The words “low-cost” and “auto insurance” really don’t belong together, specifically when you are trying to find the best price on coverage for low mileage drivers. In an attempt to save some money, let’s go over some of the factors that help determine auto insurance rates, and find out if you can take a little off your next policy.
Finding good, low-priced insurance is tough enough, and determining which insurers offer the best auto insurance rates for low mileage drivers calls for even more rate comparisons.
Each auto insurance company has their own formula to set policy rates, so we’ll take a look at the overall cheapest auto insurance companies in Oakland.
Cheapest Insurance Rates in California
Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
---|---|---|
1 | USAA | $1,143 |
2 | Wawanesa | $1,157 |
3 | CSAA | $1,198 |
4 | Nationwide | $1,213 |
5 | Century National | $1,214 |
6 | 21st Century | $1,325 |
7 | Grange | $1,477 |
8 | Allstate | $1,513 |
9 | GEICO | $1,529 |
10 | Mercury | $1,548 |
11 | Progressive | $1,558 |
12 | The Hartford | $1,575 |
13 | Allied | $1,588 |
14 | MetLife | $1,590 |
15 | State Farm | $1,750 |
16 | Unitrin | $1,750 |
17 | Esurance | $1,756 |
18 | Bristol West | $1,795 |
19 | Travelers | $1,842 |
20 | Farmers | $1,946 |
Compare Rates Now Go |
USAA may have some of the lowest car insurance rates in Oakland at around $1,143 annually. Wawanesa, CSAA, Nationwide, and Century National would also be considered some of the lowest-priced Oakland, CA insurance companies.
In the rate table above, if you have coverage with Century National and switched to Wawanesa, you might see annual savings of in the neighborhood of $57. Drivers with 21st Century may save as much as $168 a year, and Grange customers might realize rate reductions of up to $320 a year.
To see how much you can save, click here to start a quote or visit any of the low-priced companies below.
Understand that those premiums are averages across all drivers and vehicles and and are not calculated with a specific zip code for low mileage drivers. So the auto insurance company that fits your needs best may not even be in the list above. That illustrates why you need to compare rates from multiple companies using your own specific driver and vehicle information.
For infrequent drivers, one of the more important factors that help determine the amount you pay for auto insurance is where your car is garaged. Cities with larger populations tend to pay slightly more, whereas more rural areas benefit from lower rates.
The following table rates the highest-priced areas in California for low mileage drivers to purchase car insurance in. Oakland ranks #5 with the yearly price of $1,704 for car insurance, which is around $142 per month.
Rank | City | Average Per Year |
---|---|---|
1 | Los Angeles | $2,146 |
2 | Glendale | $2,058 |
3 | Sacramento | $1,720 |
4 | San Francisco | $1,711 |
5 | Oakland | $1,704 |
6 | San Bernardino | $1,644 |
7 | Long Beach | $1,610 |
8 | Santa Clarita | $1,595 |
9 | Stockton | $1,588 |
10 | Garden Grove | $1,554 |
11 | Fontana | $1,535 |
12 | Modesto | $1,532 |
13 | Riverside | $1,497 |
14 | Moreno Valley | $1,491 |
15 | Fresno | $1,472 |
16 | Santa Ana | $1,453 |
17 | Anaheim | $1,444 |
18 | San Jose | $1,437 |
19 | Huntington Beach | $1,402 |
20 | Fremont | $1,389 |
21 | San Diego | $1,381 |
22 | Bakersfield | $1,353 |
23 | Irvine | $1,330 |
24 | Oxnard | $1,318 |
25 | Chula Vista | $1,311 |
Find the Best Rates Go |
Rate information is comparative as specific Oakland zip code can alter prices considerably.
Which auto insurance company is best in California?
Buying coverage from a good quality insurance company is difficult considering how many different companies there are to choose from in Oakland. The ranking information below could help you pick which auto insurers you want to consider comparing prices from.
These ratings are only made up of the largest companies in America, so companies without a large exposure will not be included in the list. If you’d like to compare prices from these and other top-rated companies, click this link.
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
Irresponsible driving raises your rates
The easiest method to score good auto insurance premiums in California for infrequent drivers is to be an attentive driver and avoid accidents and traffic violations. The diagram below illustrates how speeding tickets and accident claims can influence yearly insurance costs for each different age group. The prices are based on a single male driver, comp and collision included, $1,000 deductibles, and no policy discounts are applied.
In the example above, the average cost of car insurance per year with no violations or accidents is $1,849. Add in one speeding ticket and the average cost hikes up to $2,088, an increase of $239 each year. Then throw in one accident along with the one speeding ticket and the yearly cost of auto insurance for low mileage drivers increases to an average of $2,744. That’s an increase of $895, or $75 per month, just for not being a responsible driver!
Here’s why price comparisons are so important
California auto insurance rates are impacted by many factors that may substantially change your annual premium. Simply having another birthday, buying a different vehicle, or getting a DUI can produce rate changes that can cause some rates to be cheaper than competitors.
Not only that, but insurers file new California auto insurance rates multiple times each year to ensure their profitability. Heavy losses may cause higher priced premiums, while long-term profits can cause cheaper Oakland car insurance rates.
To illustrate this point, the graph below shows the cheapest car insurance in Oakland, CA for a 35-year-old male driver with a good driving record, no prior claims, and excellent credit. When quoting prices based on his current rating profile, USAA may offer the best car insurance rates in Oakland at $1,479 each year. This is $172 less than the average premium paid by California drivers of $1,651. Wawanesa, CSAA, Century National, and Nationwide are the rest of the cheapest Oakland, CA auto insurance companies.
In this next rate comparison, we will give the driver from the first example a claim or two, a lower credit score, and a blemish on his driving record. Since every car insurance company has a unique approach for determining rates in each state, getting updated rate quotes may now result in a substantially altered list of the cheapest companies as shown below.
Mercury now has the lowest car insurance rate in Oakland with Grange, Allstate, Progressive, and The Hartford completing the list. This illustrates why drivers need to take the time to shop around when trying to find affordable car insurance rates for low mileage drivers.
Car insurance prices are calculated by many factors and change frequently, so the cheapest company the last time you compared rates may now be one of the higher cost companies.
Tips for finding budget-friendly car insurance for low mileage drivers
The list below details a few penny-pinching suggestions that can help you find cheap car insurance.
- Higher physical damage deductibles lower rates
- Maintaining good credit helps earn cheaper rates
- Do not pay for full coverage if not needed
- Save money by insuring your home and auto with the same company
- Don’t have frequent claims
- Buy a vehicle with excellent safety ratings
- Comparison shop at least once a year
That last idea is very vital, as we discussed in this write-up. Prices charged by car insurance companies can be adjusted at any time, so don’t be hesitant to change to a new company if a cheaper rate is available.
Many drivers tend to have loyalty to a certain company, but we do not recommend it if that loyalty results in overpaying money that could be spent on other things. Spend a few minutes and compare rates and find cheaper auto insurance for low mileage drivers in Oakland.
The Oakland auto insurance agencies shown below can most likely provide answers to your questions and help you determine which insurance coverage you need, since some people prefer to have a little guidance when comparing insurance rates for low mileage drivers. It can be complicated to find coverage yourself, and agents can give comfort knowing you have adequate asset protection.
To find an Oakland insurance agent close to you, click the button below the list.
Joe Trapasso – State Farm Insurance Agent
1901 Harrison St Ste 100 – Oakland, CA 94612 – (510) 808-7120
Frank Sanchez – State Farm Agent
5301 Claremont Ave – Oakland, CA 94618 – (510) 658-2722
Farmers Insurance – Margarita Rodriguez
3028 International Blvd – Oakland, CA 94601 – (510) 532-8426
Fred Loya Insurance
1620 High St STE B – Oakland, CA 94601 – (510) 434-1801