We’ve compiled some cheap auto insurance rates for females, ages 35-55 in the Golden State

Waiting for a light in NoCal.

Trying to find cheap car insurance in California?  You’ve come to the right place.  If you’re a female driver between the ages of 35-55, you’re in luck.  Don’t fall into that category?  No problem.  Check out our article on cheapest car insurance in California.

It’s pretty hard to get quotes from 40+ insurers in the State.  Why call all those companies when you could be at the beach?  But rest easy.  We’ve done the hard work for you.

We compiled the best rates for female drivers who are clean according to the California Department of Insurance.  That means female drivers, ages 35-55 who haven’t had any accidents or tickets for the last 3 years. In addition these rates only show prices for liability coverage.  Another caveat: it’s just a sample rate from five different areas in the state – it’s not a comprehensive price comparison from all areas.

Still, every driver is different.  What you see below is a sample of female drivers ages 35-55.  Prices listed are NOT the same as the price you will receive from the companies below, even if you just get liability coverage. In addition, these are NOT actual quotes.  This is a general guide to help you shop for the best car insurance rate in California.

I hope it’s helpful.

Rates collected in 2007-2008.
All data is courtesy of the California Department of Insurance.
For more information, view our Disclosure.

Does an outstanding car insurance quote experience equal a great company for the next six months?

Question: Was getting a Progressive car insurance quote that easy?

Answer: Absolutely.

After grabbing some quotes from a few different insurance companies, I jumped on Progressive’s website. Five minutes later, I had a quote staring me in the face. It was the quickest and simplest quote experience I’ve ever had. Their website interface was the best I’ve seen – period.

I’m not alone in my assessment. In 2007, Progressive.com won the Webby People’s Choice Award for the best insurance website. From what I’ve seen, they deserved it.

Still, a quote is just the first step. Committing hard-earned dollars to Progressive so they can insure my cars for the next 6 months – that’ another story entirely. They may have a solid ‘first interaction’, but it’s worth it to check out other variables before buying a policy.

About the Company

Progressive Corporation (PGR) sells insurance for cars, motorcycles, boats, and RVs. In 2008, they were #175 on the Fortune’s 500 with over $14 billion annual revenue. Progressive is located in Mayfield Village, Ohio. They recently became the official car insurance company of the Cleveland Indians baseball franchise.

Progressive sells to consumers in two ways. For one, they market directly to consumers via the internet and their toll-free number. Second, they sell through independent agents. You may have noticed Progressive’s white SUVs driving the highways. Their Immediate Response Vehicles (IRVs) are supposed to come to policyholders if they ever have an auto claim. It’s a nice touch for a company without an army of Progressive-only agents.

Progressive is a financially strong company. According to independent rating agency AM Best, Progressive carries an ‘A+’ or ‘Superior’ rating.  They are a stable company and should be around for years to come.

Getting a Progressive Quote

Even though I was impressed with their website, I still wanted to call Progressive on the phone. As usual, I recommend doing what I did. First off, I grabbed an online quote with the same coverages as my current policy. It was a good price. Next, I called them up to see if they would say anything different.

When I called, I got right through to Francis in Austin, Texas. According to Francis, Progressive also has call centers in Sacramento, California, Cleveland, Ohio, and Tampa, Florida. He confirmed what they advertise online: 24/7 sales, service and claims support. If I had an accident in the middle of the night, I may not get someone in Austin, but I would talk to someone from Progressive in short order.

As for their claims service, I’ve never carried Progressive Insurance, so I can’t speak from personal experience. However, I surveyed a few big departments of insurance around the country. Progressive seems to have an average complaint ratio. They even track claim progress online – an impressive feature. Chances are good my claim would be handled fairly with Progressive.

Progressive Positives: Easy & Affordable

Progressive offers a virtually-frictionless car insurance transaction at their website. If you’re comfortable giving out your credit card online, then you got yourself a policy in a matter of minutes.

In my case, they were also very affordable. Compared to my current State Farm policy, I stand to save over $500 a year if I switch to Progressive – not chump change by any stretch. However, they tack on an additional $70 every period if I pay monthly. I didn’t like that part.

Progressive Negative: Car Insurance As A Commodity

As nice as Francis was on the phone, he did not go over my coverages with me on the phone. I’ve sold policies before, so I don’t need him to review everything. But Francis didn’t know that. I expect any insurance agent to get a little financial info from prospects to know what coverages to recommend. That’s their job, and Progressive failed that test.

To me, Progressive gets so many things right, but they fail on a basic level. They are an insurance company. If they don’t know what I have, how do they know $50,000 in liability coverage is enough? The fact is they don’t. If they took a few more minutes and asked some questions about my financial situation, they would be able to advise me accordingly.

What’s the Verdict: Will I Switch to Progressive?

I’m still in the process of shopping for car insurance, so I haven’t bought a policy yet. However, Progressive is near the top of the heap. Their easy, affordable, and simple interface calmed my fears about their ability to process a claim. I would have appreciated a little more hand-holding during my phone call, but that’s what Progressive does: lots of easy policies. That may work for you.

Right now, I’m still researching.

Quote Process: 10
(Scale 1-10: 10=the best)

Price: 8
(Scale 1-10: 10=Cheapest)

Customer Service: 7
(Scale 1-10: 10=the best)

Claims: *
(Scale 1-10: 10=the best)

Overall Rating: 8
(Scale 1-10: 10=the best)

Anything to add? Leave a comment about your experience with Progressive or write your own review.

9 Questions To Ask When Getting a Quote:
save money with hidden discounts – including 1 secret discount.

You can save a bag of cash by getting auto insurance discounts.

Who doesn’t what to save money on their car insurance? I know I do. One of the best ways to save some cash on your auto insurance is through car insurance discounts.

Every company offers car insurance discounts. However, not every company offers the same ones. That’s why it’s important to be prepared when getting a quote. You don’t want to give your auto insurance company any more money than you have to.

I’ve prepared a list of questions to ask each prospective insurer so you get the most discounts possible. Ask each car insurance company the appropriate questions whenever you get a quote from them…

Question 1:
I’m a safe driver. Can I get a discount?

Some companies call this one a ‘Safe Driver Discount.’ It’s big. If you stay clean with no at-fault accidents and no tickets, you will have better rates on your auto insurance. Savings could be 10-50%, depending on how many incidents you have. Stay safe and you’ll enjoy keeping that extra cash. But don’t forget to shop your policy every 18-24 months. You could still be losing a lot of money with an expensive carrier, even if you’re a safe driver.

Question 2:
Do you offer a multiple car (multi-car) discount?

If you only have one car to insure, you can skip this one. But if there are multiple cars in your household, then make sure you mention it. Most agents will automatically add this discount to your policy, but it never hurts to ask. It can be a 10-25% discount. And if they don’t offer it, let me know in the comments – every auto insurance company should.

Question 3:
Do you offer a multiple policy (multi-line) discount?

This is another big one. If you carry more than one policy with your insurer, you can usually get a discount on your car insurance. This is also true for other policies. For instance, if you pick up an auto policy AND a homeowners policy from State Farm, you could get a 10% discount on each policy. Sometimes it pays to keep both car insurance and renters/condo/homeowners policy at the same place.

Question 4:
What about my Defensive Driving or Driver Education?

Most auto insurance companies offer a discount for taking defensive driving. Percentages vary between insurers. Regardless, if you’ve taken a driver safety course recently, then make sure your company gets a copy of the certificate.

Question 5:
Do you have a discount for my job (teacher, engineer, etc.)?

Car insurance is a numbers game. Actuaries sit behind desks with calculators and reams of data to determine which people have lower risk versus other people. Each car insurance company does it differently – but some companies have determined your job can lower your risk for an accident. Ask your potential insurer if your job gives you better rates.

Question 6:
Do you offer discounts for staying with your car insurance company?

Auto insurance companies love long-term customers. In fact, they love them so much, they offer discounts to keep them. Companies call it a longevity discount. The longer you’re insured with somebody, the more discount you can accrue. This one is tricky – sometimes you can lose longevity discounts if you have too many at-fault accidents or tickets. So be careful.

Question 7:
I’m a student or college graduate. Does that count for anything?

It depends. Many high school and college students get a discount for maintaining a 3.0 GPA. That’s good news for good students. Plus, sometimes college graduates get an additional discount for the sheepskin on the wall. Every company is different, but it’s worth asking if you spent time in school.

Question 8:
Can I get a discount for my student away at school?

If you have a child who is rated on one of your vehicles, and they are at school – not driving the car – you could be eligible for a discount on your car insurance. Talk to your agent when they quote your auto insurance. Make sure you’re not paying for your student who isn’t driving the car.

Question 9:
A ‘Secret’ Discount – Can I get credit for the months I don’t drive?

If you put your car in storage for part of the year, your auto insurance company may be able to suspend most coverages on your auto policy. For instance, you may live in Arizona during the winter, but you leave a car back in Minnesota. Make sure you call to request suspension of coverage for the Minnesota car. Some insurers will grant the request – if they don’t, you may consider shopping around for one that does.

There are other discounts available for newer cars, or cars with special safety features. However, you usually don’t have to ask about those. Typically the company will rate a vehicle-specific discount when you provide the year, make, model & VIN. Now that you’re armed with the discounts available, go get a better rate on your auto insurance.

Did I miss any big discounts?
Leave a comment if you’re getting a different one and which company you have.