policy terminology can be ambiguous and reading a policy is terribly boring.
Auto liability insurance – Liability coverage can cover damage that occurs to other’s property or people. It protects YOU against claims from other people, and doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.
Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You might see values of 15/30/5 that means you have $15,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $30,000, and property damage coverage for $5,000.
Liability can pay for things like repair bills for other people’s vehicles, structural damage, loss of income, medical expenses and attorney fees. How much liability coverage do you need? That is up to you, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase higher limits if possible. California state minimum liability requirements are 15/30/5 but it’s recommended drivers buy more coverage.
The illustration below demonstrates why minimum state limits may not be enough.
Uninsured or underinsured coverage – This coverage provides protection from other motorists when they do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since many California drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits (which is 15/30/5), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked.
Collision coverage – Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. A deductible applies and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision can pay for things like crashing into a building, sustaining damage from a pot hole, sideswiping another vehicle, driving through your garage door and scraping a guard rail. This coverage can be expensive, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from lower value vehicles. It’s also possible to bump up the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.
Medical expense coverage – Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance provide coverage for immediate expenses for things like dental work, rehabilitation expenses and surgery. They are utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. Medical payments and PIP cover you and your occupants and also covers getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP is not universally available and may carry a deductible
Comprehensive protection – Comprehensive insurance covers damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first must pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive insurance covers claims like vandalism, hail damage and falling objects. The maximum payout you’ll receive from a claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Insurance claim statistics
Is your vehicle a claim risk? The following tables outline the good and bad vehicles for likelihood of having large claims for each type of coverage.
| Lowest Claim Frequency | Highest Claim Frequency |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet Corvette | Kia Rio |
| Fiat 500 | Chevrolet Impala |
| Acura MDX | Chevrolet Cruze |
| Subaru Forester | Kia Optima |
| Volvo XC60 | Mitsubishi Lancer |
| Mercedes-Benz SL Class | Mitsubishi Mirage |
Data Source: iihs.org (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) for 2013-2015 Model Years
| Lowest Claim Frequency | Highest Claim Frequency |
|---|---|
| Mini Cooper | Bently Continental GT |
| Jeep Wrangler | Ferrari 458 |
| Smart ForTwo | Maserati Granturismo |
| Ford Edge | BMW M6 |
| Ford F-250 SuperCab | BMW 6 Series |
| Nissan Xterra | Bently Continental GTC |
Data Source: iihs.org (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) for 2013-2015 Model Years
| Lowest Claim Frequency | Highest Claim Frequency |
|---|---|
| Audi A4 Allroad | Nissan Versa |
| Land Rover Range Rover Sport | Nissan Sentra |
| Chevrolet Corvette | Kia Forte |
| Ford Expedition | Dodge Charger |
| Chevrolet Silverado 3500 | Chrysler 200 |
| Ford F-350 SuperCrew | Chevrolet Spark |
Data Source: iihs.org (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) for 2013-2015 Model Years
| Lowest Claim Frequency | Highest Claim Frequency |
|---|---|
| Ford F-350 | Audi S7 |
| Infiniti QX50 | Porsche Panamera GTS |
| Nissan Xterra | Maserati Granturismo |
| Chevy Silverado 2500 | Maserati Quattroporte |
| Volvo V60 | Bentley Continental GTC |
| GMC Sierra 2500 | BMW M6 |
Data Source: iihs.org (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) for 2013-2015 Model Years
Bakersfield auto insurance company ratings
Buying coverage from the best car insurance company can be a challenge considering how many companies are available to choose from in Bakersfield. The company rank data in the next section may help you analyze which coverage providers to look at shopping prices with.
Top 10 Bakersfield Car Insurance Companies by A.M. Best Rank
- 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 Bakersfield Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Customer Service
- AAA of Southern California
- GEICO
- State Farm
- The Hartford
- Mercury Insurance
- The General
- Progressive
- Allstate
- AAA Insurance
- American Family
More quotes mean more auto insurance savings
Cheaper auto insurance in Bakersfield is attainable online as well as from insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture. Some companies may not offer online quoting and most of the time these small insurance companies only sell through local independent agencies.
We’ve covered some good ideas how to reduce auto insurance car insurance rates online in Bakersfield. It’s most important to understand that the more quotes you get, the higher your chance of finding affordable Bakersfield auto insurance quotes. Consumers could even find that the most savings is with a smaller regional carrier.
Consumers leave their current company for any number of reasons including unfair underwriting practices, high prices, poor customer service or an unsatisfactory settlement offer. It doesn’t matter what your reason, finding a new company is easier than you think.
Other articles
- Tools for Teen Driving Safety (State Farm)
- Who Has Cheap Bakersfield Auto Insurance Quotes for a Toyota Highlander? (FAQ)
- How Much is Auto Insurance for Hybrid Vehicles in Bakersfield? (FAQ)
- How Much is Auto Insurance for Low Mileage Drivers in Bakersfield? (FAQ)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for Teachers in Bakersfield? (FAQ)
- How Much are Car Insurance Rates for Seniors in Bakersfield? (FAQ)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for Used Cars in Bakersfield? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Bakersfield Auto Insurance for Uninsured Drivers? (FAQ)
- Dangers of fake or stolen airbags (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- What Does No-Fault Insurance Cover? (Allstate)
- Self-driving cars won’t replace humans (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)