The car, truck, or SUV on the policy is a large factor when looking for the most economical insurance for 18 year olds. Vehicles with limited speed and performance, modern passenger safety features, or a low likelihood of having liability claims will cost less to insure than adrenaline junky models.
The list below estimates coverage premiums for a selection of the most budget-friendly vehicles to buy insurance for.
| Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Ford Escape XLS 4WD | $3,991 |
| Hyundai Elantra GLS Touring Station Wagon | $4,001 |
| Honda CR-V EX 2WD | $3,991 |
| Ford F-150 XL Regular Cab 2WD | $4,154 |
| Honda Accord EX-L 4-Dr Sedan | $4,302 |
| Toyota Prius | $4,347 |
| Ford Edge SE 2WD | $4,425 |
| Chevrolet Impala LS | $4,693 |
| Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid | $4,735 |
| Toyota RAV4 Sport 2WD | $4,740 |
| GMC Sierra SLE Crew Cab 2WD | $4,735 |
| Nissan Altima 2.5 4-Dr Sedan | $4,740 |
| Ford Fusion S 4-Dr Sedan | $4,735 |
| Volkswagen Jetta LE 4-Dr Sedan | $4,740 |
| Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4WD | $4,735 |
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Data assumes single female driver age 18, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, and safe-driver. Price estimates do not factor in specific Sacramento, CA garaging location which can change premium rates noticeably.
Based upon the table data, you can presume that models like the Ford Escape, Hyundai Elantra, Honda CR-V, and Ford F-150 are likely to be some of the most budget-friendly vehicles to insure for teen drivers. The price of auto insurance will be more expensive because of the fact that there is more exposure for 18 year olds, but overall those specific models will most likely have the best rates compared to other types of vehicles.
Trying to buy cost effective car insurance is difficult, and figuring out which companies offer the cheapest car insurance rates for 18 year olds may require even more rate comparisons. Every car insurance company uses a slightly different approach for determining rates, so let’s begin by examining the most budget-friendly car insurance companies in Sacramento.
It’s a good idea to know that Sacramento car insurance rates are based on many factors that control the price you have to pay. This price variability is why consumers need to take the time to compare rates when trying to get the most affordable auto insurance quotes for 18 year olds. Insurance rates can be altered by many factors and change dramatically, so the cheapest company the last time you checked may now be costing you a lot of money.
Best Auto Insurance Prices for Teens
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | USAA | $1,121 |
| 2 | Century National | $1,178 |
| 3 | Wawanesa | $1,181 |
| 4 | CSAA | $1,198 |
| 5 | Nationwide | $1,250 |
| 6 | 21st Century | $1,338 |
| 7 | Grange | $1,447 |
| 8 | Progressive | $1,512 |
| 9 | GEICO | $1,529 |
| 10 | Allied | $1,541 |
| 11 | Mercury | $1,548 |
| 12 | Allstate | $1,559 |
| 13 | The Hartford | $1,591 |
| 14 | MetLife | $1,638 |
| 15 | Unitrin | $1,699 |
| 16 | Esurance | $1,705 |
| 17 | State Farm | $1,733 |
| 18 | Bristol West | $1,795 |
| 19 | Travelers | $1,806 |
| 20 | Farmers | $1,946 |
| View More Rates Go | ||
USAA may have some of the cheapest car insurance rates in Sacramento at around $1,121 per year. Century National, Wawanesa, CSAA, and Nationwide would also be considered some of the best Sacramento, CA auto insurance companies.
In the above example, if you have coverage with Wawanesa and switched to USAA, you could see a yearly savings of in the vicinity of $60. Customers with CSAA might save as much as $77 a year, and Nationwide policyholders might lower prices by $129 a year.
To find out how your current rates compare, click here to start your custom quote or visit several of the following companies.
Bear in mind that those policy rates are averaged across all types of insureds and vehicles and and are not calculated with a specific zip code for 18 year olds. So the company that can offer you the best rate may not even be in the list above. That’s why you need to get quotes using your own specific driver information and vehicle.
Cost comparison with and without full coverage
Lowering the price of car insurance is the goal of the majority of vehicle owners, and an easy way to lower the cost of insurance for 18 year olds is to only buy liability coverage. The diagram below visualizes the comparison of premium costs with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying liability only. The rates are based on a clean driving record, no claims, $100 deductibles, marital status is single, and no discounts are applied.
If we average all the age groups together, physical damage coverage costs $3,444 per year more than just buying liability insurance. At some point, every insured wonders when is it a good idea to stop buying full coverage. There is no specific rule of when to drop full coverage on your policy, but there is a general convention. If the yearly cost for physical damage coverage is 10% or more of the replacement cost of your vehicle minus the policy deductible, then you may need to consider dropping full coverage.
There are a few cases where eliminating full coverage is not advised. If you haven’t paid off your loan, you are required to maintain full coverage in order to satisfy the requirements of the loan. Also, if you don’t have enough money to buy a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should keep full coverage.
Safe drivers pay cheaper rates
The recommended way to earn the best car insurance prices for teen drivers is to be a careful driver and avoid at-fault accidents and violations. The chart below shows how speeding tickets and accident claims can affect yearly insurance costs for different age groups. Data assumes a single male driver, comp and collision included, $100 deductibles, and no discounts are applied.
The chart shows that the average cost of auto insurance in Sacramento per year with a clean driving record and no accidents is $3,385. Factor in one speeding ticket and the average cost swells to $3,814, an increase of $429 each year. Then throw in one accident along with the one speeding ticket and the yearly cost of car insurance for 18 year olds goes up to an average of $5,041. That’s an increase of $1,657, or $138 per month, just for not driving carefully!
Why you should compare rates
Sacramento, CA car insurance rates are impacted by many factors which can significantly increase or decrease the policy price. Turning one year older, filing a claim, or getting a driving violation can trigger price changes that may make certain companies more affordable than others. Additionally, insurance companies change prices without warning to reflect underwriting profits or losses. Larger than normal claims may result in price increases, while less frequent claims can result in cheaper Sacramento car insurance rates.
The graph below analyzes the cheapest car insurance in Sacramento, CA for a 30-year-old male driver with no accidents, a clean driving record, and good credit. If we estimate prices based on his personal profile, USAA may have the most affordable car insurance rates in Sacramento at $1,405 annually. This is $246 less than the average policy premium paid by California drivers of $1,651. Wawanesa, Century National, CSAA, and Nationwide are the remaining most affordable Sacramento, CA auto insurance companies.
The next chart shows rates after we give the driver from above a claim surcharge, a lower credit score, and a few traffic violations. Since each company has their own guidelines for determining rates in each state, analyzing rates may now show a different set of the cheapest Sacramento car insurance companies as shown below.
Grange now has the cheapest price in Sacramento, CA with Mercury, GEICO, Allied, and Progressive completing the list. This example shows why it is important to take the time to shop around to get cheap car insurance quotes for 18 year olds. Car insurance prices can be altered by many things and change dramatically, so the cheapest company the last time you compared rates may now be wasting a lot of money.
The Sacramento auto insurance agencies shown below are a good start to help you decide which auto insurance coverages would be the best in your situation, since many people would rather have a consultation when shopping for cheaper insurance for 18 year olds. It can be complicated to find the cheapest rate yourself, so getting advice from a licensed agent can bring comfort knowing your policy gives you suitable coverage if you have an accident.
To locate a Sacramento auto insurance agent in your neighborhood, click the button following the list.
- Jordan Backhaus – State Farm Insurance Agent
4315 Elkhorn Blvd Ste B – Sacramento, CA 95842 – (916) 331-1135 - Valley Surety Insurance
947 Enterprise Dr # A – Sacramento, CA 95825 – (916) 567-6676 - GEICO Insurance Agent
5211 Madison Ave – Sacramento, CA 95841 – (916) 923-5050 - Greg Lauck – State Farm Insurance Agent
950 Fulton Ave #175 – Sacramento, CA 95825 – (916) 978-9110 - Bill Batchelder – State Farm Insurance Agent
8887 Folsom Blvd #3a – Sacramento, CA 95826 – (916) 361-3114
View map of Sacramento, CA insurance agents
How to find more affordable insurance for 18 year olds
Lowering your rates is not difficult, and here are a few thrifty suggestions that can help you find lower-cost car insurance.
- Do not pay for comprehensive and collision coverage on older vehicles
- Maintain a clean driving record
- Discounts for being claim-free can be substantial
- Increase deductibles to save money
- Staying accident-free helps keep rates low
- Ensure you have the best deal by shopping around regularly
The last item on the list is especially crucial, as we noted in the prior article. Insurance prices fluctuate constantly, so drivers shouldn’t be reluctant to change to a new company if a more affordable price is available. Loyalty to a specific company is fine, but it’s not a great idea if that faithfulness ends up costing you a considerable chunk of change every month. If you have a few minutes, compare rates and find cheaper car insurance for 18 year olds in Sacramento.