You have most likely seen the ads from insurers like Allstate and The General claiming enormous savings. So drivers should just choose the one with the most memorable commercial, right?
It’s not that simple, unfortunately, as there are a whole bunch of unknowns like if you are a homeowner, the level of liability coverage you want, and if you have a lapse in coverage, that all impact the cost of your policy. This article delves into the best ways to shop for cheaper coverage and educate you enough to have a jump start in finding the best auto insurance.
For a learners permit, one of the big factors that are looked at to determine the amount you pay for auto insurance is where you call home in Jacksonville. More populated areas will most likely have higher rates, whereas areas with lower crime rates and fewer weather claims benefit from lower rates.
The next table rates the most expensive cities in Florida for a school permit in which to buy car insurance. Jacksonville is ranked at #18 with the yearly price of $2,020 for coverage, which is about $168 per month.
| Rank | City | Average Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hialeah | $3,523 |
| 2 | Miami Gardens | $3,277 |
| 3 | Miami | $3,273 |
| 4 | Miami Beach | $3,043 |
| 5 | Tampa | $2,636 |
| 6 | Miramar | $2,629 |
| 7 | West Palm Beach | $2,599 |
| 8 | Fort Lauderdale | $2,576 |
| 9 | Hollywood | $2,552 |
| 10 | Pompano Beach | $2,543 |
| 11 | Davie | $2,523 |
| 12 | Pembroke Pines | $2,505 |
| 13 | Coral Springs | $2,474 |
| 14 | Brandon | $2,322 |
| 15 | St. Petersburg | $2,263 |
| 16 | Clearwater | $2,194 |
| 17 | Spring Hill | $2,060 |
| 18 | Jacksonville | $2,020 |
| 19 | Orlando | $2,008 |
| 20 | Port St. Lucie | $1,994 |
| 21 | Cape Coral | $1,917 |
| 22 | Lakeland | $1,901 |
| 23 | Palm Bay | $1,803 |
| 24 | Tallahassee | $1,731 |
| 25 | Gainesville | $1,680 |
| Start a Quote Go | ||
Premium costs are comparative as the specific geographic location can impact rates considerably.
Determining which companies quote the lowest-priced insurance rates for a school permit will take a bit more work in order to find coverage that fits your budget.
Every car insurance company has a different process for determining rates, so we need to take a look at the insurance companies that tend to be cheaper in Jacksonville, FL.
Best Insurance Companies for Students
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | USAA | $986 |
| 2 | Electric | $1,712 |
| 3 | Amica | $1,746 |
| 4 | Progressive | $1,829 |
| 5 | Travelers | $1,888 |
| 6 | Allied | $1,926 |
| 7 | Mercury | $1,933 |
| 8 | Esurance | $2,040 |
| 9 | Auto-Owners | $2,085 |
| 10 | State Farm | $2,131 |
| 11 | GEICO | $2,172 |
| 12 | Allstate | $2,340 |
| 13 | 21st Century | $2,397 |
| 14 | Windhaven Insurance | $2,549 |
| 15 | Safeco | $2,987 |
| 16 | MetLife | $2,988 |
| 17 | Liberty Mutual | $3,009 |
| 18 | Hanover | $3,054 |
| 19 | United Automobile | $3,457 |
| 20 | Direct General | $3,902 |
| Quote Your Rates Go | ||
USAA quotes some of the best car insurance rates in Jacksonville at around $986 each year. Electric, Amica, Progressive, and Travelers also qualify as some of the best Jacksonville, FL car insurance companies.
As the rates illustrate above, if you buy coverage from Travelers and switched to Electric, you might see yearly savings of in the vicinity of $176. Customers with Allied may save as much as $214 a year, and Mercury policyholders might see rate reductions of $221 a year.
To find cheaper insurance rates for your vehicle, click here to start your free quote or quote prices from the following companies.
Bear in mind that those estimates are averages for all drivers and vehicles and do not factor in a specific location for a school permit. So the car insurance company that is best for you may not even be in the list above. That illustrates why you need to compare as many prices as possible using your own driver information and specific vehicle type.
The information below illustrates how choosing a deductible can impact insurance costs when quoting cheap insurance for a school permit. The data assumes a single male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no discounts are factored in.
In the chart above, a 50-year-old driver could lower their policy premium by $344 a year by changing from a $100 deductible to a $500 deductible, or save $518 by changing to a $1,000 deductible. Even younger insureds, like the Age 20 category, could potentially save up to $1,126 or even more by choosing larger deductibles on their policy. When increasing deductibles, it will now be necessary to have emergency funds available to be able to pay the extra out-of-pocket expense, which is the one disadvantage of using larger deductibles.
Does full coverage make sense?
Reducing premiums for insurance is the goal of most drivers, and an effective way to pay lower rates for insurance for a school permit is to not pay for full coverage. The chart below shows the comparison of premium costs when comparing full coverage to liability only. The data assumes no violations or accidents, $1,000 deductibles, drivers are single, and no discounts are applied.
As an overall average, comp and collision coverage costs an extra $1,747 per year more than just buying liability only. That brings up the question when is it safe to stop buying full coverage. There is no specific rule of when to stop paying for full coverage, but there is a general convention. If the annual cost of coverage is 10% or more of the vehicle’s replacement cost less your deductible, the it may be a good time to stop paying for full coverage.
For example, let’s pretend your vehicle’s replacement value is $5,500 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, the most you would get paid by your company is $4,500 after you pay the deductible. If premium cost is more than $450 annually for full coverage, then you might want to think about dropping full coverage.
Compare rates to save
Jacksonville insurance rates are determined by lots of factors that may substantially change the cost of your policy. Simply having another birthday, buying a home, or getting a couple of tickets can trigger changes in premium resulting in some companies being more affordable than before.
Additionally, auto insurance companies modify pricing as needed in order to be able to pay unexpected claims. Unexpectedly high claims may result in more expensive prices, while lower claims may result in lower-priced Jacksonville car insurance rates.
To illustrate this example, the graph below shows a variety of companies that have the cheapest car insurance in Jacksonville, FL for a 45-year-old male driver with no accidents, a clean driving record, and a good credit rating. If we compare prices based on his current risk profile, USAA offers the most affordable car insurance rates in Jacksonville at $1,175 each year. This is $1,273 less than the average policy premium paid by Florida drivers of $2,448. Electric, Amica, Progressive, and Travelers are the remaining top five cheapest Jacksonville, FL auto insurance companies.
In this example, we will give the driver from the first rate comparison some claims, slightly worse credit, and a speeding citation. Since each insurance company has their own unique process for setting prices, analyzing rate quotes may now show a different list of companies as shown below.
USAA now has the best price in Jacksonville with Mercury, Esurance, Auto-Owners, and State Farm also being competitive. This shows why Florida drivers need to take the time to shop around to find the best auto insurance rates for a school permit.
Car insurance prices can be altered by many risk factors and can increase or decrease at any time, so the best company when you last compared rates may now be one of the more expensive options.
How to find more affordable car insurance for a school permit
Below you’ll find a few penny-pinching ideas that can help drivers find cheaper car insurance.
- Avoid accidents and claims
- Buy vehicles with five-star safety ratings
- Serious violations like DUI or reckless driving can increase rates dramatically
- Pay less by remaining claim-free
- Bundle home and auto and earn a discount
- Comparison shop at least once a year
That last tip is notably significant, as was noted in the article above. Auto insurance prices vary greatly, so don’t be afraid to change to a new company if you can save money.
Loyalty to a specific company is fine, but we do not recommend it if that loyalty results in overpaying hundreds of dollars a year. It only take a few minutes to shop around to find cheaper insurance for a school permit in Jacksonville.
If you like to get some help when buying car insurance for a school permit, the agents listed below can provide answers to your questions and help you determine which auto insurance coverages would be the best in your situation.
To find an auto insurance agency close to where you live, click the button below the list or click here to get price quotes now.
Chris Frank – State Farm Insurance Agent
9475 Philips Hwy Ste 15 – Jacksonville, FL 32256 – (904) 900-1727
Norris Insurance Agency
10695 Beach Blvd #1 – Jacksonville, FL 32246 – (904) 329-7950
The Maverick Insurance Agency
9119 Merrill Rd #8 – Jacksonville, FL 32225 – (904) 743-6661
Bill Pool – State Farm Insurance Agent
7025 Normandy Blvd – Jacksonville, FL 32205 – (904) 781-3800
Michael Nickas – State Farm Insurance Agent
10920 Baymeadows Rd #7 – Jacksonville, FL 32256 – (904) 777-6888