The words “economical” and “auto insurance” really don’t belong together, specifically when you are looking for the lowest insurance prices for retired military. Because it’s so expensive, let’s take a look at a few of the factors that can significantly affect insurance premiums, and find a few ways to cut the cost of the next policy you buy.
Trying to find affordable car insurance is confusing at best, and finding out which companies have the lowest-priced auto insurance rates for retired military calls for a bit more work. Every car insurance company uses their own formula to set their prices, so we need to take a look at the auto insurance companies with the overall cheapest rates in California.
It’s a good idea to be aware that California auto insurance rates are influenced by many factors that may substantially change the cost of coverage. That is why consumers need to do a thorough rate comparison when trying to find the most affordable auto insurance rates for retired military. Auto insurance prices are impacted by many things and change substantially, so the most economical option the last time you checked may now be priced much higher than other options.
Best Cheap Insurance Rates for Vets
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Wawanesa generally has some of the lowest car insurance rates in California at around $1,146 annually. USAA, CSAA, Nationwide, and Century National also qualify as some of the most economical California auto insurance companies.
As illustrated above, if you buy coverage from Nationwide and switched to USAA, you may realize an annual premium reduction of in the vicinity of $58. California drivers with Century National might save as much as $59 a year, and 21st Century policyholders might lower prices by $183 a year.
If you would like to find the best cheap car insurance for retired military in California, click here to begin a quote or quote rates from the companies below.
These rates are averaged across all ages of drivers and types of vehicles and and are not calculated with a rate discount for retired military. So the insurer that is most affordable for your situation may not even be shown in the chart above. That point stresses why you need to compare rates from as many companies as possible using your own personal information and vehicle type.
The safety and performance level of the vehicle that is being insured is probably the largest consideration that determines if you can find the best cheap car insurance for retired military in California. Vehicles with lower performance, good crash test ratings, or a positive history of liability claims will cost quite a bit less to insure than adrenaline junky models. The information below estimates coverage costs for a number of the most economical automobiles to buy insurance for.
Make, Model, and Trim Level | Annual Cost | Semi-Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
---|---|---|---|
Ford Focus SE 2-Dr Coupe | $1,540 | $770 | $128 |
Honda Accord EX-L 4-Dr Sedan | $1,270 | $635 | $106 |
Honda Civic LX 2-Dr Coupe | $1,670 | $835 | $139 |
Hyundai Elantra GLS 4-Dr Sedan | $1,454 | $727 | $121 |
Hyundai Sonata GLS 4-Dr Sedan | $1,458 | $729 | $122 |
Nissan Altima 3.5 SR 2-Dr Coupe | $1,652 | $826 | $138 |
Toyota Camry LE | $1,372 | $686 | $114 |
Volkswagen Jetta 2.0T Station Wagon | $1,384 | $692 | $115 |
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Data assumes single female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, safe-driver, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, and claim-free. Prices do not factor in your specific California location which can modify premium rates substantially.
Make, Model, and Trim Level | Annual Cost | Semi-Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
---|---|---|---|
Acura MDX with Tech/Entertainment 4WD | $1,516 | $758 | $126 |
Buick Enclave CX 2WD | $1,486 | $743 | $124 |
Chevrolet Traverse LTZ AWD | $1,302 | $651 | $109 |
Ford Escape XLT 4WD | $1,190 | $595 | $99 |
Ford Explorer Limited 4WD | $1,404 | $702 | $117 |
GMC Acadia SL AWD | $1,292 | $646 | $108 |
Honda CR-V EX-L 4WD | $1,190 | $595 | $99 |
Honda Pilot EX-L 4WD | $1,404 | $702 | $117 |
Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 2WD | $1,486 | $743 | $124 |
Kia Sportage LX 4WD 4-Dr | $1,372 | $686 | $114 |
Lexus RX 350 4WD | $1,682 | $841 | $140 |
Nissan Pathfinder SE 2WD | $1,292 | $646 | $108 |
Toyota Highlander SE 4WD | $1,516 | $758 | $126 |
Toyota RAV4 Sport 2WD | $1,372 | $686 | $114 |
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Cost estimates assume single female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, claim-free, safe-driver, multi-policy, and homeowner. Premium amounts do not factor in zip code location which can alter premiums substantially.
Make, Model, and Trim Level | Annual Cost | Semi-Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
---|---|---|---|
Chevrolet Colorado LT Extended Cab 4WD | $1,160 | $580 | $97 |
Chevrolet Silverado LS Extended Cab 2WD | $1,458 | $729 | $122 |
Dodge Ram 2500 Crew Cab ST 2WD | $1,652 | $826 | $138 |
Dodge Ram Quad Cab ST 2WD | $1,378 | $689 | $115 |
Ford F-150 XL Super Cab 4WD | $1,292 | $646 | $108 |
Ford F-350 Super Cab Cabela Package 2WD | $1,516 | $758 | $126 |
GMC Sierra 3500HD SLE Regular Cab 4WD | $1,762 | $881 | $147 |
GMC Sierra Denali Crew Cab 4WD | $1,596 | $798 | $133 |
Toyota Tacoma Double Cab TRD Off-Road Package 4WD | $1,404 | $702 | $117 |
Toyota Tundra Regular Cab 2WD | $1,348 | $674 | $112 |
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Cost estimates assume single female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, homeowner, claim-free, multi-policy, and safe-driver. Rate information does not factor in specific zip code location which can affect auto insurance rates significantly.
For veterans, one of the largest things that determine the policy price is where you keep your car. Areas that are more densely populated like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sacramento tend to have more expensive car insurance rates, whereas areas that are not as densely populated can boast about having cheaper rates.
The illustration below displays the priciest cities in California for retired military to purchase auto insurance in.
Rank | City | Premium Per Year |
---|---|---|
1 | Los Angeles | $2,146 |
2 | Glendale | $2,121 |
3 | San Francisco | $1,711 |
4 | Oakland | $1,704 |
5 | Sacramento | $1,703 |
6 | San Bernardino | $1,628 |
7 | Long Beach | $1,610 |
8 | Fontana | $1,581 |
9 | Garden Grove | $1,554 |
10 | Santa Clarita | $1,548 |
11 | Modesto | $1,547 |
12 | Stockton | $1,541 |
13 | Moreno Valley | $1,491 |
14 | Anaheim | $1,488 |
15 | Santa Ana | $1,483 |
16 | Riverside | $1,482 |
17 | Fresno | $1,472 |
18 | San Jose | $1,437 |
19 | Bakersfield | $1,381 |
20 | Huntington Beach | $1,374 |
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Price information shown is comparative as specific California zip code can decrease or increase prices significantly.
The information below illustrates how your deductible choice can change insurance costs when researching cheap insurance for retired military. The rate quotes are based on a married female driver, full physical damage coverage, and no other discounts are factored in.
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In the chart above, a 50-year-old driver could lower rates by $420 a year by increasing from a $100 deductible to a $500 deductible, or save $634 by using a $1,000 deductible. Even younger insureds, like the age 20 example, can save $1,042 or more by using a higher deductible. If you make the decision to raise deductibles, it is a good idea to have plenty of money set aside to cover the extra out-of-pocket expense that deters many people from opting for higher deductibles.
If you want reliable car insurance for veterans in California, the companies that insure more vehicles than anyone else are State Farm, Progressive, Geico, and Allstate. The next table compares ratings for price, service, and claims, in additional to some of the optional coverages that are available for policyholders.
State Farm | Progressive | Geico | Allstate | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Customer Satisfaction | 4th | 3rd | 1st | 2nd |
Discounts Available | 3rd | 4th | 2nd | 1st |
Handling of Claims | 2nd | 4th | 3rd | 1st |
Price Rank | 2nd | 3rd | 1st | 4th |
A.M. Best financial rating | A++ | A+ | A++ | A+ |
Usage-based insurance | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Accident forgiveness coverage | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Roadside service | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Mechanical breakdown insurance | No | Yes | Yes | No |
New car replacement coverage | No | No | No | Yes |
Coverage for Uber and Lyft drivers | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Insure in California | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Where you can buy | State Farm-only agents | Online or from independent agents | Both online and from Geico agents | Allstate exclusive agents |
Number of agents | 18,000+ | 30,000+ | 150+ | 11,000+ |
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Here are many money-saving ideas that can help California drivers locate the cheapest coverage.
That last idea is very significant, as we hit on in the prior article. Insurance rates go up and down frequently, so you should be ready to change to a new company if a lower price can be found. Having a favorite company is great, but it’s not a great idea if that dedication is costing a wad of cash every year. Take a few minutes and compare rates to find cheaper auto insurance for retired military.