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Get Cheap Car Insurance in Central Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA

We monitor insurance prices, helping the average driver in Central Santa Cruz save up to 33.7% on car insurance.

 

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The Cheapest Minimum Coverage in Central Santa Cruz

The chart below shows the cheapest car insurance company in Central Santa Cruz for a driver with a good record seeking minimum coverage on a mid-grade used vehicle. Values are estimated, and premiums may be lower or higher, but should be in an accurate order for a good driver. In general, drivers with good records will get the best prices through Metromile, followed by Geico, Progressive, and Travelers.

 
Central Santa Cruz Insurer Monthly Cost
Metromile $50
Geico $57
Progressive $61
Travelers $63

Savings for Every Kind of Central Santa Cruz Driver

The table shows how much the average auto insurance customer in Central Santa Cruz might save by following our recommendations.

Based on our extensive insurance data, we know the average Central Santa Cruz driver will save about 32% on car insurance. This isn’t marketing: this is unbiased data with no financial influence. The best auto insurance company depends on factors such as your driving record, home location, marital status, and age. The average driver will find themselves saving $638 per year by choosing the right vehicle insurance company. Some Central Santa Cruz residents are paying out over $1,994 extra every year for auto insurance in Central Santa Cruz. That cost may be even higher if you haven’t requested a new quote as your life situation changed.

Situation
Central Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA Savings / Yr.
Drivers with good records
$638
Drivers with accidents
$1,168
Drivers with speeding tickets
$924
Drivers with a DUI conviction
$1,623
Young drivers
$833
Married drivers
$362
Drivers with bad credit
$0

Central Santa Cruz Car Insurance vs. Santa Cruz

People living in Central Santa Cruz pay an average of 0.68% less than the typical driver in the state. The average driver in Central Santa Cruz can expect to pay about $934 per year, or $1,994 for full coverage.

Based on our analysis, Metromile will be the cheapest provider in Central Santa Cruz for most people.

Car Insurance Prices by Central Santa Cruz Neighborhood

Central Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA map of insurance costs by zip code and neighborhood

Insurance Prices

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Average
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Where is insurance cheapest within Central Santa Cruz?

The map shows insurance prices in and around Central Santa Cruz, with more expensive areas in red and places with cheaper car insurance in green. Insurance can vary by as much as $335 per year within the neighborhood boundaries, with insurance premiums ranging from a high of $2,198 to a low of $1,863. Insurance prices tend to be higher for those living in the East area, and lower for those with homes in the North parts of Central Santa Cruz.

Pick the Best Car Insurance Company for You in Central Santa Cruz

We have analyzed insurance costs for auto insurance customers based on the major variables that impact pricing. The results of our analysis are below, including US dollar savings. What about when you meet one or more of the criteria? For example, if you have both a DUI and a speeding ticket? Simply start with the Central Santa Cruz insurance provider for whom we have posted the highest savings dollar figure.

The best car insurance provider for most drivers in Central Santa Cruz

For drivers with clean driving records and no major strikes, Metromile is the best option, with annual savings of $638 over the average Central Santa Cruz car insurance company.

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We use the average good driver, paying $113 per month, as our baseline for pricing in Central Santa Cruz. Allstate, Metromile, and Esurance are all good choices for quotes if you have a clean record. See also the best providers for married people if you are married, and look for repeated company names.

The best car insurance provider for Central Santa Cruz drivers with accidents on their records

In Central Santa Cruz getting into an accident will raise premiums an average 44% for a yearly cost of $3,586. That's $1,592 per year more than a driver with no at-fault crashes on their driving record might pay. To avoid paying out more than you need to, Travelers, Metromile, and Mercury Insurance are good choices for drivers with accidents.

In our analysis, Metromile saved the average person who had been in an accident the most, with annual savings averaging $1,168 over the competition.

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The best car insurance company for Central Santa Cruz drivers with speeding tickets

>Metromile gave the average person with a speeding ticket the most savings, averaging $924 better than other car insurance companies.

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Depending on the insurance company, a speeding ticket can actually raise insurance premiums more than getting in an accident. In Central Santa Cruz, tickets raise premiums on new quotes about $1,012. If you have a speeding ticket, we recommend Geico, Metromile, and Mercury Insurance for savings that beat the average insurance cost of $3,006 per year.

The best auto insurance for Central Santa Cruz drivers with a DUI conviction

Getting a DUI can increase the cost of insurance dramatically. The average person with a DUI paid $5,050 per year in auto insurance premiums, which was $3,056 more than a driver with no major issues. Progressive, Travelers, and Mercury Insurance penalized their customers the least for a DUI.

Getting a quote from Mercury Insurance may cost the average person with a DUI about $1,623 less each year.

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The least expensive car insurance company for new and young drivers in Central Santa Cruz

In Central Santa Cruz, State Farm costs young drivers $833 less each year versus the average auto insurance bill.

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Teen drivers account for more than their share of accidents, and thus end up paying about 62% more for insurance than more mature drivers in Central Santa Cruz. With an average cost of $5,292 per year (for young drivers who aren't on a parent's plan), car insurance for inexperienced drivers can’t ever be called "cheap." A few companies like State Farm, Geico, and Mercury Insurance try to attract these younger drivers with lower prices in the hopes that they will stay with the company.

The best marriage discounts for vehicle insurance in Central Santa Cruz

Not everything is an excuse for the auto insurance companies to charge you more. Getting married provides an average discount of $198. Geico, Progressive, and Mercury Insurance provided the largest discounts to couples living in Central Santa Cruz.

Progressive gave the largest car insurance discounts to married couples, averaging $362 saved each year compared to an average Central Santa Cruz couple's premiums.

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The cheapest car insurance in Central Santa Cruz for drivers with bad credit

The state of California does not allow companies to use credit score to figure out premiums, so the prices are unchanged regardless of credit score

The best Central Santa Cruz car insurance company for customer service

Many car insurance companies over the years have struggled with customer service. In Central Santa Cruz, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) ranks Nationwide as the best. Another valuable metric: JD Power ranks American Family Insurance as the best provider in Central Santa Cruz.

Nationwide was the best company for customer service in Central Santa Cruz according to the NAIC.

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Recent price drops

Due to improvements in our tracking and methodology, we are unable to show price change data for the most recent year. This data will return next year (2023).

In 2020, at the peak of the global pandemic, {{top1_2020pricedrop_company}} changed their average price {{top1_2020pricedrop_company_percentage}}% in Central Santa Cruz, which was better than other insurers.

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During the Covid-19 pandemic a few insurance companies realized people were driving less and struggling overall. They proactively lowered their rates for many customers in Central Santa Cruz. We think helping communities in a time of need deserves special attention. Many insurance companies have advertisements telling us how much they care: we prefer to look at their actions.

The cheapest large national provider in Central Santa Cruz

Many customers have informed us that they prefer to work with large national brands. Maybe they're one of the 68% of Central Santa Cruz residents who are renting, and don't plan to be in the neighborhood or city for very long. Or maybe national recognition and funds make people feel more secure with a large provider. Regardless, Allstate tends to have the lowest prices for most drivers.

For customers who prefer to work with large national providers, we recommend Allstate for pricing. The average Central Santa Cruz driver can expect to pay about $129 per month.

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What About USAA?

JD power consistently ranks USAA as the top car insurance company in the United States. We don’t compare their rates because most people can’t sign up. USAA only allows active military members and their spouses and children to apply. In Central Santa Cruz, USAA has the best prices for good drivers, drivers with a DUI conviction, drivers with speeding tickets, young drivers, and drivers with accidents.
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Auto Insurance Prices in and Around Central Santa Cruz

What Influences the Cost of Car Insurance in Central Santa Cruz?

On average, car insurance in Central Santa Cruz is actually less expensive than the rest of the state. These low prices are no mystery to us. Coverage Watch tracks car insurance costs and uses a complex AI that finds related variables, and has determined car insurance prices in the neighborhood are influenced by the following factors:

  • The average commute time in Central Santa Cruz is 29 minutes, which is far less than average for a driver in the city.
  • California state insurance regulations may require higher prices.
  • An average of 0 weeks with snow on the ground, which impacts accident rates.
  • Marriage rates in Central Santa Cruz are among the lowest in the state, and marriage often results in car insurance discounts.
  • Vehicle theft rates in the area are low, with a Vehicle Theft Crime Grade of C according to CrimeGrade.org.
  • Central Santa Cruz has an average population density in the state. The neighborhood’s density could result in a price decrease for drivers.

As a result of these and other factors, the average cost of car insurance in Central Santa Cruz is $78 per month for minimum coverage and $166 per month for full coverage. Costs vary widely based on your situation, and will likely be lower if you have a clean driving record and follow our insurance company research to find the best car insurance company for you.

Car Insurance in Nearby Neighborhoods

Neighborhoods with Similar Populations

* Who is the average Central Santa Cruz driver? Based on national demographic data provided by BestNeighborhood, we took a single unmarried man living in central Central Santa Cruz with good (but not perfect) credit driving a used midsized sedan. Data sources: proprietary data collection and analysis, unique to CoverageWatch.org All content copyright CoverageWatch.org. Journalists and other websites are free to cite any data with attribution.