The words “low-cost” and “auto insurance” really should not be used together, especially when you are shopping around for the best car insurance rates for handicapped drivers. Let’s teach you some things that determine insurance premiums, and figure out some ways to lower the cost of your next policy.
The vehicle model to be insured is one of the biggest factors when comparing the most economical insurance for handicapped drivers. Vehicles with lots of speed or power, poor crash test ratings, or an increased likelihood of liability claims will cost more to insure than safer, lower-performance models. The list below features insurance premiums for some of the most budget-friendly vehicles to insure in California.
| Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Honda CR-V EX 4WD | $1,078 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan CV | $1,180 |
| Ford Escape XLT 4WD | $1,220 |
| Ford Focus SE 4-Dr Sedan | $1,224 |
| Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4WD | $1,247 |
| Chevrolet Silverado LS Regular Cab 2WD | $1,252 |
| Honda Accord EX-L 4-Dr Sedan | $1,257 |
| Ford F-150 FX4 4WD | $1,273 |
| Ford Explorer Limited AWD | $1,279 |
| Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport 4WD 4-Dr | $1,284 |
| Toyota Prius | $1,289 |
| Ford Edge SE 2WD | $1,310 |
| GMC Sierra SLE Crew Cab 2WD | $1,365 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LS 2WD | $1,375 |
| Chevrolet Impala LT | $1,365 |
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Prices above based on single male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, claim-free, homeowner, multi-vehicle, and multi-policy. Prices do not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can revise insurance rates considerably.
Looking at the data, models like the Honda CR-V, Dodge Grand Caravan, Ford Escape, and Ford Focus are some of the cheaper vehicles to insure for drivers with handicaps.
For drivers with handicaps, one of the largest components that are used to help calculate auto insurance rates is where you normally keep your vehicle in Fresno. Areas with more people or higher crime rates tend to pay slightly more, whereas more rural areas benefit from lower coverage costs.
The table below ranks the most expensive cities in California for handicapped drivers to buy auto insurance in. Fresno shows up at #17 with a yearly cost of $1,457 on average, which is about $121 per month.
| Rank | City | Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles | $2,168 |
| 2 | Glendale | $2,079 |
| 3 | Sacramento | $1,720 |
| 4 | San Francisco | $1,711 |
| 5 | Oakland | $1,687 |
| 6 | San Bernardino | $1,644 |
| 7 | Santa Clarita | $1,595 |
| 8 | Long Beach | $1,562 |
| 9 | Stockton | $1,541 |
| 10 | Moreno Valley | $1,536 |
| 11 | Fontana | $1,535 |
| 12 | Riverside | $1,527 |
| 13 | Garden Grove | $1,524 |
| 14 | Anaheim | $1,488 |
| 15 | Modesto | $1,487 |
| 16 | Santa Ana | $1,483 |
| 17 | Fresno | $1,457 |
| 18 | San Jose | $1,395 |
| 19 | Bakersfield | $1,394 |
| 20 | Irvine | $1,384 |
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Rate quotes are comparative as vehicle location can revise premiums noticeably.
Finding out which insurers offer the cheapest car insurance rates for handicapped drivers will take a little more effort in order to find the best policy. Each auto insurance company has a proprietary formula for determining prices, so we need to take a look at the car insurance companies with the overall cheapest rates in Fresno, CA.
It’s important to know that California car insurance rates are determined by lots of factors which can substantially decrease or increase the price you have to pay for coverage. Simply getting older, moving across town, or having an accident can trigger price changes resulting in some rates now being more affordable than competitors.
Find Cheaper Auto Insurance in California
USAA has some of the lowest car insurance rates in Fresno at around $1,109 annually. This is $542 less than the average policy premium paid by California drivers of $1,651. Wawanesa, Nationwide, Century National, and CSAA also make the cut as some of the best Fresno, CA auto insurance companies.
As shown in the table above, if you are currently insured with Nationwide and switched to USAA, you could see a yearly price reduction of around $104. California drivers with Century National might save as much as $117 a year, and CSAA customers might reduce prices by as much as $125 a year.
Be aware that those prices are averages across all drivers and vehicles in California and and are not calculated with an exact zip code location for handicapped drivers. So the car insurance company that fits you best may not even be in the list above. That’s why you need to get car insurance quotes using your own driver and vehicle profiles.
Full coverage rates compared to liability-only
Saving money when shopping for car insurance is probably important to the majority of people, and one good way to buy cheaper insurance for handicapped drivers is to not pay for full coverage. The chart below visualizes the comparison of insurance premiums with and without physical damage coverage. The premiums are based on no claims or driving violations, $1,000 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no other discounts are factored in.
Averaged out for all age groups, physical damage insurance costs $1,849 per year more than buying just liability insurance. Many drivers may wonder if buying full coverage is worth the money. There isn’t a written rule to eliminate physical damage coverage on your policy, but there is a general guideline you can use. If the annual cost of your full coverage insurance is about 10% or more of any settlement you would receive from your insurance company, then it may be the right time to buy liability only.
There are some circumstances where removing full coverage is not a good plan. If you still have a loan on your vehicle, you have to carry full coverage to protect the lienholder’s interest. Also, if your emergency fund is not enough to purchase a different vehicle in case of an accident, you should not drop full coverage.
How to get discounts on Fresno insurance
Insurers that sell policies for handicapped drivers may also offer price discounts that can lower rates by as much as 25% or more if you meet specific criteria. The best car insurance companies and some of their more popular discounts are shown below.
- Farmers Insurance policyholders can earn discounts including homeowner, electronic funds transfer, switch companies, alternative fuel, bundle discounts, distant student, and good student.
- State Farm has discounts for Steer Clear safe driver discount, safe vehicle, good student, passive restraint, and good driver.
- Liberty Mutual offers discounts for multi-car, preferred payment discount, exclusive group savings, teen driver discount, and multi-policy.
- MetLife may have discounts that include multi-policy, good student, defensive driver, accident-free, good driver, and claim-free.
- Progressive offers discounts including online quote discount, homeowner, online signing, multi-vehicle, good student, and multi-policy.
The chart below shows the comparison of annual premium costs with and without discounts. The premiums assume a female driver, a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, California state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $100 deductibles.
The first bar for each age group shows insurance cost with no discounts. The second shows the rates with accident-free, multiple vehicle, passive restraint, claim-free, safe-driver, and anti-theft discounts applied. When drivers qualify for the discounts, the average savings per year on car insurance for handicapped drivers is 28% or $735.
Comparing rates can save you money
Fresno, CA car insurance rates are impacted by many factors that may substantially change the policy premium. Getting older, increasing liability limits, or getting caught speeding may generate price changes resulting in some companies being more affordable than the competition. Also, companies modify rates at least once a year to reflect underwriting profits or losses. Significantly higher losses may result in more expensive prices, while profitable underwriting may result in more affordable Fresno car insurance rates.
To help illustrate this point, the bar chart below shows the cheapest car insurance in Fresno, CA for a 40-year-old male driver with no accidents, a clean driving record, and a decent credit rating. If we estimate rates based on his current risk factors, USAA may have the most affordable car insurance rates in Fresno at $1,284 annually. This is $367 less than the average premium paid by California drivers of $1,651. Wawanesa, CSAA, Nationwide, and Century National are the remainder of the best Fresno, CA auto insurance companies.
The chart below compares rates after we give the driver from the above example a claim, a lower credit rating, and a few traffic violations. Since every car insurance company uses their own formula for determining prices, analyzing rates most likely will result in a different set of companies as shown below.
Grange now has the best price in Fresno, CA with Progressive, Mercury, Allstate, and GEICO also having competitive pricing. This illustrates why California drivers need to compare lots of rates when trying to find affordable car insurance quotes for handicapped drivers.
Auto insurance prices can be determined by many different factors and change frequently, so the cheapest rate six months ago may now be priced much higher than other options.
How to find cheaper auto insurance for handicapped drivers
It’s not impossible to find cheaper rates, and here are some of the better money-saving suggestions that can help you find low-cost coverage.
- Better credit scores save money
- Increase physical damage deductibles
- Pay less by remaining claim-free
- Save money by insuring older vehicles for liability only
- Bundle home and auto and earn a discount
- Safer vehicles generally have cheaper insurance rates
- Compare prices frequently to find the best deal
That last tip is notably vital, as was affirmed in the prior information. Rates can be adjusted at any time, so drivers shouldn’t be resistant to buy a different policy if a better deal can be had. Having a favorite company is great, but we do not recommend it if that devotion results in you overpaying money that could be spent on other things. If you have a few minutes, now is a great time to shop around to find cheaper auto insurance for handicapped drivers in Fresno.
If you prefer to have professional advice when trying to find the best insurance rates for drivers with handicaps, the insurance agencies below are willing to provide answers to your questions and help you determine which coverage fits your budget. To find an agent close to where you live, click the link after the list.
Bob Perry – State Farm Insurance Agent
3210 E Shields Ave #6 – Fresno, CA 93726 – (559) 224-4546
New Horizon Insurance Services- Fresno
7543 N Ingram Ave #105 – Fresno, CA 93711 – (559) 244-6644
Allstate Insurance: Ron Meadows
1750 E Bullard Ave Ste 101 – Fresno, CA 93710 – (559) 432-0656
Kurt Sieve – State Farm Insurance Agent
1177 N Willow Ave Suite 102 – Clovis, CA 93611 – (559) 900-7908
Leavitt Group
3245 W Figarden Dr – Fresno, CA 93711 – (559) 256-2500