For veterans, one of the largest factors that aid in calculating the amount you pay for auto insurance is where your car is garaged. Cities with more crime and/or more people are more likely to have higher rates, whereas areas that tend to be more rural have the gratification of cheaper auto insurance rates.
The table below ranks the most expensive areas in California for retired military to buy an auto insurance policy in. Irvine comes in at #19 with an annual premium of $1,384 for the average policyholder, which is approximately $115 per month.
| Rank | City | Premium Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles | $2,083 |
| 2 | Glendale | $2,079 |
| 3 | San Francisco | $1,711 |
| 4 | Oakland | $1,687 |
| 5 | Sacramento | $1,652 |
| 6 | San Bernardino | $1,596 |
| 7 | Long Beach | $1,562 |
| 8 | Garden Grove | $1,554 |
| 9 | Moreno Valley | $1,551 |
| 10 | Santa Clarita | $1,548 |
| 11 | Riverside | $1,542 |
| 12 | Stockton | $1,541 |
| 13 | Fontana | $1,535 |
| 14 | Modesto | $1,532 |
| 15 | Santa Ana | $1,497 |
| 16 | Anaheim | $1,474 |
| 17 | Fresno | $1,457 |
| 18 | Fremont | $1,403 |
| 19 | Irvine | $1,384 |
| 20 | San Jose | $1,381 |
| 21 | Huntington Beach | $1,360 |
| 22 | Oxnard | $1,358 |
| 23 | Bakersfield | $1,340 |
| 24 | San Diego | $1,340 |
| 25 | Chula Vista | $1,311 |
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Premium amounts are approximated as the specific garaging location can affect price quotes greatly.
Establishing which companies have the lowest-priced car insurance rates for retired military may require a little more sweat in order to find the lowest price quote. Each auto insurer uses a slightly different approach to determine rates, so we’ll go over the most affordable car insurance companies in Irvine.
It’s important that readers know that California car insurance rates are determined by lots of factors which can significantly increase or decrease the cost of a policy. Simply improving your credit, increasing deductibles, or getting a DUI may prompt premium changes that can make some companies more affordable than competitors.
Cheapest Insurance Rates for Vets
USAA generally has some of the cheapest car insurance rates in Irvine at around $1,155 a year. Century National, Wawanesa, Nationwide, and CSAA would also be considered some of the most economical Irvine, CA auto insurance companies.
In the above rates, if you have coverage with Century National and switched to USAA, you could realize savings of roughly $23. Customers with Wawanesa may save as much as $37 a year, and Nationwide customers might see rate reductions of $58 a year.
It’s important to note that these prices are averages for all types of drivers and the different vehicles they drive and are not factoring in a specific vehicle garaging location for retired military. So the car insurance company that can offer the best rates for your situation may not even be in the list above. That point stresses why you need to quote rates from as many companies as possible using your own specific driver and vehicle information.
The vehicle needing coverage is a significant factor when shopping around for economical insurance for retired military. Vehicles with high performance, a lack of safety features, or a track record of large liability claims will cost quite a bit more to insure than more modest models. The list below illustrates insurance prices for a selection of the most budget-friendly vehicles to buy insurance for.
| Vehicle Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Honda CR-V EX 2WD | $788 |
| Ford Escape XLS 4WD | $797 |
| Ford Edge SE 2WD | $866 |
| Toyota Prius | $872 |
| Ford Focus SE 4-Dr Sedan | $916 |
| Chevrolet Impala LT | $934 |
| Toyota RAV4 Limited 4WD | $941 |
| Ford F-150 XLT Super Cab 2WD | $964 |
| Honda Odyssey EX-L W/Navigation | $984 |
| GMC Sierra SLT Crew Cab 2WD | $1,000 |
| GMC Sierra 2500HD SLE Crew Cab 4WD | $1,007 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LTZ 2WD | $1,000 |
| Toyota Tacoma 2WD | $1,010 |
| Hyundai Sonata GLS 4-Dr Sedan | $1,000 |
| Kia Optima LX | $1,008 |
| GMC Sierra 3500HD SLE Extended Cab 2WD | $1,018 |
| Chevrolet Silverado LS Extended Cab 4WD | $1,020 |
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Table data represents single male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, multi-policy, homeowner, multi-vehicle, and claim-free. Price estimates do not factor in specific Irvine, CA garaging location which can change coverage rates significantly.
Looking at the data, models like the Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, Ford Edge, Toyota Prius, and Ford Focus are the most budget-friendly vehicles to insure for veterans.
Types of discounts on Irvine car insurance
Auto insurance companies that offer cheap quotes for retired military may also give you premium discounts that may potentially lower prices by 40% or more if you qualify. Companies and a selection of discounts are shown below.
- AAA offers discounts for good driver, AAA membership discount, multi-policy, multi-car, pay-in-full, and education and occupation.
- Progressive may offer discounts for multi-policy, online signing, homeowner, good student, continuous coverage, and multi-vehicle.
- State Farm discounts include Steer Clear safe driver discount, driver’s education, student away at school, Drive Safe & Save, safe vehicle, and defensive driving training.
- Esurance may have discounts that include anti-lock brakes, good student, renters, online shopper, good driver, and homeowner.
- Nationwide offers discounts including anti-theft, family plan, business or organization, Farm Bureau membership, multi-policy, accident-free, and easy pay.
The information below illustrates the difference between insurance premiums with and without policy discounts. The premium estimates are based on a male driver, no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, California state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The lower bar shows the rates with vehicle safety, safe-driver, multiple vehicle, passive restraint, homeowner, and anti-theft discounts applied. With discounts applied, the average savings per year on car insurance for retired military is 28% or $630.
Full coverage rates vs. liability-only in Irvine
Finding cheaper car insurance should be important to the majority of people, and one of the best ways to lower the cost of insurance for retired military is to not buy full coverage. The example below shows the difference between insurance premiums with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying liability only. The rate quotes are based on no claims or driving violations, $500 deductibles, single marital status, and no additional discounts are factored in.
As an average for all age groups, physical damage insurance costs $2,075 per year more than just buying liability insurance. Lot’s of drivers question if it’s worth it to buy full coverage. There is no definitive rule that is best for determining when to drop comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, but there is a general convention. If the yearly cost of comp and collision coverage is more than about 10% of the vehicle’s replacement cost less your deductible, then you might want to think about dropping full coverage.
How to find a good California car insurance company
Choosing the highest-rated insurance provider can be a challenge considering how many companies provide coverage in Irvine. The company rank data below could help you analyze which car insurance companies to look at when comparing auto insurance rates for retired military.
The ratings below are only made up of companies that insure vehicles nationwide, so companies that focus mainly on California business are not factored into this list. To get price quotes from the most competitive companies in California, click here.
Top 10 Large Auto Insurers in Irvine Ranked by Value
- USAA
- American Family
- The Hartford
- AAA of Southern California
- Titan Insurance
- The General
- AAA Insurance
- State Farm
- Mercury Insurance
- Nationwide
Ideas for buying economical insurance for retired military
It’s not impossible to find cheaper rates, and here are many money-saving suggestions that can help you buy low-cost coverage.
- Prevent price hikes by avoiding at-fault accidents
- Save money by bundling your home and auto policies
- Improve your credit
- Raise your physical damage coverage deductibles
- Do not file small claims
- You will pay more if you get tickets or have at-fault accidents
- Comparison shop frequently
The last item on the list is very necessary, as we discussed in the prior article. Auto insurance rates change a lot, so drivers shouldn’t hesitate to buy a policy from a new company if a cheaper rate is available. Many consumers stick with the same company and that’s fine, but it’s not a good idea if that inflexibility results in costing you a lot of money. Now is a great time to shop around and find cheaper car insurance for retired military in Irvine.
The agents shown below can help you decide which auto insurance policy fits you best, since many people would rather have a consultation when buying car insurance for retired military. It can be challenging to find the cheapest rate yourself, and getting professional guidance from a licensed agent can give comfort knowing your coverage gives you adequate coverage when you need it most.
To find an auto insurance agency by location nearest to you, click the link after the list or click here to get price quotes now.
- Tustin Insurance Agency
17621 Irvine Blvd #112 – Tustin, CA 92780 – (714) 838-1704 - Isu Insurance Services Irvine
18022 Cowan Ste 225 – Irvine, CA 92614 – (949) 419-2100 - Steven Wang – State Farm Insurance Agent
15333 Culver Dr #130 – Irvine, CA 92604 – (949) 552-3600 - Professional Choice Insurance
2151 Michelson Dr Suite 250 – Irvine, CA 92612 – (714) 467-8726