One of the many factors that are used to help calculate the cost of insurance is where you keep your vehicle. Areas with a lot of weather claims or more people tend to pay slightly more, whereas more rural areas have the benefit of cheaper auto insurance prices.
The following table rates the most costly cities in California for a learners permit to purchase car insurance in. Stockton makes the list at #9 having an annual price of $1,556 for car insurance, which is about $130 per month.
| Rank | City | Annual Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles | $2,168 |
| 2 | Glendale | $2,121 |
| 3 | Oakland | $1,755 |
| 4 | Sacramento | $1,703 |
| 5 | San Francisco | $1,693 |
| 6 | Long Beach | $1,610 |
| 7 | Santa Clarita | $1,595 |
| 8 | San Bernardino | $1,580 |
| 9 | Stockton | $1,556 |
| 10 | Moreno Valley | $1,551 |
| 11 | Fontana | $1,535 |
| 12 | Garden Grove | $1,508 |
| 13 | Riverside | $1,497 |
| 14 | Modesto | $1,487 |
| 15 | Fresno | $1,457 |
| 16 | Santa Ana | $1,453 |
| 17 | Anaheim | $1,444 |
| 18 | San Jose | $1,423 |
| 19 | Fremont | $1,389 |
| 20 | Huntington Beach | $1,374 |
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Rates are approximated as the garaging address in Stockton can affect premium rates considerably.
Finding decent, cost effective car insurance is hard enough, and figuring out which companies offer the most affordable auto insurance rates for a learners permit involves even more rate comparisons. Each insurance company uses their own calculation to set premium rates, so we need to take a look at the most budget-friendly auto insurance companies in California.
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| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | USAA | $1,143 |
| 2 | Wawanesa | $1,181 |
| 3 | Century National | $1,190 |
| 4 | Nationwide | $1,213 |
| 5 | CSAA | $1,222 |
| 6 | 21st Century | $1,338 |
| 7 | Grange | $1,477 |
| 8 | Progressive | $1,496 |
| 9 | Allstate | $1,497 |
| 10 | GEICO | $1,513 |
| 11 | Mercury | $1,548 |
| 12 | Allied | $1,556 |
| 13 | The Hartford | $1,575 |
| 14 | MetLife | $1,638 |
| 15 | Unitrin | $1,682 |
| 16 | State Farm | $1,733 |
| 17 | Esurance | $1,739 |
| 18 | Bristol West | $1,777 |
| 19 | Travelers | $1,788 |
| 20 | Farmers | $1,966 |
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USAA may have some of the lowest car insurance rates in Stockton at around $1,143 a year. Wawanesa, Century National, Nationwide, and CSAA also make the cut as some of the more affordable Stockton, CA auto insurance companies.
As the example above demonstrates, if you are currently insured with Wawanesa and switched to USAA, you may see a yearly price reduction of approximately $38. Insureds with Century National could save as much as $47 a year, and Nationwide policyholders might lower prices by $70 a year.
To compare your rates to other California insurance companies, click here or visit any of the companies below.
Bear in mind that those premium estimates are averages across all types of drivers and the different vehicles they drive and do not take into consideration a specific location for a learners permit. So the company that has the cheapest rates for you may not even be in the top 24 companies shown above. That helps illustrate why you need to compare rates from multiple companies using your own individual information.
The make and model of vehicle you are seeking coverage for is a large factor that determines the availability of cheap coverage for a learners permit. Vehicles with lots of speed or power, poor passenger safety features, or a history of substantial liability claims will cost quite a bit more to insure than safer, lower-performance models.
The next list presents auto insurance costs for some of the cheapest vehicles to buy coverage for.
| Insured Vehicle | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Hyundai Elantra GLS Touring Station Wagon | $4,622 |
| Ford Escape XLT 2WD | $4,632 |
| Honda Accord LX 4-Dr Sedan | $4,622 |
| Honda CR-V EX-L 2WD | $4,664 |
| Jeep Wrangler Sport 4WD 2-Dr | $4,877 |
| Toyota Prius | $4,984 |
| Ford Edge SE 2WD | $5,158 |
| Ford F-150 STX Regular Cab 4WD | $5,200 |
| Honda Odyssey EX | $5,437 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan Hero | $5,478 |
| Toyota RAV4 2WD | $5,485 |
| Chevrolet Impala LT | $5,478 |
| Volkswagen Jetta LE 4-Dr Sedan | $5,483 |
| GMC Sierra SL Extended Cab 2WD | $5,478 |
| Toyota Camry LE | $5,485 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LS AWD | $5,478 |
| Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer AWD | $5,520 |
| Dodge Ram Quad Cab ST 2WD | $5,664 |
| Honda Civic LX-S 4-Dr Sedan | $5,718 |
| Toyota Tacoma X-Runner 2WD | $5,760 |
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Data variables include single female driver age 16, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, and claim-free. Information does not factor in vehicle garaging location which can modify price quotes greatly.
Based upon the rates shown, we can infer that vehicles like the Hyundai Elantra, Ford Escape, Honda Accord, Honda CR-V, and Jeep Wrangler will definitely be a few of the most budget-friendly vehicles to insure for new drivers. Rates will trend higher just because there is more liability exposure for a learners permit, but generally speaking those makes and models will probably have the cheapest rates available.
Illustration showing the impact of accidents and violations
The easiest way to receive the cheapest auto insurance premiums in California for new drivers is to be a cautious driver and avoid getting tickets or having accidents. The information below shows how traffic citations and fender-benders can drive up insurance prices for each age group. The costs are based on a single female driver, full coverage, $100 deductibles, and no discounts are factored in.
The data in the chart shows the average cost of an auto insurance policy in Stockton per year with no accidents or violations is $3,262. Factor in two speeding tickets and the average cost jumps to $4,398, an increase of $1,136 each year. Now add two accidents along with the two speeding tickets and the yearly cost of auto insurance for a learners permit goes up to an average of $8,399. That’s an increase of $5,137, or $428 per month, just for not being a responsible driver!
The example below highlights how deductible selection can influence insurance costs when trying to find cheap insurance for a learners permit. The data assumes a married male driver, full coverage, and no other discounts are factored in.
The chart above illustrates that a 40-year-old driver could lower their policy premium by $308 a year by switching their comprehensive and collision coverages from a $100 deductible up to a $500 deductible, or save $466 by selecting a $1,000 deductible. Even younger drivers, like the Age 20 chart data, have the ability to save up to $1,026 every year by choosing larger deductibles on their policy.
If you do make the decision to raise your deductibles, it will be important to have plenty of savings on hand to cover the extra out-of-pocket expense, which is the one shortcoming of high deductibles.
Shop around and save
Stockton auto insurance rates are impacted by many factors that control the price you pay. Simply having another birthday, having a teenage driver, or getting a ticket for careless driving may generate price changes resulting in some companies being much cheaper than others. Not only may things change on your end, but insurers file new California auto insurance rates as needed to ensure their profitability. A period of increased losses may cause a rate increase, while a better claims history may result in lower-cost Stockton car insurance rates.
To illustrate this example, the bar chart below shows rates for the cheapest car insurance in Stockton, CA for a 30-year-old male driver with a clear driving record, no claims, and good credit. When comparing rates based on his personal risk profile, USAA may offer the cheapest car insurance rates in Stockton at $1,399 a year. This is $252 less than the average price paid by California drivers of $1,651. Century National, Wawanesa, CSAA, and Nationwide are the remainder of the cheapest Stockton, CA auto insurance companies.
Let’s now give the driver from the above example an accident claim, slightly worse credit, and a speeding citation. Since every insurance provider has a different process for setting rates, comparing prices may now present a substantially altered list of the cheapest car insurance companies in Stockton as shown below.
Grange now has the best car insurance rate in Stockton, CA with Mercury, Allstate, Allied, and Progressive completing the list. This shows why it is crucial to compare lots of rates when trying to find the most affordable car insurance quotes for a learners permit. Rates can be determined by many risk factors and can change without notice, so the best price three years ago may now be one of the more expensive options.
How to find budget-friendly auto insurance for a learners permit
It is possible to find better rates, and here are some of the recommended thrifty suggestions that can help Stockton drivers buy cheaper coverage.
- Buy your homeowners policy from the same company as your auto insurance
- Try paying for small claims out-of-pocket
- Avoid accidents and claims
- Do not get traffic violations
- Safer vehicles generally have cheaper insurance rates
- Look for cheaper rates once a year by shopping around
The last tip is highly valuable, as was pointed out in the prior article. Prices charged by companies in Stockton adjust often, so drivers shouldn’t hesitate to switch to a new company if a better rate can be found. We understand brand loyalty, but it’s not a good idea if your bullheadedness ends up costing you major coinage every year. If you have a few minutes, shop around and find cheaper car insurance for a learners permit.