Cheap Auto Insurance for Active Military in California

Cheap Auto Insurance for Active Military in California

Wouldn’t it be great if we could look into our crystal ball and tell you the best company in California that has the cheapest rates for active military? It’s just not that simple, as there are a whole bunch of unknown elements like if you have a coverage lapse, what liability limits you need, and the performance level of your vehicle, that all influence how much you pay for auto insurance. We will try to teach you about the best ways to find cheap car insurance and should give you some help in finding cheaper rates.

When shopping for auto insurance for military personnel, one of the many things that determine the amount you pay each year for auto insurance is your address in California. Cities with larger populations like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sacramento are more likely to have higher rates, whereas areas with lower crime rates and fewer weather claims have the benefit of cheaper auto insurance prices.

The following table rates the higher priced cities in California for active military in which to buy car insurance.

Car insurance prices in California
Rank City Annual Rate
1 Los Angeles $2,168
2 Glendale $2,121
3 San Francisco $1,745
4 Oakland $1,704
5 Sacramento $1,669
6 San Bernardino $1,628
7 Stockton $1,603
8 Santa Clarita $1,580
9 Long Beach $1,562
10 Garden Grove $1,554
11 Modesto $1,547
12 Fontana $1,535
13 Moreno Valley $1,506
14 Riverside $1,497
15 Anaheim $1,488
16 Fresno $1,472
17 Santa Ana $1,439
18 San Jose $1,423
19 Fremont $1,389
20 Irvine $1,384
21 San Diego $1,381
22 Huntington Beach $1,360
23 Bakersfield $1,353
24 Oxnard $1,318
25 Chula Vista $1,311
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Prices are estimated as specific California zip code can impact coverage prices substantially.

Deciding which company quotes the best insurance rates for active military requires a bit more work than just comparing a company or two.

Each insurance company uses different criteria for setting prices, so let’s rank the overall cheapest insurance companies in California. It’s a good idea to know that California insurance rates are calculated based on many things that will increase or decrease the cost of your policy. Simply improving your credit, having a claim, or getting caught speeding may generate price changes that may make certain companies more affordable than the competition.

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Cheapest California auto insurance companies
Rank Company Cost Per Year
1 USAA $1,109
2 Century National $1,190
3 Wawanesa $1,192
4 CSAA $1,198
5 Nationwide $1,226
6 21st Century $1,379
7 Grange $1,433
8 Progressive $1,496
9 Mercury $1,503
10 Allstate $1,513
11 Allied $1,541
12 GEICO $1,575
13 MetLife $1,606
14 The Hartford $1,639
15 State Farm $1,733
16 Unitrin $1,733
17 Esurance $1,739
18 Bristol West $1,777
19 Travelers $1,842
20 Farmers $2,006
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USAA offers some of the lowest car insurance rates in California at around $1,109 annually. Century National, Wawanesa, CSAA, and Nationwide also rank well as some of the cheaper California car insurance companies.

In this example, if you are a customer of CSAA and switched to USAA, you could realize a yearly price reduction of in the vicinity of $89. Drivers with Nationwide might save as much as $117 a year, and 21st Century customers might cut rates by $270 a year.

To find out how your current rates compare, click here to start your custom quote or visit several of the following companies.

These estimates are averages across all types of insureds and vehicles and do not take into consideration a price discount for active military. So the car insurance company that has the lowest price for you may not even be included in the list of companies shown earlier. That underscores the importance of why you need to compare prices as often as possible using your own driver and vehicle profiles.

The make and model of vehicle that needs insurance is one of the largest factors when comparing the most economical coverage for active military. Vehicles with limited speed and performance, an excellent safety record, or low incidents of liability claims will cost substantially less to insure than adrenaline junky models.

The next lists shows coverage rates for the most affordable automobiles to buy insurance for.

Auto Insurance Rates for Popular Cars in California
Make, Model, and Trim Level Annual Cost Semi-Annual Cost Monthly Cost
Chevrolet Malibu LT $1,378 $689 $115
Ford Focus SEL 4-Dr Sedan $1,388 $694 $116
Honda Civic VP 4-Dr Sedan $1,388 $694 $116
Hyundai Elantra Blue 4-Dr Sedan $1,388 $694 $116
Hyundai Sonata Limited 4-Dr Sedan $1,540 $770 $128
Kia Optima SX $1,540 $770 $128
Nissan Altima 3.5 SR 4-Dr Sedan $1,460 $730 $122
Toyota Camry XLE $1,424 $712 $119
Volkswagen Jetta 2.0T 4-Dr Sedan $1,460 $730 $122
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Data variables include married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, homeowner, and multi-policy. Rate information does not factor in zip code location which can influence coverage prices considerably.

Auto Insurance Rates for Popular SUVs and Crossovers in California
Make, Model, and Trim Level Annual Cost Semi-Annual Cost Monthly Cost
Chevrolet Suburban LT 4WD $1,378 $689 $115
Chevrolet Traverse LTZ 2WD $1,288 $644 $107
Ford Escape XLT 4WD $1,170 $585 $98
Ford Expedition Limited 2WD $1,370 $685 $114
Ford Explorer XLT 4WD $1,260 $630 $105
GMC Acadia SLT AWD $1,378 $689 $115
Honda CR-V EX 4WD $1,170 $585 $98
Honda Pilot EX 2WD $1,296 $648 $108
Hyundai Tucson GLS 2WD $1,224 $612 $102
Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4WD $1,342 $671 $112
Jeep Patriot Limited 2WD $1,342 $671 $112
Kia Sportage LX $1,342 $671 $112
Nissan Pathfinder SE 2WD $1,260 $630 $105
Toyota Highlander Sport 4WD $1,378 $689 $115
Toyota RAV4 Limited 4WD $1,342 $671 $112
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Data rating is based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, safe-driver, homeowner, claim-free, and multi-policy. Price estimates do not factor in specific California garaging location which can revise rates substantially.

Insurance Rates for Popular Pickup Trucks in California
Make, Model, and Trim Level Annual Cost Semi-Annual Cost Monthly Cost
Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD LT Extended Cab Diesel 2WD $1,658 $829 $138
Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD LTZ Crew Cab Diesel 2WD $1,614 $807 $135
Chevrolet Silverado LT Crew Cab 4WD $1,460 $730 $122
Dodge Ram 3500 Crew Cab SLT 2WD $1,614 $807 $135
Dodge Ram Quad Cab TRX4 Off Road 2WD $1,458 $729 $122
Ford F-150 FX2 Super Cab 2WD $1,260 $630 $105
GMC Canyon SLE Regular Cab 2WD $1,224 $612 $102
GMC Sierra 3500HD SLE Crew Cab 2WD $1,494 $747 $125
GMC Sierra SLE Extended Cab 4WD $1,460 $730 $122
Toyota Tundra SR/5 Crew Max 4WD $1,574 $787 $131
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Data variables include married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, and claim-free. Estimates do not factor in specific California garaging location which can raise or lower rates noticeably.

Buying coverage from the right company can be challenging considering how many choices you have in California. The ranking information listed below may help you decide which car insurance companies you want to consider when shopping car insurance rates for active military.

These rankings are for companies with a national presence, so companies that may only write in California are not included in this list. To compare prices and find the cheapest rates for active military, simply click here.

Top 10 Large Auto Insurance Companies in California Ranked by Customer Satisfaction

  1. Titan Insurance – 95%
  2. USAA – 94%
  3. AAA of Southern California – 92%
  4. AAA Insurance – 91%
  5. Nationwide – 90%
  6. State Farm – 90%
  7. The Hartford – 89%
  8. GEICO – 89%
  9. The General – 88%
  10. 21st Century – 88%

Top 10 Large Auto Insurance Companies in California Ranked by Customer Service

  1. AAA of Southern California
  2. GEICO
  3. State Farm
  4. The Hartford
  5. Mercury Insurance
  6. The General
  7. Progressive
  8. Allstate
  9. AAA Insurance
  10. American Family

Irresponsible driving raises your rates

A great way to obtain cheap car insurance for active military in California is to drive attentively and avoid accidents and traffic violations. The diagram below illustrates how violations and at-fault collisions increase car insurance rates for each age group. The rates are based on a married female driver, full physical damage coverage, $250 deductibles, and no discounts are applied.

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In the example above, the average cost of car insurance in California per year with no accidents and a clean driving record is $2,421. Receive one speeding ticket and the average cost hikes up to $2,819, an increase of $398 each year. Then add one accident along with the one speeding ticket and the yearly cost of insurance for active military goes up to an average of $3,945. That’s an increase of $1,525, or $127 per month, just for being a careless driver!

Progressive, State Farm, Geico, and Allstate compared

If you want the best auto insurance for military personnel in California, some of the largest companies to start with are Progressive, State Farm, Geico, and Allstate. If you put them all together, they insure almost half of all car insurance policies written. All offer your standard physical damage and liability coverages, but each one has unique features and discounts that may influence your buying decision. The next table compares and contrasts some of the different features that are available.

Top U.S. Car Insurance Company Ratings
Progressive State Farm Geico Allstate
Policy Cost 3rd 2nd 1st 4th
Discounts Available 4th 3rd 2nd 1st
Customer Satisfaction 3rd 4th 1st 2nd
Claims Service 4th 2nd 3rd 1st
Percent of customers who recommend 88% 88% 87% 86%
Coverage for Uber and Lyft drivers Yes Yes Yes Yes
Roadside assistance Yes Yes Yes Yes
New car replacement insurance No No No Yes
Breakdown insurance Yes No Yes No
Accident forgiveness coverage Yes No Yes Yes
Usage-based insurance Yes Yes No Yes
Offered in California Yes Yes Yes Yes
Where you can buy Buy online or from an independent agent Can only buy from State Farm agents Both online and from Geico agents Allstate exclusive agents
Number of agents 30,000+ 18,000+ 150+ 11,000+
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