Merced, CA Car Insurance

Compared to their surrounding area, how do rates in Merced stack up? What about against the rest of California? What rates can residents of Merced expect to pay for their car insurance? Discover the factors that go into calculating the average cost in our writeups and charts below:

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How much is car insurance in Merced?

Based on the chart above, you can see that it's about $8 a month cheaper to insure your vehicle in Merced than it is in the rest of California.

Compared to the rest of the country, auto insurance in Merced is more affordable. The average monthly payment in Merced is about $33 cheaper than the rate for the rest of the U.S.

Keep in mind that these are the average auto insurance rates for Merced, and that the rate you get could end up being something different. There are a variety of factors that insurance companies consider when determining how much to charge you for insurance. Things like age, gender, vehicle make and model, driving record and, in some areas, credit score can all play a part in figuring out your monthly premium.

Don't worry, we've done the work for you and broken down the average rates for Merced to help you understand what your monthly premium might be. And if you're not certain that you're paying the lowest option, simply enter your ZIP below and find out in just minutes!

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Average Car Insurance Rates by Age

It makes sense that older drivers would have more experience behind the wheel, right? When it comes to auto insurance premiums, that experience pays off. As you can see, 18-24-year-olds pay a lot more than drivers 65 and older.

As you get older, you can expect to see a drop in your monthly premium every 10 years. Merced drivers may see their rates begin to increase again once they hit retirement.

Average Car Insurance Rates by Gender

On average, female drivers pay slightly less for car insurance than their male counterparts. This is true in Merced, where women pay around $6 less a month. As illustrated in the table above, male drivers in the area pay about $51 on average, while female drivers pay around $45 each month.

Average Auto Insurance Rates by Driving Record

Your rates can change quite drastically depending on your driving record. Those with fewer accidents and tickets will pay less than those with multiple infractions. Drivers in Merced with a single accident on their record will usually see rates around $60 a month. Likewise, if you have one ticket, you'll be looking at an average rate of around $60.

Regardless of where you live, accidents, tickets, and other driving infractions can greatly increase your premium. So, if cheaper car insurance is important to you, keep your record clean and drive safe.

Average Insurance Rates by Vehicle

According to the first table above, trucks and vans are by and large the cheapest vehicles to insure in Merced, with drivers paying around $40 per month for insurance coverage.

Car owners can expect to pay an average of around $48 a month for their policy, while SUVs usually cost around $55 a month to insure.

Your vehicle's age has an impact on the cost of your policy as well. Generally, the most expensive vehicles to insure are going to be newer ones. However, once your car is close to 5 years old, you may start to see your monthly premium drop back down. In Merced, vehicles less than one year old are the most expensive to insure.

Average Car Insurance Rates by Relationship Status

More often than not, those who are currently married will pay slightly less for auto insurance coverage. This occurs because insurance companies commonly extend special discounts to policyholders with multiple vehicles that are on the same policy.

According to the table above, the difference in rates based on relationship status in Merced can be as much as $15 a month, so it's worth taking into consideration.

Average Car Insurance Rates by Housing Situation

Another factor that comes into play is your housing status. Renters can expect to pay around $4 a month more than those who own their own home in Merced. But if you live with your parents, you can expect to pay a lot more.

Many companies, however, will offer you a discount to bundle your home or rental insurance with your auto insurance policy, which can help reduce your average premiums.

Car Insurance Companies in Merced, CA

Recent trends in car insurance for Merced drivers

Since average rates are constantly changing, it's a smart move to research the local trends in your area before picking an insurance policy.

In Merced, auto insurance rates had been decreasing from 2017-2018, but began to increase in 2021. This trend has continued through 2022 when rates have most recently reached $48 per month.

How does Merced compare to neighboring areas?

Why are car insurance rates in Merced different from other areas?

Car insurance companies will take into account several factors when they're choosing how much to charge for a policy. The price of your insurance policy will depend largely on your home address and will be influenced by things such as:

• Prevalence of crime
• Rate of car accidents
• Area regulations
• Total number of drivers in the community
• Off-street parking availability

It's good to be aware of these factors (even though you may not be able to do much to change them) as you shop for a new policy or consider making a move. Knowing that different towns and cities will all have different rates, guides like these can be a good way to get a lay of the land of your particular neighborhood.

How can I find the cheapest car insurance in Merced?

While getting familiar with what the average costs are for drivers like you can be helpful as you get an idea of what you might pay, the only way to know exactly what your rate will be is by requesting a quote from car insurance companies.

But hold on! Compare.com does all of that work for you. Enter your ZIP Code below, answer a few questions related to the factors we outlined above, and you'll be comparing the cheapest quotes from several of the car insurance companies that offer plans in Merced.

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Merced Insurance FAQs

What factors affect car insurance quotes in Merced?

The factors that car insurance companies take into account when calculating your monthly cost include things you can't control like your age and gender, but also factors like your address, credit score, driving record and marital status, as well as your vehicle's year and make and model.

Why is the cost of car insurance in Merced different from other neighboring cities?

Auto insurance companies consider regional factors, such as local laws, parking situations, and crime rates into account when calculating the monthly rate for coverage. Since these can all vary from city to city the rates you may see can differ from neighboring areas.

Which car insurance company will offer me the cheapest rate in Merced?

Since the factors that car insurance companies take into consideration when calculating the rate you might pay differ from person to person, there is no one insurance company that will offer the cheapest rate to everybody. Things like your driving record, the number of drivers on the policy, and vehicle make and model, plus a number of others, are all taken into account. Because of this, it's a good idea to use sites like Compare.com to compare multiple quotes at once.

Do I need to change my insurance if I move to Merced?

Any major life event, whether it be moving to a new area, finding a new job, getting married, or any other notable event always presents a good opportunity to re-evaluate your current insurance policy. Regardless of your previous rate, there may be cheaper options in your new location, so it's a good idea to use services like Compare.com to compare quotes from dozens of companies side-by-side.

Do I need to wait for my policy to expire to switch to a different car insurance company?

No. You can switch companies at any time, regardless of how long is left on your current policy. So, if you've recently moved to Merced or it's been a while since you last compared car insurance rates, you may want to take 10 minutes and see if Compare.com can save you money.