In an ideal world, we could tell you the one company in San Diego that has the cheapest rates in California. It’s not that easy, however, as there are a lot of unknown elements like how many years you have been driving, if you are married or single, whether you are female or male, and what deductibles to use for physical damage coverage, that all impact the cost of your policy. This article covers these types of topics and educate you enough to have a good beginning to your search for cheaper coverage.
The make and model of vehicle that is being insured is one of the primary factors that determines the availability of cheap coverage for seniors. Vehicles with high performance engines, a lack of modern safety features, or a track record of large liability claims will cost substantially more to insure than more economical and safe models.
The list below features insurance rates for a handful of the cheapest automobiles to insure.
| Vehicle Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Honda Accord LX 4-Dr Sedan | $684 |
| Honda CR-V LX 2WD | $693 |
| Ford Escape Limited 2WD | $703 |
| Toyota Prius | $762 |
| Ford F-150 XL Super Cab 4WD | $768 |
| Toyota Tacoma 2WD | $791 |
| Ford Focus SE 4-Dr Sedan | $796 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LS AWD | $810 |
| Toyota Camry LE | $816 |
| Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid | $810 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4WD | $817 |
| Toyota RAV4 Limited 4WD | $810 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan SXT | $827 |
| Ford Explorer Limited 2WD | $832 |
| Honda Civic EX 4-Dr Sedan | $835 |
| Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara 2WD 4-Dr | $837 |
| Honda Odyssey EX-L W/Rear Entertainment | $854 |
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Data assumes married female driver age 60, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-policy, homeowner, multi-vehicle, and safe-driver. Rates do not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can affect price quotes considerably.
Based upon the rates shown, we can assume that vehicles like the Honda Accord, Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, Toyota Prius, and Ford F-150 will be some of the most economical vehicles to insure for senior citizens.
Finding decent, budget auto insurance is challenging, and figuring out which insurers offer the cheapest car insurance rates for seniors takes additional perseverance. Each insurer uses their own formula for establishing rates, so let’s begin by examining the lowest cost car insurance companies in San Diego, CA.
It’s a good idea to know that San Diego car insurance rates are impacted by many factors that can increase the price you pay for coverage. Improving your credit rating, buying another vehicle, or getting a speeding ticket may prompt premium changes that can now make some companies more expensive than competitors.
Find the Cheapest Car Insurance for Mature Drivers
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | USAA | $1,155 |
| 2 | CSAA | $1,186 |
| 3 | Century National | $1,190 |
| 4 | Wawanesa | $1,192 |
| 5 | Nationwide | $1,250 |
| 6 | 21st Century | $1,379 |
| 7 | Grange | $1,433 |
| 8 | Progressive | $1,496 |
| 9 | Mercury | $1,503 |
| 10 | Allstate | $1,559 |
| 11 | The Hartford | $1,575 |
| 12 | GEICO | $1,575 |
| 13 | Allied | $1,588 |
| 14 | MetLife | $1,606 |
| 15 | Unitrin | $1,682 |
| 16 | Esurance | $1,688 |
| 17 | State Farm | $1,699 |
| 18 | Bristol West | $1,795 |
| 19 | Travelers | $1,806 |
| 20 | Farmers | $1,946 |
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USAA may have some of the cheapest car insurance rates in San Diego at around $1,155 each year. CSAA, Century National, Wawanesa, and Nationwide also make the cut as some of the most economical San Diego, CA auto insurance companies.
As shown in the rates above, if you are currently insured with Wawanesa and switched to USAA, you could realize savings of in the neighborhood of $37. Policyholders with Nationwide may save as much as $95 a year, and 21st Century policyholders might see rate reductions of $224 a year.
To get a fast rate comparison, click here to start your custom quote or feel free to get quotes from the companies below.
Understand that those rates are averaged for all insureds and vehicles and are not factoring in a specific location for seniors. So the insurer that is most affordable for your situation may not even be in the top 24 companies shown above. That point stresses why you need to get car insurance quotes using your own personal information and vehicle type.
For senior citizens, one of the big considerations that aid in calculating the cost of insurance is where you call home. More populated areas are more likely to pay higher prices, whereas more rural areas profit from lower rates.
The next table lists the most costly cities in California for seniors in which to buy car insurance. San Diego is ranked #24 with the annual price of $1,340 on average, which is approximately $112 each month.
| Rank | City | Annual Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles | $2,083 |
| 2 | Glendale | $2,058 |
| 3 | San Francisco | $1,763 |
| 4 | Oakland | $1,755 |
| 5 | Sacramento | $1,720 |
| 6 | San Bernardino | $1,628 |
| 7 | Long Beach | $1,610 |
| 8 | Stockton | $1,588 |
| 9 | Santa Clarita | $1,580 |
| 10 | Riverside | $1,542 |
| 11 | Modesto | $1,532 |
| 12 | Garden Grove | $1,524 |
| 13 | Fontana | $1,519 |
| 14 | Fresno | $1,502 |
| 15 | Moreno Valley | $1,491 |
| 16 | Anaheim | $1,444 |
| 17 | Santa Ana | $1,439 |
| 18 | San Jose | $1,423 |
| 19 | Huntington Beach | $1,416 |
| 20 | Fremont | $1,389 |
| 21 | Bakersfield | $1,353 |
| 22 | Chula Vista | $1,350 |
| 23 | Irvine | $1,343 |
| 24 | San Diego | $1,340 |
| 25 | Oxnard | $1,318 |
| Compare Rates Now Go | ||
Information shown are comparative as the vehicle garaging location can change auto insurance rates noticeably.
Discounts on San Diego car insurance
Car insurance companies that provide policies for seniors may also offer rate discounts that could potentially reduce rates by 40% or more if you are eligible for them. Companies and a summarized list of policyholder discounts are outlined below.
- State Farm may have discounts that include good student, anti-theft, accident-free, multiple autos, multiple policy, Steer Clear safe driver discount, and defensive driving training.
- GEICO offers discounts including five-year accident-free, military active duty, multi-policy, seat belt use, defensive driver, multi-vehicle, and air bags.
- SAFECO may offer discounts for accident prevention training, teen safe driver, bundle discounts, multi-car, and teen safety rewards.
- Farmers Insurance has savings for alternative fuel, bundle discounts, homeowner, teen driver, good student, and early shopping.
- AAA offers discounts for good student, education and occupation, anti-theft, good driver, AAA membership discount, multi-car, and pay-in-full.
- USAA includes discounts for new vehicle, good student, multi-policy, loyalty savings, safe driver, and military installation.
The example below illustrates the difference between insurance costs with and without discounts applied to the premium. The costs are based on a male driver, no claims or driving violations, California state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $1,000 deductibles.
The first bar for each age group shows the price with no discounts. The second shows the rates with passive restraint, multiple policy, anti-theft, accident-free, vehicle safety, and multiple vehicle discounts applied. With discounts applied, the average savings per year on car insurance for seniors is 30% or $752.
Careless San Diego drivers pay higher rates
In a perfect world, the best way to receive low car insurance premiums in California for senior citizens is to be an attentive driver and avoid traffic citations and accidents. The information below shows how speeding tickets and accidents impact premium costs for different ages of insureds. The price estimates are based on a single male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $100 deductibles, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
In the prior example, the average cost of an auto insurance policy in California per year with a clean driving record and no accidents is $3,385. Receive one speeding ticket and the average cost increases to $3,814, an increase of $429 each year. Then throw in one accident along with the one speeding ticket and the 12-month cost of car insurance for seniors goes up to an average of $5,041. That’s an increase of $1,657, or $138 per month, just for not paying attention while driving!
You may be paying too much for car insurance
San Diego car insurance rates are influenced by many factors that may substantially change the price you have to pay. Simply improving your credit, filing a claim, or getting a speeding ticket may generate price changes resulting in some companies being cheaper than before.
In addition to those changes, car insurance companies amend pricing at least once a year in order to remain profitable. Heavy losses may result in rate increases, while profitable underwriting may result in cheaper San Diego car insurance rates.
To help illustrate this point, the bar chart below shows which companies have the cheapest car insurance in San Diego, CA for a 35-year-old male driver with no violations or accidents, and a good credit rating. If we estimate rates based on his current situation, USAA may have the lowest car insurance rates in San Diego at $1,176 a year. This is $475 less than the average rate paid by California drivers of $1,651. Wawanesa, Century National, CSAA, and Nationwide are the rest of the cheapest San Diego, CA auto insurance companies.
The chart below compares rates after we give the driver from above some claims, less-than-perfect credit, and a stop sign violation. Because each insurer has their own guidelines for determining prices, comparing prices may result in a substantially altered list of affordable companies as shown below.
Grange now has the cheapest auto insurance in San Diego with Mercury, GEICO, Allied, and Progressive also being competitive. This demonstrates why it is critical to compare rates when trying to find cheap car insurance rates for seniors.
Car insurance prices can be altered by many risk factors and can decrease or increase without notice, so the cheapest company a year ago may now be wasting a lot of money.
The agents shown below can aid you in deciding which is the best policy, since many people would rather have some advice when comparing insurance rates for seniors. It can be time-consuming to find the best coverage on your own, so insurance agents can give you satisfaction knowing your policy gives you sufficient coverage at claim time. To find a San Diego insurance agent in your neighborhood, click the button link following the list or click here to compare price quotes.
Farmers Insurance – Aaron Farmer
7960 Silverton Ave #202 – San Diego, CA 92126 – (858) 689-0466
Lazaro Neto – State Farm Insurance Agent
4444 El Cajon Blvd #13 – San Diego, CA 92115 – (619) 229-6799
Oversea Insurance Agency, Inc
1274 Scott St – San Diego, CA 92106 – (800) 266-2662
View more San Diego, CA insurance agents
How to find more affordable auto insurance for seniors
The list below summarizes some money-saving suggestions that can help drivers get cheap coverage.
- Higher credit scores can equal lower rates
- Maintain a clean driving record
- Being accident-free can lower rates significantly
- Vehicles with good safety ratings are usually cheaper to insure
- Try paying for small claims out-of-pocket
- Comparison shop at least once a year
That last piece of advice is incredibly critical, as was noted in this piece. Prices can be modified anytime, so you should be ready to change to a new company if a lower-cost policy is available. Staying with the same car insurance company is fine, but it isn’t a good idea if that inflexibility results in costing you several hundred dollars every year. Take a couple minutes and compare prices and find cheaper auto insurance for seniors in San Diego.