Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance Rates in Riverside?

Riverside, CA is a medium-sized city located in the Inland Empire metro area east of Los Angeles. With a diverse population of about 328,000 people, Riverside is a growing and bustling city that has a relatively young population. Median household incomes in Riverside are strong and average about $67,000. Since the median age is 31, the town has a lot of growth in its future. Additionally, each household in Riverside has an average of two cars, so there is a strong demand for quality insurance policies.

Not only do people in Riverside drive a lot as the average commute is over 28 minutes, but the town is also ranked #11 for auto theft nationwide. In 2018, Riverside saw 245,113 total thefts that calculates into a theft rate of 521 per 100k residents. When the two factors are combined, high commute times with high theft rates, drivers need more than simple liability insurance.

This is because drivers need to be able to recover quickly from an accident, whether they are at-fault or not. They also need speedy repairs in case a thief smashes their window, or worse. Liability insurance will not cover these costs, but a comprehensive auto policy often will. Drivers should investigate this option with their insurer.

Car owners owe it to themselves to investigate their options for auto insurance. Just because a minimum standard for insurance policies is set by the state, that doesn’t mean that the minimum will satisfy a drivers’ needs. This page is here to help automobile owners find the very best insurance policies for Riverside.

How Much Car Insurance Coverage Do I Need in Riverside

Automobile insurance is a financial instrument that is designed to protect drivers in the event of an accident. While insurers offer a variety of policies for their customers, the government has a minimum standard for every driver depending on where you live. That is liability insurance coverage.

Liability policies only cover the cars and drivers who are not at fault in an accident. Whoever caused the accident will have claims made against their liability policy to cover all damages, including medical costs where appropriate. However, though liability is both required and is the cheapest option, it is not the optimal or always the recommended option.

This is because the at-fault driver may need repairs to their car as well, which are not covered by liability insurance. Meanwhile, the injured parties will likely need to repair their cars as soon as possible. If the victims don’t have comprehensive coverage, they will have to wait until the other driver’s insurer closes the claim. This can take weeks. However, if the victim has a comprehensive or collision policy, they can have their damages covered immediately. Their company will then settle the financial shortfall with the at-fault driver’s insurance company.

Most Expensive and Least Expensive Insurance Rates by Zip Code

Cheap Car Insurance in Riverside by Insurer

For the cheapest car insurance in California, Geico leads the pack in allowing customers to pay less. United and Northbrook are also competitive and likewise offer a good value. When shopping for automobile insurance, drivers should take cost into consideration but should also investigate the company’s other packages, possible discounts, and overall service. For instance, some may bundle auto insurance with homeowner’s policies and thus offer a better value for their entire family. If you need help making a decision, it’s best to call or check the companies websites for specific quotes for your local area.

Use this guide to compare the best auto insurance premiums by company.

Low Cost Auto Insurance for Bad Credit in Riverside

California drivers are fortunate in that their insurance companies cannot base their premiums on credit scores. Rather, drivers are charged according to their driving record. Thus, good drivers with bad credit can continue to save on their insurance premiums while they get their finances in order. You may also be able to make use of driving-based insurance, in which the company follows how you drive with a tracker, if you aren’t worried about possible privacy issues associated with this.

Learn how your credit score determines your car insurance premiums.

Full Coverage Vs. Liability, Which is Best For You?

What is Liability Only Coverage?

Liability-only coverage is the cheapest option for automobile insurance. This coverage level only covers vehicles that are not at fault in an accident. Thus, if you carry liability-only coverage and cause an accident, the other driver will be covered by your policy. Any damage done to your car must be covered out of pocket, if at all.

What does Full Coverage Insurance Cover?

Liability-only insurance is the least amount of insurance that one can purchase. This satisfies your legal requirement to drive and register your vehicle in california. For many people, this is not sufficient coverage because it does not cover their losses if they are at fault and do damage to their own vehicle or if they sustain damages in a hit-and-run or from an uninsured driver.

Collision covers when one is at fault and their own vehicle is damaged. If you have a car that is worth more than a few thousand dollars, it is often a wise investment to buy collision insurance each year. However, collision insurance coverage is pricey and will increase your insurance cost per year quite drastically.

Comprehensive covers those oddball things that happen that you cannot control, like damaged windshields and collision with animals on the road. It also covers your loss when someone purposely damages your vehicle in an act of vandalism. In addition, comprehensive covers theft of your vehicle, fire and weather, or acts of nature. An example of the latter would be if your car was crushed under a tree that fell in a wind storm.

Key Differences Between Full Coverage and Liability Only

Liability and Full coverage policies have many distinctions but the chief one is that under a liability policy your car is not covered. If you are in an accident and are found at-fault, your liability policy will cover the other driver and her passengers. A full coverage policy, on the other hand, covers damage done to your car as a result of a wide range of accidents, even if you are at-fault. These policies also differ when it comes to premium payments.

Average Annual Car Insurance Rates in California by City

Additional cities in California you can check out.

Ways to Lower Your Auto Insurance Rates

There are many car insurance discounts and ways to save on your policy in Riverside:

  • Avoid Accidents:

    When your record is clear of at-fault accidents, insurers see you as a better financial risk. Thus, your premiums will be lower.

  • Don’t Speed:

    If you have one or more speeding tickets, your insurance rates will be higher. This is because high speeds are associated with accidents, and if you speed you are more likely to be deemed at-fault in an accident.

  • Shop Around:

    There are at least twenty auto insurance companies currently active in Riverside. Their premium rates are spread over a wide range, so be sure to compare prices and make sure you get the best, and most affordable, policy for you.

  • Comprehensive Insurance Packages:

    Insurance companies like when you use them for more than simple auto insurance. Thus, they frequently offer packages that include homeowner’s insurance, or other policies, on the same account. When you opt for one of these comprehensive policies, the company is often able to lower your automobile premium as part of the deal.

  • Multiple Vehicles:

    Similar to purchasing a comprehensive insurance package, combining multiple vehicles on the same policy results in lower premiums. Consider this a bulk purchase for your auto insurance.

  • Military and Student Discounts:

    Sometimes insurance companies have special discounts for certain demographics, like active military or students.

Are you looking for car insurance discounts? Learn more here.

Common Factors that Affect Your Riverside CA Vehicle Insurance Rates

Riverside drivers are likely to see their insurance rates change over time. There can be many factors, both positive and negative, that impact your regular premiums. One key thing that all drivers face is aging. As you mature as a person and as a driver, your insurance rates are likely to fall. Typically, older drivers are safer drivers. They are less likely to drink and drive, speed, or take unnecessary risks on the road.

Your rates are also dependent, in part, on the type of car you drive. Drivers who love high-powered sports cars will likely spend more for automobile insurance than those who drive less-exciting SUVs and sedans.

Rates are also tied to the deductible on the policy. If you carry collision or comprehensive (full) coverage and opt for a higher deductible, your premiums could be lower. That is, if a tree hits your car, you will pay more up front for the damage to offset the lower premiums you’ve been paying over time.

Compare insurance company rates for drivers with a bad record here.

Helpful Riverside, California Vehicle Resources:

Live Traffic Accidents by City
http://cad.chp.ca.gov/traffic.aspx

DMV in California (Find Locations, Vehicle Registration, Titles and Insurance Info)
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-registration/

Rideshare
https://www.lyft.com/rider/cities/inland-empire-ca

Get a quote1.855.283.2631