The words “low-cost” and “auto insurance” probably shouldn’t be used in the same sentence, especially when you are trying to find the best car insurance for good students. In an attempt to save some money, let’s start the ball rolling by going over some things that influence insurance premiums, and find a few ways to take a little off your next policy.
For student drivers, one of the largest considerations that determine auto insurance rates is where you live. Areas with increased crime or more people will most likely pay more, whereas areas that tend to be more rural benefit from lower rates.
The next table rates the priciest cities in California for good students to buy car insurance in. Irvine is ranked #22 costing $1,384 for the average policy, which is around $115 per month.
Rank | City | Annual Rate |
---|---|---|
1 | Glendale | $2,142 |
2 | Los Angeles | $2,083 |
3 | Oakland | $1,755 |
4 | San Francisco | $1,711 |
5 | Sacramento | $1,703 |
6 | San Bernardino | $1,644 |
7 | Long Beach | $1,610 |
8 | Stockton | $1,588 |
9 | Garden Grove | $1,554 |
10 | Santa Clarita | $1,533 |
11 | Riverside | $1,527 |
12 | Fontana | $1,519 |
13 | Moreno Valley | $1,506 |
14 | Modesto | $1,487 |
15 | Fresno | $1,457 |
16 | Anaheim | $1,444 |
17 | Santa Ana | $1,439 |
18 | San Jose | $1,437 |
19 | Huntington Beach | $1,402 |
20 | Bakersfield | $1,394 |
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Premium amounts are comparative as zip code location can alter insurance rates significantly.
The make and model of vehicle that is being insured is one of the biggest factors that determines the availability of the most economical auto insurance for good students. Vehicles with higher performance characteristics, poor passenger safety features, or a history of substantial liability claims will cost much more to insure than safer, lower-performance models.
The table below features auto insurance premiums for a number of the most economical automobiles to buy insurance for.
Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
---|---|
Ford Escape XLS 2WD | $3,010 |
Honda CR-V EX-L 4WD | $3,039 |
Toyota Prius | $3,260 |
Honda Odyssey LX | $3,351 |
Ford F-150 XLT Super Cab 4WD | $3,410 |
Toyota Tacoma 2WD | $3,541 |
Chevrolet Equinox LS AWD | $3,570 |
Toyota Camry LE | $3,580 |
Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid | $3,570 |
Toyota RAV4 Sport 4WD | $3,580 |
Dodge Grand Caravan SXT | $3,601 |
Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 4WD | $3,610 |
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport 2WD 4-Dr | $3,732 |
Ford Edge Sport AWD | $3,760 |
Chevrolet Impala LTZ | $3,770 |
Hyundai Elantra GLS 4-Dr Sedan | $3,760 |
Nissan Altima 3.5 SR 4-Dr Sedan | $3,791 |
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Cost estimates assume single female driver age 17, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, and safe-driver. Rate information does not factor in specific zip code location which can affect coverage rates noticeably.
Based upon these rates, we can tell that cars like the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Toyota Prius, Honda Odyssey, and Ford F-150 should be a few of the cheapest vehicles to insure for student drivers.
Get discount Irvine insurance
Insurers that offer coverage for good students could also offer price discounts that could lower prices by as much as 30% if you qualify. A few popular companies and the discounts they provide are included below.
- Progressive has savings for homeowner, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, online signing, continuous coverage, and good student.
- The Hartford policyholders can earn discounts including defensive driver, good student, vehicle fuel type, driver training, and air bag.
- Mercury Insurance discounts include location of vehicle, accident-free, low natural disaster claims, good student, anti-theft, and annual mileage.
- GEICO offers discounts including anti-lock brakes, driver training, membership and employees, good student, anti-theft, multi-policy, and emergency military deployment.
- AAA includes discounts for AAA membership discount, good driver, education and occupation, pay-in-full, and multi-car.
- State Farm offers discounts for student away at school, Steer Clear safe driver discount, defensive driving training, Drive Safe & Save, driver’s education, and safe vehicle.
The example below shows the difference between car insurance rates with and without discounts applied to the policy premium. The prices are based on a male driver, no accidents, no 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 anti-theft, paid-in-full, continuous coverage, passive restraint, paperless filing, and vehicle safety discounts applied. When these discounts are applied to the policy premium, the average amount saved each year on auto insurance for good students is 28% or $897.
The illustration below illustrates how your deductible choice can influence insurance costs when researching cheap insurance for good students. The data is based on a married male driver, comp and collision included, and no discounts are factored in.
In the chart above, a 50-year-old driver could lower their policy premium by $416 a year by increasing from a $100 deductible to a $500 deductible, or save $626 by using a $1,000 deductible. Younger drivers, like the 20-year-old example, have the ability to save as much as $1,398 every year just by choosing higher deductibles.
When raising deductibles, it is necessary to have enough spare savings to enable you to pay the extra out-of-pocket expense. That is the one drawback of using higher deductibles.
Low rates can quickly become overpriced
Irvine auto insurance rates are calculated based on many things that control the cost of coverage. Turning one year older, moving across town, or getting a couple of tickets can produce rate changes resulting in some rates now being more affordable than the competition. Not only may things change on your end, but auto insurance companies file new rates as needed in order to be able to pay unexpected claims. Higher than normal claims may result in higher prices, while a profitable period can cause lower-priced Irvine car insurance rates.
For example, the data below shows the companies that have the cheapest car insurance in Irvine, CA for a 40-year-old female driver with no violations or accidents, and a good credit history. If we compare prices based on her current risk factors, USAA quotes the most affordable car insurance rates in Irvine at $1,137 annually. This is $514 less than the average rate paid by California drivers of $1,651. Wawanesa, Nationwide, Century National, and CSAA are the rest of the most affordable Irvine, CA auto insurance companies.
The chart below compares rates after we give the driver from the first rate comparison a chargeable accident, a lower credit rating, and a speeding ticket. Due to the fact that every insurance company has a proprietary formula to set policy rates, analyzing rates could now result in a substantially altered list of cheap Irvine auto insurance companies as shown below.
Grange now has the best car insurance rate in Irvine with Progressive, GEICO, Mercury, and Allstate now being in the top five. This example shows why it is critical to perform an extensive rate comparison when trying to find the cheapest auto insurance rates for good students.
Prices can be altered by many things and change substantially, so the cheapest rate the last time you compared rates may now be quite expensive.
Ideas for buying budget-friendly car insurance for good students
The list below details many money-saving suggestions that can help California drivers get cheaper auto insurance.
- Raise your physical damage coverage deductibles
- On older vehicles, drop full coverage
- Maintain a clean driving record
- Good credit can help you save money
- Buy a vehicle with excellent safety ratings
- Being accident-free can lower rates significantly
- Shop around once a year for cheaper rates
The last item on the list is remarkably vital, as was pointed out in the article above. Insurance rates in Irvine can change significantly in a year, so don’t hesitate to switch companies if a more affordable rate is found.
Having a favorite company is fine, but it’s not a great idea if it’s costing you lots of hard earned cash every month. In less than five minutes you could compare prices to find cheaper car insurance for good students.
The auto insurance agents in Irvine shown below can most likely help you determine which policy is best, since many consumers aren’t sure which coverage to buy and prefer to get some professional input when comparing insurance rates for student drivers. It can be hard to do it yourself, so getting advice from a licensed California insurance agent can give you comfort knowing your policy gives you sufficient coverage for your assets.
To find an agent close to you, click the link after the list.
Farmers Insurance – Berdy Gonzalez-Lubnau
41 Corporate Park #240 – Irvine, CA 92606 – (714) 263-2623
SureCo Insurance Agency
201 Sandpointe Ave Suite 600 – Santa Ana, CA 92707 – (866) 845-9815
Professional Choice Insurance
2151 Michelson Dr Suite 250 – Irvine, CA 92612 – (714) 467-8726