and $593 per year for the state minimum auto insurance coverage.
Drivers in Santa Ana can pay 1.4% more than the state average for California when it comes to a full coverage option. However, if you opt for the minimum liability coverage of $15k/$30k/$5k in bodily injury and property damage protection, you could pay up to 6.2% more than other California drivers.
Minimum coverage may be cheaper, but it can leave you vulnerable
Although the state minimum amount of car insurance is typically cheaper on a monthly basis, it may not fully protect you.
are relatively low—they can easily max out if you’re at fault for a serious car accident.
To better protect yourself, consider raising your liability limits. You might also consider choosing a full coverage auto insurance policy with add-on options, such as comprehensive and collision coverage.
As a licensed agent, I highly recommend carrying higher limits than state minimums for bodily injury and property damage coverages. Your coverage limits should always exceed your current net worth. I'd consider limits of $100,000/$300,00 or higher as these coverages can better protect you from the damages and injury you may cause in an auto accident.
Why is car insurance so expensive in Santa Ana?
It’s no secret that California drivers pay some of the highest auto insurance premiums—and while Santa Ana car insurance costs are relatively close to the state average, they’re still relatively high overall, in part due to increased population density and wildfire risks.
California has over 38 million residents, making it the most populated state in the US—and with the addition of a booming travel industry, more motorists are on the road than ever, leading to a rise in crash claims. 12
From 2020 to 2021, there was a 7.6% increase in traffic fatalities, with an average of 1.38 deaths occurring every 100 million miles traveled. 3
But it’s not just crashes that are increasing premium costs—although the number of wildfires have decreased from 7,003 in 2022 to 6,999 in 2023, the recent hotter weather and ongoing droughts in California have increased the risk of wildfires.45 Many insurance providers have already left the state, and the ones that are left may be forced to raise their prices to prevent losses. 6
When shopping for car insurance, it’s important to remember that there is no ‘best’ or ‘cheapest’ car insurance company for every driver—but you can still find savings on your premiums in Santa Ana.
Recently, Jerry conducted one of the nation’s largest consumer surveys, interviewing over 18,000 real policyholders on their experience with their current insurer. Here’s how they rated each company, along with the average cost of full and minimum coverage for that provider:
The best car insurance companies for students and teachers in Santa Ana
Balancing costs between textbooks, classroom materials, and living expenses is enough of a challenge—car insurance shouldn’t be added to the list. Both students and teachers in Santa Ana can also save on premiums through specialty discounts and programs.
Carrier
Benefits
Liberty Mutual
Teachers can earn several perks, including waived deductibles when driving their car on school business or grounds, and $2,500 in coverage for stolen or damaged materials.
Horace Mann
Educators automatically receive the Educator Advantage package for no extra cost. This includes new car replacement coverage, up to $35 in transportation assistance, waived deductibles for vandalism or collisions on school property, roadside service, up to $1,000 in pet injury coverage, and up to $1,000 in personal property coverage.
California Casualty
This program is specifically for select affinity groups, and offers waived deductibles, identity theft protection, up to $2,000 in custom parts replacement, $500 in personal property coverage, and more.
State Farm
State Farm supplies a plethora of discounts and driving programs for teen drivers and students who are looking to lower their car insurance costs while building good driving habits.
Progressive
Progressive also provides countless discounts for students and their families, as well as telematics programs to help drivers track their driving behaviors.
Comparing quotes can help you lower your Santa Ana car insurance costs
The best way to know you’re getting the best rate on your car insurance policy is to compare prices from multiple insurers. But there are a number of providers in the Santa Ana area, and getting free quotes from all of them can become time consuming. Instead, consider using the
Jerry partners with over 55 of the top insurance companies to supply Santa Ana drivers with various quotes.
Most partners provide same-day policies, and the entire process only takes between one and three hours.
Create a profile: Once you download the app, start creating your driver profile. You’ll be asked questions about your location, vehicle, driving history, and any residents in your household to help you find tailored rates.
Compare coverage levels and prices: When you run quotes, you will be able to view insurance agency prices for four different types of plans—basic, basic with full coverage, standard, and preferred. From there, you can compare quotes to find the best rate for you.
Review customer ratings: Click on any insurance company’s logo to see real customer ratings and reviews. Keep in mind it’s not only price that matters—customer satisfaction and claims processing are also important factors when choosing an insurance provider.
Select your plan: After you’ve vetted your quotes and found one you like, click “Confirm your rates.” Remember, car insurance quotes are time-sensitive, so make sure to lock in your rate before they change.
And once your policy is finalized, remember to turn on the auto reshop feature. This way, you’re always notified of any savings opportunities either with your provider, or another insurer in your area.
Jerry is a licensed insurance broker backed by a team of independent insurance agents. We work with over 55 car companies, from big names like Allstate, Nationwide, and Progressive to smaller regional insurers like MAPFRE and Anchor General. Jerry offers quick, legitimate auto coverage options through a top-rated mobile app available through the Apple App Store or Google Play store.
How to continue to save on Santa Ana car insurance
Even after you have a policy and begin making payments, there are always ways to continue to lower your costs even further.
Bundle your policies: Several insurance providers allow drivers with homeowners insurance or renters insurance to
to help drivers save on their rates. From good driver discounts to multivehicle, paid in full, and defensive driving discounts, there’s savings opportunities for all kinds of profiles.
Raise your deductible: Increasing your deductible limits to a price you can realistically afford can help lower your car insurance rates, as providers will be required to pay less in the event of an accident.
Practice safe driving: One of the best ways to get cheap car insurance—and keep it—is to maintain a
. Drivers with DUIs and other violations can see an increase of up to 170% in their car insurance.
The top student and teacher car insurance discounts in Santa Ana, CA
If you’re a teacher or student in Santa Ana, California, you can also lower your premiums through school-oriented discounts. Here are some of the top car insurance discounts for teachers and students:
Student away from home discount: If you’re a full-time student and live a specific number of miles away from home, you can save on your car insurance costs.
Good student discount: Students who maintain a specific grade point average earn savings with select companies, like Progressive and State Farm.
Driver’s education discount: Some insurance providers offer a discount for young drivers who can prove they completed a driver’s education program.
Affinity discounts: If you’re part of an organization—such as a college or university—you can earn a discount on your car insurance.
New teacher discounts: Some providers offer discounts for policyholders who are newly certified teachers for up to a specified number of years.
Methodology
All premium data in this article comes from real car insurance quotes obtained through the Jerry app and analyzed by our editorial team. Jerry’s data scientists analyzed over 25 million real quotes issued to users in Jerry’s proprietary database. Jerry is partnered with 55+ insurance companies in 48 states.
Unless otherwise stated, all data represents the average of the lowest quoted price for a currently insured single driver with a single vehicle.
Minimum coverage refers to policies with the following coverage limits: $15,000 per person/$30,000 per accident in bodily injury liability, and $5,000 per person in property damage liability.
Full coverage refers to policies that contain at least the minimum liability required by law in California along with comprehensive and collision insurance with deductibles of either $500 or $1,000.
All car insurance quotes in this article are real rates obtained in the Jerry app using the following profile:
Driver: 32-year old male, and 31-year old male (married)
Location: Santa Ana, CA
Cars: 2006 Toyota Corolla CE and 1993 Acura Vigor LS
Driving record: Clean
FAQs
How much is car insurance in California per month?
Car insurance in California generally costs around $1,601 annually for a full coverage policy, and $558 per year for the state minimum.
What is the average cost for car insurance in Santa Ana, CA?
The average cost of car insurance in Santa Ana, CA is $1,624 annually for a full coverage plan, and $593 per year for the state minimum liability insurance.
Who is known for the cheapest car insurance in Santa Ana?
Nationwide, Allstate, and Travelers are considered three of the cheapest car insurance providers in Santa Ana. However, keep in mind that not every driver will receive the same rates, and your final price will be determined on your specific driver profile.
Is $90 per month expensive for car insurance in Santa Ana, CA?
The average Santa Ana driver pays around $133 per month for a full coverage policy, and $45 per month for the state minimum. If you’re paying $90 per month for a full coverage option, this is not expensive. However, if you’re paying $90 for state minimum liability, consider shopping for new quotes to find lower rates.
What type of coverage do I need in Santa Ana?
Most Santa Ana drivers will benefit from a full coverage policy with higher than average limits and add-on insurance options, such as roadside assistance.
Do teen drivers pay more for car insurance in Santa Ana, CA?
On average, teen drivers pay more for car insurance than other drivers (both in Santa Ana and around the nation) due to their higher perceived risk and lack of driving experience. To lower your rates as a young driver, shop for teen and student specific discounts and consider combining policies with your parents.
How can I lower my car insurance costs as a Santa Ana driver with a poor record?
Santa Ana drivers with a poor record can lower costs by enrolling in a defensive driving program, shopping for discounts, and tracking their driving habits using telematics apps. You may also be able to save by bundling multiple insurance products, like your home insurance or life insurance with your auto insurance policy.
R.E. Fulton is an expert insurance writer specializing in car ownership topics from car shopping and loan advice to insurance and repair guides. R.E.’s mission is to create unique and accessible content that helps readers to become more successful and independent car owners. R.E. has written and edited over 900 high-performing articles for Jerry, with an average of 1 million+ views.
As a senior writer on Jerry’s editorial team, R.E. draws on over 10 years of experience as a professional writer and digital publishing specialist. Prior to joining Jerry’s editorial team in 2021, R.E. worked as a writing coach at Columbia University, the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), and the University of Rochester. They serve as a managing editor for peer-reviewed history publication Nursing Clio, where their work has appeared regularly since 2015.
Lina Zhang
Licensed Insurance Agent
Licensed in 50 states and Washington DC
Lina Zhang is Vice President of Operations at Jerry. She helped to found Jerry in order to take the confusion and mystery expenses out of car ownership and help drivers achieve financial success. Leading a global team responsible for operations, talent acquisition, legal, and content, Lina has been a key contributor to the AllCar™ app’s 10x growth in its first year of operation. Prior to Jerry, Lina and her Jerry co-founders, Art Agrawal and Musawir Shah, created YourMechanic, the largest on-demand car repair services provider. In one year, Lina built and scaled YourMechanic operations from just five markets to more than 50. The trio left YourMechanic to incubate Jerry at Y Combinator in 2017. Lina’s previous roles include intellectual property attorney at Morrison & Foerster LLP and a biomedical researcher at Stanford University.
Josh Damico
Head Of Insurance Operations
18+ Years Experience in Insurance
Josh Damico is Jerry’s vice president of insurance operations and a licensed insurance professional with nearly two decades of experience in the industry. Previously, Josh held executive roles at Geico, where he had vast regional oversight and leadership opportunities. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from Medaille College, and has appeared on news channels including FOX and CBS to offer insurance expertise and tips to drivers across the country. His work has appeared in Business Insider, Kelley Blue Book, and Digital Insurance and been quoted in The Balance, GOBankingRates, and Inspiring Workplaces.
*Illustration only. For all the pricing information presented in this article (including various tables), please note that not all customers find savings and the information is for illustrative purposes only. Savings depend on type of car, location, policy features, driving history and other factors. Drivers who switch through Jerry save over $70/month on average.
