It’s hard to avoid all the catchy advertisements from auto insurance companies like GEICO and The General that make claims of enormous savings, so drivers should just choose the one with the flashiest ad, right?
Unfortunately, it’s just not that easy, as there are a ton of unknown elements like whether or not you are currently insured, if you have a tendency to get into accidents, your credit history, and the area where you live. This article will discuss the different scenarios that increase car insurance cost and also should give you some help in finding cheaper rates.
The type of vehicle needing coverage is one of the main factors that determines whether or not you can buy economical car insurance for high mileage drivers. Vehicles with high performance engines, a lack of advanced safety features, or a high likelihood of having liability claims will cost significantly more to insure than safer models.
The information below estimates car insurance rates for a handful of the most affordable automobiles to buy insurance for.
| Vehicle Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Hyundai Elantra GLS Touring Station Wagon | $1,336 |
| Honda CR-V LX 4WD | $1,346 |
| Ford F-150 STX Super Cab 4WD | $1,533 |
| Ford Focus SE 4-Dr Sedan | $1,551 |
| Honda Odyssey EX-L W/Navigation | $1,664 |
| Chevrolet Impala LTZ | $1,674 |
| Toyota Corolla S | $1,664 |
| Ford Escape XLT 4WD | $1,680 |
| GMC Sierra 2500HD SLE Extended Cab 4WD | $1,695 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 2WD | $1,701 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan SE | $1,716 |
| Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD LTZ Crew Cab Diesel 4WD | $1,808 |
| Kia Optima SX | $1,811 |
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Data assumes single female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, multi-vehicle, homeowner, claim-free, and safe-driver. Rates do not factor in specific zip code location which can revise auto insurance rates greatly.
Based on these rates, we can tell that makes and models like the Hyundai Elantra, Honda CR-V, and Ford F-150 are likely to be some of the cheapest vehicles to insure for high mileage drivers.
For high mileage drivers, one of the largest criteria that aid in calculating the cost of insurance is where you live. Cities with larger populations likely pay more, whereas areas that tend to be more rural benefit from having to pay less for coverage.
The next table sorts the priciest cities in California for high mileage drivers in which to purchase auto insurance. San Francisco ranks #4 with an annual rate of $1,693 for car insurance, which is about $141 each month.
| Rank | City | Premium Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles | $2,146 |
| 2 | Glendale | $2,079 |
| 3 | Sacramento | $1,703 |
| 4 | San Francisco | $1,693 |
| 5 | Oakland | $1,687 |
| 6 | San Bernardino | $1,628 |
| 7 | Santa Clarita | $1,595 |
| 8 | Stockton | $1,588 |
| 9 | Fontana | $1,566 |
| 10 | Long Beach | $1,562 |
| 11 | Garden Grove | $1,554 |
| 12 | Modesto | $1,547 |
| 13 | Fresno | $1,502 |
| 14 | Riverside | $1,497 |
| 15 | Moreno Valley | $1,491 |
| 16 | Santa Ana | $1,453 |
| 17 | Anaheim | $1,444 |
| 18 | Huntington Beach | $1,402 |
| 19 | Bakersfield | $1,394 |
| 20 | San Jose | $1,381 |
| 21 | San Diego | $1,381 |
| 22 | Fremont | $1,348 |
| 23 | Chula Vista | $1,337 |
| 24 | Irvine | $1,330 |
| 25 | Oxnard | $1,318 |
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Rates are estimated as the specific area where the vehicle is garaged can affect premium rates substantially.
Safe drivers San Francisco pay cheaper rates
The obvious way to maintain good car insurance premiums for high mileage drivers is to drive cautiously and avoid traffic citations and accidents. The information below illustrates how traffic citations and fender-benders raise insurance costs for different age groups. The premiums are based on a single female driver, full physical damage coverage, $1,000 deductibles, and no other discounts are factored in.
The chart shows that the average cost of a car insurance policy in California per year with a clean driving record and no accidents is $1,909. Add in one speeding ticket and the average cost surges to $2,166, an increase of $257 each year. Now add one accident along with the one speeding ticket and the yearly cost of car insurance for high mileage drivers goes up to an average of $2,878. That’s an increase of $970, or $81 per month, just for being a less-than-perfect driver!
The illustration below illustrates how your deductible choice can impact yearly insurance costs when trying to find cheap insurance for high mileage drivers. Data assumes a single female driver, comp and collision included, and no discounts are factored in.
The chart above illustrates that a 30-year-old driver could lower their car insurance rates by $482 a year by switching from a $100 deductible to a $500 deductible, or save $724 by using a $1,000 deductible. Even younger drivers, like the age 20 example, have the ability to save as much as $1,068 or even more by choosing a higher deductible.
When choosing a higher deductible, it’s a good idea to have plenty of money set aside to enable you to pay the extra out-of-pocket expense associated with higher deductibles.
How to find economical auto insurance for high mileage drivers
It is possible to find better rates, and here are many money-saving solutions that can help drivers get more affordable auto insurance.
- Staying accident-free helps keep rates low
- Improve your credit score
- Save money by observing traffic laws and speed limits
- Lower rates by purchasing a safer vehicle
- Raise your deductibles
- Compare prices as often as possible
The final tip is extraordinarily significant, as was emphasized in this piece. Prices charged by car insurance companies go up and down frequently, so don’t hesitate to buy from a new company if you can find a cheaper rate. Many drivers have brand loyalty and that’s fine, but it isn’t a good idea if that inflexibility results in costing you several hundred dollars every year. In just a couple of minutes you could compare rates to find cheaper car insurance for high mileage drivers in San Francisco.
If you have coverage questions and would like to get some guidance when shopping for cheaper insurance for high mileage drivers, the agents below are willing to help you determine which auto insurance coverages would be the best in your situation.
To find a San Francisco insurance agency near you, click the button below the list.
- Angela Ng – State Farm Insurance Agent
377 W Portal Ave – San Francisco, CA 94127 – (415) 731-7400 - Al Zeidler Insurance Agency
1714 Stockton St #417 – San Francisco, CA 94133 – (415) 753-1936 - Carrie Insurance
2126 Sutter St – San Francisco, CA 94115 – (415) 567-7660 - Walter Li – State Farm Insurance Agent
1329 Chestnut St – San Francisco, CA 94123 – (415) 346-1000