The vehicle model that is being insured is probably the most important factor that determines whether or not you can buy the lowest-priced car insurance for infrequent drivers. Vehicles with high performance engines, poor crash test ratings, or an increased likelihood of liability claims will cost quite a bit more to insure than more economical and safe models. The list below presents auto insurance costs for a handful of the more affordable vehicles to buy coverage for.
| Vehicle Insured | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Ford Escape Limited 4WD | $1,055 |
| Honda Odyssey LX | $1,066 |
| Honda CR-V LX 2WD | $1,097 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LT AWD | $1,151 |
| Toyota Camry LE | $1,156 |
| Toyota RAV4 Limited 4WD | $1,151 |
| Honda Accord EX-L 4-Dr Sedan | $1,157 |
| Jeep Wrangler Sport Islander Package 4WD 2-Dr | $1,166 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan SXT | $1,173 |
| Toyota Prius | $1,182 |
| Hyundai Elantra Blue 4-Dr Sedan | $1,191 |
| Ford Edge Limited AWD | $1,213 |
| Ford F-150 STX Super Cab 4WD | $1,215 |
| Nissan Rogue S AWD | $1,233 |
| Hyundai Sonata GLS 4-Dr Sedan | $1,238 |
| Dodge Ram Crew Cab ST 4WD | $1,255 |
| Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid | $1,260 |
| Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4WD | $1,266 |
| Ford Focus S 4-Dr Sedan | $1,266 |
| Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 4WD | $1,284 |
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Data based on single male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Texas minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, safe-driver, multi-policy, claim-free, and homeowner. Prices do not factor in vehicle location which can change insurance rates substantially.
Looking at the numbers, we can conclude that makes and models like the Ford Escape, Honda Odyssey, Honda CR-V, and Chevrolet Equinox are the more affordable vehicles to insure for low mileage drivers.
For low mileage drivers, one of the largest things that help determine auto insurance rates is where your residence is. More populated areas tend to pay slightly more, whereas areas that tend to be more rural benefit from lower coverage costs.
The information below ranks the most expensive cities in Texas for infrequent drivers to purchase auto insurance in. Lubbock makes the list at #12 with a yearly premium of $1,733 on average, which is about $144 per month.
| Rank | City | Premium Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | McAllen | $1,996 |
| 2 | Laredo | $1,907 |
| 3 | Brownsville | $1,870 |
| 4 | Amarillo | $1,858 |
| 5 | Houston | $1,853 |
| 6 | Dallas | $1,837 |
| 7 | Garland | $1,832 |
| 8 | Mesquite | $1,825 |
| 9 | Pasadena | $1,794 |
| 10 | Grand Prairie | $1,793 |
| 11 | Beaumont | $1,754 |
| 12 | Lubbock | $1,733 |
| 13 | Irving | $1,719 |
| 14 | Arlington | $1,709 |
| 15 | San Antonio | $1,671 |
| 16 | Austin | $1,627 |
| 17 | McKinney | $1,625 |
| 18 | Carrollton | $1,615 |
| 19 | Fort Worth | $1,604 |
| 20 | Plano | $1,576 |
| 21 | Corpus Christi | $1,572 |
| 22 | Waco | $1,569 |
| 23 | El Paso | $1,568 |
| 24 | Abilene | $1,515 |
| 25 | Killeen | $1,473 |
| Compare Prices Now Go | ||
Table data uses comparative as specific Lubbock garaging address can change price quotes considerably.
The information below highlights how deductible selection can change insurance costs when trying to find cheap insurance for infrequent drivers. The prices are based on a single female driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
The data above shows that a 40-year-old driver could lower their policy premium by $302 a year by switching from a $100 deductible to a $500 deductible, or save $456 by changing to a $1,000 deductible. Young drivers, like the 20-year-old, can cut as much as $766 or even more just by choosing higher deductibles. When increasing deductibles, it will be important to have emergency funds available to allow you to pay the extra out-of-pocket expense that is associated with using high deductibles.
Full coverage rates compared to liability-only
Buying cheaper auto insurance is probably important to most vehicle owners, and a great way to find cheap insurance for infrequent drivers is to not buy full coverage. The diagram below shows the difference between car insurance costs with and without physical damage coverage, medical payments, and uninsured/under-insured motorist coverage. The data assumes no accidents, no driving violations, $1,000 deductibles, single status, and no discounts are applied.
As an average, full coverage on your policy costs an additional $2,131 per year more than just insuring for liability. At some point, about every driver wonders when is it a good idea to stop buying full coverage. There is no exact rule of when to stop paying for physical damage coverage on your policy, but there is a general guideline you can use. If the annual cost of having full coverage is more than 10% of the vehicle’s replacement cost less your deductible, then it’s probably a good time to buy liability coverage only.
For example, let’s assume your vehicle’s settlement value is $9,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is destroyed, the most your company would pay you is $8,000 after the deductible is paid. If premiums are more than $800 annually for comprehensive and collision coverage, then it may be the right time to buy liability only.
Driving violations and accidents
A great way to snag the cheapest auto insurance prices in Texas for low mileage drivers is to be a cautious driver and avoid accidents and violations. The example below highlights how traffic violations and at-fault claims can impact car insurance rates for different age groups. The costs are based on a single female driver, comp and collision included, $100 deductibles, and no other discounts are factored in.
The data above shows the average cost of a car insurance policy in Lubbock per year with a clean driving record and no accidents is $2,067. Add in two speeding tickets and the average cost surges to $2,783, an increase of $715 each year. Now get two accidents along with the two speeding tickets and the yearly cost of auto insurance for infrequent drivers goes up to an average of $5,316. That’s an increase of $3,248, or $271 per month, just for being a less-than-perfect driver!
Don’t make the mistake of not shopping around
Lubbock, TX auto insurance rates are determined by lots of factors that control the price of coverage. Improving your credit score, marrying your spouse, or getting a ticket for running a stop sign can produce rate changes that can cause some rates to be much cheaper than others. Not only may your situation change, but insurers amend premium rates as often as every three months to help ensure profitability. Significantly higher claims may cause higher priced premiums, while long-term profits can produce lower-priced Lubbock car insurance rates.
To illustrate this point, the chart below demonstrates which company has the cheapest car insurance in Lubbock, TX for a 40-year-old male driver with a clear driving record, no claims, and good credit. If we compare prices based on his personal profile, Travelers has the most affordable car insurance rates in Lubbock at $1,157 each year. This is $747 less than the average premium paid by Texas drivers of $1,904. USAA, Texas Farm Bureau, Germania Mutual, and California Casualty are the remainder of the most affordable Lubbock, TX auto insurance companies.
Now we will give the driver from above an at-fault accident, poor credit, and a traffic citation. Since every car insurance company uses their own calculation to set policy rates, comparing rates most likely will result in a new list of companies as shown below.
State Farm now has the cheapest insurance rate in Lubbock with Mercury, USAA, Safe Auto, and Nationwide now rounding out the top five. This example proves why Texas drivers need to compare as many rates as possible when trying to get the most budget-friendly insurance rates for infrequent drivers. Car insurance prices can be determined by many different factors and can decrease or increase without notice, so the cheapest company two years ago may now be one of the higher cost companies.