This article would sure be shorter if we could simply tell you the single company that has the lowest rates in California. Regrettably, it’s not quite that easy, as there are a ton of unknown elements like if you have ever had a coverage lapse, the vehicle you drive, and your date of birth, that help determine the price you have to pay. We will try to cover the best ways to avoid high prices and will hopefully give the reader a good start in finding the cheapest insurance.
The vehicle model needing coverage is a large consideration when looking for the best cheap insurance for unemployed drivers. Vehicles with more horsepower, a lack of advanced safety features, or a history of substantial liability claims will cost significantly more to insure than safer, lower-performance models. The next list presents insurance prices for a handful of the most affordable automobiles to insure.
| Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Honda CR-V EX 2WD | $2,001 |
| Ford Escape XLT 2WD | $2,296 |
| Ford Edge SE AWD | $2,322 |
| Ford Focus S 4-Dr Sedan | $2,328 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan Hero | $2,367 |
| Toyota Corolla XRS | $2,537 |
| Chevrolet Silverado LT Crew Cab 4WD | $2,545 |
| Toyota Prius | $2,541 |
| Ford F-150 XL Crew Cab 4WD | $2,624 |
| Chevrolet Impala LS | $2,663 |
| Kia Optima SX | $2,711 |
| Toyota Camry Hybrid | $2,719 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 2WD | $2,714 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LT 2WD | $2,722 |
| Volkswagen Jetta LE 4-Dr Sedan | $2,714 |
| Ford F-350 XLT Crew Cab Cabela Turbo Diesel 2WD | $2,753 |
| Dodge Ram 2500 Crew Cab Laramie 4WD | $2,759 |
| Ford Explorer Limited AWD | $2,765 |
| Toyota Tacoma X-Runner 2WD | $2,859 |
| Hyundai Elantra SE 4-Dr Sedan | $2,865 |
| Ford F-250 Lariat Super Cab 2WD | $2,881 |
| Dodge Ram Quad Cab Laramie 4WD | $2,888 |
| Toyota RAV4 Limited 4WD | $2,900 |
| Compare Rates Now Go | |
Data rating is based on single female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, safe-driver, multi-vehicle, homeowner, and claim-free. Price information does not factor in vehicle garaging location which can change insurance rates greatly.
Looking at the rates, we can assume that vehicles like the Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, Ford Edge, and Ford Focus will be a few of the cheapest vehicles to insure for the unemployed.
One of the many criteria that aid in calculating insurance cost is where you keep your vehicle in Los Angeles. Larger areas tend to pay more, whereas areas with lower crime rates and fewer weather claims benefit from lower prices.
The table below shows the most expensive places in California for unemployed drivers to buy an auto insurance policy in. Los Angeles shows up at #1 with an annual cost of $2,146 on average, which is around $179 monthly.
| Rank | City | Average Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles | $2,146 |
| 2 | Glendale | $2,079 |
| 3 | San Francisco | $1,763 |
| 4 | Oakland | $1,704 |
| 5 | Sacramento | $1,669 |
| 6 | San Bernardino | $1,644 |
| 7 | Long Beach | $1,626 |
| 8 | Stockton | $1,588 |
| 9 | Garden Grove | $1,570 |
| 10 | Santa Clarita | $1,548 |
| 11 | Riverside | $1,542 |
| 12 | Moreno Valley | $1,536 |
| 13 | Fontana | $1,519 |
| 14 | Fresno | $1,502 |
| 15 | Anaheim | $1,488 |
| 16 | Modesto | $1,487 |
| 17 | Santa Ana | $1,483 |
| 18 | San Jose | $1,437 |
| 19 | San Diego | $1,368 |
| 20 | Fremont | $1,361 |
| Get a Custom Quote Go | ||
Table data uses comparative as specific Los Angeles zip code can revise insurance rates noticeably.
The diagram below shows how choosing a deductible can affect yearly insurance costs when trying to find cheap insurance for unemployed drivers. The costs are based on a married male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no additional discounts are factored in.
A 30-year-old driver could lower their policy premium by $460 a year by switching their comprehensive and collision coverages from a $100 deductible up to a $500 deductible, or save $692 by choosing a $1,000 deductible. Younger drivers, like the 20-year-old, could possibly save as much as $1,398 or more just by choosing higher deductibles when buying full coverage.
When raising deductibles, it is necessary to have plenty of discretionary funds to cover the extra out-of-pocket expense, which is the one inconvenience of using high deductibles.
Picking a highly-rated car insurance company can be difficult considering how many companies sell insurance in California. The company ratings in the next section can help you choose which providers to look at comparing rates with.
The rankings below include large, nationwide insurance companies, so companies that only write business in California or surrounding areas are not included in the list. To compare prices from the most competitive companies in California, click here.
| Company | Value | Customer Service | Claims | Customer Satisfaction | A.M Best Rating | Overall Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USAA | 98 | 100 | 100 | 94% | A++ | 98.6 |
| American Family | 98 | 89 | 100 | 86% | A | 95.4 |
| AAA of Southern California | 91 | 94 | 97 | 92% | A+ | 94.1 |
| State Farm | 88 | 93 | 96 | 90% | A++ | 92.4 |
| The Hartford | 94 | 92 | 90 | 89% | A+ | 91.7 |
| AAA Insurance | 88 | 89 | 95 | 91% | A | 91.2 |
| GEICO | 84 | 93 | 93 | 89% | A++ | 90.3 |
| The General | 89 | 91 | 89 | 88% | A- | 90 |
| Titan Insurance | 90 | 87 | 91 | 95% | A+ | 89.6 |
| Progressive | 84 | 91 | 93 | 87% | A+ | 89.5 |
| Mercury Insurance | 88 | 91 | 90 | 85% | A+ | 89.4 |
| Allstate | 85 | 90 | 92 | 88% | A+ | 89.3 |
| Nationwide | 87 | 88 | 84 | 90% | A+ | 88.7 |
| Liberty Mutual | 84 | 87 | 93 | 88% | A | 88.5 |
| 21st Century | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88% | A | 86.7 |
| Compare Rates Now Go | ||||||
Data Source: Insure.com Best Car Insurance Companies
Tips for finding low-cost insurance for unemployed drivers
The list below shows many thrifty suggestions that can help California drivers quote cheaper coverage.
- Vehicles with safetly features generally cost less to insure
- Earn discounts for being claim-free
- Bundle home and auto and earn a discount
- Save money by obeying traffic laws and keeping a clean driving record
- Remove physical damage coverage on older vehicles
- At-fault accidents can raise rates significantly
- Ensure you have the best deal by shopping around regularly
The last tip is remarkably necessary, as we stressed in this write-up. Auto insurance prices in Los Angeles change constantly, so don’t be tentative to switch to a new company if a lower price can be found.
Having a favorite company is fine, but is isn’t recommended if that faithfulness ends up costing you money that could be spent on other things. It only take a few minutes to shop around to find cheaper auto insurance for unemployed drivers.