The words “low-cost” and “insurance” really shouldn’t be used in the same sentence, in particular when looking for the best insurance rates for high school students. Let’s go over some of the things that can significantly affect auto insurance prices, and figure out some ideas to lower the price of your next policy.
One of the more important criteria that determine the price you pay for insurance is where you live in San Jose. Cities with larger populations tend to pay more, whereas areas with lower vehicle theft rates and fewer weather claims tend to receive slightly lower rates.
The next table rates the most expensive cities in California for high school students to buy auto insurance in. San Jose is ranked at #18 with a yearly cost of $1,437 for coverage, which is around $120 per month.
| Rank | City | Premium Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glendale | $2,142 |
| 2 | Los Angeles | $2,104 |
| 3 | San Francisco | $1,763 |
| 4 | Oakland | $1,738 |
| 5 | Sacramento | $1,703 |
| 6 | Long Beach | $1,610 |
| 7 | San Bernardino | $1,596 |
| 8 | Stockton | $1,588 |
| 9 | Fontana | $1,566 |
| 10 | Moreno Valley | $1,551 |
| 11 | Santa Clarita | $1,533 |
| 12 | Riverside | $1,527 |
| 13 | Garden Grove | $1,524 |
| 14 | Modesto | $1,502 |
| 15 | Santa Ana | $1,497 |
| 16 | Anaheim | $1,488 |
| 17 | Fresno | $1,457 |
| 18 | San Jose | $1,437 |
| 19 | Fremont | $1,403 |
| 20 | Huntington Beach | $1,402 |
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Information shown are estimated as vehicle location can influence premium rates greatly.
Comparing rates for low-cost insurance is not easy, and finding out which company has the best car insurance rates for high school students involves more quotes for comparison. Every car insurance company has a different formula to set policy rates, so we need to take a look at the lowest cost car insurance companies in San Jose, CA.
Find Cheaper Car Insurance for Students
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | USAA | $1,155 |
| 2 | Century National | $1,178 |
| 3 | Wawanesa | $1,192 |
| 4 | Nationwide | $1,213 |
| 5 | CSAA | $1,222 |
| 6 | 21st Century | $1,338 |
| 7 | Grange | $1,447 |
| 8 | Mercury | $1,503 |
| 9 | Allied | $1,541 |
| 10 | Allstate | $1,543 |
| 11 | Progressive | $1,558 |
| 12 | GEICO | $1,559 |
| 13 | The Hartford | $1,623 |
| 14 | MetLife | $1,638 |
| 15 | Esurance | $1,705 |
| 16 | State Farm | $1,733 |
| 17 | Unitrin | $1,750 |
| 18 | Travelers | $1,806 |
| 19 | Bristol West | $1,831 |
| 20 | Farmers | $1,966 |
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USAA may offer some of the cheapest car insurance rates in San Jose at around $1,155 annually. This is $496 less than the average policy premium paid by California drivers of $1,651. Century National, Wawanesa, Nationwide, and CSAA would also be considered some of the lowest-priced San Jose, CA insurance companies.
In the above rates, if you currently have coverage with Wawanesa and switched to USAA, you might see an annual premium reduction of in the neighborhood of $37. Insureds with Nationwide might save as much as $58 a year, and CSAA policyholders might lower prices by up to $67 a year.
To find out how your current rates compare, click here or quote prices from the following companies.
These rates are averaged across all drivers and vehicles and and are not calculated with a vehicle location for high school students. So the car insurance company that fits you best may not even be in the top 24 companies in the list above. That affirms the importance of why you need to compare rates from as many companies as possible using your own specific driver and vehicle information.
The car, truck, or SUV needing coverage is probably the largest consideration when looking for low-cost car insurance for high school students. Vehicles with limited top-end speed, good crash test ratings, or a track record of few liability claims will cost quite a bit less to insure than fast, unsafe models.
The next table outlines insurance premiums for a selection of the most cost-effective automobiles to buy coverage for.
| Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Ford Escape XLT 2WD | $3,284 |
| Honda CR-V EX 4WD | $3,322 |
| Hyundai Elantra SE Touring Station Wagon | $3,543 |
| Toyota Prius | $3,581 |
| Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 2WD | $3,680 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan SE | $3,687 |
| Jeep Wrangler Sahara 4WD 2-Dr | $3,680 |
| Honda Odyssey EX | $3,862 |
| Chevrolet Impala LS | $3,870 |
| Ford Focus SE 4-Dr Sedan | $3,862 |
| Ford Fusion S 4-Dr Sedan | $3,901 |
| Toyota RAV4 2WD | $3,907 |
| Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid | $3,901 |
| Ford F-150 Lariat Super Cab 4WD | $3,939 |
| Toyota Tacoma Double Cab TRD Off-Road Package 4WD | $3,947 |
| Nissan Altima 2.5 S 4-Dr Sedan | $4,121 |
| Toyota Corolla LE | $4,131 |
| Start a Quote Go | |
Data rating is based on single male driver age 18, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, and safe-driver. Rate quotes do not factor in specific location information which can impact rates significantly.
Based upon the table data, you can assume that makes and models like the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Elantra, and Toyota Prius will definitely be some of the most budget-friendly vehicles to insure for teenagers. The cost of a car insurance policy will be higher anyway because of the fact that there is more claim risk for high school students, but overall those models will have the lowest prices compared to other vehicles.
Ending up with the highest-rated company can be a challenge considering how many different companies insure vehicles in San Jose. The information below could help you select which companies you want to consider purchasing coverage from.
These ratings include large, nationwide insurance companies, so companies that only write business in California or surrounding areas are not factored into this list. To compare prices from many more California auto insurance companies, just click here.
Top 10 Major Auto Insurers 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
Discount San Jose car insurance rates
Insurance providers that sell policies for high school students may additionally offer discounts that could reduce prices by as much as 30% if you are eligible to receive them. Popular car insurance companies and a partial list of their discounts are shown below.
- GEICO has savings for federal employee, anti-lock brakes, good student, multi-vehicle, seat belt use, emergency military deployment, and air bags.
- Auto-Owners Insurance includes discounts for multi-policy, paperless, company car, anti-theft, paid in full, air bags, and mature driver.
- American Family policyholders can earn discounts including early bird, mySafetyValet, accident-free, TimeAway discount, multi-vehicle, and Steer into Savings.
- Esurance offers premium reductions for multi-car, DriveSense, online quote, good driver, anti-theft, and renters.
- Progressive may include discounts for online quote discount, multi-policy, homeowner, continuous coverage, good student, and online signing.
- State Farm discounts include defensive driving training, accident-free, anti-theft, safe vehicle, good driver, and multiple policy.
- AAA may have discounts that include good driver, AAA membership discount, education and occupation, good student, multi-car, anti-theft, and multi-policy.
The example below shows the comparison of auto insurance costs with and without some available policy discounts. The data is based on a male driver, no violations or claims, California state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $250 deductibles.
The first bar for each age group shows the average rate with no discounts. The second shows the rates with continuous coverage, vehicle safety, paperless filing, anti-theft, passive restraint, and paid-in-full discounts applied. In this example, the average savings per year on car insurance for high school students is 28% or $1,079.
Drive responsibly or pay higher rates
The easiest method to obtain cheap car insurance rates in San Jose for teenagers is to drive safe and not have accidents or get tickets. The diagram below shows how speeding tickets and accidents increase insurance costs for each age group. The data is based on a single female driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $500 deductibles, and no policy discounts are applied.
In the example above, the average cost of a car insurance policy per year with no violations or accidents is $1,978. Get two speeding tickets and the average cost rises to $2,645, an increase of $667 each year. Now add one accident along with the two speeding tickets and the 12-month cost of car insurance for high school students jumps again to an average of $3,314. That’s an increase of $1,336, or $111 per month, just for not being a responsible driver!
How to find economical auto insurance for high school students
It’s not impossible to find cheaper rates, and here are a few money-saving solutions that can help you locate cheaper auto insurance.
- Maintaining good credit helps earn cheaper rates
- Increase your comprehensive and collision deductibles
- Avoid getting citations and tickets
- Buying car and homeowners insurance together can save money
- Claim-free policyholders usually earn a discount
- Prevent price hikes by avoiding at-fault accidents
- Shop your coverage around for the best deal
That last tip is remarkably important, as we discussed in the article above. Prices charged by companies in San Jose fluctuate considerably, so don’t be hesitant to buy a policy from a new company if a more affordable price is available.
Loyalty to a specific company is fine, but it’s not a great idea if that devotion results in you overpaying a small fortune. Spend a few minutes and compare rates to find cheaper car insurance for high school students.