The words “bargain” and “auto insurance” really should not be used together, especially when you are searching for the lowest insurance prices for unemployed drivers. Because of the high cost, let’s start the ball rolling by going over some of the factors that help determine car insurance prices, and see if you can take the sting out of your next policy.
One of the more important components that determine auto insurance rates is your zip code. More densely populated places tend to have more expensive car insurance rates, whereas areas with lower vehicle theft rates and fewer weather claims have the luxury of cheap car insurance rates.
The following table shows the highest-priced areas in California for unemployed drivers to purchase a policy in. Sacramento makes the list at #5 with an annual premium of $1,669 for the average policy, which is approximately $139 per month.
| Rank | City | Average Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glendale | $2,121 |
| 2 | Los Angeles | $2,104 |
| 3 | Oakland | $1,738 |
| 4 | San Francisco | $1,711 |
| 5 | Sacramento | $1,669 |
| 6 | San Bernardino | $1,628 |
| 7 | Long Beach | $1,626 |
| 8 | Santa Clarita | $1,580 |
| 9 | Stockton | $1,541 |
| 10 | Moreno Valley | $1,536 |
| 11 | Fontana | $1,519 |
| 12 | Garden Grove | $1,508 |
| 13 | Modesto | $1,502 |
| 14 | Riverside | $1,482 |
| 15 | Fresno | $1,472 |
| 16 | Santa Ana | $1,453 |
| 17 | Anaheim | $1,444 |
| 18 | Fremont | $1,403 |
| 19 | San Jose | $1,395 |
| 20 | Bakersfield | $1,381 |
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Premium amounts are approximated as the specific area where the vehicle is garaged can alter coverage rates considerably.
Figuring out which companies quote the cheapest insurance rates for unemployed drivers will require more time in order to find the lowest price. Each auto insurer has a proprietary formula for filing rates in each state, so we will examine the insurance companies with the most affordable rates in Sacramento, CA.
Cheapest Insurance Rates for Job Seekers
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | USAA | $1,121 |
| 2 | Century National | $1,190 |
| 3 | Wawanesa | $1,192 |
| 4 | CSAA | $1,234 |
| 5 | Nationwide | $1,250 |
| 6 | 21st Century | $1,338 |
| 7 | Grange | $1,433 |
| 8 | Allstate | $1,513 |
| 9 | Mercury | $1,533 |
| 10 | Allied | $1,541 |
| 11 | Progressive | $1,542 |
| 12 | GEICO | $1,575 |
| 13 | MetLife | $1,590 |
| 14 | The Hartford | $1,623 |
| 15 | Unitrin | $1,682 |
| 16 | State Farm | $1,733 |
| 17 | Esurance | $1,756 |
| 18 | Bristol West | $1,795 |
| 19 | Travelers | $1,860 |
| 20 | Farmers | $2,026 |
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USAA may have some of the most affordable car insurance rates in Sacramento at around $1,121 each year. This is $530 less than the average rate paid by California drivers of $1,651. Century National, Wawanesa, CSAA, and Nationwide are also some of the cheaper Sacramento, CA car insurance companies.
As depicted above, if you have coverage with Nationwide and switched to Century National, you may see savings of about $60. Insureds with 21st Century might save as much as $148 a year, and Grange customers might reduce rates by $243 a year.
Be aware that those premiums are averaged for all ages of drivers and types of vehicles and are not factoring in a specific vehicle garaging location for unemployed drivers. So the company that fits your needs best may not even be in the list above. That’s why you need to compare as many prices as possible using your own specific driver information and vehicle.
The car, truck, or SUV you are insuring is a large factor when comparing the best car insurance for unemployed drivers. Vehicles with reasonable performance levels, modern passenger safety features, or low incidents of liability claims will cost much less to insure than high performance models. The data below presents insurance prices for a selection of the cheaper automobiles to insure in California.
| Insured Vehicle | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Hyundai Elantra GLS Touring Station Wagon | $1,386 |
| Honda CR-V LX 2WD | $1,511 |
| Ford F-150 XLT Super Cab 2WD | $1,550 |
| Ford Escape XLS 2WD | $1,564 |
| Honda Odyssey EX | $1,606 |
| Ford Edge SEL 2WD | $1,615 |
| Volkswagen Jetta SE 2.5 Station Wagon | $1,625 |
| Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4WD | $1,638 |
| Toyota RAV4 2WD | $1,644 |
| Ford Fusion S 4-Dr Sedan | $1,638 |
| Ford Explorer XLT 2WD | $1,693 |
| Toyota Camry XLE | $1,725 |
| Toyota Prius | $1,731 |
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Above prices assume single male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, safe-driver, claim-free, homeowner, and multi-vehicle. Prices do not factor in specific location which can decrease or increase insurance rates considerably.
By looking at the data, you can infer that models like the Hyundai Elantra, Honda CR-V, Ford F-150, and Ford Escape are the most budget-friendly vehicles to insure for the unemployed.
The diagram below demonstrates how deductible levels can influence insurance rates when trying to find cheap insurance for unemployed drivers. The data assumes a single male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
As shown above, a 50-year-old driver could reduce rates by $492 a year by switching their comprehensive and collision coverages from a $100 deductible to a $500 deductible, or save $738 by using a $1,000 deductible. Even younger drivers, like the 20-year-old category, could reduce their rates up to $1,640 or more just by choosing larger deductibles. If you make the decision to raise deductibles, it is important to have additional funds in a savings account to enable you to pay the extra out-of-pocket expense, which is the main drawback of higher deductibles.
Best insurance in California
Insuring your vehicle with the right company is hard considering how many companies provide coverage in California. The ranking information shown below could help you analyze which car insurance companies to look at comparing rate quotes with. These rankings only include companies with a nationwide focus, so smaller companies are not included in these rankings.
Top 10 Major Auto Insurers in Sacramento Ranked by Claims Service
- AAA of Southern California
- State Farm
- Esurance
- AAA Insurance
- Progressive
- Liberty Mutual
- GEICO
- Allstate
- Titan Insurance
- The Hartford
Top 10 Major Auto Insurers in Sacramento Ranked by Customer Service
- AAA of Southern California
- GEICO
- State Farm
- The Hartford
- Mercury Insurance
- The General
- Progressive
- Allstate
- AAA Insurance
- American Family
How to find cheaper insurance for unemployed drivers
Here are some penny-pinching suggestions that can help California drivers get low-cost coverage.
- Bundle home or renters insurance to earn a discount on car insurance
- Ensure your driving record is clean
- Prevent price hikes by avoiding at-fault accidents
- Lower rates by purchasing a safer vehicle
- Frequent claims will increase rates
- Shop your coverage around for the best deal
The last idea is certainly crucial, as was stressed in the prior article. Car insurance rates go up and down frequently, so you should be ready to buy from a new company if a more affordable price is available.
Many drivers have brand loyalty and that’s fine, but is isn’t recommended if that devotion results in you overpaying a small fortune. In just a few minutes you could compare prices and find cheaper car insurance for unemployed drivers in Sacramento.