Find Auto Insurance in San Jose CA

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What is the Average Cost of Car Insurance in San Jose?

San Jose, California, experienced 5,160 vehicle thefts in 2018; it ranked 115th in vehicular thefts across the state, and its rate was 258.12. These statistics on vehicle theft were combined with Santa Clara and Sunnyvale, which are all close together.

Mean travel time to work for employees 16 and older (2014 through 2018) was just over 30 minutes. Also, in 2018, the city’s population was 1,030,119. Because the most recent census was in 2010, this was an estimate.

Auto theft, time spent on the road, and how busy/dangerous nearby roads are can affect insurance costs for vehicle owners. While lower rates of theft or nearby accidents can lower your costs, higher numbers of incidents force those costs (annual and monthly premiums) higher. And, while San Jose didn’t rank exceptionally high on any of these measures, it’s levels of crime and accidents will certainly affect what you pay for your car insurance each year.

Without going into specific insurance providers, you could pay anywhere from $1,661 on the low end all the way up to $7,428 for an annual vehicle insurance premium. This is for a passenger sedan driven by someone with no accidents on their record but reflects the cost of higher levels of coverage on the high end, while the low end only includes the minimum requirements.

For someone who chooses standard insurance for a Ford F-150, an annual premium is less expensive. At the low end, this will be approximately $1,472; the most expensive annual premium runs $3,488. This is for a driver who has no adverse entries on their driving record.

On both policies, the mileage put on the vehicle is 7,600 to 10,000 miles.

Until a driver goes to an insurance company and submits all of their pertinent information, including their driving history, they won’t know until what their actual premium will be. Each person’s premium is affected by factors individual to them.

What are the Insurance Requirements in San Jose?

The average annual cost of car insurance for residents of San Jose is around $1,645. For the state, the average annual car insurance premium is $1,999, while nationally it’s $1,679. This puts the costs about on average, and even somewhat below, national costs.

The minimum level of insurance coverage that in acceptable in California is 15/30/5. This means that you must carry $15,000 in insurance to cover injuries for a single person, $30,000 to cover injuries for all parties involved, and $5,000 to cover any property damage that might be incurred through an accident.

However, you should be aware that there are plenty of things this will not cover, such as damage to your own vehicle. You should talk to an insurance provider to get a more thorough list of what minimum insurance does or does not cover; you might be surprised by what it leaves up to you. While comprehensive coverage is good for newer vehicles, liability is all that required in the US.

Most Expensive and Least Expensive Insurance Rates by Zip Code

Cheap Car Insurance in San Jose by Insurer

If full coverage, including both liability and comprehensive coverage, is too pricey for your budget, you’ll likely opt for liability only. This is basic coverage that will cover injuries and property damage for the other driver.

The average cost of car insurance in San Jose is around $1,700. However, depending on which insurance company you choose, you may receive a quote that is well below or above that average. Most companies will offer something between $1,075 and $1,610 to drivers in the San Jose, CA area.

Are you looking for a cheap car insurance quotes? Compare rates for all companies here.

Low Cost Auto Insurance for Bad Credit in San Jose

For individuals who aren’t able to pay annual auto premiums that run from $1,000 up to $5,000, California does have a low-cost auto insurance program. This requires individual drivers to meet income eligibility rules to qualify.

Taking a fictional driver in Santa Clara County and living in San Jose, as long as they are at least 18 years old and meet income eligibility requirements, their annual premium may be less than $500. If the driver is younger than 18, even if they haven’t been continuously licensed for three years, their premium may fall below $650.

By answering questions on an online rate calculator, an individual can get an idea of what their annual premium may be. Again, until they speak to an agent, they won’t get an official quote.

Learn how bad credit can affect your car insurance rates.

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

What is Liability Only Coverage?

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 are the Major Differences Between Full Coverage and Liability?

The main difference between having liability and full coverage insurance is that liability insurance will only pay for injuries to others and their damages that resulted from an accident where you were at fault, where full coverage will not only pay for the damages and injuries done to others but will also cover your injuries and auto damages that resulted from an accident that you caused as well.

Average Annual Car Insurance Rates in California by City

Additional cities in California you can check out.

Anaheim

Bakersfield

Stockton

Ways to Lower Your Insurance Premiums

Save on Your Insurance Policy Rates With These Discounts in San Jose:

  • Raise your deductible

    If you are willing to pay more money for a deductible, in the event of an accident, then you can lower your insurance rates substantially. You can lower your premium to around 10% just by raising your deductible to around $1,000.

  • Drop Collision Coverage on Old Cars

    Dropping collision coverage on older cars can really help save you a lot, especially for cars that are more than ten years old and only worth four or five thousand dollars. Think about it, if you have an accident while driving an older car, are you really going to pay to repair it or just buy a new car?

  • Check Insurance Rates for Your Car’s Make and Model

    The make and model of your car can make a big difference in how much you pay for auto insurance. Therefore, before purchasing a new car, be sure and check the insurance rates for it as some can be much higher than others.

  • Shop Around to Check Rates from Numerous Insurance Companies

    The chart in this article should be enough proof to know that there can be a big difference in what various insurance companies charge for auto insurance. That is why it is a good idea to check rates from a number of insurance companies before deciding which plan to choose.

  • Drive Fewer Miles

    One of the questions asked when applying for auto insurance rates, is how many miles you drive regularly. This is because the more miles you drive, the more risk you are to the insurance company and the higher your insurance cost will be. Try to drive fewer miles, if possible, to save more money on your premiums.

  • Maintain a Good driving record

    Being a safe driver can not only save your life, but it can also save you a lot of money, too. There is a big difference in how much people with accidents on their record have to pay, and what those without any accidents pay. Therefore, always drive safely.

  • Live in a less populated area

    Your location matters when it comes to auto insurance rates. If you live in a highly populated area, your rates will be higher than if you live in a lower-population area. The Jefferson and New Orleans areas have some of the highest rates in Louisiana, but if you live just 30 minutes outside of the city, you can expect your rates to go down.

Using this guide to take full advantage of all driver discounts.

What are the Factors that Affect Your Auto Insurance Premiums?

Your car insurance rates can change over time. One of the most reliable factors that will impact your premiums is your age. The older you are, the lower your insurance premiums should be. You may also find your rates vary depending on the car you drive. Sports cars or jeeps may incur higher premiums, while SUVs and sedans are cheaper to insure.

Rates are also impacted by your gender and age, though young women will have lower rates than their same-aged male friends. Actuarial tables show that young drivers are more prone to speeding, alcohol infractions, and accidents than older people, as are young males rather than females.

You can also reduce your regular premium payments by opting for a higher deductible on your collision and comprehensive coverage packages. You can also opt to pay your premium in a larger, single payment every six months rather than spreading the premium out over monthly payments.

How to tickets and accidents affect your driving record and insurance?

Check Out Car Insurance Companies in San Jose and Reviews

Helpful San Jose, 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/silicon-valley-ca

Get a quote1.855.283.2631