The vehicle you are buying coverage for is one of the largest considerations when quoting cheap coverage for college graduates. Vehicles with economical engines, modern passenger safety features, or low incidents of liability claims will cost less to insure than higher performance models. The data below illustrates car insurance costs for a handful of the most cost-effective vehicles to insure in California.
| Insured Vehicle | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Ford Escape XLT 4WD | $1,172 |
| Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 2WD | $1,289 |
| Ford Edge Limited 2WD | $1,335 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan Crew | $1,387 |
| Ford F-150 Lariat Crew Cab 4WD | $1,394 |
| Honda CR-V EX-L 2WD | $1,442 |
| Toyota Prius | $1,455 |
| GMC Sierra 2500HD SLE Crew Cab 4WD | $1,457 |
| Toyota Tacoma 2WD | $1,528 |
| Toyota RAV4 2WD | $1,557 |
| Ford Fusion S 4-Dr Sedan | $1,562 |
| Dodge Ram Quad Cab Laramie 2WD | $1,581 |
| Dodge Ram 3500 Mega Cab Laramie 2WD | $1,590 |
| Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport 2WD 4-Dr | $1,584 |
| Hyundai Elantra Blue 4-Dr Sedan | $1,610 |
| Toyota Corolla XLE | $1,639 |
| Nissan Altima 2.5 S 4-Dr Sedan | $1,646 |
| Dodge Ram 2500 Mega Cab SLT 2WD | $1,652 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LT 2WD | $1,666 |
| Chevrolet Impala LT | $1,672 |
| Volkswagen Jetta S 4-Dr Sedan | $1,666 |
| Chevrolet Silverado LS Crew Cab 4WD | $1,669 |
| Chevrolet Malibu LTZ | $1,678 |
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Data based on single female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, multi-policy, claim-free, homeowner, and safe-driver. Premium amounts do not factor in vehicle location which can revise rates substantially.
Looking at the numbers, you can figure that cars like the Ford Escape, Ford Explorer, and Ford Edge should be the most economical vehicles to insure for college grads.
Comparing rates for cost effective car insurance is not most people’s favorite thing to do, and figuring out which company has the cheapest auto insurance rates for college graduates may require even more work.
Every car insurance company has their own process for establishing rates, so first let’s look at the rankings for the auto insurance companies with the overall best prices in Stockton, CA.
Find the Cheapest Auto Insurance for Grads
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | USAA | $1,109 |
| 2 | Wawanesa | $1,192 |
| 3 | Century National | $1,214 |
| 4 | CSAA | $1,234 |
| 5 | Nationwide | $1,250 |
| 6 | 21st Century | $1,366 |
| 7 | Grange | $1,491 |
| 8 | GEICO | $1,513 |
| 9 | Mercury | $1,533 |
| 10 | Allstate | $1,543 |
| 11 | Progressive | $1,558 |
| 12 | The Hartford | $1,575 |
| 13 | Allied | $1,603 |
| 14 | MetLife | $1,638 |
| 15 | State Farm | $1,682 |
| 16 | Esurance | $1,688 |
| 17 | Unitrin | $1,699 |
| 18 | Travelers | $1,806 |
| 19 | Bristol West | $1,849 |
| 20 | Farmers | $2,006 |
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USAA offers some of the best car insurance rates in Stockton at around $1,109 annually. This is $542 less than the average price paid by California drivers of $1,651. Wawanesa, Century National, CSAA, and Nationwide also qualify as some of the more affordable Stockton, CA insurance companies.
In the above example, if you are currently insured with Wawanesa and switched to USAA, you could realize yearly savings of about $83. California drivers with Century National may save as much as $105 a year, and CSAA customers might realize rate reductions of up to $125 a year.
It’s important to note that these policy prices are averaged across all drivers and vehicles and do not factor in a vehicle location for college graduates. So the car insurance company that is best suited for you may not even be in the top 24 companies shown above. That point stresses why you need to compare prices as often as possible using your own individual information.
For college grads, one of the big factors that help determine the amount you pay for auto insurance is where your car is garaged. Regions with larger populations or more claims tend to have more expensive car insurance rates, whereas areas that tend to be more rural get the luxury of paying less.
The table below lists the highest-priced places in California for college graduates to buy car insurance in. Stockton ranks #9 with an annual premium of $1,588 for the average policy, which is approximately $132 each month.
| Rank | City | Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles | $2,168 |
| 2 | Glendale | $2,079 |
| 3 | Oakland | $1,755 |
| 4 | San Francisco | $1,693 |
| 5 | Sacramento | $1,669 |
| 6 | San Bernardino | $1,628 |
| 7 | Long Beach | $1,626 |
| 8 | Santa Clarita | $1,595 |
| 9 | Stockton | $1,588 |
| 10 | Garden Grove | $1,554 |
| 11 | Fontana | $1,519 |
| 12 | Moreno Valley | $1,506 |
| 13 | Fresno | $1,502 |
| 14 | Modesto | $1,502 |
| 15 | Santa Ana | $1,497 |
| 16 | Riverside | $1,497 |
| 17 | Anaheim | $1,474 |
| 18 | Fremont | $1,403 |
| 19 | San Jose | $1,381 |
| 20 | Huntington Beach | $1,374 |
| 21 | Oxnard | $1,358 |
| 22 | Bakersfield | $1,353 |
| 23 | Irvine | $1,343 |
| 24 | San Diego | $1,340 |
| 25 | Chula Vista | $1,311 |
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Premium costs are approximated as the garaging address in Stockton can alter coverage rates significantly.
Discount Stockton car insurance rates
Insurers that provide policies for college graduates may also offer premium discounts that could lower prices by as much as 35% if you qualify for them. A few popular companies and a partial list of their discounts are outlined below.
- State Farm may have discounts that include student away at school, good student, accident-free, passive restraint, Steer Clear safe driver discount, and Drive Safe & Save.
- Esurance offers discounts including multi-car, claim free, emergency road assistance, defensive driver, and anti-lock brakes.
- Progressive has savings for multi-policy, online quote discount, homeowner, multi-vehicle, continuous coverage, good student, and online signing.
- Liberty Mutual offers premium reductions for multi-car, new vehicle discount, newly married, new move discount, exclusive group savings, new graduate, and safety features.
- Auto-Owners Insurance has discounts for mature driver, student away at school, company car, safe vehicle, paid in full, and paperless.
- GEICO offers discounts for federal employee, defensive driver, military active duty, multi-vehicle, anti-theft, and five-year accident-free.
The illustration below compares insurance rates with and without policy discounts. Data assumes a female driver, no violations or claims, California state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $500 deductibles.
The first bar for each age group shows the price with no discounts. The second shows the rates with vehicle safety, claim-free, anti-theft, homeowner, accident-free, and marriage discounts applied. When these discounts are applied, the average savings per year on auto insurance for college graduates is 28% or $549.
The chart below shows how choosing a deductible can increase or decrease insurance prices when getting quotes for cheap insurance for college graduates. The rate quotes are based on a married female driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no discounts are applied.
In the chart above, a 40-year-old driver could lower their policy premium by $360 a year by switching the physical damage coverage from a $100 deductible up to a $500 deductible, or save $544 by changing to a $1,000 deductible. Younger drivers, like the 20-year-old, could reduce their rates $896 each year by selecting a higher deductible.
If you do decide to increase your deductibles, it’s a good idea to have additional funds in a savings account to cover the extra out-of-pocket expense that is associated with using high deductibles.
Why you are probably overpaying for car insurance
Stockton auto insurance rates are based on many factors which can significantly increase or decrease the cost of having a policy. Simply having another birthday, buying a different home, or getting into an accident may cause policy rate changes that can make some companies more affordable than before.
Not only may your risk profile change, but auto insurance companies file new California auto insurance rates every year to ensure their profitability. Larger than normal claims may cause additional price hikes, while a better loss history can produce cheaper Stockton car insurance rates.
For instance, the bar chart below analyzes the cheapest car insurance in Stockton, CA for a 35-year-old female driver with a good driving record, no prior claims, and a decent credit rating. If we compare prices based on her current risk profile, USAA may offer the most affordable car insurance rates in Stockton at $1,363 each year. This is $288 less than the average rate paid by California drivers of $1,651. CSAA, Century National, Wawanesa, and Nationwide are the remaining cheapest Stockton, CA auto insurance companies.
In this example, we will give the driver from above an accident claim, bad credit, and a traffic ticket or two. Due to the fact that every insurance company has a different formula for filing rates in each state, comparing rates will most likely result in a substantially altered list of companies as shown below.
Grange now has the best price on car insurance in Stockton, CA with Progressive, Allstate, GEICO, and Mercury now rounding out the top five. This example shows why consumers need to shop around to find the best auto insurance rates for college graduates. Car insurance prices are impacted by many different factors and change frequently, so the most economical option six months ago may now not even be in the top five.
How to find the cheapest car insurance for college graduates
It is possible to find better rates, and here are a few thrifty ideas that can help you find lower-cost coverage.
- Avoid price increases by not filing claims
- Drive attentively and avoid accidents
- Avoid getting tickets or violations
- Buy vehicles with five-star safety ratings
- Buying your home and auto policies from the same company can earn a discount
- Do not pay for full coverage if not needed
- Keep rates low by shopping around frequently
That last idea is notably crucial, as was emphasized in the article above. Car insurance rates can change considerably in a year, so drivers shouldn’t be reluctant to switch companies if a more affordable price is available. Brand loyalty is not necessarily bad, but it isn’t a good idea if that loyalty results in overpaying lots of money. Take a few minutes and compare rates and find cheaper auto insurance for college graduates in Stockton.
If you prefer to have a little guidance when shopping around for cheaper insurance for college graduates, the agents shown below are willing to help you determine which auto insurance policy fits you best.
To locate an agency near you, click the button at the bottom.
- Farmers Insurance: W. Faye Giovenetti
1833 W March Ln #2 – Stockton, CA 95207 – (209) 472-7704 - Banuelos Insurance Agency
2300 Waterloo Rd – Stockton, CA 95205 – (209) 513-3248 - Farmers Insurance: Elisa The Acosta Agency Acosta
1151 W Robinhood Dr – Stockton, CA 95207 – (209) 956-3574 - Farmers Insurance: Evelyn Morales
1348 N Center St – Stockton, CA 95202 – (209) 465-7446 - Farmers Insurance – Arnold Respicio
2333 W March Ln, Ste C1 – Stockton, CA 95207 – (209) 951-7739