It’s amazing but most auto insurance customers have purchased from the same company for at least four years, and approximately 38% of consumers have never compared rates to find lower-cost insurance. Consumers in California could cut their rates by $500 a year just by getting comparison quotes, but they won’t spend time to shop around.
The recommended way to save money on car insurance rates is to compare quotes once a year from companies who can sell car insurance in Irvine.
Step 1: Try to learn about policy coverages and the factors you can control to prevent expensive coverage. Many things that cause high rates like speeding tickets, accidents and an imperfect credit rating can be improved by making minor changes to your lifestyle.
Step 2: Compare price quotes from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Exclusive agents and direct companies can provide rates from a single company like GEICO or Allstate, while agents who are independent can give you price quotes from multiple sources. View prices
Step 3: Compare the new rate quotes to the price on your current policy to see if you can save by switching companies. If you can save money and switch companies, make sure the effective date of the new policy is the same as the expiration date of the old one.
Step 4: Notify your company or agent of your intention to cancel your current policy. Submit a completed application and payment to the newly selected company. Immediately upon receiving it, keep your new certificate verifying coverage in your vehicle’s glove compartment or console.
A tip to remember is to try to use identical coverage information on each quote request and and to get quotes from all possible companies. This enables a fair rate comparison and the most accurate and complete price analysis.
Determine discounts to get cheap Irvine insurance rates
Insurance is expensive, but discounts can save money and there are some available to cut the cost considerably. A few discounts will be applied when you quote, but some need to be asked for before being credited. If they aren’t giving you every credit you qualify for, you are paying more than you should be.
- Multiple Vehicles – Buying insurance for several vehicles with one company can reduce the rates for all insured vehicles.
- Early Switch Discount – Some insurance companies give discounts for switching companies before your current coverage expires. This discount can save up to 10%.
- No Claims – Claim-free drivers can earn big discounts as compared to accident-prone drivers.
- Theft Prevention Discount – Cars with anti-theft systems prevent vehicle theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
- Own a Home – Owning a house in Irvine can save you money due to the fact that maintaining a home is proof that your finances are in order.
- Driver’s Ed – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to successfully complete driver’s ed class in school.
- Pay Early and Save – By making one initial payment rather than paying monthly you could save 5% or more.
- Federal Employees – Active or former government employment may reduce rates when you quote Irvine auto insurance with certain companies.
It’s important to understand that most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. Just because it seems like all those discounts means the company will pay you, companies wouldn’t make money that way. Any qualifying discounts should definitely cut the premium cost.
The information below compares Chevy Colorado auto insurance costs with and without discounts applied to the rates. The premiums are based on a female driver, no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, California state minimum liability limits, full physical damage coverage, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with homeowner, multi-car, safe-driver, claim-free, marriage, and multi-policy discounts applied.
Large insurance companies and some of the discounts are:
- GEICO includes discounts for seat belt use, multi-vehicle, daytime running lights, membership and employees, anti-theft, and defensive driver.
- MetLife may include discounts for good driver, defensive driver, multi-policy, claim-free, good student, accident-free
- Progressive offers discounts for online signing, homeowner, good student, online quote discount, multi-vehicle, continuous coverage, and multi-policy.
- Travelers may have discounts that include driver training, hybrid/electric vehicle, IntelliDrive, multi-car, new car, payment discounts, and home ownership.
- SAFECO has discounts for bundle discounts, drive less, anti-theft, accident prevention training, homeowner, anti-lock brakes, and safe driver.
- AAA offers discounts including pay-in-full, anti-theft, education and occupation, multi-car, AAA membership discount, and good driver.
If you are trying to find affordable Irvine auto insurance quotes, ask every insurance company to apply every possible discount. Some credits might not be offered in Irvine. To see providers that offer some of these discounts in Irvine, follow this link.
The companies in the list below can provide free rate quotes in Irvine, CA. If multiple companies are listed, it’s highly recommended you click on several of them in order to find the most affordable rates.
Analysis of coverages
The table displayed next showcases detailed analysis of insurance premium costs for Chevy Colorado models. Understanding how insurance prices are determined is important to be able to make smart choices when purchasing an auto insurance policy.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado LT 2WD | $242 | $554 | $464 | $28 | $138 | $1,426 | $119 |
| Colorado LT Extended Cab 2WD | $284 | $672 | $464 | $28 | $138 | $1,586 | $132 |
| Colorado LT 4WD | $284 | $554 | $394 | $24 | $118 | $1,374 | $115 |
| Colorado LT Crew Cab 2WD | $284 | $672 | $464 | $28 | $138 | $1,586 | $132 |
| Colorado LT Extended Cab 4WD | $284 | $554 | $394 | $24 | $118 | $1,374 | $115 |
| Colorado LT Crew Cab 4WD | $326 | $672 | $394 | $24 | $118 | $1,534 | $128 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Price data assumes married female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, claim-free, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, and homeowner. Rates do not factor in specific location information which can modify rates considerably.
Physical damage deductibles
The hardest decision when buying coverage is how high should the deductibles for physical damage be. The comparison tables below highlight the rate fluctuation when you choose different policy deductibles. The first rate table uses a $250 deductible for comprehensive and collision coverage and the second price grid uses a $1,000 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado LT 2WD | $254 | $472 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,351 | $113 |
| Colorado LT Extended Cab 2WD | $298 | $576 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,499 | $125 |
| Colorado LT 4WD | $298 | $472 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,305 | $109 |
| Colorado LT Crew Cab 2WD | $298 | $576 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,499 | $125 |
| Colorado LT Extended Cab 4WD | $298 | $472 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,305 | $109 |
| Colorado LT Crew Cab 4WD | $342 | $576 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,453 | $121 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado LT 2WD | $156 | $298 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,054 | $88 |
| Colorado LT Extended Cab 2WD | $184 | $362 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,146 | $96 |
| Colorado LT 4WD | $184 | $298 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $992 | $83 |
| Colorado LT Crew Cab 2WD | $184 | $362 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,146 | $96 |
| Colorado LT Extended Cab 4WD | $184 | $298 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $992 | $83 |
| Colorado LT Crew Cab 4WD | $210 | $362 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,082 | $90 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Data based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, multi-policy, homeowner, multi-vehicle, and claim-free. Premium costs do not factor in specific location which can affect premium rates greatly.
Based on this data, we can arrive at the conclusion that using a $250 deductible costs an average of $28 more each month or $336 a year than selecting the higher $1,000 deductible. Because you would be required to pay $750 more to settle a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you normally go more than 27 months between claims, you would come out ahead if you opt for a higher deductible.
Liability only or full coverage
The diagram below illustrates the comparison of Chevy Colorado insurance costs with full physical damage coverage and with liability coverage only. The price estimates are based on no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no additional discounts are factored in.
Should you buy full coverage or liability only?
There is no specific rule that works best for making the decision to drop comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, but there is a guideline you can consider. If the yearly cost for physical damage coverage is more than about 10% of replacement cost minus your deductible, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.
For example, let’s say your Chevy Colorado replacement value is $8,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, the most you would get paid by your company is $7,000 after paying your deductible. If premiums are more than $700 annually for full coverage, then you might want to think about dropping full coverage.
There are some situations where removing full coverage is not a good idea. If you still have a loan on your vehicle, you have to carry full coverage to satisfy the loan requirements. Also, if your savings is not enough to buy a different vehicle in the even your car is totaled, you should not buy liability only.
Everyone needs different insurance coverages
Always keep in mind that when comparing insurance from an agent or online, there is no perfect coverage plan. You are unique so your insurance needs to address that.
For example, these questions might help in determining whether or not you might need an agent’s assistance.
- Will damage be repaired with OEM parts?
- Why do I have to buy liability insurance?
- What does roadside assistance cover?
- What is high-risk coverage and where do I buy it?
- Should I waive the damage coverage when renting a car?
- What can I do if my company denied a claim?
- Are rock chip repairs covered?
If you can’t answer these questions then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It is quick, free and can provide invaluable advice.
Independent or exclusive insurance agents
Some consumers prefer to buy from a local agent and doing so can bring peace of mind Insurance agents are very good at helping people manage risk and help in the event of a claim. An additional benefit of comparing auto insurance online is you may find cheaper premium rates and still have a local agent. Buying insurance from neighborhood insurance agencies is important especially in Irvine.
To find an agent, once you fill out this form (opens in new window), your insurance data gets sent to local insurance agents in Irvine that provide free Irvine auto insurance quotes for your insurance coverage. It’s much easier because you don’t need to search for an agent because quoted prices will be sent immediately to your email address. In the event you want to get a comparison quote from one company in particular, you can always find their quoting web page and complete a quote there.
If you want a reputable insurance agent or broker, there are two types of insurance agents and how they operate. Insurance agencies in Irvine are considered either independent agents or exclusive agents depending on their employer. Both insure your vehicles properly, but it’s worth mentioning the difference in how they write coverage since it can impact the selection process.
Independent Auto Insurance Agencies or Brokers
These type of agents can quote rates with many companies and that allows them to write policies amongst many companies and find the cheapest auto insurance rates. If your agent finds better pricing, they simply move the coverage in-house and you can keep the same agent.
When comparing auto insurance rates, it’s a good idea to include rate quotes from several independent agencies to have the most options to choose from. Most independent agents also contract with different regional companies who may have lower rates.
Below is a short list of independent agencies in Irvine that can give you competitive price quotes.
- KCAL Insurance Agency (Irvine)
14795 Jeffrey Rd – Irvine, CA 92618 – (949) 786-6888 – View Map - Isu Insurance Services Irvine
18022 Cowan Ste 225 – Irvine, CA 92614 – (949) 419-2100 – View Map - Tustin Insurance Agency
17621 Irvine Blvd #112 – Tustin, CA 92780 – (714) 838-1704 – View Map
Exclusive Insurance Agencies
Agents that elect to be exclusive generally can only insure with one company such as Farmers Insurance or State Farm. They are unable to give you multiple price quotes so it’s a take it or leave it situation. Exclusive agents are usually quite knowledgeable in insurance sales which aids in selling service over price. Some people will only buy insurance from these agents mainly due to the brand and solid financial strength.
Listed below are Irvine exclusive agents who can help you get rate quotes.
- Allstate Insurance: Jeff Adams
4860 Irvine Blvd Ste 206 – Irvine, CA 92620 – (714) 505-2457 – View Map - Steven Wang – State Farm Insurance Agent
15333 Culver Dr #130 – Irvine, CA 92604 – (949) 552-3600 – View Map - Farmers Insurance – Berdy Gonzalez-Lubnau
41 Corporate Park #240 – Irvine, CA 92606 – (714) 263-2623 – View Map
Picking the best insurance agent shouldn’t rely on just a low price. These are some questions you should get answers to.
- Are claim adjusters local or do you have to take your car somewhere else?
- If you raise deductibles, how much can you save?
- Can they provide you with a list of referrals?
- Will high miles depreciate repair valuations?
- Which companies can they place coverage with?
- Do they make recommendations based only on price?
- Will the quote change when the policy is issued?
- How is replacement cost determined on your vehicle?
Upon getting acceptable answers for all questions you ask as well as cheaper Colorado insurance quotes, you may have found a car insurance agent that will provide auto insurance coverage.
Final considerations
Low-cost Chevy Colorado insurance in Irvine is possible online as well as from insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance providers may not have online quoting and these smaller providers work with local independent agents.
We’ve covered some good ideas how you can shop for Chevy Colorado insurance online. The key thing to remember is the more companies you get car insurance rates for, the better your comparison will be. Drivers may even discover the biggest savings come from some of the smallest insurance companies. They may cover specific market segments cheaper than the large multi-state companies such as Progressive or GEICO.
Additional insurance information can be read at the links below
- Can I Drive Legally without Insurance? (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has Cheap Car Insurance Quotes for Immigrants in Irvine? (FAQ)
- How Much are Irvine Car Insurance Quotes for a Toyota Tacoma? (FAQ)
- How Much are Irvine Auto Insurance Quotes for Drivers with Good Credit? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Rates for Uninsured Drivers in Irvine? (FAQ)
- When is the Right Time to Switch Car Insurance Companies? (Allstate)
- Auto Theft Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
- Airbag FAQ (iihs.org)