The make and model of vehicle that needs insurance is probably the largest consideration that determines whether or not you find cheaper coverage for college graduates. Vehicles with more horsepower, poor safety features, or a high likelihood of having liability claims will cost quite a bit more to insure than more economical and safe models. The next list outlines coverage prices for a number of the most affordable vehicles to insure.
| Make, Model, and Trim Level | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Ford F-150 XL Regular Cab 2WD | $913 |
| Honda CR-V LX 4WD | $998 |
| Ford Escape XLS 4WD | $1,004 |
| Ford Focus SE 4-Dr Sedan | $1,025 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan Hero | $1,046 |
| Chevrolet Malibu LS | $1,055 |
| Toyota Prius | $1,074 |
| Chevrolet Silverado LS Regular Cab 4WD | $1,097 |
| Toyota Corolla XLE | $1,104 |
| Hyundai Elantra GLS 4-Dr Sedan | $1,114 |
| Hyundai Sonata GLS 4-Dr Sedan | $1,120 |
| Ford Explorer XLT 4WD | $1,123 |
| Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara 4WD 4-Dr | $1,135 |
| GMC Sierra 3500HD SLE Extended Cab 2WD | $1,142 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LT 2WD | $1,146 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4WD | $1,151 |
| Ford Edge Limited 2WD | $1,152 |
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Data assumes single male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, homeowner, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, and claim-free. Estimates do not factor in specific location information which can increase or decrease premium rates significantly.
Looking at the rates, makes and models like the Ford F-150, Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, and Ford Focus are going to be some of the less-costly vehicles to insure for college grads.
One of the more important factors that are used to help calculate the amount you pay for auto insurance is where you live in San Jose. Areas with increased crime or more people tend to have more expensive car insurance rates, whereas areas with less crime or weather claims benefit from lower coverage costs.
The information below shows the most costly cities in California for college graduates in which to purchase auto insurance. San Jose is ranked #20 having an annual price of $1,395 on average, which is around $116 per month.
| Rank | City | Premium Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles | $2,146 |
| 2 | Glendale | $2,079 |
| 3 | Oakland | $1,738 |
| 4 | San Francisco | $1,711 |
| 5 | Sacramento | $1,669 |
| 6 | San Bernardino | $1,628 |
| 7 | Stockton | $1,603 |
| 8 | Fontana | $1,581 |
| 9 | Long Beach | $1,578 |
| 10 | Garden Grove | $1,554 |
| 11 | Santa Clarita | $1,548 |
| 12 | Moreno Valley | $1,536 |
| 13 | Fresno | $1,517 |
| 14 | Santa Ana | $1,497 |
| 15 | Riverside | $1,497 |
| 16 | Modesto | $1,487 |
| 17 | Anaheim | $1,430 |
| 18 | Huntington Beach | $1,416 |
| 19 | Fremont | $1,403 |
| 20 | San Jose | $1,395 |
| 21 | Irvine | $1,384 |
| 22 | San Diego | $1,381 |
| 23 | Bakersfield | $1,353 |
| 24 | Chula Vista | $1,350 |
| 25 | Oxnard | $1,304 |
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Table data uses comparative as specific San Jose zip code can change rates noticeably.
The information below illustrates how choosing a deductible can increase or decrease insurance costs when getting quotes for cheap insurance for college graduates. The price estimates are based on a married male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no policy discounts are applied.
In the chart above, a 40-year-old driver could reduce rates by $416 a year by changing their physical damage coverage from a $100 deductible to a $500 deductible, or save $626 by using a $1,000 deductible. Young drivers, like the Age 20 chart data, can save as much as $1,398 annually by selecting a higher deductible.
If you do decide to increase your deductibles, it will be important to have enough savings to cover the extra out-of-pocket expense, which is the main disadvantage of using high deductibles.
Ending up with a high-quality auto insurance provider is hard considering how many choices you have in San Jose. The company information displayed below may help you decide which companies you want to consider comparing rates with.
The ratings below are for insurance companies that insure vehicles in the majority of U.S. states, so companies that only write business in California or surrounding areas are not taken into consideration for these rankings. To compare price quotes from the insurers below and more, click this link.
Top 10 Large Auto Insurance Companies in San Jose Ranked by Customer Satisfaction
- Titan Insurance – 95%
- USAA – 94%
- AAA of Southern California – 92%
- AAA Insurance – 91%
- Nationwide – 90%
- State Farm – 90%
- The Hartford – 89%
- GEICO – 89%
- The General – 88%
- 21st Century – 88%
Top 10 Large Auto Insurance Companies in San Jose Ranked by Customer Service
- AAA of Southern California
- GEICO
- State Farm
- The Hartford
- Mercury Insurance
- The General
- Progressive
- Allstate
- AAA Insurance
- American Family
Careless driving habits raise San Jose car insurance rates
One of the best ways to score good car insurance premiums in California for college grads is to drive cautiously and avoid accidents and keep your driving record clean. The illustration below highlights how traffic violations and at-fault claims influence annual premium costs for each different age category. The costs are based on a married male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $500 deductibles, and no discounts are factored in.
The data in the chart shows the average cost of an auto insurance policy in San Jose per year with no violations or accidents is $1,938. Add in one speeding ticket and the average cost swells to $2,228, an increase of $290 each year. Then throw in two accidents along with the one speeding ticket and the annual cost of car insurance for college graduates increases to an average of $4,744. That’s an increase of $2,806, or $234 per month, just for not being more responsible behind the wheel!
A good deal can quickly turn bad
San Jose car insurance rates are impacted by many things which can substantially change the price you pay for coverage. Simply getting older, buying higher coverage limits, or getting a driving violation may cause policy rate changes that can make some companies more affordable than others. Also, car insurance companies file new California auto insurance rates multiple times each year in order to protect their financial rating. An unexpected high level of claims may cause higher priced premiums, while a better claims history may cause cheaper San Jose car insurance rates.
For instance, the bar chart below demonstrates which company has the cheapest car insurance in San Jose, CA for a 35-year-old male driver with a clean driving record, no accidents, and a good credit rating. If we estimate rates based on his current rating profile, USAA may have the cheapest car insurance rates in San Jose at $1,211 per year. This is $440 less than the average policy premium paid by California drivers of $1,651. Wawanesa, Century National, CSAA, and Nationwide are the rest of the top five cheapest San Jose, CA auto insurance companies.
The chart below compares rates after we give the driver from the first set of rates an at-fault accident, less-than-perfect credit, and a stop sign violation. Since each auto insurance company uses a different method for determining rates, comparing rates could result in a new list of cheap San Jose auto insurance companies as shown below.
Grange now has the best car insurance rate in San Jose, CA with Allstate, Progressive, Mercury, and Allied also being competitive. This example shows why consumers need to compare lots of rates when trying to get the most affordable auto insurance rates for college graduates. Prices are determined by many things and change frequently, so the cheapest option the last time you compared rates may now not even be in the top five.