Remarkably, a study showed that nearly 70% of California drivers kept buying from the same company for more than four years, and approximately 40% of consumers have never even shopped around for cheap coverage. The average driver in the U.S. can cut their rates by about $850 a year by just shopping around, but most just don’t grasp the rate savings if they switch to a new company.
If saving the most money is your goal, then the best way to find affordable auto insurance rates in Irvine is to regularly compare prices from providers who provide auto insurance in California.
- Step 1: Read about what is in your policy and the modifications you can make to prevent rate increases. Many rating factors that drive up the price such as traffic violations and an unacceptable credit rating can be remedied by making lifestyle changes or driving safer. Continue reading for additional tips to get cheaper coverage and get discounts that may be overlooked.
- Step 2: Quote rates from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Exclusive and direct companies can only provide price estimates from a single company like GEICO or Allstate, while independent agents can give you price quotes for a wide range of companies.
- Step 3: Compare the price quotes to the premium of your current policy to see if switching to a new carrier will save money. If you find better rates and switch companies, make sure coverage is continuous and does not lapse.
- Step 4: Tell your current company to cancel your existing policy and submit payment along with a signed and completed policy application for the new policy. Once received, keep the new certificate verifying proof of insurance in your vehicle’s glove compartment or console.
A crucial key to this process is that you use identical deductibles and limits on every price quote and and to get prices from as many different companies as possible. Doing this provides a fair price comparison and many rates to choose from.
Companies offering Acura RDX insurance in California
The companies shown below offer price comparisons in Irvine, CA. If your goal is to find cheap car insurance in California, it’s highly recommended you visit several of them in order to find the lowest rates.
Coverage analysis
The premium table below covers different coverage costs for Acura RDX models. Being aware of how insurance premiums are established can assist in making smart choices when purchasing an auto insurance policy.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RDX 2WD | $342 | $576 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,428 | $119 |
| RDX AWD | $342 | $576 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,428 | $119 |
| RDX Technology Package 2WD | $386 | $678 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,574 | $131 |
| RDX Technology Package AWD | $386 | $678 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,574 | $131 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Data variables include married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, homeowner, safe-driver, claim-free, and multi-vehicle. Price information does not factor in specific garaging location which can revise insurance rates significantly.
Deductible analysis
When buying insurance, a common question is which deductibles should you choose. The figures shown below can help show the cost difference when you buy lower versus higher deductibles. The first pricing table uses a $100 deductible and the second price table uses a $1,000 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RDX 2WD | $380 | $686 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,601 | $133 |
| RDX AWD | $380 | $686 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,601 | $133 |
| RDX Technology Package 2WD | $430 | $810 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,775 | $148 |
| RDX Technology Package AWD | $430 | $810 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,775 | $148 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RDX 2WD | $210 | $362 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,082 | $90 |
| RDX AWD | $210 | $362 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,082 | $90 |
| RDX Technology Package 2WD | $238 | $426 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,174 | $98 |
| RDX Technology Package AWD | $238 | $426 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,174 | $98 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Prices above based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, safe-driver, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, and claim-free. Information does not factor in specific Irvine garaging location which can alter coverage prices considerably.
Using the data above, we can ascertain that using a $100 deductible costs about $47 more each month or $564 a year across all Acura RDX models than requesting the higher $1,000 deductible. Because you would pay $900 more out-of-pocket with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you tend to have at least 19 months between claims, you would probably be better off if you choose the higher deductible.
How to calculate when to raise deductibles
| Average monthly premium for $100 deductibles: | $141 |
| Average monthly premium for $1,000 deductibles (subtract): | – $94 |
| Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $47 |
| Difference between deductibles ($1,000 – $100): | $900 |
| Divide difference by monthly savings: | $900 / $47 |
| Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 19 months |
One important caveat is that a higher deductible level results in a higher out-of-pocket expense when you do file a claim. That will require enough money put aside in the event you need to pay the higher deductible in order to repair your vehicle.
The example below illustrates how your choice of deductibles and can affect Acura RDX premium costs for different age categories. The premiums are based on a single male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no discounts are applied.
Driving violations and accidents
The illustration below highlights how traffic violations and accidents influence Acura RDX premium costs for different age groups. The premiums are based on a single male driver, full coverage, $100 deductibles, and no discounts are applied.
Difference between full coverage and liability only rates
The information below shows the difference between Acura RDX insurance rates with and without physical damage coverage, medical payments, and uninsured/under-insured motorist coverage. The rates are based on no violations or claims, $100 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no other discounts are factored in.
When to drop comprehensive and collision coverage
There isn’t a written rule to drop physical damage insurance, but there is a general guideline. If the annual cost of coverage is more than about 10% of the replacement cost of your vehicle minus the policy deductible, then it might be time to buy liability only.
For example, let’s say your Acura RDX settlement value is $5,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, the most your company will settle for is $4,000 after paying the physical damage deductible. If premium cost is more than $400 a year to have full coverage, then you might want to consider buying only liability coverage.
There are a few cases where eliminating full coverage is not financially feasible. If you still owe a portion of the original loan, you are required to maintain full coverage to protect the lienholder’s interest in the vehicle. Also, if you don’t have enough money to buy a different vehicle in the even your car is totaled, you should not eliminate full coverage.
How to Lower Your Insurance Prices
The best way to find cheaper car insurance is to take a look at a few of the rating criteria that are used to determine car insurance rates. When consumers understand what determines base rates, this helps enable you to make changes that may reward you with cheaper rates.
The factors shown below are most of the major factors used by insurance companies to determine your rate level.
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Lower rates come with age – Beginning drivers in California have been known to be more careless with other occupants in the car therefore car insurance rates are much higher. Older insureds tend to be more responsible, cause fewer claims and accidents, and get fewer tickets.
The data below is based on a single driver, full coverage with $100 deductibles, and no discounts or violations.
- Do you have enough liability? – The liability coverage on your policy will afford coverage if you are found to be at fault for physical damage or personal injury to other. It provides for a legal defense starting from day one. This coverage is relatively inexpensive when compared with rates for comp and collision, so drivers should carry high limits.
- Too many policy claims drive up car insurance rates – Car insurance companies in California award better rates to drivers who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. If you tend to file frequent claims, you can definitely plan on either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Insurance coverage is meant to be used in the event of claims that you cannot pay yourself.
- Having a spouse pays dividends – Your spouse may cut your premiums when shopping for car insurance. Marriage translates into being more financially stable and insurance companies like that married couples file fewer claims.
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Insurance losses for an Acura RDX – Companies include the past claim trends for vehicles as a tool for profitable underwriting. Models that have higher loss trends will have increased rates.
The next table illustrates the compiled insurance loss statistics for Acura RDX vehicles. For each policy coverage, the claim probability for all vehicles, without regard to make or model, is represented as 100. Values under 100 indicate a favorable loss history, while percentages above 100 point to more losses or statistically larger losses.
Acura RDX Insurance Loss Statistics Make and Model Collision Property Damage Comp Personal Injury Medical Payment Bodily Injury Acura RDX 4dr 2WD 64 75 57 67 67 71 Acura RDX 4dr 4WD 68 79 79 68 66 60 BETTERAVERAGEWORSEStatistics from IIHS.org for 2013-2015 Model Years
Don’t overlook these Acura RDX insurance discounts
Some insurers don’t always list all discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so the list below gives a summary of some of the more common and the harder-to-find discounts you could be receiving when you buy Irvine car insurance online.
- Life Insurance Discount – Not every insurance company offers life insurance, but if they do you may earn better prices if you take out a life policy as well.
- E-sign Discounts – A few larger online companies provide a small discount get Irvine car insurance on the web.
- Professional Organizations – Being a member of a professional or civic organization could earn you a nice discount on your bill.
- Active Service Discounts – Having a family member in the military may lower your car insurance rates slightly.
- Drive Safe and Save – Insureds who avoid accidents may save up to 50% more than less cautious drivers.
- ABS Braking Discount – Cars, trucks, and SUVs that have anti-lock braking systems are much safer to drive so you can save 10 percent or more.
- Discounts for Federal Employees – Simply working for the federal government can earn a discount up to 10% with a few car insurance companies.
- College Student – Children living away from Irvine attending college and do not have a car may be insured at a cheaper rate.
A quick disclaimer, most discount credits are not given to the entire cost. Most only cut individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So when the math indicates having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you aren’t that lucky.
The example below compares Acura RDX insurance prices with and without discounts applied to the policy rates. The premiums assume a female driver, no accidents or driving violations, California state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $1,000 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with claim-free, multi-car, multi-policy, safe-driver, marriage, and homeowner discounts applied.
Some companies that may offer quotes with most of the discounts above may include but are not limited to:
If you need affordable Acura RDX insurance quotes, ask each company or agent how you can save money. Some of the earlier mentioned discounts might not be offered on policies in your state. To see insurers who offer online Acura RDX insurance quotes in California, follow this link.
Local Irvine insurance agents
Many drivers would prefer to visit with an insurance agent and often times that is recommended An additional benefit of comparing rates online is that drivers can save money and get lower prices and still choose a local agent.
Upon completion of this form (opens in new window), your information is instantly submitted to participating agents in Irvine who will gladly provide quotes and help you find cheaper coverage. It makes it easy because there is no need to contact any insurance agencies since price quotes are sent to you. Get lower rates and work with a local agent. If you have a need to compare prices from one company in particular, feel free to search and find their rate quote page and give them your coverage information.
Choosing the best insurance company should include more criteria than just the premium amount. The answers to these questions are important, too.
- Do they carry Errors and Omissions coverage?
- If you have an accident, are you able to get your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice?
- Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in California?
- Do you have coverage for a rental car if your vehicle is in the repair shop?
- Does the agency have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau?
- Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
- What kind of financial rating does the company have?
- Will their companies depreciate repairs to your car based on the mileage?
If you are searching for an insurance agent, it can be helpful to understand the types of insurance agents to choose from. Agencies in Irvine can be categorized as either exclusive or independent (non-exclusive).
Exclusive Agencies
Agents that elect to be exclusive have only one company to place business with like State Farm or Allstate. Exclusive agencies are unable to place coverage with different providers so if the price isn’t competitive there isn’t much they can do. These agents are usually well trained on the products they sell which helps offset the inability to provide other markets. A lot of people buy from exclusive agents primarily because of the brand name and solid financial strength.
Shown below are Irvine exclusive agents that can give you rate quotes.
- Farmers Insurance – Berdy Gonzalez-Lubnau
41 Corporate Park #240 – Irvine, CA 92606 – (714) 263-2623 – View Map - Ken LaTourette – State Farm Insurance Agent
1032 Irvine Blvd – Tustin, CA 92780 – (714) 544-3779 – View Map - Mike Stitt – State Farm Insurance Agent
17452 Irvine Blvd #208 – Tustin, CA 92780 – (714) 544-4717 – View Map
Independent Agents
Independent insurance agents do not have single company limitations and that is an advantage because they can write policies amongst many companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If your premiums go up, the business is moved internally and the insured can keep the same agent.
When comparing rates, you absolutely need to compare prices from independent agents for the best price selection. They often place coverage with lesser-known insurance companies which could offer lower prices.
Shown below are Irvine independent insurance agencies who can help you get price quote information.
- Willis Insurance Services of CA Inc
18101 Von Karman Ave # 600 – Irvine, CA 92612 – (949) 885-1200 – View Map - Blackwell Insurance
23002 Lake Center Dr – Lake Forest, CA 92630 – (949) 421-0222 – View Map - Journey Insurance
9541 Irvine Center Dr – Irvine, CA 92618 – (888) 323-7480 – View Map
If you feel you receive good responses and a low price estimate, you may have found a car insurance agent that is a good match to provide auto insurance coverage.
Auto insurance companies ranked
Buying coverage from the right insurance provider can be rather challenging considering how many different insurance companies sell coverage in California. The company ratings displayed below can help you decide which car insurance providers you want to consider purchasing from.
| 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 |
| Esurance | 85 | 80 | 95 | 87% | A+ | 85.9 |
| Safeco | 85 | 85 | 85 | 86% | A | 85.8 |
| Travelers | 80 | 87 | 87 | 83% | A++ | 85.2 |
| Farmers Insurance | 78 | 87 | 88 | 79% | A | 84.3 |
| Compare Rates Now Go | ||||||
Data Source: Insure.com Best Car Insurance Companies
One last thing about your coverage
As you shop your coverage around, don’t be tempted to buy less coverage just to save a little money. In too many instances, someone sacrificed uninsured motorist or liability limits and discovered at claim time that the savings was not a smart move. Your strategy should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at a price you can afford while not skimping on critical coverages.
We just presented some good ideas how you can get a better price on Acura RDX insurance in Irvine. The key thing to remember is the more providers you compare, the better chance you’ll have of finding low cost Irvine car insurance quotes. Consumers may even find the best car insurance rates are with an unexpected company.
Drivers switch companies for a number of reasons such as extreme rates for teen drivers, lack of trust in their agent, unfair underwriting practices or even questionable increases in premium. Whatever your reason, finding a new auto insurance company is less work than it seems.
Additional information can be found on the following sites:
- Eight Auto Insurance Myths (Insurance Information Institute)
- How Much is Irvine Car Insurance for Teachers? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for Safe Drivers in Irvine? (FAQ)
- How Much are Irvine Car Insurance Rates for a Toyota RAV4? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for 4×4 Vehicles in Irvine? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Irvine Auto Insurance for First-time Drivers? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Rates for Uninsured Drivers in Irvine? (FAQ)
- Collision Insurance Coverage (Nationwide)
- Teen Driver Licensing Information (iihs.org)
- Side Impact Crash Tests (iihs.org)