Car insurance is not cheap in Sacramento, but buying coverage satisfies several requirements and provides you with important benefits.
First, almost all states have compulsory liability insurance requirements which means state laws require specific limits of liability insurance in order to license the vehicle. In California these limits are 15/30/5 which means you must have $15,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $5,000 of property damage coverage.
Second, if you have a loan on your car, more than likely the lender will require that you have insurance to guarantee loan repayment. If you let the policy lapse, the bank or lender will purchase a policy for your vehicle at a more expensive rate and force you to pay much more than you were paying before.
Third, insurance safeguards both your vehicle and your personal assets. It also can pay for all forms of medical expenses for not only you but also any passengers injured in an accident. Liability insurance also pays for attorney fees and expenses if you are sued as the result of an accident. If your vehicle suffers damage from an accident or hail, collision and comprehensive coverages will pay to have it repaired.
The benefits of carrying adequate insurance are without a doubt worth the cost, especially with large liability claims. The average driver in America overpays more than $850 per year so it’s very important to do a rate comparison at least once a year to be sure current rates are still competitive.
The companies below can provide cheap Sacramento car insurance quotes, and the more prices you compare, the better chance you will have of saving money.
The price of car insurance is dependent on many factors, but the average policy price in Sacramento is approximately $1,430 each year. The U.S. average roughly $1,220, so Sacramento residents pay on average just over $200 more each year than drivers in surrounding states.
The cost of car insurance in Sacramento depends on many different factors, and one of the largest factors is the type of car or truck you own. The table below shows estimated premium rates for the most popular vehicles that Sacramento drivers insure.
| Make, Model, and Trim Level | Annual Cost | Semi-Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Focus SES 2-Dr Coupe | $1,332 | $666 | $111 |
| Honda Accord LX 4-Dr Sedan | $1,002 | $501 | $84 |
| Honda Civic LX 2-Dr Coupe | $1,442 | $721 | $120 |
| Hyundai Elantra Blue 4-Dr Sedan | $1,228 | $614 | $102 |
| Hyundai Sonata GLS 4-Dr Sedan | $1,262 | $631 | $105 |
| Kia Optima LX | $1,262 | $631 | $105 |
| Nissan Altima 2.5 S 4-Dr Sedan | $1,256 | $628 | $105 |
| Toyota Camry LE | $1,186 | $593 | $99 |
| Toyota Corolla XLE | $1,256 | $628 | $105 |
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Data rating is based on married male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, homeowner, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, and claim-free. Premium amounts do not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can affect rates noticeably.
| Make, Model, and Trim Level | Annual Cost | Semi-Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Colorado LT 2WD | $1,060 | $530 | $88 |
| Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD LT Crew Cab Diesel 2WD | $1,410 | $705 | $118 |
| Chevrolet Silverado LTZ Crew Cab 4WD | $1,284 | $642 | $107 |
| Dodge Ram 2500 Mega Cab SLT 4WD | $1,388 | $694 | $116 |
| Dodge Ram Quad Cab ST 4WD | $1,290 | $645 | $108 |
| Ford F-150 XL Regular Cab 2WD | $1,018 | $509 | $85 |
| Ford F-250 Cabela Crew Cab 4WD | $1,526 | $763 | $127 |
| GMC Sierra SLE Regular Cab 2WD | $1,186 | $593 | $99 |
| Toyota Tacoma 2WD | $1,158 | $579 | $97 |
| Toyota Tundra Double Cab 4WD | $1,290 | $645 | $108 |
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Data variables include married male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, homeowner, and multi-policy. Price information does not factor in garaging location in Sacramento which can modify price quotes noticeably.
| Make, Model, and Trim Level | Annual Cost | Semi-Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMW X5 M AWD | $1,608 | $804 | $134 |
| Chevrolet Traverse LS 2WD | $1,030 | $515 | $86 |
| Ford Escape XLT 4WD | $1,030 | $515 | $86 |
| Ford Explorer Limited 2WD | $1,214 | $607 | $101 |
| GMC Acadia SLT 2WD | $1,186 | $593 | $99 |
| GMC Terrain SLE 2WD | $1,100 | $550 | $92 |
| Honda CR-V EX 2WD | $1,002 | $501 | $84 |
| Honda Pilot Touring 2WD | $1,214 | $607 | $101 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8 4WD | $1,284 | $642 | $107 |
| Jeep Patriot Sport 2WD | $1,088 | $544 | $91 |
| Nissan Pathfinder LE 4WD | $1,214 | $607 | $101 |
| Subaru Forester X Limited Edition AWD | $1,156 | $578 | $96 |
| Toyota Highlander Hybrid 4WD | $1,312 | $656 | $109 |
| Toyota RAV4 Sport 2WD | $1,186 | $593 | $99 |
| Get a Custom Quote for Your SUV or Crossover Go | |||
Table data represents married male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, claim-free, and multi-policy. Prices do not factor in your specific Sacramento location which can decrease or increase coverage rates substantially.
The chart below demonstrates how choosing different deductibles and can influence insurance costs for each different age group. The price estimates are based on a married male driver, full physical damage coverage, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
How to find cheaper Sacramento car insurance rates
The easiest way to get more affordable auto insurance rates is to compare prices at least once a year from insurance carriers that insure vehicles in Sacramento.
- First, try to learn a little about car insurance and the things you can change to keep rates in check. Many rating criteria that result in higher prices such as your driving record and an unacceptable credit score can be amended by making small lifestyle or driving habit changes. This article provides more ideas to get cheaper rates and get additional discounts that may be available.
- Second, request price quotes from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Exclusive agents and direct companies can give quotes from one company like GEICO and Allstate, while agents who are independent can provide rate quotes for many different companies. Compare rates
- Third, compare the new rates to your existing rates and see if you can save money. If you find a lower rate and switch companies, ensure there is no coverage lapse between policies.
- Fourth, provide notification to your current agent or company of your intent to cancel your current auto insurance policy. Submit a down payment along with a signed application to the new insurer. Make sure you keep the new certificate verifying coverage along with your vehicle registration.
A tip to remember is to try to compare the same level of coverage on every quote request and and to analyze as many companies as possible. This helps ensure an apples-to-apples comparison and a thorough selection of prices.
| Company | Value | Customer Service | Claims | Customer Satisfaction | A.M Best Rating | Overall Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USAA | 98 | 100 | 100 | 94% | A++ | 98.6 |
| American Family | 98 | 89 | 100 | 86% | A | 95.4 |
| AAA of Southern California | 91 | 94 | 97 | 92% | A+ | 94.1 |
| State Farm | 88 | 93 | 96 | 90% | A++ | 92.4 |
| The Hartford | 94 | 92 | 90 | 89% | A+ | 91.7 |
| AAA Insurance | 88 | 89 | 95 | 91% | A | 91.2 |
| GEICO | 84 | 93 | 93 | 89% | A++ | 90.3 |
| The General | 89 | 91 | 89 | 88% | A- | 90 |
| Titan Insurance | 90 | 87 | 91 | 95% | A+ | 89.6 |
| Progressive | 84 | 91 | 93 | 87% | A+ | 89.5 |
| Mercury Insurance | 88 | 91 | 90 | 85% | A+ | 89.4 |
| Allstate | 85 | 90 | 92 | 88% | A+ | 89.3 |
| Nationwide | 87 | 88 | 84 | 90% | A+ | 88.7 |
| Liberty Mutual | 84 | 87 | 93 | 88% | A | 88.5 |
| 21st Century | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88% | A | 86.7 |
| Esurance | 85 | 80 | 95 | 87% | A+ | 85.9 |
| Safeco | 85 | 85 | 85 | 86% | A | 85.8 |
| Travelers | 80 | 87 | 87 | 83% | A++ | 85.2 |
| Farmers Insurance | 78 | 87 | 88 | 79% | A | 84.3 |
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What impacts Sacramento car insurance prices?
Multiple criteria are taken into consideration when premium rates are determined. Some factors are common sense such as your driving history, but other factors are more transparent like where you live or how safe your car is.
The itemized list below are a few of the things used by insurance companies to determine your rate level.
Low comp and collision deductibles mean high prices – Coverage for physical damage, aka comp and collision, helps pay for damage to your vehicle. Some examples of covered claims would be colliding with a building, damage caused by hail, and rolling your vehicle. Comp and collision deductibles define how much you are required to spend in the event of a claim. The more money the insured has to pay upfront, the lower your rates will be.
Where do you drive? – The higher the mileage driven annually the more you’ll pay to insure your vehicle. Most companies apply a rate partially by how you use the vehicle. Cars and trucks left parked in the garage cost less to insure as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. It’s a good idea to make sure your declarations sheet is showing the proper vehicle usage.
Liability claims can be big – Liability coverage will protect you if ever you are found liable for physical damage or personal injury to other. Liability insurance provides legal defense which can cost thousands of dollars. This coverage is very inexpensive when compared to the cost of physical damage coverage, so drivers should make sure they buy enough to cover all assets.
Is you vocation costing you more? – Careers such as lawyers, executives, and financial analysts tend to pay the highest rates in part from intense work requirements and long work days. On the other hand, jobs like actors, students and the unemployed have the lowest average rates.
Do you really need to file those claims? – If you are the type of insured that files lots of claims you should expect higher premiums or even policy non-renewal. Car insurance companies in California provide discounts to policyholders who file claims infrequently. Auto insurance is designed for claims that you cannot pay yourself.
Always keep your coverage in force – Driving any period of time without insurance is illegal and any future policy may cost more because you let your coverage lapse. Not only will rates go up, getting caught without coverage can result in a hefty fine and possibly a revoked license. You will then be forced to file a SR-22 with the California motor vehicle department.
Five star NHTSA crash test rating saves money – Safer cars cost less to insure. These vehicles reduce the chance of injuries and any reduction in injury severity means less claims paid which can mean better rates for you.