For students in college, one of the more important things that are looked at to help calculate auto insurance rates is where you keep your car in Fresno. Larger areas tend to have higher auto insurance costs, whereas more rural areas have the benefit of cheaper auto insurance prices.
The information below lists the most expensive areas in California for college students in which to buy car insurance. Fresno is listed at #15 having an annual price of $1,457 for car insurance, which is about $121 monthly.
| Rank | City | Annual Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles | $2,146 |
| 2 | Glendale | $2,058 |
| 3 | San Francisco | $1,763 |
| 4 | Oakland | $1,738 |
| 5 | Sacramento | $1,669 |
| 6 | Long Beach | $1,610 |
| 7 | San Bernardino | $1,580 |
| 8 | Garden Grove | $1,554 |
| 9 | Santa Clarita | $1,548 |
| 10 | Stockton | $1,541 |
| 11 | Fontana | $1,535 |
| 12 | Modesto | $1,502 |
| 13 | Moreno Valley | $1,491 |
| 14 | Riverside | $1,482 |
| 15 | Fresno | $1,457 |
| 16 | Santa Ana | $1,453 |
| 17 | San Jose | $1,437 |
| 18 | Anaheim | $1,430 |
| 19 | Huntington Beach | $1,402 |
| 20 | Fremont | $1,361 |
| 21 | Irvine | $1,343 |
| 22 | Bakersfield | $1,340 |
| 23 | San Diego | $1,327 |
| 24 | Oxnard | $1,304 |
| 25 | Chula Vista | $1,298 |
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Rate quotes are estimated as zip code location can affect auto insurance rates significantly.
The type of vehicle needing coverage is a large consideration when looking for the cheapest car insurance for college students. Vehicles with high performance engines, poor safety ratings, or a high likelihood of having liability claims will cost significantly more to insure than more economical and safe models.
The table below shows coverage costs for the most cost-effective automobiles to insure in California.
| Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Honda CR-V EX 2WD | $2,731 |
| Ford Escape XLT 4WD | $2,770 |
| Toyota Prius | $3,013 |
| Jeep Wrangler Sahara 4WD 2-Dr | $3,039 |
| Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 2WD | $3,049 |
| Honda Odyssey EX W/Rear Entertainment | $3,201 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LT 2WD | $3,240 |
| Toyota RAV4 2WD | $3,245 |
| Volkswagen Jetta S 4-Dr Sedan | $3,240 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4WD | $3,247 |
| Chevrolet Malibu LT | $3,282 |
| Ford F-150 Lariat Crew Cab 2WD | $3,292 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan SXT | $3,282 |
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Data based on single male driver age 20, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, and claim-free. Table data does not factor in vehicle location which can change insurance rates greatly.
Based upon the rates shown, we can assume that makes and models like the Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, Toyota Prius, Jeep Wrangler, and Ford Explorer are a few of the most affordable vehicles to insure for students in college. Auto insurance rates will be more expensive because of the fact that there is a higher risk for college students, but in general those specific models will have the cheapest auto insurance rates available.
The diagram below highlights how deductible selection can influence insurance premiums when searching for cheap insurance for college students. The rates are based on a married female driver, comp and collision included, and no additional discounts are factored in.
The chart above illustrates that a 30-year-old driver could cut expenses by $490 a year by switching from a $100 deductible to a $500 deductible, or save $736 by switching to a $1,000 deductible. Youthful drivers, such as the Age 20 example, could potentially save up to $1,042 annually by using higher deductibles when buying full coverage.
If you do make the decision to raise your deductibles, it is necessary to have spare funds to enable you to pay the extra out-of-pocket expense that is associated with using high deductibles.
Buying coverage from a highly-rated insurance company can be difficult considering how many companies are available to choose from in California. The rank data in the next section may help you pick which coverage providers you want to consider when looking for cheaper rates. These rankings include large, nationwide insurance companies, so smaller companies are not taken into consideration for these rankings.
Top 10 Major Auto Insurance Providers in Fresno Ranked by Customer Service
- AAA of Southern California
- GEICO
- State Farm
- The Hartford
- Mercury Insurance
- The General
- Progressive
- Allstate
- AAA Insurance
- American Family
Top 10 Major Auto Insurance Providers in Fresno Ranked by Value
- USAA
- American Family
- The Hartford
- AAA of Southern California
- Titan Insurance
- The General
- AAA Insurance
- State Farm
- Mercury Insurance
- Nationwide
If you prefer to have a consultation when trying to find the best insurance rates for students in college, the agents listed below can probably help you determine which coverages are best.
To locate a Fresno insurance agent in your neighborhood, click the button following the list.
- DiBuduo and DeFendis Insurance Brokers LLC
6873 N West Ave – Fresno, CA 93711 – (559) 432-0222 - Allstate Insurance: Roger Noguera
3032 W Bullard Ave – Fresno, CA 93711 – (559) 435-2246 - Avakian Insurance Services, Inc.
1274 W Hedges Ave – Fresno, CA 93728 – (559) 268-7386 - M D Manouel Insurance Inc
7447 N First St – Fresno, CA 93720 – (559) 446-0588 - Nationwide Insurance: Maffei Ins and Fin Services
5633 W Figarden Dr Ste 104 – Fresno, CA 93722 – (559) 322-3355
Find a Fresno, CA insurance agent near you
How to find budget-friendly insurance for college students
Here are some of the recommended money-saving solutions that can help California drivers locate cheap coverage.
- Maintain a safe distance and avoid accidents
- Do not waste money insuring older vehicles for full coverage
- Lower rates by purchasing a safer vehicle
- Higher deductibles mean lower rates
- Good credit scores may lower your rates
- Violations like speeding or DUI increase rates
- Comparison shop at least once a year
The last tip in the list is remarkably valuable, as was stressed in the prior article. Rates can change in a short period of time, so don’t be unwilling to change insurance companies if you can find a cheaper rate.
Having brand loyalty is commendable, but it’s not recommended if that faithfulness ends up costing you potentially thousands of dollars a year. In just a few minutes you could compare rates to find cheaper auto insurance for college students in Fresno.