Comparing and finding more affordable prices for Toyota Matrix insurance in Irvine might be kind of frustrating for drivers not familiar with comparing rates online. With more and more companies competing online, it can quickly become a difficult situation to compare rates in California on Toyota Matrix insurance.
Astonishing but true according to a recent study, over 70% of consumers have been with the same company for four years or more, and just short of a majority have never quoted car insurance rates at all. American drivers could save as much as $860 a year, but most undervalue the amount of money they would save if they replace their high priced policy.
You should make it a habit to compare prices occasionally because rates tend to go up over time. Just because you found the best rate on Toyota Matrix insurance in Irvine six months ago you can probably find a lower rate today. Ignore everything you know about car insurance because you’re going to get a crash course in the things you must know in order to lower your annual insurance bill.
Getting quotes for more affordable car insurance in Irvine is not as confusing as people think. Just about anyone who is required by state law to have car insurance should find a lower price. But California consumers must understand the way companies price insurance differently because it can help you find the best coverage.
The quickest method we recommend to compare car insurance company rates for Toyota Matrix insurance in Irvine is to know most insurance companies have advanced systems to quote your coverage. The only thing you need to do is provide details including how much you drive, your general credit rating, your education level, and if the vehicle is leased. Your rating data is submitted instantly to many highly-rated insurers and you should receive rate quotes quickly.
If you wish to get multiple quotes for your Toyota Matrix now, click here and complete the quick form.
The companies in the list below have been selected to offer comparison quotes in California. To get cheap auto insurance in Irvine, we suggest you visit several of them to get the best price comparison.
Auto insurance data for a Toyota Matrix
The price information shown below covers estimates of insurance coverage prices for Toyota Matrix models. Having insight into how policy rates are calculated can aid in making smart choices when comparing insurance quotes.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matrix 2WD | $288 | $564 | $450 | $26 | $134 | $1,462 | $122 |
| Matrix S 2WD | $332 | $664 | $450 | $26 | $134 | $1,606 | $134 |
| Matrix S AWD | $332 | $664 | $450 | $26 | $134 | $1,606 | $134 |
| Matrix XRS 2WD | $332 | $664 | $450 | $26 | $134 | $1,606 | $134 |
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Data assumes married female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, homeowner, claim-free, multi-policy, and safe-driver. Estimates do not factor in your specific Irvine location which can affect prices greatly.
Rate comparison for different deductibles
One of the most common auto insurance questions is how low should you set your deductibles. The tables below summarize the price difference when you choose different insurance deductibles. The first set of rates uses a $100 deductible for comprehensive and collision coverage and the second data table uses a $500 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matrix 2WD | $332 | $686 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,643 | $137 |
| Matrix S 2WD | $380 | $810 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,815 | $151 |
| Matrix S AWD | $380 | $810 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,815 | $151 |
| Matrix XRS 2WD | $380 | $810 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,815 | $151 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matrix 2WD | $242 | $464 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,306 | $109 |
| Matrix S 2WD | $278 | $546 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,424 | $119 |
| Matrix S AWD | $278 | $546 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,424 | $119 |
| Matrix XRS 2WD | $278 | $546 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,424 | $119 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Prices based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-vehicle, homeowner, multi-policy, and safe-driver. Rates do not factor in specific Irvine garaging location which can lower or raise insurance rates substantially.
Based on these figures, using a $100 deductible costs an average of $31 more each month or $372 each year averaged for all Matrix models than quoting the higher $500 deductible. Because you would pay $400 more if you turn in a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you usually have at a minimum 13 months between claim filings, you would probably be better off by selecting a higher deductible.
Full coverage rates vs. liability-only in Irvine
The example below shows the comparison of Toyota Matrix car insurance costs with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying liability only. The price estimates are based on no accidents, no driving violations, $1,000 deductibles, marital status is single, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
Should you be buying full coverage?
There is no clear-cut rule of when to stop paying for full coverage on your policy, but there is a general guideline. If the yearly cost for physical damage coverage is more than around 10% of the settlement you would receive from your company, then you may need to consider dropping full coverage.
For example, let’s assume your Toyota Matrix claim settlement value is $7,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, the most your company will settle for is $6,000 after paying the physical damage deductible. If it’s costing in excess of $600 annually for full coverage, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.
There are some circumstances where dropping full coverage is not recommended. If you still have a lienholder on your title, you are required to maintain full coverage in order to prevent the bank from purchasing higher-priced coverage. Also, if you can’t afford to buy a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should not opt for liability only.
Insurance is not optional in California
Even though it’s not necessarily cheap to insure a Toyota in Irvine, buying insurance may be required for several reasons.
- The majority of states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means state laws require a specific minimum amount of liability insurance coverage if you want to drive legally. In California these limits are 15/30/5 which means you must have $15,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $5,000 of property damage coverage.
- If your vehicle has a loan, most banks will make it a condition of the loan that you have full coverage to ensure loan repayment if the vehicle is totaled. If you cancel or allow the policy to lapse, the bank will be required to insure your Toyota at a much higher rate and require you to reimburse them the higher premium.
- Insurance protects not only your Toyota but also your financial assets. It also can pay for most medical and hospital costs that are the result of an accident. Liability insurance, one of your policy coverages, also pays for attorney fees and expenses in the event you are sued. If your Toyota gets damaged, comprehensive and/or collision insurance will pay to have it repaired.
The benefits of insuring your Matrix more than offset the price you pay, specifically if you ever have a liability claim. Despite what companies tell you, the average driver overpays more than $825 a year so smart consumers compare quotes every year to make sure the price is not too high.
Toyota Matrix Insurance Price Factors
Many things are used when pricing auto insurance. Some are obvious like an MVR report, but others are less obvious like your continuous coverage or your commute time. An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that help determine the level of your policy premiums. If you understand what controls the rates you pay, this allows you to make educated decisions that could result in lower premium levels.
The itemized list below are a few of the “ingredients” auto insurance companies consider when setting premiums.
Insurance companies don’t like frequent auto insurance claims – Insurance companies in California award cheaper rates to drivers who are claim-free. If you frequently file small claims, you can definitely plan on increased rates or even have your policy non-renewed. Auto insurance is meant to be used in the event of larger claims.
Safer cars means cheaper insurance – Vehicles with high crash test scores get lower rates. These vehicles have better occupant injury protection and lower injury rates means your insurance company pays less which can mean better rates for you.
Drive less and get lower prices – Driving a lot of miles in a year the higher the price you pay to insure it. Many insurance companies rate vehicles based on how the vehicle is used. Vehicles that are left in the garage can get a lower rate than cars that get driven a lot. Incorrect rating for your Matrix is throwing money out the window. It’s a smart idea to ensure your vehicle rating reflects the right rating data, because improper ratings can cost you money.
Improve your credit rating and save – A driver’s credit rating factor in your rate calculation. If your credit rating is low, you may save money insuring your Toyota Matrix by improving your credit score. Drivers who have very good credit scores tend to be more responsible and file fewer claims as compared to drivers with poor credit.
Gender and car insurance costs – Statistics show that females take fewer risks when driving. The data does not necessarily mean that men are WORSE drivers than women. Females and males cause accidents in similar percentages, but guys cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Not only that, but men also have more aggressive citations like DUI and reckless driving.
The chart below shows the difference between Toyota Matrix insurance costs for male and female drivers. The prices are based on no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, full coverage, $1,000 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no other discounts are factored in.
Get married and get better premiums – Having a significant other can actually save you money on your policy. It is viewed as being more financially stable and insurance companies reward insureds because drivers who are married file infrequent claims.
Slash your insurance rates with discounts
Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, but you might find some hidden discounts that may help make it more affordable. A few discounts will be applied at quote time, but some need to be asked for before being credited. If you do not check that you are getting every discount you deserve, you could be getting lower rates.
- Distant Student – Older children who live away from home to go to college and do not take a car to college can receive lower rates.
- Low Mileage Discounts – Low annual miles can earn slightly better prices than normal.
- Membership in Organizations – Joining a qualifying organization may earn a discount when getting a Irvine car insurance quote.
- Passenger Safety Discount – Factory options such as air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can receive discounts of 20 to 30 percent.
- Claim Free – Insureds with no claims or accidents have much lower rates as compared to frequent claim filers.
- Use Seat Belts – Drivers who require all occupants to use a seat belt may be able to save a few bucks on medical payment and PIP coverage.
As a footnote on discounts, many deductions do not apply to the whole policy. Most only cut specific coverage prices like comp or med pay. Even though it appears adding up those discounts means a free policy, insurance companies aren’t that generous.
The information below shows the difference between Toyota Matrix auto insurance rates with and without discounts applied to the policy rates. The data is based on a female driver, no violations or accidents, California state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with marriage, multi-policy, homeowner, claim-free, multi-car, and safe-driver discounts applied.
A few of the larger companies and some of the premium reductions they offer are outlined below.
- State Farm may offer discounts for accident-free, passive restraint, good driver, driver’s education, and anti-theft.
- American Family has discounts for mySafetyValet, good driver, defensive driver, accident-free, bundled insurance, multi-vehicle, and Steer into Savings.
- GEICO includes discounts for daytime running lights, defensive driver, good student, seat belt use, and multi-policy.
- 21st Century policyholders can earn discounts including automatic seat belts, defensive driver, air bags, early bird, anti-lock brakes, student driver, and theft prevention.
- Progressive may include discounts for homeowner, continuous coverage, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, good student, and online quote discount.
When getting free Irvine car insurance quotes, it’s a good idea to each insurance company to apply every possible discount. All car insurance discounts may not apply to policies in your area.
Get rate quotes but still have a local Irvine insurance agency
Many drivers prefer to talk to a local agent and that can be a great decision One of the benefits of comparing rate quotes online is you can get cheap rate quotes and still buy from a local agent. Buying insurance from local agencies is definitely important in Irvine.
Once you complete this short form, the coverage information is immediately sent to participating agents in Irvine who can give free rate quotes for your insurance coverage. There is no need to search for any insurance agencies since rate quotes are delivered directly to you. It’s the lowest rates without the usual hassles of price shopping. If you wish to quote rates from a specific company, don’t hesitate to navigate to their website and complete a quote there.
Pick the best car insurance agent in Irvine for you
When researching a good Irvine insurance agent, it’s important to understand the different agency structures and how they function. Auto insurance agents can either be independent or exclusive depending on the company they work for.
Independent Auto Insurance Agents
These agents are not locked into one company so they can quote policies with lots of companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If they find a cheaper price, they simply switch companies in-house and you can keep the same agent.
If you need lower rates, you will want to include rate quotes from several independent agencies for maximum quote selection. Most independent agents also contract with companies that do not advertise much that many times have cheaper rates.
Listed below is a list of independent agencies in Irvine who may be able to give you price quote information.
- Willis Insurance Services of CA Inc
18101 Von Karman Ave # 600 – Irvine, CA 92612 – (949) 885-1200 – View Map - Hodge and Hodge Insurance Inc
10 Hughes # 205 – Irvine, CA 92618 – (949) 458-0442 – View Map - Church and Casualty Insurance
3440 Irvine Ave # 150 – Newport Beach, CA 92660 – (949) 852-8558 – View Map
Exclusive Insurance Agents
Exclusive agencies write business for a single company and examples are AAA, Allstate, State Farm, or Farmers Insurance. These agents are unable to compare other company’s rates so it’s a take it or leave it situation. They are well schooled on their company’s products which helps them sell on service rather than price. A lot of people choose to use an exclusive agent mainly due to high brand loyalty and strong financial ratings.
Shown below are exclusive agents in Irvine that are able to give price quote information.
- Farmers Insurance
4000 Barranca Pkwy # 250 – Irvine, CA 92604 – (949) 262-3238 – View Map - Sharon Leung – State Farm Insurance Agent
18004 Sky Park Cir #250 – Irvine, CA 92614 – (949) 252-0900 – View Map - Farmers Insurance – Charmaine Lim
20 Pacifica #1450 – Irvine, CA 92618 – (949) 387-9999 – View Map
Picking the best insurance agent requires you to look at more than just a cheap price quote. These are some questions your agent should answer.
- Do you have coverage for a rental car if your vehicle is in the repair shop?
- How are claims handled?
- Does the quote include credit and driving reports?
- What companies can they write with?
- How much will you save each year by using a higher deductible?
Cheap insurance is out there
Consumers who switch companies do it for a number of reasons such as unfair underwriting practices, policy cancellation, poor customer service and even delays in responding to claim requests. Regardless of your reason, choosing a new insurance company is actually quite simple.
We covered a lot of ways to shop for Toyota Matrix insurance online. It’s most important to understand that the more companies you get premium rates for, the better chance you’ll have of finding the cheapest Toyota Matrix rate quotes. You may even be surprised to find that the lowest priced insurance comes from some of the smallest insurance companies.
More affordable insurance in Irvine can be purchased online in addition to local insurance agencies, and you should compare rates from both in order to have the best chance of saving money. A few companies do not provide price quotes online and most of the time these small, regional companies provide coverage only through independent agencies.
How to find affordable Toyota Matrix insurance in Irvine
The easiest way to find the cheapest price for Toyota Matrix insurance in Irvine is to compare quotes annually from insurers in California. Rates can be compared by following these guidelines.
- Learn about policy coverages and the measures you can control to prevent expensive coverage. Many policy risk factors that result in higher prices like traffic citations and a poor credit rating can be remedied by making small lifestyle or driving habit changes.
- Obtain price quotes from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can only quote rates from one company like Progressive or Allstate, while independent agencies can provide rate quotes from many different companies.
- Compare the quotes to your existing coverage to determine if switching companies saves money. If you find better rates and change companies, make sure coverage does not lapse between policies.
One key aspect of rate comparisons is to use identical deductibles and limits on every quote and and to get price estimates from as many companies as possible. Doing this helps ensure a level playing field and a good representation of prices.
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