You have most likely watched the commercials from car insurance companies like GEICO and Nationwide guaranteeing the cheapest rates, so drivers should just pick the one with the catchiest commercial, right?
It’s not that simple, unfortunately, as there are a whole bunch of unknowns such as what liability limits you need, the area where you live, your gender, and if you just need liability coverage. This article goes into detail about the best ways to maintain low rates and will hopefully give you a good start to your coverage search.
Establishing which company quotes the best auto insurance rates for Lyft drivers will require a little more work in order to find the lowest price quote. Every insurance provider uses a little different formula for determining rates, so let’s look at the rankings for the most competitive auto insurance companies in California.
It’s important to understand that California auto insurance rates are based on many factors which can substantially decrease or increase the price you have to pay for coverage. Improving your credit score, having a teen driver, or getting a ticket for running a stop sign can trigger price changes resulting in some companies being more affordable than competitors.
Best Car Insurance Prices for Your Lyft Vehicle
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | USAA | $1,143 |
| 2 | Wawanesa | $1,146 |
| 3 | CSAA | $1,186 |
| 4 | Century National | $1,214 |
| 5 | Nationwide | $1,226 |
| 6 | 21st Century | $1,366 |
| 7 | Grange | $1,447 |
| 8 | GEICO | $1,513 |
| 9 | Allied | $1,541 |
| 10 | Progressive | $1,542 |
| 11 | Mercury | $1,548 |
| 12 | Allstate | $1,559 |
| 13 | The Hartford | $1,575 |
| 14 | MetLife | $1,638 |
| 15 | Esurance | $1,688 |
| 16 | State Farm | $1,699 |
| 17 | Unitrin | $1,733 |
| 18 | Travelers | $1,806 |
| 19 | Bristol West | $1,849 |
| 20 | Farmers | $2,026 |
| Compare Rates Now Go | ||
USAA may offer some of the lowest car insurance rates in Irvine at around $1,143 per year. Wawanesa, CSAA, Century National, and Nationwide also are some of the more affordable Irvine, CA car insurance companies.
As shown in the table above, if you buy coverage from Nationwide and switched to Wawanesa, you might achieve a yearly price reduction of approximately $80. California drivers with 21st Century may save as much as $220 a year, and Grange customers might see rate reductions of $301 a year.
To get a fast rate comparison, click here or visit several of the following companies.
Understand that those premium estimates are averaged for all drivers and vehicles and and are not calculated with an exact location for Lyft drivers. So the car insurance company that fits your needs best may not even be in the top 24 companies shown above. That point stresses why you need to get quotes using your own driver data and vehicle information.
For Lyft vehicles, one of the big criteria that aid in calculating the price you pay for insurance is where your car is garaged in Irvine. Cities with larger populations or higher claim trends tend to have higher auto insurance costs, whereas areas with less people or fewer weather incidents have the benefit of cheaper auto insurance prices.
The table below sorts the most expensive cities in California for Lyft drivers to purchase car insurance in. Irvine is ranked #25 with an annual cost of $1,330 for car insurance, which is about $111 each month.
| Rank | City | Annual Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glendale | $2,142 |
| 2 | Los Angeles | $2,083 |
| 3 | Oakland | $1,738 |
| 4 | Sacramento | $1,703 |
| 5 | San Francisco | $1,693 |
| 6 | Long Beach | $1,610 |
| 7 | Stockton | $1,603 |
| 8 | San Bernardino | $1,596 |
| 9 | Santa Clarita | $1,548 |
| 10 | Modesto | $1,532 |
| 11 | Fontana | $1,519 |
| 12 | Fresno | $1,517 |
| 13 | Garden Grove | $1,508 |
| 14 | Moreno Valley | $1,506 |
| 15 | Riverside | $1,497 |
| 16 | Anaheim | $1,474 |
| 17 | Santa Ana | $1,439 |
| 18 | San Jose | $1,423 |
| 19 | Fremont | $1,403 |
| 20 | Huntington Beach | $1,402 |
| 21 | Bakersfield | $1,381 |
| 22 | Oxnard | $1,358 |
| 23 | San Diego | $1,340 |
| 24 | Chula Vista | $1,337 |
| 25 | Irvine | $1,330 |
| Find Cheaper Rates Go | ||
Price information shown is approximated as the specific area where the vehicle is garaged can change premiums substantially.
The make and model of vehicle driven is probably the most important factor when comparing the most economical insurance for Lyft drivers. Vehicles with lower performance, an excellent safety record, or a low likelihood of having liability claims will cost substantially less to insure than fast, unsafe models.
The list below illustrates coverage costs for a selection of the cheapest automobiles to insure.
| Make, Model, and Trim Level | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Ford Escape XLS 4WD | $674 |
| Volkswagen Jetta S 2.5 Station Wagon | $732 |
| Honda Accord LX-P 4-Dr Sedan | $736 |
| Honda CR-V EX 2WD | $746 |
| Toyota RAV4 Sport 4WD | $798 |
| Toyota Prius | $818 |
| Hyundai Elantra Blue 4-Dr Sedan | $822 |
| Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 2WD | $826 |
| Ford Edge Limited AWD | $838 |
| Toyota Camry XLE | $843 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan CV | $842 |
| Honda Odyssey EX | $850 |
| Toyota Corolla XRS | $854 |
| GMC Sierra 2500HD SLE Crew Cab 4WD | $860 |
| GMC Sierra SLT Crew Cab 2WD | $854 |
| Compare Rates Now Go | |
Data assumes married male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-policy, safe-driver, homeowner, and multi-vehicle. Rate quotes do not factor in specific zip code location which can modify premium rates noticeably.
Based upon the rates shown, we can presume that vehicles like the Ford Escape, Volkswagen Jetta, Honda Accord, and Honda CR-V are likely to be the most economical vehicles to insure for Lyft vehicles.
How accidents and tickets impact rates in Irvine
The obvious way to receive low auto insurance premiums in Irvine for Lyft vehicles is to drive safe and avoid accidents and violations. The information below highlights how speeding tickets and at-fault fender-benders can drive up insurance costs for each age group. The price estimates are based on a married male driver, comp and collision included, $1,000 deductibles, and no policy discounts are applied.
The data charted above shows the average cost of an auto insurance policy in Irvine per year with no accidents and a clean driving record is $1,570. Factor in two speeding tickets and the average cost hikes up to $2,158, an increase of $587 each year. Next add two accidents along with the two speeding tickets and the yearly cost of auto insurance for Lyft drivers jumps again to an average of $4,608. That’s an increase of $3,037, or $253 per month, just for being a less-than-perfect driver!
How to find a good California auto insurance company
Insuring your vehicle with the right car insurance provider can be a challenge considering how many choices there are in California. The ranking information in the next section can help you choose which car insurance providers to look at when shopping your coverage around.
The ratings below are only comprised of companies who write in the majority of U.S. states, so companies that may only write in California will not be included in the list. To check rates from these and other top-rated companies, click this link.
| Company | Value | Customer Service | Claims | Customer Satisfaction | A.M Best Rating | Overall Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USAA | 98 | 100 | 100 | 94% | A++ | 98.6 |
| American Family | 98 | 89 | 100 | 86% | A | 95.4 |
| AAA of Southern California | 91 | 94 | 97 | 92% | A+ | 94.1 |
| State Farm | 88 | 93 | 96 | 90% | A++ | 92.4 |
| The Hartford | 94 | 92 | 90 | 89% | A+ | 91.7 |
| AAA Insurance | 88 | 89 | 95 | 91% | A | 91.2 |
| GEICO | 84 | 93 | 93 | 89% | A++ | 90.3 |
| The General | 89 | 91 | 89 | 88% | A- | 90 |
| Titan Insurance | 90 | 87 | 91 | 95% | A+ | 89.6 |
| Progressive | 84 | 91 | 93 | 87% | A+ | 89.5 |
| Mercury Insurance | 88 | 91 | 90 | 85% | A+ | 89.4 |
| Allstate | 85 | 90 | 92 | 88% | A+ | 89.3 |
| Nationwide | 87 | 88 | 84 | 90% | A+ | 88.7 |
| Liberty Mutual | 84 | 87 | 93 | 88% | A | 88.5 |
| 21st Century | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88% | A | 86.7 |
| Compare Rates Now Go | ||||||
Data Source: Insure.com Best Car Insurance Companies
The importance of shopping around
Irvine, CA auto insurance rates are influenced by many factors which can significantly increase or decrease the cost of a policy. Getting older, buying a home, or getting a DUI may cause policy rate changes resulting in some rates now being more affordable than the competition. Not only may your situation change, but insurance companies modify pricing as often as every three months to ensure their profitability. Significantly higher losses can cause rate increases, while a lower level of claims can produce more affordable Irvine car insurance rates.
To help illustrate this point, the bar chart below compares the cheapest car insurance in Irvine, CA for a 45-year-old male driver with no prior accidents, a clean driving record, and solid credit. When quoting prices based on his personal profile, USAA offers the lowest car insurance rates in Irvine at $1,157 annually. This is $494 less than the average rate paid by California drivers of $1,651. Wawanesa, CSAA, Century National, and Nationwide round out the rest of the cheapest Irvine, CA auto insurance companies.
Now let’s give the driver from above an accident claim, a lower credit rating, and a speeding citation. Since each auto insurance company uses their own method for setting rates, analyzing rates could result in a new list of cheap Irvine auto insurance companies as shown below.
Grange now has the lowest car insurance rate in Irvine with Mercury, Allstate, GEICO, and Progressive also having competitive pricing. This example illustrates why consumers need to take the time to shop around when trying to get affordable insurance rates for Lyft drivers.
Prices are impacted by many different factors and can decrease or increase without notice, so the lowest-price company three years ago may now cost much more than other companies.
How to find budget-friendly insurance for Lyft drivers
The list below details many thrifty ideas that can help Irvine drivers locate cheaper coverage.
- Having at-fault accidents will increase rates
- Pay lower rates with good credit
- Home or renters coverage can save on auto insurance
- Drive a car with a high safety rating
- Save money by only buying liability coverage for older vehicles
- Shop around for lower rates once a year
The last tip in the list is particularly valuable, as we emphasized in the article above. Car insurance rates change constantly, so don’t hesitate to switch to a new company if a cheaper rate is available. Many consumers stick with the same company and that’s fine, but it’s not recommended if that loyalty results in overpaying thousands of dollars over several years. Take a few minutes and compare rates and find cheaper car insurance for Lyft drivers in Irvine.
The agents shown below can probably help you make a decision which coverages are best, since some drivers aren’t sure which coverage they need and prefer to get some guidance when trying to find the best insurance rates for Lyft vehicles. It’s not always easy to find the best policy on your own, so using a licensed agent can add comfort knowing you have adequate coverage if you have an accident or claim.
To find an auto insurance agency by location nearest to you, click the button at the bottom of the list.
- First American Property and Casualty Insurance Agency, Inc.
24 Executive Park Suite 250 – Irvine, CA 92614 – (888) 546-5118 - State Farm: Richard Tay
14210 Culver Dr A – Irvine, CA 92604 – (949) 559-8866 - John Luithly – State Farm Insurance Agent
16277 Laguna Canyon Rd F – Irvine, CA 92618 – (949) 727-4442 - USG Insurance Services-California
100 Pacifica Suite 340 – Irvine, CA 92618 – (800) 886-3897