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It may seem daunting to narrow down your auto insurance options and at the same time, figure out how to lower your car insurance. So let’s start here: What are your priorities? Perhaps you want a plan that offers a lot of discounts. Or maybe a reassuring roadside assistance option is more your thing.
Let’s tease out all these options and help you decide on your best car insurance options in Fresno, California.
Best Cheap Car Insurance in Fresno:
- 21st Century: Best Overall in Fresno
- AAA: Cheapest in Fresno
- USAA: Best for Military Personnel
Fresno Car Insurance Overview
Fresno residents have an average of 2 cars per household, which can factor into your car insurance choices. First, let’s back all the way up and learn the minimum insurance requirements in California:
- $15,000 in bodily injury coverage per person
- $30,000 in bodily injury coverage per incident
- $5,000 in property damage coverage per incident
Bodily injury coverage will make sure you’re covered for the following:
- Medical expenses: Medical expenses help ensure your expenses are covered if you need to visit the hospital following your accident. You’ll also be covered for follow-up doctor visits, certain medicines or adaptive equipment like crutches.
- Lost income and wages: You’ll be compensated for whatever income you miss out on after an accident.
- Legal fees: Any legal fees as a result of the accident will also be covered.
Property damage liability will make sure you’re covered if you aren’t involved in an accident but property or a vehicle were damaged as a result of it.
California Car Insurance Law Explained
Drivers in Fresno are not required to get personal liability, comprehensive or collision insurance but these types of coverage can actually be quite helpful:
- Personal liability insurance: You and your family will be financially compensated for medical bills, legal fees and more.
- Comprehensive insurance: You’ll be covered if your car is damaged by theft, fire, vandalism, damage from natural disasters, falling objects, damage from animals and civil disturbances (in other words, anything that isn’t from a car accident).
- Collision insurance: This coverage reimburses you for repairs for your damaged vehicle following an accident.
California Traffic Laws You Should Know
Keep the following state laws in mind when you drive in Fresno:
- Any outstanding parking and toll fines need to be paid off before a vehicle is transferred to another person.
- Drivers under 18 cannot use mobile devices while driving, including hands-free devices.
- Drivers who share the lane with cyclists must allow for 3 feet of space between the vehicle and cyclist.
- You must show proof of insurance to the requesting officer. If you don’t, you could face fines and more:
- Your first offense will be a fine between $100 and $200.
- You can be fined $200 to $500 if you have a second offense within 3 years of the first.
- Your license and registration can be suspended until you show proof of insurance.
- Your license and registration will be suspended if you have an accident and don’t have insurance. You’ll also need to pay a fee to have it reinstated.
- California has a statewide database of all vehicle owners, which is randomly checked to see if people have auto insurance. Your license can be suspended if you’re not on this list.
- You need to get a new insurance policy within 45 days or your license might be suspended. This is also tied to the database.
California Car Insurance Rates per Vehicle
You’ll want to research how certain cars are evaluated by insurance policies because that can affect your rate. Insurance companies want to see if your car is more likely to get stolen or has a record of filed claims (your car could fail safety tests and that could lead to accidents).
You could be rewarded with discounts through your policy when your vehicle has features like anti-lock brakes and other safety and security devices.
Car Insurance Rates by Insurance Credit Score
It’s a good idea to raise your credit score before you get car insurance. Research shows that people who have a credit score of 600 and lower are more likely to file more claims or exaggerate their claims. They’re also more likely to miss payments.
Insurance for Drivers with a Clean Record
You can be rewarded by your insurance policy if you have no tickets and a clean driving record. Depending on the policy you have, you could get safe driver discounts and other additional benefits.
| Insurance Company | State Minimum Insurance | Standard Coverage | Full Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| USAA | $2,444 | $2,746 | $2,891 |
| Travelers | $2,924 | $3,439 | $3,686 |
| State Farm | $3,793 | $4,273 | $4,541 |
| Progressive | $2,554 | $2,935 | $3,060 |
| Nationwide | $4,179 | $4,734 | $5,046 |
Insurance Rates with Driving Infractions
You’ll be seen as a high-risk driver the more driving infractions you have. Check to see your previous tickets or points on your license. Points on your license typically mean that you’ve admitted guilt to a more severe infraction, such as speeding at a certain level over the limit, reckless driving or driving under the influence. Most 1-point convictions remain on your record for 3 years; a DUI stays on your record for 10 years in California.
| Insurance Company | At-Fault Accident | Speed Violation | DUI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allstate | $4,598 | $3,582 | $7,223 |
| Farmers | $5,033 | $4,998 | $6,268 |
| GEICO | $3,114 | $2,503 | $3,907 |
| Nationwide | $4,162 | $4,162 | $7,042 |
| Progressive | $3,170 | $2,686 | $3,678 |
Best Car Insurance Providers in Fresno
Our list provides you with the cheapest and top auto insurance options in the Fresno area.
1. Best Overall: 21st Century
Our top pick, 21st Century, is part of Farmers Insurance and is the cheapest and best insurance provider for drivers in Fresno — it’s $1,054 for a 1-year policy. It includes roadside assistance and other benefits, such as new car replacement.
Check out the discounts available for multiple policies, defensive driving courses, for good students, for company loyalty and vehicles with safety devices.
- Roadside assistance
2. Cheapest Auto Insurance in Fresno: AAA
AAA is the cheapest available insurance policy for Fresno drivers at $1,010 for a 1-year policy quote. AAA members can take advantage of certain discounts and benefits, including original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts replacement, roadside assistance and trip planning.
There are also discounts available for vehicles with anti-theft devices, multi-policy households, people who took defensive driving courses, good students, insurance carrier loyalty, those who are homeowners and vehicles with safety devices.
3. Best for Military Personnel: USAA
USAA is the cheapest insurance available in Fresno at $948 for a 1-year policy quote. You’ll only be eligible for USAA if you’re a veteran or active military member.
- Active military members
You’ll be able to get these discounts: anti-theft device, multi-policy, defensive driving course, good student, loyalty, military and vehicles with safety device, among others.
USAA also sweetens the pot by offering rideshare coverage, SR-22 coverage, temporary and short term coverage, optional roadside assistance and accident forgiveness.
Get the Best Auto Insurance Policy for You
Research cheap car insurance in Fresno. There are other things you can do to reduce your car insurance premium, such as put lower insurance coverage on older vehicles and opt for a higher deductible which will help lower per-month premiums. You can also configure a group policy instead of paying for a single policy, keep your credit score high and look into low mileage benefits through your policy. And don’t forget to keep the mileage on your car low so that insurers will consider you a lower-risk driver.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does auto insurance cover business use?
In most cases, the business use of your vehicle is not covered by your auto insurance policy and can lead to denied claims. However, where you’re most likely to risk losing coverage is when you are transporting products or passengers, which insurers define as livery. If your job requires traveling from point A to point B or C to visit customers, attend conferences, or perform other tasks, your personal auto insurance is likely to provide coverage. Get a customized quote now for the best deal.
What is no-fault auto insurance?
No-fault insurance refers to the medical coverage on an auto insurance policy that pays for injuries to you and your passengers. Each state has its own rules for insurance, so not every state is a no-fault state. In a no-fault state, your own auto policy governs your medical coverage regardless of who was at fault in the accident. See the best providers for no-fault insurance.
What are the major types of car insurance?
Liability: The most basic type of auto insurance you can purchase and is required by (nearly) all states. Liability insurance is what covers the damage caused to other people or property other than your own. To learn more about liability insurance read our full article.
Comprehensive: An optional coverage option that keeps your vehicle protected in case of theft, fire, vandalism, weather, animals, or acts of nature.
Collision: This type of coverage pays for damage to your vehicle in an accident with another vehicle or property. If you are leasing or financing your vehicle, you are typically required to pay for collision insurance.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist: Covers you and your passengers if you are involved in an accident with someone who does not have coverage or your injuries or property is damaged beyond the other drivers’ insurance limits. The uninsured motorist also covers your vehicle and passengers if you are involved in a hit and run accident. Each state has different mandates on whether you are required to carry this type of policy. For more policy information continue reading our best car insurance policies article.
*Quotes were obtained using the following profile: base 2015 Toyota Camry, male, 40-years-old. Policies reflect state minimum coverage options. We make every effort to provide the most accurate quotes based on the profile above. Due to the many combined variables involved in insurance quotes, the only way to get an accurate quote is to enter your own information through our partners' secure websites.