Finding out which company offers the best car insurance rates for drivers with a DUI requires more work than just picking a company at random. Every car insurance company has a different process for setting prices, so let’s rank the most competitive car insurance companies in California.
Find Cheaper Auto Insurance after a DUI
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | USAA | $1,155 |
| 2 | Wawanesa | $1,157 |
| 3 | Century National | $1,178 |
| 4 | CSAA | $1,186 |
| 5 | Nationwide | $1,250 |
| 6 | 21st Century | $1,338 |
| 7 | Mercury | $1,488 |
| 8 | Grange | $1,491 |
| 9 | Progressive | $1,512 |
| 10 | Allstate | $1,513 |
| 11 | GEICO | $1,575 |
| 12 | Allied | $1,603 |
| 13 | The Hartford | $1,639 |
| 14 | MetLife | $1,654 |
| 15 | Esurance | $1,705 |
| 16 | State Farm | $1,733 |
| 17 | Unitrin | $1,750 |
| 18 | Bristol West | $1,795 |
| 19 | Travelers | $1,842 |
| 20 | Farmers | $1,966 |
| Get a Custom Quote Go | ||
USAA may have some of the lowest car insurance rates in Sacramento at around $1,155 a year. This is $496 less than the average premium paid by California drivers of $1,651. Wawanesa, Century National, CSAA, and Nationwide also qualify as some of the lowest-priced Sacramento, CA car insurance companies.
In the above example, if you currently buy coverage from Nationwide and switched to Wawanesa, you might achieve annual savings of in the vicinity of $93. Drivers with 21st Century could save as much as $181 a year, and Mercury customers might reduce rates by $331 a year.
To get a fast rate comparison, click here to get a free quote or visit several of the following companies.
These prices are averages across all types of drivers and the different vehicles they drive and and are not calculated with an exact vehicle garaging location for drivers with a DUI. So the company that can offer you the lowest price may not even be in the list above. That illustrates why you need to get car insurance quotes using your own specific driver and vehicle information.
The vehicle model you are seeking coverage for is one of the largest factors when comparing quotes for cheaper auto insurance for drivers with a DUI. Vehicles with higher performance characteristics, poor passenger safety features, or high incidents of liability claims will cost substantially more to insure than safer, lower-performance models. The next list estimates coverage rates for a number of the most budget-friendly vehicles to insure.
| Insured Vehicle | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Honda Accord EX 4-Dr Sedan | $1,781 |
| Ford Escape XLT 4WD | $1,822 |
| Honda CR-V EX-L 4WD | $1,827 |
| Toyota Prius | $1,979 |
| Ford Explorer XLT AWD | $1,992 |
| Ford F-150 FX2 Super Cab 2WD | $2,001 |
| Ford Edge SEL AWD | $2,068 |
| Jeep Wrangler Sport Islander Package 4WD 2-Dr | $2,156 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan CV | $2,199 |
| Nissan Altima 2.5 S 4-Dr Sedan | $2,222 |
| Volkswagen Jetta LE 4-Dr Sedan | $2,326 |
| Chevrolet Malibu LS | $2,333 |
| Chevrolet Impala LT | $2,326 |
| Toyota RAV4 2WD | $2,335 |
| Dodge Ram 3500 Crew Cab ST 2WD | $2,341 |
| Nissan Rogue SL AWD | $2,374 |
| Honda Odyssey EX W/Rear Entertainment | $2,399 |
| Toyota Tacoma 2WD | $2,404 |
| Hyundai Elantra Blue 4-Dr Sedan | $2,410 |
| Ford Focus SES 4-Dr Sedan | $2,416 |
| Start Your Quote Go | |
Table data assumes single female driver age 50, two speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-vehicle, homeowner, and multi-policy. Information does not factor in vehicle garaging location which can alter auto insurance rates considerably.
Based upon the table data, cars like the Honda Accord, Ford Escape, and Honda CR-V are most likely going to be some of the cheapest vehicles to insure after getting a DUI. The price for an auto insurance policy will tend to be higher because there is more liability exposure for drivers with a DUI, but generally speaking those models will probably have the lowest prices compared to other vehicles.
Rate increases following a ticket or accident
The ideal way to receive cheap car insurance prices in Sacramento after getting a DUI is to be a cautious driver and avoid accidents and keep your driving record clean. The chart below illustrates how traffic citations and accident claims can drive up yearly insurance costs for each different age group. The information is based on a single female driver, full coverage, $1,000 deductibles, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
In the prior example, the average cost of auto insurance in Sacramento per year with no accidents or violations is $1,767. Get written up for two speeding tickets and the average cost swells to $2,351, an increase of $585 each year. Then throw in two accidents along with the two speeding tickets and the 12-month cost of car insurance for drivers with a DUI goes up to an average of $4,802. That’s an increase of $3,035, or $253 per month, just for not keeping your driving record clean!
The information below highlights how deductible choice can influence insurance premiums when researching cheap insurance for drivers with a DUI. The information is based on a married male driver, full coverage, and no other discounts are factored in.
As shown above, a 40-year-old driver could lower their policy premium by $308 a year by changing from a $100 deductible to a $500 deductible, or save $466 by changing to a $1,000 deductible. Even younger insureds, such as the 20-year-old example, could save as much as $1,026 annually by choosing a larger deductible amount.
If you do make the decision to raise your deductibles, it is necessary to have enough in a savings account to enable you to pay the extra out-of-pocket expense, which is the main inconvenience of larger deductibles.
Here’s why price comparisons are so important
Sacramento car insurance rates are influenced by many factors which can significantly increase or decrease the cost of your policy. Getting older, buying higher coverage limits, or getting a few speeding tickets may generate price changes resulting in some companies being more affordable than competitors. Not only may your situation change, but insurers modify rates every year in order to remain profitable. Higher than normal claims can cause higher rates, while lower claim levels may result in cheaper Sacramento car insurance rates.
To illustrate this point, the bar chart below shows the companies that have the cheapest car insurance in Sacramento, CA for a 45-year-old female driver with no prior accidents, a clean driving record, and excellent credit. If we estimate prices based on her personal risk profile, Wawanesa may have the cheapest car insurance rates in Sacramento at $1,451 annually. This is $200 less than the average premium paid by California drivers of $1,651. USAA, Century National, Nationwide, and CSAA round out the rest of the top five cheapest Sacramento, CA auto insurance companies.
Now we will give the driver from the first set of rates a claim or two, a lower credit score, and a speeding citation. Since every car insurance company has a unique formula for establishing rates, comparing rates may now present a different ranking of cheap Sacramento auto insurance companies as shown below.
Grange now has the best price in Sacramento with Allstate, GEICO, Mercury, and Progressive now being in the top five. This demonstrates why Sacramento drivers need to take the time to shop around to get the best auto insurance quotes for drivers with a DUI. Prices are influenced by many factors and can decrease or increase without notice, so the cheapest company the last time you shopped your coverage around may now be one of the more expensive options.
How to find more affordable auto insurance for drivers with a DUI
It is possible to find better rates, and here are some of the better penny-pinching suggestions that can help Sacramento drivers get lower-cost car insurance.
- Bundle home and auto and earn a discount
- Avoid preventable accidents
- Avoid price increases by not filing claims
- Do not get tickets
- Drive safe vehicles
- Compare rates regularly to ensure the best deal
That final tip is particularly significant, as we emphasized in this write-up. Rates in Sacramento can change in a short period of time, so don’t hesitate to switch carriers if you can save money. Sticking with a specific company is fine, but it’s not a great idea if that dedication is costing a wad of cash every year. It only takes a couple minutes to compare prices to find cheaper insurance for drivers with a DUI.