The words “affordable” and “insurance” really should not be used together, in particular when you are trying to find the best insurance rates for drivers over age 70. Because it’s not cheap, let’s start off by going over a few of the factors that determine car insurance rates, and find out if you can shave a little off your next policy.
The vehicle on the policy is one of the largest considerations when shopping around for low-cost coverage for drivers over age 70. Vehicles with lots of horsepower, a lack of advanced safety features, or a history of substantial liability claims will cost significantly more to insure than more modest models.
The data below shows auto insurance premiums for the most budget-friendly vehicles to buy insurance for.
| Vehicle | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Ford Escape XLT 2WD | $1,687 |
| Honda CR-V LX 2WD | $1,693 |
| Toyota Prius | $1,845 |
| Jeep Wrangler Sport Islander Package 4WD 2-Dr | $1,869 |
| Toyota Tacoma 4WD | $1,893 |
| Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 2WD | $1,901 |
| Ford F-150 FX2 Super Cab 2WD | $1,893 |
| Ford Edge SE AWD | $1,975 |
| Ford Focus S 4-Dr Sedan | $1,983 |
| Honda Odyssey EX W/Rear Entertainment | $1,975 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LT AWD | $1,999 |
| Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid | $2,005 |
| Volkswagen Jetta LE 4-Dr Sedan | $1,999 |
| Start Your Quote Go | |
Prices based on single male driver age 70, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, homeowner, safe-driver, claim-free, and multi-vehicle. Rates do not factor in your specific Oakland, CA location which can change coverage rates noticeably.
Based upon these rates, you can presume that cars like the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, and Toyota Prius are most likely to be the more affordable vehicles to insure for older drivers. Car insurance rates will be higher anyway because of the fact that there is more liability risk for drivers over age 70, but generally speaking those models will have the best rates that you’ll find.
Deciding which insurers offer the cheapest insurance rates for drivers over age 70 takes a little more sweat than just picking a company at random.
Every auto insurer uses their own formula for filing rates in each state, so let’s take a look at the insurance companies with the most affordable rates in California. It’s a good idea to know that California insurance rates are calculated based on many things that can increase the price you pay for coverage. Improving your credit rating, buying a different home, or having a fender bender may cause policy rate changes that may make certain companies cheaper than competitors.
Find the Cheapest Car Insurance for Age 70+
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | USAA | $1,143 |
| 2 | Wawanesa | $1,157 |
| 3 | Nationwide | $1,213 |
| 4 | Century National | $1,214 |
| 5 | CSAA | $1,234 |
| 6 | 21st Century | $1,325 |
| 7 | Grange | $1,477 |
| 8 | Mercury | $1,503 |
| 9 | Progressive | $1,512 |
| 10 | GEICO | $1,513 |
| 11 | Allied | $1,541 |
| 12 | Allstate | $1,543 |
| 13 | MetLife | $1,606 |
| 14 | The Hartford | $1,623 |
| 15 | Unitrin | $1,682 |
| 16 | State Farm | $1,699 |
| 17 | Esurance | $1,739 |
| 18 | Travelers | $1,806 |
| 19 | Bristol West | $1,831 |
| 20 | Farmers | $1,966 |
| Compare Rates Now Go | ||
USAA generally has some of the best car insurance rates in Oakland at around $1,143 each year. This is $508 less than the average policy premium paid by California drivers of $1,651. Wawanesa, Nationwide, Century National, and CSAA also qualify as some of the best Oakland, CA auto insurance companies.
As the example above demonstrates, if you buy coverage from CSAA and switched to Wawanesa, you could earn savings of in the neighborhood of $77. Policyholders with 21st Century may save as much as $168 a year, and Grange policyholders might reduce prices by as much as $320 a year.
Bear in mind that those policy rates are averages for all types of insureds and vehicles and are not factoring in an exact zip code location for drivers over age 70. So the insurer that is most affordable for your situation may not even be in the top 24 companies shown above. That illustrates why you need to quote rates from many companies using your own driver data and vehicle information.
For older drivers, one of the largest components that determine the annual cost of car insurance is where you normally keep your vehicle in Oakland. Areas with more people or even just a higher incidence of claims tend to have higher rates, whereas less populated areas get the luxury of paying less.
The information below ranks the most expensive places in California for drivers over age 70 in which to purchase auto insurance. Oakland is listed at #3 with a yearly premium of $1,738 for the average policyholder, which is approximately $145 per month.
| Rank | City | Premium Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles | $2,104 |
| 2 | Glendale | $2,079 |
| 3 | Oakland | $1,738 |
| 4 | San Francisco | $1,711 |
| 5 | Sacramento | $1,669 |
| 6 | San Bernardino | $1,644 |
| 7 | Stockton | $1,588 |
| 8 | Santa Clarita | $1,580 |
| 9 | Long Beach | $1,578 |
| 10 | Fontana | $1,566 |
| 11 | Garden Grove | $1,508 |
| 12 | Modesto | $1,502 |
| 13 | Fresno | $1,502 |
| 14 | Riverside | $1,497 |
| 15 | Moreno Valley | $1,491 |
| 16 | Santa Ana | $1,483 |
| 17 | Anaheim | $1,430 |
| 18 | San Jose | $1,423 |
| 19 | Huntington Beach | $1,374 |
| 20 | Fremont | $1,348 |
| Compare Prices Now Go | ||
Rate information is estimated as zip code location can decrease or increase rates significantly.
Choosing the highest-rated insurance company can be difficult considering how many companies sell coverage in California. The ranking information listed below can help you choose which insurers you want to consider comparing rate quotes with. These rankings are only comprised of companies with a national presence, so companies that may only write in California are not included in this list.
Top 10 Major Auto Insurance Companies in Oakland Ranked by Value
- USAA
- American Family
- The Hartford
- AAA of Southern California
- Titan Insurance
- The General
- AAA Insurance
- State Farm
- Mercury Insurance
- Nationwide
Top 10 Major Auto Insurance Companies in Oakland 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%
Get discount Oakland auto insurance rates
Insurance companies that provide policies for drivers over age 70 may provide discounts that could reduce prices by as much as 30% if you meet the requirements. Large insurance companies and a selection of discounts are outlined below.
- State Farm offers discounts for accident-free, good driver, defensive driving training, good student, passive restraint, driver’s education, and Steer Clear safe driver discount.
- GEICO includes discounts for defensive driver, membership and employees, emergency military deployment, anti-theft, good student, and multi-vehicle.
- Liberty Mutual may have discounts that include new move discount, exclusive group savings, hybrid vehicle, preferred payment discount, and safety features.
- The Hartford offers premium reductions for vehicle fuel type, bundle, defensive driver, good student, and driver training.
- MetLife may include discounts for defensive driver, good student, claim-free, multi-policy, accident-free, good driver
- Progressive offers discounts including good student, continuous coverage, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, online signing, homeowner, and online quote discount.
The diagram below illustrates the comparison of insurance prices with and without discounts applied. The premiums assume a male driver, no tickets, no at-fault accidents, California state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $250 deductibles.
The first bar for each age group shows insurance cost with no discounts. The second bar shows the rates with multiple vehicle, marriage, multiple policy, vehicle safety, safe-driver, and homeowner discounts applied. With discounts applied, theaverage amount saved on insurance for drivers over age 70 is 28% or $875.
How to find cheaper car insurance for drivers over age 70
Below you’ll find some penny-pinching suggestions that can help Oakland drivers quote lower-cost coverage.
- Buying home and auto insurance together can earn discounts
- Earn a discount by not filing claims
- Buy safe vehicles
- Drop full coverage on older vehicles
- Do not get into accidents
- Violations like speeding or DUI increase rates
- Shop around for cheaper rates regularly
The last idea is notably critical, as was discussed in the prior article. Insurance rates in Oakland change a lot, so don’t be hesitant to buy a policy from a new company if a cheaper price is available.
Having a favorite company is fine, but it’s not a great idea if your bullheadedness ends up costing you hundreds of dollars a year. If you have a few minutes, now is a great time to compare prices to find cheaper auto insurance for drivers over age 70.
The Oakland auto insurance agencies shown below are willing to help you determine which coverage meets your needs best, as some people prefer to have some professional guidance when buying car insurance for older drivers. It’s not always easy to find the cheapest rate yourself, and insurance agents licensed in the state of California can bring satisfaction knowing your coverage gives you adequate asset protection.
To find an agent closest to you, click the button after the list.
Farmers Insurance: Cuong Cao
433 International Blvd – Oakland, CA 94606 – (510) 836-5555
Farmers Insurance – Anthony Sue
3333 Grand Ave #203 – Oakland, CA 94610 – (510) 465-1544
Maria Wong – State Farm Insurance Agent
1000 Broadway #270 – Oakland, CA 94607 – (510) 834-3634