What is the Average Cost of Car Insurance in Modesto?
Modesto is a mid-sized city in the United States, with a population of over 215,000 as of 2019. Although the population has grown between 2010 and 2019 at a total rate of 5.9%, this is lower than the national average population growth rate of 6.3% over that same time period. The percentage of people between the ages of 18-65, the typical age range for the majority of drivers, is 61% and one percent fewer were above age 16 and a part of the labor force between 2014-2018.
The mean travel time to work was 28.2 minutes between 2014-2018, which is nearly the same as the national average commute time of around 27 minutes. In 2019, Modesto had 1,185 total cases of reported vehicle theft, averaging out to 547.2 cases per 100,000 people, which is higher than the California average of 358.8 and the national average of 219.9. Thus, the high theft rate, if not the average commute time, is likely to lead to some higher costs for insurance.
What is Required for Modesto Drivers?
According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, all individuals who are seeking to register a vehicle in the state must have, at minimum, insurance covering $15,000 for injury or death to one person, $30,000 for injury or death to multiple individuals, and $5,000 for property damage. Liability insurance will help cover the costs to a person other than the policyholder for personal injury or property damage in the advent of a crash that is the fault of the policyholder. Additionally, it’s explicitly stated that comprehensive or collision insurance does not meet the state’s minimal vehicle financial responsibility requirements, which is something you should be aware of when you go looking for insurance. Furthermore, insurance companies in California are required by law to report private-use vehicle insurance information of policyholders to the state and those without proof of insurance will have their vehicle’s registration suspended until the necessary proof is submitted to the state.
Typically, it is not recommended for drivers to purchase only the minimum required car insurance in California, as the coverage is quite low. In particular, the $5,000 minimum threshold for property damage coverage would be unlikely to cover the costs if the policyholder is in a crash with a high-value vehicle or a severe accident totaling the other party’s car. Additionally, the $15,000 coverage for injury or death to one person is unlikely to be enough to help cover the costs if the crash results in permanent disability or severe injuries to the other party.
Most Expensive and Least Expensive Insurance Rates by Zip Code
Cheap Car Insurance in Modesto by Insurer
Many companies provide affordable car insurance in California. It’s important, however, to consider your personal needs when choosing car insurance, and to select a policy plan based on its important coverage characteristics, rather than simply choosing the minimum coverage plan. It’s also a good idea to check out each insurance company’s customer service ratings in the area before you select a plan.
Low Cost Auto Insurance for Bad Credit in Modesto
Drivers with bad credit can still purchase car insurance in California at the same price as drivers with the best credit, as credit is banned from being used as a determinant for policy rates in the state.
Use our bad credit guide to find companies that offer lower premiums for bad credit drivers.
Differences Between the Two Main Coverages
What is Liability-Only?
Liability insurance will pay for the injuries and/or damages that you cause to others in the case of a collision where you were at fault. In most cases, liability insurance will cost less than full-coverage insurance, but then again, they are both very different in what they cover. Liability is mandatory in all U.S. states, although how much liability you are required to have differs between states. Even if it wasn’t mandatory to have liability insurance, accidents can happen anytime and, if they do, you will need to be able to pay for the damages that you cause if you were the one to blame.
Why You May Want Full Coverage Car Insurance
Full coverage auto insurance in Arizona pays for your injuries and the damages made to your car as well as for others and isn’t just a specific type of a policy but it is instead liability, comprehensive insurance, and collision all combined. Full coverage insurance is not mandatory, but is good to have since it will help pay for your car to be fixed in the event of an accident that causes you injury or damage to your car, even if you were at fault. If the other person that collided with you was at fault, then their insurance will cover the damages to your car and your injuries. This is why there are laws requiring everyone to have insurance to cover the damages they cause.
What You Need to Know About the Differences Between the Car Insurance Types
The difference between full and liability coverage is quite dramatic. With liability, insurers gamble that they will only have to pay for one car in an accident. With a comprehensive or full coverage policy, insurance companies know that they are taking on more liability exposure and so their rates reflect the increased risk. In the case of a comprehensive policy, they might even have to cover claims for damages that don’t arise from a traffic incident.
Average Annual Car Insurance Rates in California by City
Ways to Obtain a Lower Cost Auto Insurance Policy
The following auto insurance discounts can be used to help lower your premiums in Modesto:
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A good driving record
Being a safe driver is the best way to keep your auto insurance cost down; the fewer accidents you have the less you will pay.
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Shop around for quotes
Insurance rates can vary substantially from company to company, which is why you will need to shop around and get quotes from each company. Most companies will give you a fast, free quote online.
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Raise your deductible
If you are considering getting a full-coverage plan, you can ask for a higher deductible to lower your monthly cost. The higher the deductible the lower your price will be.
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Save on bundling
You can save some money on auto insurance by bundling. Getting both auto insurance protections along with something like homeowners’ insurance in one plan will cost less than if you were to get separate plans.
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Establish a good credit report
Insurance companies base your cost on many factors, including what’s in your credit report, so, the better your credit report is, the lower your auto insurance costs will be.
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Reduce the miles you drive daily
Reducing how many miles you drive daily can also help cut auto insurance costs. You might consider car-pooling, taking a bus, or getting places the old-fashioned way – walk.
Are you looking for car insurance discounts? Learn more here.
What are the Factors that Affect Your Auto Insurance Premiums?
There are quite a few factors included in determining your cost for auto insurance such as:
- Your location
- Age
- Number of violations you had in the past
- Gender
- Whether you are married or single
- Your credit score
- The plan you are seeking
- The deductible
- Daily miles you drive
- The make, model, and year of the vehicle to be insured
- Whether you live alone or with others
- Your occupation
Compare insurance company rates for drivers with a bad record here.
Check Out Car Insurance Companies in Modesto and Reviews
Helpful Modesto, California Vehicle Resources:
Live Traffic and Accidents
https://www.viamichelin.com/web/Traffic/Traffic_info-Modesto-_-California-United_States
DMV (Find Locations, Vehicle Registration, Titles and Insurance Info)
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/field-office/modesto/