Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance Rates in Santa Rosa?
Santa Rosa is an accessible, mid-sized American city, housing a population of over 176,700 as of 2019. The city is growing much slower than the national average, having grown only 1.0% between 2010-2019 compared to the United States’ overall population growth of 6.3% in that same time. Santa Rosa’s population between the ages of 18-65, where the majority of drivers fall, is around 62%. And the average commute for workers is just over 23 minutes, solidly below the national average of 26.6 minutes.
In 2019, Santa Rosa reported 311 counts of vehicle theft, averaging out to only 174.8 vehicle thefts per 100,000 residents. This is only about a half of the California state average at 358.8 and also lower than the national average of 219.9. This is important because many things affect the cost of car insurance in a city including the average age of local driver, the average commute, and theft rate, etc.
What is Required for Santa Rosa Drivers?
The California Department of Motor Vehicles maintains that all drivers looking to register vehicles in the state must have minimum insurance coverage of $15,000 for injury damages or death to one person, $30,000 for injury or death to multiple individuals in a single accident, and $5,000 for property damage. This, a driver’s liability insurance, will focus on covering costs to those involved in an accident who are not the policyholder who is at fault in said accident.
This will help cover any expenses incurred due to property damage or physical injuries resulting from the crash. However, the California Department of Motor Vehicles has also explicitly stated that comprehensive and collision insurance does not meet the state’s minimum vehicle insurance requirements, so drivers will need to ensure that their insurance policies cover the aforementioned amounts and types of damage awards. It is also of note that all insurance companies in California will report private-use vehicle insurance information to the state, which is required by law. Those without proof of insurance will have their vehicle registration suspended until the state can verify that they have purchased car insurance.
Most drivers should purchase insurance plans that cover more than the minimum, as the California minimums are likely to not be enough in the case of more serious crashes. For instance, the $5,000 property damage would likely not be enough to cover damages caused by the collision of one or multiple expensive vehicles, while the death or injury coverage would not be enough to cover many cases where a crash causes individuals to be hospitalized for long periods of time or worse.
Most Expensive and Least Expensive Insurance Rates by Zip Code
Cheap Car Insurance in Santa Rosa by Insurer
Don’t worry about finding affordable car insurance in California, as there are many insurance companies that operate in the state. Below you can find a ranking of the least expensive options of car insurance plans covering the state minimum. Even though the minimum car insurance necessary to register a vehicle in the state of California can be pretty affordable, be sure to consider your own coverage needs when selecting a policy. Additionally, be sure to do a bit of research into your intended insurance company’s customer service reviews in your area, which can save you a lot of headaches in the future when you need to deal with representatives from the company.
Low Cost Auto Insurance for Bad Credit in Santa Rosa
California does not allow car insurance companies to discriminate based on a driver’s credit, so all drivers will have access to the same insurance policy rates regardless of if they have bad credit or not. This is good news for anyone who has ever had problems with their credit score, or those who are just starting out and may not have had the opportunity to build up much credit, but must purchase car insurance all the same.
Check out this bad credit guide to help get lower auto insurance rates.
Full Coverage Vs. Liability Coverage
What is Liability Only Insurance 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.
Another way to think of liability insurance is that it protects you from claims made by another driver. Without the protection of insurance, you might be sued if you were to collide with another vehicle.
Full Coverage Auto Insurance
Full Coverage is a commonly used term which covers more than just the damage you might cause in an accident, or the coverage you are liable for. If your policy covers your liability to another vehicle, the damage done to your vehicle (collision insurance), and any incidental damage done to your car by any non-auto elements (comprehensive coverage), then you have a policy that is indeed full coverage. If you have a new car, you may wish to cover it with such a policy, as you might want the peace of mind that any damage will be covered by insurance.
What is the Difference Between the Two Types of Car Insurance?
So, liability-only insurance coverage will pay for what you did to the neighbor’s bumper when you backed into it while rushing to work. It will pay for the hospital visit by a bicyclist you hit who has a broken leg. Liability-only only insurance will pay for the utility panel you hit at the RV resort when you had trouble backing in.
Collision will pay for any damage you did to your own vehicle when you backed into that utility panel at the RV resort. Comprehensive will pay for the damage your vehicle suffered when a tree fell on it in intense rains that weakened the soil.
The difference between liability and full coverage insurance policies is that liability only covers other people and their vehicle if an accident should occur where you are at fault, but, with a full coverage insurance plan, you and your vehicle would also be covered along with other’s and their vehicle as well.
Another difference between the two is that a deductible is associated with full-coverage insurance, but not with liability. There is also a difference in price, where full coverage will cost more than liability insurance.
Average Annual Car Insurance Rates in California by City
Car Insurance Discounts to Lower Your Policy Rates
There are many ways that you can save on auto insurance in Santa Rosa:
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Don’t Speed
If you are caught speeding, your license will accrue points. With each additional point, your insurance company considers you more of a liability and so will charge you more for insurance. Stick to local in-town limits and use your cruise control on the highway to avoid excessive speed.
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Shop Around
Different insurers charge different premiums for virtually the same policies. Since the essential service is often identical from company to company, you are sure to save money by comparing rates from multiple companies.
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Avoid Accidents
When you are at fault in an accident, law enforcement will add points to your license. Further, the other party is likely to file a claim against your policy. When insurers pay out on claims, they typically raise the premiums for those policy holders.
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Bundled Insurance Packages
If you have renter’s insurance or are a homeowner, you may be able to add your automobile to the policy. This also goes for other vehicles or even health insurance. Insurance companies love to bundle policies and offer incentives for customers to do so. You will only have one premium payment to make, which makes things easy, and you’ll save money, as well.
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Insure Multiple Cars
If you own multiple cars, your per-car rates are bound to be lower if you put them all on the same policy. You can also include a car owned by your spouse or domestic partner. You could also add your partner to health insurance or cover their recreational vehicles under your policy.
Common Factors that Affect Your Santa Rosa CA Vehicle Insurance Rates
- Gender
- Marital Status
- Age
- Number of Violations
- Credit Report/Score
- Location
- Driving Record
- Insurance Company
- Make and Model of your car
- Your Insurance Plan
- How many cars you have insured
- Your Occupation
- Miles you drive per year
Use this guide to find low cost rates with accidents from the top insurance companies.
Check Out Car Insurance Companies in Santa Rosa and Reviews
Helpful Santa Rosa, California Vehicle Resources:
Live Traffic and Accidents
https://www.viamichelin.com/web/Traffic/Traffic_info-Santa_Rosa-_-California-United_States
DMV (Find Locations, Vehicle Registration, Titles and Insurance Info)
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/field-office/santa-rosa/