The words “low-cost” and “auto insurance” probably shouldn’t be used in the same sentence, especially when comparison shopping for the lowest insurance prices for drivers with accidents. Because it’s not cheap, let’s familiarize you with a few of the factors that have an impact on car insurance rates, and find a few ways to reduce the cost of your next policy.
Trying to buy low-priced car insurance is not the easiest thing to accomplish, and determining which company has the best insurance rates for drivers with accidents involves more quotes for comparison.
Every insurance company uses a different method for determining prices, so we need to take a look at the overall cheapest insurance companies in Irvine, CA. It’s a good idea to be aware that California insurance rates are determined by lots of factors that may substantially change the price you have to pay. Things like having a birthday, increasing deductibles, or getting into an accident can cause premium changes resulting in some rates now being more expensive than competitors.
Find Cheaper Car Insurance for Accident Prone Drivers
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | USAA | $1,155 |
| 2 | Century National | $1,190 |
| 3 | Wawanesa | $1,192 |
| 4 | CSAA | $1,234 |
| 5 | Nationwide | $1,263 |
| 6 | 21st Century | $1,325 |
| 7 | Grange | $1,491 |
| 8 | Mercury | $1,533 |
| 9 | Allied | $1,541 |
| 10 | Allstate | $1,543 |
| 11 | Progressive | $1,558 |
| 12 | GEICO | $1,559 |
| 13 | The Hartford | $1,591 |
| 14 | MetLife | $1,654 |
| 15 | Esurance | $1,688 |
| 16 | Unitrin | $1,733 |
| 17 | State Farm | $1,750 |
| 18 | Bristol West | $1,795 |
| 19 | Travelers | $1,860 |
| 20 | Farmers | $2,006 |
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USAA has some of the most affordable car insurance rates in Irvine at around $1,155 each year. Century National, Wawanesa, CSAA, and Nationwide also make the cut as some of the cheapest Irvine, CA car insurance companies.
As depicted above, if you are currently insured with Nationwide and switched to Century National, you could earn annual savings of around $73. California drivers with 21st Century could save as much as $135 a year, and Grange customers might reduce prices by as much as $301 a year.
It’s important to note that these policy rates are averages for all ages of drivers and types of vehicles and do not take into consideration an exact vehicle garaging location for drivers with accidents. So the car insurance company that fits your needs best may not even be in the list above. That emphasizes why you need to compare prices as often as possible using your own specific driver and vehicle information.
One of the more important things that are looked at to help calculate the price you pay for insurance is your address in Irvine. Areas with high crime rates or more dense population are more likely to pay higher prices, whereas more rural areas get the luxury of paying less.
The following table shows the most expensive places in California for drivers with accidents to buy an auto insurance policy in. Irvine is listed at #23 costing $1,343 for coverage, which is approximately $112 each month.
| Rank | City | Premium Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles | $2,168 |
| 2 | Glendale | $2,079 |
| 3 | San Francisco | $1,763 |
| 4 | Oakland | $1,755 |
| 5 | Sacramento | $1,720 |
| 6 | San Bernardino | $1,644 |
| 7 | Long Beach | $1,626 |
| 8 | Santa Clarita | $1,580 |
| 9 | Stockton | $1,556 |
| 10 | Garden Grove | $1,554 |
| 11 | Fontana | $1,535 |
| 12 | Moreno Valley | $1,506 |
| 13 | Modesto | $1,502 |
| 14 | Riverside | $1,497 |
| 15 | Anaheim | $1,488 |
| 16 | Fresno | $1,457 |
| 17 | Santa Ana | $1,439 |
| 18 | San Jose | $1,395 |
| 19 | Bakersfield | $1,381 |
| 20 | Huntington Beach | $1,374 |
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Annual rates are approximated as the vehicle garaging location can alter premium rates substantially.
The type of vehicle on the policy is probably the biggest factor when comparing quotes for the best auto insurance for drivers with accidents. Vehicles with lots of horsepower, poor safety features, or a history of substantial liability claims will cost substantially more to insure than more modest models.
The next list illustrates auto insurance premiums for the most affordable automobiles to insure.
| Make, Model, and Trim Level | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Ford Escape XLS 2WD | $2,135 |
| Honda CR-V LX 2WD | $2,235 |
| Honda Accord LX-P 4-Dr Sedan | $2,269 |
| Volkswagen Jetta S 2.5 Station Wagon | $2,405 |
| Toyota Prius | $2,467 |
| Honda Odyssey LX | $2,476 |
| Ford Focus S 4-Dr Sedan | $2,506 |
| Ford F-150 XL Super Cab 4WD | $2,511 |
| Toyota RAV4 2WD | $2,531 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 2WD | $2,539 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan Hero | $2,531 |
| GMC Sierra SLE Crew Cab 2WD | $2,541 |
| Chevrolet Malibu LT | $2,559 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LT 2WD | $2,646 |
| Toyota Camry LE | $2,653 |
| Ford Edge Limited AWD | $2,664 |
| Ford Explorer Limited 4WD | $2,674 |
| Compare Cheap Rates Go | |
Data assumes single male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, two at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, multi-vehicle, and homeowner. Rate quotes do not factor in specific location information which can lower or raise premiums considerably.
Looking at the rates, you can presume that models like the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, and Honda Accord are most likely to be a few of the more affordable vehicles to insure for drivers with at-fault accidents. The price for car insurance will tend to be more expensive just because there is a higher risk for drivers with accidents, but overall those vehicles will tend to have the best insurance prices available.
How to get discounts on Irvine insurance
Car insurance companies that sell policies for drivers with accidents may provide discounts that can lower rates by as much as 30% if you are eligible for them. A list of insurance companies and the discounts they provide are outlined below.
- GEICO may have discounts that include daytime running lights, anti-theft, five-year accident-free, seat belt use, driver training, good student, and membership and employees.
- USAA includes discounts for new vehicle, military installation, family discount, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, safe driver, and loyalty savings.
- Progressive offers discounts including good student, multi-policy, homeowner, continuous coverage, and multi-vehicle.
- American Family discounts include accident-free, good driver, early bird, defensive driver, and mySafetyValet.
- Esurance has savings for multi-policy, paid-in-full, multi-car, good student, online shopper, renters, and safety device.
- Farmers Insurance may include discounts for switch companies, alternative fuel, pay in full, bundle discounts, youthful driver, distant student, and early shopping.
- State Farm has discounts for student away at school, good student, accident-free, safe vehicle, and multiple autos.
The example below visualizes the comparison of insurance prices with and without discounts applied to the rates. The premiums assume a male driver, two accidents and no traffic tickets, California state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $1,000 deductibles.
The first bar for each age group shows the price with no discounts. The lower bar shows the rates with marriage, paid-in-full, homeowner, paperless filing, continuous coverage, and passive restraint discounts applied. When drivers qualify for the discounts, theamount saved on insurance for drivers with accidents is 29% or $1,312.
Careless drivers pay higher rates
One of the best ways to maintain affordable insurance premiums in California for drivers with at-fault accidents is to be a cautious driver and maintain a clean driving record. The information below demonstrates how speeding tickets and accidents raise insurance rates for different categories of driver ages. The price estimates are based on a single male driver, full physical damage coverage, $100 deductibles, and no discounts are applied.
The data in the chart shows the average cost of a car insurance policy in California per year with no accidents and a clean driving record is $3,385. Add in one speeding ticket and the average cost hikes up to $3,814, an increase of $429 each year. Now add in one accident along with the one speeding ticket and the 12-month cost of insurance for drivers with accidents jumps again to an average of $5,041. That’s an increase of $1,657, or $138 per month, just for not driving safely!
The importance of shopping around
California insurance rates are determined by lots of factors which can significantly increase or decrease the price you pay for coverage. Turning one year older, having a teen driver, or getting caught speeding can produce rate changes resulting in some rates now being more affordable than competitors. Not only may your risk profile change, but car insurance companies change premium rates every year to help ensure profitability. Heavier than normal losses can result in more expensive prices, while lower claim expenses can result in cheaper Irvine car insurance rates.
For example, the data below demonstrates which company has the cheapest car insurance in Irvine, CA for a 45-year-old male driver with no accidents or violations, and excellent credit. If we estimate rates based on his personal risk profile, USAA offers the cheapest car insurance rates in Irvine at $1,183 a year. This is $468 less than the average premium paid by California drivers of $1,651. CSAA, Wawanesa, Century National, and Nationwide round out the rest of the cheapest Irvine, CA auto insurance companies.
Now let’s give the driver from the first rate comparison a chargeable claim, bad credit, and an imperfect driving record. Because every insurance company uses their own calculation for filing rates in each state, analyzing rates will most likely result in a new list of the cheapest car insurance companies in Irvine as shown below.
Grange now has the best car insurance rate in Irvine, CA with Mercury, Allstate, Allied, and Progressive completing the list. This example demonstrates why it is critical to take the time to shop around when trying to get cheap insurance quotes for drivers with accidents. Insurance rates are made up of many factors and can change without notice, so the cheapest rate when you last compared rates may now be one of the more expensive options.
If you like to have the advice of a professional agent when buying car insurance for drivers with accidents, the agents below can provide answers to your questions and help you determine which coverages and limits you need. To locate an Irvine car insurance agency close to you, click the button following the list.
Lockton Insurance Brokers
19800 MacArthur Blvd #1250 – Irvine, CA 92612 – (949) 252-4400
Ken LaTourette – State Farm Insurance Agent
1032 Irvine Blvd – Tustin, CA 92780 – (714) 544-3779
Mike Stitt – State Farm Insurance Agent
17452 Irvine Blvd #208 – Tustin, CA 92780 – (714) 544-4717
Blackwell Insurance
23002 Lake Center Dr – Lake Forest, CA 92630 – (949) 421-0222
Roger Stone Insurance Agency
5015 Birch St – Newport Beach, CA 92660 – (949) 757-0270
Find an Irvine, CA insurance agent near you
How to find cheaper insurance for drivers with accidents
It is possible to find better rates, and here are many thrifty ideas that can help Irvine drivers quote more affordable auto insurance.
- Maintain a safe distance and avoid accidents
- Raise deductibles to save money
- Bundle car and home insurance and save money
- Avoid getting citations and tickets
- Improve your credit rating
- Discounts for being claim-free can be substantial
- Compare prices as often as possible
The last suggestion is extremely significant, as was emphasized in this article. Prices charged by companies can be changed at any time, so drivers shouldn’t hesitate to buy from a new company if a cheaper rate is available. Having a favorite company is great, but it’s not a good idea if that loyalty ends up costing a lot of money every month. In just a couple of minutes you could compare prices to find cheaper insurance for drivers with accidents in Irvine.