It’s hard to miss the catchy commercials from insurers like Farmers, Nationwide, and Liberty Mutual that say if you switch you’ll get dirt cheap rates. So drivers just need to pick the company with the best ad, right?
That is not the case, however, as there are a whole bunch of unknown factors such as where you live, what level of deductibles you need, and if you own your own home. The information below will cover these things and will give you a good beginning to your quest for cheaper car insurance in California.
Comparing quotes for budget insurance is not always easy, and determining which companies quote the most affordable car insurance rates for safe drivers will involve a little more work. Every auto insurer uses different criteria to determine rates, so first we will examine the car insurance companies that tend to have lower prices in Long Beach, CA.
It’s important that readers know that Long Beach, CA car insurance rates are impacted by many factors which can significantly increase or decrease the price you pay for coverage. Things like having a birthday, buying another vehicle, or getting a speeding ticket may prompt premium changes that can make some companies much cheaper than others.
Compare Cheap Insurance Quotes for Safe Drivers
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | USAA | $1,143 |
| 2 | Wawanesa | $1,181 |
| 3 | CSAA | $1,186 |
| 4 | Century National | $1,214 |
| 5 | Nationwide | $1,250 |
| 6 | 21st Century | $1,325 |
| 7 | Mercury | $1,488 |
| 8 | Grange | $1,491 |
| 9 | Progressive | $1,496 |
| 10 | Allstate | $1,513 |
| 11 | GEICO | $1,575 |
| 12 | Allied | $1,588 |
| 13 | The Hartford | $1,623 |
| 14 | MetLife | $1,654 |
| 15 | Unitrin | $1,682 |
| 16 | State Farm | $1,699 |
| 17 | Esurance | $1,756 |
| 18 | Bristol West | $1,831 |
| 19 | Travelers | $1,842 |
| 20 | Farmers | $1,946 |
| Find Cheaper Rates Go | ||
USAA generally has some of the most affordable car insurance rates in Long Beach at around $1,143 each year. Wawanesa, CSAA, Century National, and Nationwide also make the cut as some of the cheapest Long Beach, CA car insurance companies.
In the above rates, if you currently have coverage with Nationwide and switched to Wawanesa, you may realize savings of in the neighborhood of $69. Insureds with 21st Century might save as much as $144 a year, and Mercury customers might reduce rates by $307 a year.
Understand that those premium estimates are averages across all ages of drivers and types of vehicles and are not factoring in a specific zip code for safe drivers. So the auto insurance company that fits you best may not even be in the top 24 companies shown above. That emphasizes why you need to get auto insurance quotes using your own individual information.
One of the more important components that are looked at to determine insurance cost is where you choose to live in Long Beach. Areas with a lot of weather claims or more people will most likely have higher rates, whereas areas that tend to be more rural benefit from lower coverage costs.
The next table shows the most expensive areas in California for safe drivers to buy auto insurance in. Long Beach is listed at #7 with a yearly premium of $1,626 for the average insured, which is about $136 each month.
| Rank | City | Annual Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glendale | $2,121 |
| 2 | Los Angeles | $2,083 |
| 3 | San Francisco | $1,763 |
| 4 | Sacramento | $1,703 |
| 5 | Oakland | $1,687 |
| 6 | San Bernardino | $1,644 |
| 7 | Long Beach | $1,626 |
| 8 | Stockton | $1,556 |
| 9 | Garden Grove | $1,554 |
| 10 | Moreno Valley | $1,551 |
| 11 | Santa Clarita | $1,548 |
| 12 | Modesto | $1,547 |
| 13 | Fontana | $1,519 |
| 14 | Santa Ana | $1,497 |
| 15 | Riverside | $1,497 |
| 16 | Anaheim | $1,474 |
| 17 | Fresno | $1,472 |
| 18 | Huntington Beach | $1,402 |
| 19 | San Jose | $1,395 |
| 20 | Bakersfield | $1,381 |
| 21 | San Diego | $1,368 |
| 22 | Fremont | $1,348 |
| 23 | Irvine | $1,343 |
| 24 | Chula Vista | $1,337 |
| 25 | Oxnard | $1,304 |
| Find Cheaper Rates Go | ||
Premium amounts are comparative as the vehicle garaging location can lower or raise price quotes substantially.
How to get discounts on Long Beach insurance rates
Car insurance companies that provide policies for safe drivers could also offer discounts that can reduce rates by 40% or more if you meet the requirements. Popular car insurance companies and some of their more popular discounts are detailed below.
- State Farm policyholders can earn discounts including safe vehicle, multiple policy, defensive driving training, passive restraint, anti-theft, accident-free, and good driver.
- GEICO may include discounts for air bags, seat belt use, multi-vehicle, defensive driver, and daytime running lights.
- Liberty Mutual has savings for multi-car, teen driver discount, new vehicle discount, hybrid vehicle, safety features, and new move discount.
- The Hartford discounts include air bag, bundle, anti-theft, vehicle fuel type, and driver training.
- MetLife offers discounts for defensive driver, accident-free, good student, good driver, claim-free, and multi-policy.
- Progressive may have discounts that include online signing, multi-policy, online quote discount, continuous coverage, homeowner, multi-vehicle, and good student.
The information below shows the comparison of insurance costs with and without policy discounts. The rate quotes are based on a male driver, no claims, a clean driving record, California state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows the average annual price with no discounts. The second shows the rates with marriage, vehicle safety, anti-theft, accident-free, defensive driving course, and claim-free discounts applied. With discounts applied, theaverage yearly reduction on car insurance for safe drivers is 28% or $875.
The example below shows how choosing a deductible can change insurance prices when getting quotes for cheap insurance for safe drivers. The costs are based on a married male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no additional discounts are factored in.
In the chart above, a 40-year-old driver could pocket $370 a year by changing from a $100 deductible up to a $500 deductible, or save $556 by switching to a $1,000 deductible. Young drivers, such as the 20-year-old chart data, could roll back prices $1,230 every year by choosing a larger deductible amount.
If you do raise deductibles, it is necessary to have additional funds squirreled away to be able to cover the extra out-of-pocket expense, which is the one disadvantage of using larger deductibles.
Are you paying too much for car insurance in Long Beach?
Long Beach, CA car insurance rates are impacted by many things that control the cost of a policy. Simply having a birthday, having a claim, or having an at-fault accident can produce rate changes that may make certain companies more affordable than competitors.
In addition, companies modify pricing every year or even multiple times each year to adjust for unexpected claims or profits. Larger than normal claims may result in higher rates, while lower claim expenses may produce more affordable Long Beach car insurance rates.
For instance, the bar chart below shows which company has the cheapest car insurance in Long Beach, 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 offers the lowest car insurance rates in Long Beach at $1,335 per year. This is $316 less than the average price paid by California drivers of $1,651. Century National, Wawanesa, CSAA, and Nationwide are also included in the best Long Beach, CA auto insurance companies.
In this next rate comparison, we will give the driver from the above example some claims, a lower credit rating, and a traffic ticket or two. Since every car insurance company has a different formula for determining rates in each state, analyzing rate quotes may now show a different ranking of companies as shown below.
Grange now has the best car insurance rate in Long Beach with Allstate, Mercury, Progressive, and Allied also being competitive. This shows why California drivers need to compare rates when trying to find the most affordable insurance quotes for safe drivers. Car insurance prices can be determined by many risk factors and change frequently, so the best option six months ago may now be one of the more expensive options.
Ideas to find low-cost insurance for safe drivers
The list below summarizes many thrifty solutions that can help you locate lower-cost coverage.
- Buy your auto and home insurance from the same company and save
- Good credit can help you save money
- Safe vehicles generally have lower rates
- Save money by staying claim-free
- Increase the comprehensive and collision deductibles on your policy
- Save money by insuring older vehicles for liability only
- Shop your coverage around for the best deal
That last tip is particularly crucial, as was emphasized in this write-up. Prices charged by companies in Long Beach change frequently, so drivers shouldn’t be reluctant to buy from a new company if a lower price can be found.
Sticking with a specific company is fine, but it isn’t a good idea if your bullheadedness ends up costing you a small fortune. If you have a few minutes, now is a great time to compare prices to find cheaper auto insurance for safe drivers.
If you prefer to get some guidance when shopping for cheaper insurance for safe drivers, the agencies below can most likely provide answers to your questions and help you determine which coverage fits your budget.
To find a Long Beach insurance agency by location nearest to you, click the button link following the list.
- State Farm Insurance: Damian Useda
929 E Wardlow Rd – Long Beach, CA 90807 – (562) 426-8565 - Amico Insurance Agency
100 Oceangate #1200 – Long Beach, CA 90802 – (562) 628-5553 - Fox Benefits Insurance Agency
5175 E Pacific Coast Hwy #304 – Long Beach, CA 90804 – (562) 735-3125