The words “low-priced” and “insurance” really should not be used together, especially when you are searching for the best price on coverage for first-time drivers. Because it’s not cheap, let’s introduce you to some things that have a considerable impact on car insurance rates, and find some ways to cut the cost of the next policy you buy.
The type of vehicle requiring coverage is one of the largest factors when trying to find low-cost car insurance for first-time drivers. Vehicles with limited top-end speed, good safety features, or a low likelihood of having liability claims will cost substantially less to insure than high performance models. The list below estimates insurance prices for a handful of the most budget-friendly automobiles to buy insurance for.
Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
---|---|
Ford Escape Limited 2WD | $2,568 |
Toyota Tacoma Double Cab TRD Sport Package 4WD | $2,642 |
Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 4WD | $2,649 |
Honda Civic EX 4-Dr Sedan | $2,679 |
Hyundai Elantra GLS Touring Station Wagon | $2,689 |
Honda CR-V EX-L 4WD | $2,753 |
Chevrolet Silverado LS Regular Cab 4WD | $2,763 |
Ford Fusion Sport 4-Dr Sedan | $2,780 |
Dodge Grand Caravan SE | $2,821 |
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 4WD 4-Dr | $2,871 |
Ford Edge SEL 2WD | $2,918 |
Dodge Ram 2500 Crew Cab ST 2WD | $2,969 |
Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4WD | $2,975 |
Toyota Prius | $2,985 |
Ford F-150 FX4 Super Cab 4WD | $3,029 |
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Prices above based on single female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and New York minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, homeowner, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, and safe-driver. Estimates do not factor in zip code location which can alter auto insurance rates significantly.
Based on these rates, we can tell that vehicles like the Ford Escape, Toyota Tacoma, and Ford Explorer are likely to be some of the most budget-friendly vehicles to insure for new drivers.
Determining which company quotes the most affordable car insurance rates for first-time drivers will take a bit more work in order to find the most economical policy.
Each insurance company uses their own method for determining prices, so we will examine the car insurance companies that tend to be cheaper in Buffalo, NY. Keep in mind that New York car insurance rates are influenced by many factors which can substantially decrease or increase the policy price. Turning one year older, having a teenage driver, or having an at-fault accident can trigger price changes that can now make some companies cheaper than others.
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Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
---|---|---|
1 | USAA | $1,187 |
2 | Erie | $1,205 |
3 | Progressive | $1,542 |
4 | Utica National | $1,549 |
5 | Travelers | $1,559 |
6 | Amica | $1,580 |
7 | Allstate | $1,588 |
8 | MetLife | $1,636 |
9 | Preferred Mutual | $1,737 |
10 | New York Central Mutual | $1,818 |
11 | GEICO | $1,869 |
12 | Safeco | $1,946 |
13 | State Farm | $1,962 |
14 | Central Mutual | $1,968 |
15 | Liberty Mutual | $2,087 |
16 | Hanover | $2,393 |
17 | Encompass | $2,689 |
18 | Nationwide | $3,147 |
19 | Mercury | $3,848 |
20 | 21st Century | $4,281 |
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USAA has some of the best car insurance rates in Buffalo at around $1,187 annually. This is $888 less than the average price paid by New York drivers of $2,075. Erie, Progressive, Utica National, and Travelers also rank well as some of the more affordable Buffalo, NY insurance companies.
As the example above demonstrates, if you are a customer of Erie and switched to USAA, you could realize an annual premium reduction of upwards of $18. Policyholders with Progressive could save as much as $355 a year, and Utica National customers might lower prices by $362 a year.
If you want to see how much you could save, click here to begin a quote or feel free to get quotes from the companies below.
It’s important to note that these premium estimates are averages for all types of insureds and vehicles and are not factoring in an exact zip code location for first-time drivers. So the insurer that can offer you the lowest price may not even be in the top 20 companies in the list above. That illustrates why you need to get car insurance quotes using your own specific driver information and vehicle.
One of the many factors that are used to help calculate insurance cost is the neighborhood you call home. Areas with increased crime or more people tend to have higher rates, whereas areas with fewer weather claims and lower vehicle theft rates benefit from lower rates.
The following table ranks the most expensive cities in New York for first-time drivers to purchase auto insurance in. Buffalo ranks #13 with an annual premium of $1,488 for coverage, which is about $124 each month.
Rank | City | Premium Per Year |
---|---|---|
1 | New York | $2,708 |
2 | Freeport | $2,235 |
3 | Hempstead | $2,211 |
4 | Levittown | $1,981 |
5 | Mount Vernon | $1,978 |
6 | Yonkers | $1,978 |
7 | Hicksville | $1,900 |
8 | Brentwood | $1,872 |
9 | West Babylon | $1,856 |
10 | Coram | $1,766 |
11 | White Plains | $1,629 |
12 | New Rochelle | $1,610 |
13 | Buffalo | $1,488 |
14 | Cheektowaga | $1,240 |
15 | Niagara Falls | $1,201 |
16 | West Seneca | $1,189 |
17 | Tonawanda | $1,177 |
18 | Syracuse | $1,130 |
19 | Utica | $1,103 |
20 | Albany | $1,067 |
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Price information shown is approximated as the vehicle garaging location can revise prices greatly.
The diagram below illustrates how choosing a deductible can raise or lower premium costs when trying to find cheap insurance for first-time drivers. The costs are based on a single female driver, full coverage, and no other discounts are factored in.
A 50-year-old driver could lower their policy premium by $210 a year by increasing from a $100 deductible to a $500 deductible, or save $318 by switching to a $1,000 deductible. Even younger insureds, like the Age 20 category, could possibly save $532 annually by choosing a larger deductible amount.
When increasing deductibles, it is necessary to have enough savings set aside to enable you to pay the extra out-of-pocket expense. This is the primary disadvantage of choosing high deductibles.
Drive safe and save
The easiest way to snag low car insurance prices in Buffalo for new drivers is to be a good driver and not receive tickets or have accidents. The diagram below illustrates how traffic citations and at-fault collisions can affect auto insurance rates for different age groups. The prices are based on a married male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $1,000 deductibles, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
In the example above, the average cost of auto insurance in Buffalo per year with no accidents or violations is $1,282. Factor in one speeding ticket and the average cost swells to $1,475, an increase of $193 each year. Now get two accidents along with the one speeding ticket and the annual cost of car insurance for first-time drivers jumps again to an average of $3,287. That’s an increase of $2,005, or $167 per month, just for not driving responsibly!
Which car insurance company is best in Buffalo?
Insuring your vehicle with a high-quality company is hard considering how many different insurance companies sell coverage in Buffalo. The information listed below could help you choose which companies you want to consider comparing rates from. The ratings below are only made up of companies that insure vehicles across America, so companies that may only write in New York will not be included in this list.
Company | Value | Customer Service | Claims | Customer Satisfaction | A.M Best Rating | Overall Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The General | 96 | 100 | 92 | 91% | A- | 95 |
Mercury Insurance | 87 | 96 | 100 | 87% | A+ | 93.4 |
The Hartford | 88 | 96 | 91 | 93% | A+ | 92.6 |
Progressive | 84 | 94 | 99 | 90% | A+ | 92.4 |
Travelers | 84 | 93 | 100 | 87% | A++ | 92.3 |
State Farm | 84 | 93 | 95 | 87% | A++ | 91 |
Farmers Insurance | 87 | 92 | 90 | 85% | A | 90.6 |
Erie Insurance | 92 | 90 | 82 | 88% | A+ | 88.5 |
Safeco Insurance | 85 | 91 | 87 | 86% | A | 88.4 |
USAA | 71 | 93 | 98 | 87% | A++ | 88 |
GEICO | 73 | 93 | 95 | 85% | A++ | 87.1 |
21st Century | 85 | 85 | 91 | 89% | A | 86.9 |
Liberty Mutual | 72 | 91 | 97 | 83% | A | 86.4 |
AAA Insurance | 85 | 85 | 88 | 86% | A | 85.8 |
Nationwide | 71 | 90 | 93 | 83% | A+ | 84.9 |
Allstate | 69 | 92 | 92 | 83% | A+ | 84.4 |
American Family | 77 | 96 | 80 | 85% | A | 83.8 |
Esurance | 70 | 80 | 89 | 77% | A+ | 79.2 |
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Data Source: Insure.com Best Car Insurance Companies
How to find budget-friendly car insurance for first-time drivers
The list below summarizes some of the recommended thrifty solutions that can help Buffalo drivers find low-cost coverage.
- Save money by insuring older vehicles for liability only
- Maintain a clean driving record
- Drive attentively and avoid accidents
- Increase your policy deductibles
- If possible, pay for small claims out-of-pocket
- Shop around for cheaper prices often
That last tip is remarkably valuable, as was noted in this write-up. Insurance rates can be changed at any time, so drivers shouldn’t hesitate to buy a policy from a new company if a cheaper price is available.
Staying with the same car insurance company is fine, but it isn’t a good idea if that loyalty ends up costing hundreds of dollars a year. Take a few minutes and compare rates to find cheaper car insurance for first-time drivers in Buffalo.
If you aren’t sure which coverage you need and prefer to have a little guidance when shopping around for cheaper insurance for first-time drivers, the agencies below can probably help you make a decision which coverages and limits you need.
To locate a Buffalo car insurance agency by location nearest to you, click the button at the bottom of the list or click here to compare rates now.
- Dennis Evchich Agency Inc
826 Tonawanda St – Buffalo, NY 14207 – (716) 875-7576 - Consolidated Insurance Agents
3814 Seneca St – Buffalo, NY 14224 – (716) 674-1700 - The Byrne Insurance Agency Inc
480 Abbott Rd – Buffalo, NY 14220 – (716) 825-4100 - Centinello Insurance
1274 Bailey Ave # 1 – Buffalo, NY 14206 – (716) 893-4332 - Hsbc Insurance Agency: Chiarenza John
95 Washington St – Buffalo, NY 14203 – (716) 447-2556