The words “cheap” and “insurance” probably shouldn’t be used in the same sentence, specifically when trying to find the best insurance rates for a learners permit. Because it’s so expensive, let’s learn about some situations that determine insurance premiums, and find a few ways to lower the price of the next policy you buy.
The make and model of vehicle requiring coverage is one of the main factors when quoting low-cost insurance for a learners permit. Vehicles with higher performance characteristics, poor safety ratings, or a history of substantial liability claims will cost more to insure than safer, lower-performance models.
The list below presents coverage premiums for some of the most economical vehicles to insure.
Vehicle | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
---|---|
Honda Accord LX-P 4-Dr Sedan | $3,974 |
Ford Escape XLS 4WD | $3,982 |
Honda CR-V EX-L 2WD | $4,013 |
Toyota Prius | $4,294 |
Ford Edge SE 2WD | $4,431 |
Ford F-150 XLT Crew Cab 2WD | $4,469 |
Dodge Grand Caravan SE | $4,477 |
Ford Explorer XLT 2WD | $4,469 |
Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 2WD | $4,713 |
Chevrolet Malibu LS | $4,718 |
Toyota RAV4 Limited 4WD | $4,713 |
Toyota Tacoma Double Cab TRD Off-Road Package 4WD | $4,751 |
Dodge Ram 3500 Crew Cab Laramie 2WD | $4,756 |
Ford Focus SES 4-Dr Sedan | $4,918 |
Honda Civic LX-S 4-Dr Sedan | $4,926 |
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Data rating is based on single male driver age 16, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Texas minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, and safe-driver. Premium amounts do not factor in vehicle garaging location which can affect premium rates greatly.
Based upon the rates shown, cars like the Honda Accord, Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, and Toyota Prius are most likely going to be the less-costly vehicles to insure for new drivers. Rates will trend higher just because there is more liability risk for a learners permit, but in general those particular vehicles will most likely have the best rates available.
One of the many criteria that determine the annual cost of car insurance is where you live in Corpus Christi. More populated areas tend to pay more, whereas more rural areas receive better rates.
The following table sorts the most expensive areas in Texas for a learners permit to buy an auto insurance policy in. Corpus Christi is ranked at #21 with a yearly premium of $1,572 for coverage, which is about $131 monthly.
Rank | City | Annual Rate |
---|---|---|
1 | McAllen | $2,016 |
2 | Houston | $1,891 |
3 | Amarillo | $1,858 |
4 | Brownsville | $1,851 |
5 | Laredo | $1,851 |
6 | Garland | $1,850 |
7 | Dallas | $1,837 |
8 | Irving | $1,772 |
9 | Beaumont | $1,772 |
10 | Mesquite | $1,771 |
11 | Grand Prairie | $1,757 |
12 | Pasadena | $1,740 |
13 | San Antonio | $1,739 |
14 | Arlington | $1,692 |
15 | Lubbock | $1,665 |
16 | Carrollton | $1,664 |
17 | Austin | $1,659 |
18 | McKinney | $1,609 |
19 | Fort Worth | $1,604 |
20 | Waco | $1,584 |
21 | Corpus Christi | $1,572 |
22 | El Paso | $1,568 |
23 | Plano | $1,560 |
24 | Abilene | $1,545 |
25 | Killeen | $1,533 |
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Rates are estimated as the specific garaging location can influence prices considerably.
Figuring out which companies offer the best car insurance rates for a learners permit requires a bit more work than just quoting one company’s rates.
Every insurance provider has their own guidelines for setting prices, so we’ll go over the most competitive car insurance companies in Texas.
Find Cheaper Auto Insurance in Texas
Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
---|---|---|
1 | Travelers | $1,010 |
2 | USAA | $1,128 |
3 | Texas Farm Bureau | $1,247 |
4 | Germania Mutual | $1,256 |
5 | Esurance | $1,407 |
6 | California Casualty | $1,424 |
7 | Mercury | $1,461 |
8 | State Farm | $1,510 |
9 | Nationwide | $1,585 |
10 | Safe Auto | $1,613 |
11 | Progressive | $1,664 |
12 | Allstate | $1,701 |
13 | Amica | $1,757 |
14 | Home State | $2,092 |
15 | GEICO | $2,156 |
16 | MetLife | $2,227 |
17 | Unitrin | $2,241 |
18 | Encompass | $2,255 |
19 | 21st Century | $2,396 |
20 | Titan | $2,672 |
View More Rates Go |
Travelers has some of the lowest car insurance rates in Corpus Christi at around $1,010 each year. This is $894 less than the average premium paid by Texas drivers of $1,904. USAA, Texas Farm Bureau, Germania Mutual, and Esurance would also make the list of some of the cheapest Corpus Christi, TX auto insurance companies.
In the above rates, if you are a policyholder with Germania Mutual and switched to Travelers, you might achieve an annual premium reduction of in the vicinity of $246. Insureds with Esurance may save as much as $397 a year, and California Casualty insureds might reduce prices by as much as $414 a year.
Understand that those prices are averaged for all drivers and vehicles in Texas and and are not calculated with a vehicle location for a learners permit. So the auto insurance company that is best suited for you may not even be in the top 23 companies in the list above. That’s why you need to get quotes using your own driver data and vehicle information.
Safe drivers pay less for car insurance
In a perfect world, the best way to snag the best car insurance rates in Texas for new drivers is to be a safe driver and avoid at-fault accidents and violations. The diagram below demonstrates how citations and fender-benders can increase premium costs for different age groups. The rates are based on a married female driver, full physical damage coverage, $250 deductibles, and no additional discounts are factored in.
The data above shows the average cost of a car insurance policy in Texas per year with a clean driving record and no accidents is $2,050. Factor in one speeding ticket and the average cost rises to $2,390, an increase of $340 each year. Next add two accidents along with the one speeding ticket and the yearly cost of car insurance for a learners permit goes up to an average of $5,344. That’s an increase of $3,294, or $274 per month, just for being a less-than-perfect driver!
The information below demonstrates how deductible levels can raise or lower insurance rates when trying to find cheap insurance for a learners permit. The rates are based on a single male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no additional discounts are factored in.
As shown above, a 30-year-old driver could lower their car insurance rates by $352 a year by increasing from a $100 deductible up to a $500 deductible, or save $530 by switching to a $1,000 deductible. Youthful drivers, like the Age 20 chart data, could save as much as $1,026 every year by choosing a higher deductible. If you do raise deductibles, it is essential to have enough in a savings account to be able to cover the extra out-of-pocket expense, which is the primary disadvantage of high deductibles.
Full coverage rates compared to liability-only
Reducing the cost of car insurance should be important to most vehicle owners, and an easy way to buy cheaper insurance for a learners permit is to only buy liability coverage. The information below shows the comparison of car insurance rates with and without physical damage coverage, medical payments, and uninsured/under-insured motorist coverage. The premiums are based on a clean driving record, no claims, $1,000 deductibles, single status, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
If averaged out across all ages, physical damage insurance costs an extra $1,598 per year more than buying just liability insurance. Many people question if buying full coverage is worth the expense. There is no exact rule for dropping full coverage on your policy, but there is a general guideline. If the annual cost of having full coverage is more than about 10% of the vehicle’s replacement cost less your deductible, then it could be time to drop full coverage.
For example, let’s say your vehicle’s replacement cost is $8,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, you would only receive $7,000 after you pay the deductible. If you are paying over $700 annually for physical damage coverage, then it could be time to drop full coverage.
There are some situations where dropping physical damage coverage is not a good idea. If you have an outstanding loan on your vehicle, you have to carry full coverage to protect the lienholder’s interest in the vehicle. Also, if you can’t afford to buy a different vehicle if your current one is damaged, you should not buy liability only.
Compare quotes and save
Corpus Christi car insurance rates are determined by lots of factors that can increase the price you have to pay. Simply getting older, buying a home, or having a fender bender can produce rate changes resulting in some companies being cheaper in comparison to the competition.
In addition, insurance companies file new Texas auto insurance rates as often as every three months to adjust for unexpected claims or profits. An extended period of higher than normal claims can result in additional price hikes, while long-term profits can cause cheaper Corpus Christi car insurance rates.
The bar chart below shows rates for the cheapest car insurance in Corpus Christi, TX for a 30-year-old female driver with a clear driving record, no claims, and a high credit rating. When quoting prices based on her personal profile, Travelers may offer the lowest car insurance rates in Corpus Christi at $1,089 a year. This is $815 less than the average policy premium paid by Texas drivers of $1,904. USAA, Texas Farm Bureau, Germania Mutual, and Esurance are the remaining cheapest Corpus Christi, TX auto insurance companies.
Now we will pretend the driver in the first example a claim or two, a lower credit rating, and a blemish on her driving record. Due to the fact that every auto insurer has a proprietary method to set their prices, comparing quotes could result in a completely different list of the cheapest car insurance companies in Corpus Christi as shown below.
State Farm now has the best auto insurance rate in Corpus Christi with Mercury, Nationwide, Safe Auto, and USAA completing the list. This example shows why it is important to shop around with many companies to find the cheapest auto insurance rates for a learners permit.
Auto insurance prices are impacted by many risk factors and change dramatically, so the best option when you last compared rates may now cost much more than other companies.
If you aren’t clear which coverage you need and would like to get some professional advice when comparing insurance rates for new drivers, the agencies below can probably help you decide which policy is best.
To locate a Corpus Christi auto insurance agent close to where you live, click the button following the list or click here to get price quotes now.
Jessica Kelly – State Farm Insurance Agent
5337 Yorktown Blvd #2b – Corpus Christi, TX 78413 – (361) 854-3225
Johnnie Bickham – State Farm Insurance Agent
11014 Leopard St – Corpus Christi, TX 78410 – (361) 241-7621
Allstate Insurance: Eddie Martinez
4942 Everhart Rd – Corpus Christi, TX 78411 – (361) 993-6638