Cheapest and Best Car Insurance in Santa Ana, CA (July 2024)

In Santa Ana, California, the cheapest full coverage provider is Progressive, while the most affordable for families with teens is GEICO. GEICO is also the cheapest for minimum coverage.

Chubb outshines in customer service, but Capital Insurance Group hits the mark for best overall, balancing price and service. Depending on your preferences and coverage requirements, the top pick could differ.

GEICO is the cheapest option in Santa Ana for minimum coverage car insurance. Here are the two most affordable providers:

• GEICO: $448 per year
• Progressive: $493 per year

The most expensive minimum coverage policy in Santa Ana is offered by National General at $928 annually. The significant $480 difference in annual rates between the cheapest and most expensive options demonstrates the importance of shopping around to find the best car insurance rates for your needs.

State Minimum Liability Requirements

Across all of California's vibrant cities, including Santa Ana, the blueprint for mandatory car insurance coverage is drawn up by state legislation. Here's the straightforward lowdown on the minimums you'll need:

• $15,000 for bodily injury per person
• $30,000 for bodily injury per accident
• $5,000 for property damage liability per accident
  

If you're cruising with the bare minimum and find yourself in a fender-bender, your insurance will cover up to $15,000 for an individual's injuries and up to $30,000 total if multiple folks got dinged. But if the bills pile higher than those caps, your wallet's on the hook for the overage. Drive safe, California!

Progressive is the cheapest option in Santa Ana if you’re seeking the cheapest full coverage car insurance.

• Progressive: $1,168 per year
• GEICO: $1,234 per year

Farmers offers the most expensive full coverage policy in Santa Ana, with an annual premium of $2,240. Progressive's cost is $1,072 less than Farmers, indicating that you could save significantly by shopping around. Full coverage policies include comprehensive and collision insurance, which protect against a range of risks and are thus more costly than minimum coverage options.

Do You Need Full Coverage in California?

A full coverage policy in Santa Ana includes coverage for damage to your own vehicle in the form of comprehensive and collision coverages. It usually also includes increased liability limits.

• Collision Insurance: This provides coverage for your vehicle in the event of a collision, whether with another vehicle or or a stationary object like a tree or light pole. It also covers rollover accidents and pothole damage.

• Comprehensive Insurance: This coverage insures your vehicle against various types of damage not caused by collisions, including theft, vandalism, fires, natural disasters and being struck by an animal like a deer.

If you have a new vehicle, it's wise to opt for full coverage insurance for more robust financial protection. If you're leasing or have a car loan, you are typically required to carry full coverage insurance.

On the other hand, owners of older vehicles may find that the extra cost — which can amount to several hundred dollars more per year — is not justified by the value of the vehicle. When deciding how much car insurance coverage you need, consider your ideal balance: more extensive coverage comes with higher premiums, but getting less coverage means you may pay more out of pocket if you need to file a claim.

In Santa Ana, National General is the most affordable option for drivers with a poor driving record, offering the lowest annual premiums across multiple infractions. Here is a detailed breakdown for each specific offense:

• Speeding ticket: National General ($1,603 per year)
• At-fault accident: Capital Insurance Group ($1,708 per year)
• DUI: National General ($1,603 per year)

State Farm has the highest rates for these incidents, with the most drastic increase following a DUI, potentially illustrating how much insurance rates can climb with the severity of the offense. There's a difference of $4,169 between the cheapest company after a speeding ticket and the cheapest after a DUI.

In Santa Ana, insurance premiums escalate with the severity of driving violations because they increase an insurer's risk. Drivers with a DUI on their record can expect an average annual rate of $3,715, significantly higher than those with a speeding ticket, who face an average annual cost of $2,230.

Given the substantial difference in costs, people with driving infractions should diligently compare insurance quotes to find the cheapest rates.

GEICO offers the most affordable full coverage car insurance in Santa Ana, making it a go-to option for families with teen drivers.

• GEICO: $2,989 per year for female teens and $3,123 per year for male teens
• State Farm: $3,699 per year for female teens and $3,699 per year for male teens

These rates reflect the combined cost of coverage for a two-parent family with a teen driver. The most costly teen family policy is provided by Nationwide, with annual rates of $6,018 for female teens, showing a difference of $3,029 with GEICO. Compare quotes, especially considering the heightened risks associated with insuring teenage drivers.

Teen drivers in Santa Ana and other cities often encounter significantly higher car insurance premiums when purchasing individual policies compared to being added to a family plan. On average, an individual teen policy can cost around $4,518 annually, while that cost drops to roughly $4,181 when the teen joins a family plan.

Insurance companies typically charge higher rates for teens due to their lack of driving experience and higher risk of accidents. Furthermore, teens cannot easily to obtain individual policies because insurers may be reluctant to take on the elevated risk without a more experienced driver's history to balance the risk.

Progressive is the cheapest option in Santa Ana for full coverage car insurance for military backgrounds.

• Progressive: $1,168 per year
• GEICO: $1,234 per year

While USAA may not be the cheapest in this list, with an annual premium of $1,272, it specializes in providing services that tailor to the needs of active duty military members and is often one of the most competitive options on a national level.

In Santa Ana, comparing car insurance rates is a key strategy for cost savings. However, the process is often cumbersome, potentially requiring over an hour to examine rates from three or more companies.

MoneyGeek's car insurance calculator can help you streamline this process. By inputting details like age, driving history, credit score and preferred coverage, you can instantly receive rate estimates.

Choosing the right auto insurance for you hinges on a blend of service, cost and coverage preferences. MoneyGeek has applied distinct scoring metrics for each category to aid your decision in Santa Ana:

• Best overall: Capital Insurance Group (MoneyGeek score 83 out of 100)
• Best for service: Chubb (MoneyGeek score 94 out of 100)
• Best cheap: Capital Insurance Group (MoneyGeek score 80 out of 100)

Capital Insurance Group emerges as Santa Ana's premier option for overall value, providing a balance between affordability and service. Chubb, excelling in customer service, is the top choice if you’re prioritizing quality experience over cost. Capital Insurance Group also offers the most effective cost-to-service ratio.

Capital Insurance Group is the best option in Santa Ana if you’re seeking the best car insurance coverage.

• Capital Insurance Group: MoneyGeek score of 83 out of 100 ($1,449 per year)
• Chubb: MoneyGeek score of 82 out of 100 ($1,905 per year)

Capital Insurance Group stands out in Santa Ana mainly due to its strong performance in customer satisfaction and affordability.

Chubb is the best car insurance option in Santa Ana for customer service. The company's strength lies in its exceptional handling of claims and the breadth of coverage options it offers.

• Chubb: MoneyGeek score of 94 out of 100 ($1,905 per year)
• Capital Insurance Group: MoneyGeek score of 82 out of 100 ($1,449 per year)

Chubb secures its top position not solely based on cost, but due to high marks for customer satisfaction, a perfect claims handling score, and a strong coverage score. Customers looking for reliable and comprehensive car insurance services will find it in Chubb.

Capital Insurance Group is the best option in Santa Ana if you’re on the hunt for top-notch and affordable car insurance. Its high MoneyGeek score signifies a well-balanced combination of budget-friendliness, satisfactory claims handling and customer satisfaction.

• Capital Insurance Group: MoneyGeek score of 80 out of 100 ($611 per year)
• Mercury: MoneyGeek score of 79 out of 100 ($511 per year)

Capital Insurance Group distinguishes itself not only through its competitive pricing but also through its excellent customer service, as indicated by its high satisfaction and claims scores. This score applies to a policy with minimum coverage.

In Santa Ana, the average car insurance cost is $1,632. When compared with the California state average of $1,562, inhabitants of Santa Ana pay a marginally higher rate. But this cost is $219 less than the average national car insurance cost of $1,781.

Car insurance premiums are influenced by a multitude of factors, with location being a significant one. Insurers consider the number of claims in an area, theft rates, local weather patterns and traffic density, all of which can affect the likelihood of accidents and damage.

Among the cities evaluated in California, Glendale is noted as the most expensive with a premium of $2,115, whereas Santa Maria is the most affordable at $1,106. This difference of $1,009 exemplifies the impact of location on car insurance costs. Areas with sparser traffic tend to have even lower rates, underscoring the importance of geographic factors in determining insurance premiums.