The words “low-cost” and “auto insurance” really don’t belong together, in particular when shopping around for the best coverage prices for a learners permit. Because it’s so expensive, let’s go over a few of the things that have an impact on auto insurance rates, and find out if we can help you reduce the cost of the next policy you buy.
One of the more important criteria that are used to help calculate auto insurance rates is where your residence is. More populated areas likely pay more, whereas areas with fewer weather claims and lower vehicle theft rates have the luxury of lower rates.
The next table lists the highest-priced places in California for a learners permit in which to purchase auto insurance. Oakland shows up at #5 costing $1,687 for car insurance, which is around $141 per month.
| Rank | City | Average Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles | $2,104 |
| 2 | Glendale | $2,079 |
| 3 | San Francisco | $1,763 |
| 4 | Sacramento | $1,720 |
| 5 | Oakland | $1,687 |
| 6 | San Bernardino | $1,628 |
| 7 | Long Beach | $1,610 |
| 8 | Stockton | $1,603 |
| 9 | Garden Grove | $1,570 |
| 10 | Santa Clarita | $1,548 |
| 11 | Fontana | $1,535 |
| 12 | Riverside | $1,527 |
| 13 | Modesto | $1,502 |
| 14 | Santa Ana | $1,497 |
| 15 | Moreno Valley | $1,491 |
| 16 | Anaheim | $1,474 |
| 17 | Fresno | $1,457 |
| 18 | San Jose | $1,395 |
| 19 | San Diego | $1,381 |
| 20 | Huntington Beach | $1,374 |
| Quote Best Rates Go | ||
Information shown are comparative as the specific zip code location can decrease or increase auto insurance rates noticeably.
Deciding which insurers offer the lowest-priced auto insurance rates for a learners permit calls for a tad more effort than just getting one or two price quotes. Each insurance company uses their own method for determining rates, so to begin we’ll rank the most affordable auto insurance companies in Oakland.
Find Cheaper Car Insurance in California
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | USAA | $1,121 |
| 2 | Wawanesa | $1,146 |
| 3 | Century National | $1,214 |
| 4 | CSAA | $1,234 |
| 5 | Nationwide | $1,263 |
| 6 | 21st Century | $1,366 |
| 7 | Grange | $1,447 |
| 8 | Progressive | $1,512 |
| 9 | GEICO | $1,529 |
| 10 | Mercury | $1,533 |
| 11 | Allied | $1,541 |
| 12 | Allstate | $1,559 |
| 13 | The Hartford | $1,639 |
| 14 | MetLife | $1,654 |
| 15 | State Farm | $1,682 |
| 16 | Unitrin | $1,682 |
| 17 | Esurance | $1,739 |
| 18 | Bristol West | $1,831 |
| 19 | Travelers | $1,860 |
| 20 | Farmers | $1,966 |
| Find Your Rate Go | ||
USAA generally has some of the cheapest car insurance rates in Oakland at around $1,121 each year. Wawanesa, Century National, CSAA, and Nationwide would also be considered some of the more affordable Oakland, CA car insurance companies.
As the rates illustrate above, if you currently have coverage with Century National and switched to USAA, you could realize an annual savings of approximately $93. California drivers with CSAA could save as much as $113 a year, and Nationwide insureds might realize rate reductions of up to $142 a year.
These estimates are averaged for all ages of drivers and types of vehicles and and are not calculated with a specific zip code for a learners permit. So the insurer that can offer you the lowest price may not even be in the list above. That illustrates why you need to get rate quotes using your own driver information and specific vehicle type.
Types of discounts on Oakland car insurance
Insurers that provide coverage for a learners permit may have price discounts that can reduce rates by as much as 25% or more if you meet eligibility requirements. A few popular companies and a partial list of their discounts are:
- Travelers offers premium reductions for good student, multi-policy, home ownership, multi-car, and continuous insurance.
- 21st Century may include discounts for early bird, defensive driver, anti-lock brakes, driver training, and automatic seat belts.
- State Farm offers discounts for student away at school, anti-theft, defensive driving training, safe vehicle, multiple autos, good driver, and Drive Safe & Save.
- GEICO has discounts for membership and employees, good student, multi-vehicle, anti-theft, federal employee, seat belt use, and driver training.
- SAFECO includes discounts for multi-car, accident prevention training, teen safe driver, safe driver, bundle discounts, drive less, and homeowner.
- AAA discounts include AAA membership discount, pay-in-full, multi-car, good driver, anti-theft, and multi-policy.
The example below shows the comparison of car insurance costs with and without discounts applied to the policy premium. Data assumes a male driver, no violations or accidents, California state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows the price with no discounts. The second shows the rates with passive restraint, vehicle safety, anti-theft, good student, paid-in-full, and continuous coverage discounts applied. When taking advantage of discounts, theamount saved on auto insurance for a learners permit is 28% or $741.
Irresponsible driving raises your rates
The easiest method to enjoy good auto insurance rates in California for new drivers is to be a cautious driver and avoid getting tickets or having accidents. The chart below illustrates how violations and at-fault fender-benders raise car insurance costs for different categories of driver ages. The costs are based on a married female driver, full coverage, $250 deductibles, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
In the chart above, the average cost of car insurance in California per year with a clean driving record and no accidents is $1,785. Receive two speeding tickets and the average cost jumps to $2,536, an increase of $752 each year. Now add in one accident along with the two speeding tickets and the 12-month cost of auto insurance for a learners permit goes up to an average of $3,288. That’s an increase of $1,503, or $125 per month, just for not being more responsible behind the wheel!
Which auto insurance company is best in California?
Choosing a high-quality auto insurance provider can be challenging considering how many companies there are in Oakland. The company information displayed below can help you analyze which companies you want to consider buying from.
These ratings include large insurance companies, so smaller companies are not included in this list. To get price quotes and find cheaper insurance for a learners permit, just click here.
Top 10 Large Auto Insurers in Oakland Ranked by A.M. Best Rating
- USAA – A++
- Travelers – A++
- State Farm – A++
- GEICO – A++
- Esurance – A+
- Nationwide – A+
- Allstate – A+
- Mercury Insurance – A+
- Progressive – A+
- Titan Insurance – A+
How to find cheaper insurance for a learners permit
It’s not impossible to find cheaper rates, and here are some money-saving suggestions that can help California drivers find cheaper car insurance.
- Don’t waste money on full coverage for older vehicles
- Save money by insuring your home and auto with the same company
- Increase your policy deductibles
- Drive vehicles with five-star safety ratings
- Better credit rating means better rates
- Pay for small claims rather than turning them in to your insurance company
- Compare price quotes at least once a year
The last item on the list is highly necessary, as we emphasized in this piece. Insurance rates adjust frequently, so drivers shouldn’t be resistant to switch to a new company if a cheaper rate is available. Having brand loyalty is commendable, but is isn’t recommended if that loyalty ends up costing big bucks every year. Now is a great time to compare rates and find cheaper car insurance for a learners permit in Oakland.
If you aren’t clear which coverage you need and would like to get help from a professional when trying to find lower insurance rates for a learners permit, the insurance agencies below are a good start to provide answers to your questions and help you determine which car insurance company is the best fit. To find an Oakland insurance agent in your neighborhood, click the button at the bottom of the list.
- Farmers Insurance – Scott Halbrook
1433 Leimert Blvd – Oakland, CA 94602 – (510) 531-1432 - Farmers Insurance – Anthony Sue
3333 Grand Ave #203 – Oakland, CA 94610 – (510) 465-1544 - Travel Insurance Agency
610 16th St #508 – Oakland, CA 94612 – (510) 452-3366 - Farmers Insurance – Pamela Spikes
3410 Lakeshore Ave #204 – Oakland, CA 94610 – (510) 832-1005 - Farmers Insurance – Lilian Cabrera
1324 Fruitvale Ave – Oakland, CA 94601 – (510) 436-6900