You have probably seen the captivating commercials from auto insurance companies like Allstate and State Farm that promise the cheapest rates. So you just need to select the one with the best jingle, right?
It’s not that easy, however, as there are a whole slew of unknowns such as what physical damage coverage deductibles you want, the vehicle you drive, and if you own or rent your home, that all go into determining the rate you pay. In this article, we will cover these types of topics and also should give you a good start in finding the cheapest car insurance in California.
The type of vehicle that needs insurance is a large factor in finding the best car insurance for drivers with a bad driving record. Vehicles with more horsepower, poor safety ratings, or a high likelihood of having liability claims will cost more to insure than safer, lower-performance models.
The data below shows coverage rates for a selection of the most affordable vehicles to insure.
| Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Honda Accord LX 4-Dr Sedan | $2,903 |
| Honda CR-V LX 4WD | $2,913 |
| Ford Escape XLS 2WD | $3,041 |
| Hyundai Elantra SE Touring Station Wagon | $3,092 |
| Toyota Prius | $3,362 |
| Jeep Wrangler Sport Islander Package 4WD 2-Dr | $3,403 |
| Ford Edge SE 2WD | $3,480 |
| Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 2WD | $3,519 |
| Toyota Camry LE | $3,600 |
| Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4WD | $3,610 |
| Toyota RAV4 Limited 4WD | $3,600 |
| Ford F-150 Lariat King Ranch 2WD | $3,629 |
| GMC Sierra 2500HD SLE Regular Cab 4WD | $3,635 |
| Ford Focus S 4-Dr Sedan | $3,649 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LS AWD | $3,688 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan SXT | $3,727 |
| Chevrolet Malibu LT | $3,733 |
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Above prices assume single female driver age 30, two speeding tickets, two at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-policy, and multi-vehicle. Table data does not factor in vehicle location which can affect rates considerably.
Based upon these rates, we can tell that makes and models like the Honda Accord, Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, and Hyundai Elantra are most likely to be a few of the most budget-friendly vehicles to insure for bad drivers. The price for car insurance will tend to be more expensive because there is more liability risk for drivers with a bad driving record, but overall those models will most likely have the cheapest rates that you are likely to find.
For bad drivers, one of the largest considerations that determine the amount you pay each year for auto insurance is where your car is garaged. Cities with more crime and/or more people tend to have more expensive auto insurance rates, whereas less populated areas have the luxury of cheap car insurance rates.
The information below shows the highest-priced areas in California for drivers with a bad driving record in which to buy car insurance. Irvine is listed at #22 with the annual price of $1,371 for the average policyholder, which is about $114 per month.
| Rank | City | Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles | $2,083 |
| 2 | Glendale | $2,079 |
| 3 | Sacramento | $1,703 |
| 4 | San Francisco | $1,693 |
| 5 | Oakland | $1,687 |
| 6 | San Bernardino | $1,644 |
| 7 | Stockton | $1,603 |
| 8 | Fontana | $1,581 |
| 9 | Santa Clarita | $1,580 |
| 10 | Long Beach | $1,578 |
| 11 | Moreno Valley | $1,551 |
| 12 | Garden Grove | $1,508 |
| 13 | Riverside | $1,497 |
| 14 | Anaheim | $1,488 |
| 15 | Modesto | $1,487 |
| 16 | Santa Ana | $1,483 |
| 17 | Fresno | $1,457 |
| 18 | Fremont | $1,403 |
| 19 | Huntington Beach | $1,402 |
| 20 | Bakersfield | $1,381 |
| 21 | San Jose | $1,381 |
| 22 | Irvine | $1,371 |
| 23 | Chula Vista | $1,350 |
| 24 | Oxnard | $1,344 |
| 25 | San Diego | $1,327 |
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Price information shown is estimated as specific Irvine garaging address can impact premium rates noticeably.
Comparing quotes for low-priced auto insurance is not most people’s favorite thing to do, and figuring out which company offers the most affordable auto insurance rates for drivers with a bad driving record may require a bit more work.
Every car insurance company uses a different method for determining prices, so let’s take a look at the auto insurance companies with the overall cheapest rates in California. It’s a good idea to be aware that Irvine, CA auto insurance rates are based on many factors which can substantially decrease or increase the price of coverage. Simply improving your credit, marrying your spouse, or having a fender bender can trigger changes in premium that can make some companies affordable when they were higher priced.
Lowest Insurance Price Quotes for Imperfect Drivers
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | USAA | $1,121 |
| 2 | Century National | $1,178 |
| 3 | Wawanesa | $1,192 |
| 4 | CSAA | $1,222 |
| 5 | Nationwide | $1,226 |
| 6 | 21st Century | $1,325 |
| 7 | Grange | $1,491 |
| 8 | Mercury | $1,503 |
| 9 | Progressive | $1,512 |
| 10 | GEICO | $1,559 |
| 11 | Allstate | $1,559 |
| 12 | Allied | $1,588 |
| 13 | MetLife | $1,590 |
| 14 | The Hartford | $1,623 |
| 15 | Unitrin | $1,699 |
| 16 | Esurance | $1,705 |
| 17 | State Farm | $1,733 |
| 18 | Bristol West | $1,831 |
| 19 | Travelers | $1,860 |
| 20 | Farmers | $2,006 |
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USAA offers some of the cheapest car insurance rates in Irvine at around $1,121 annually. Century National, Wawanesa, CSAA, and Nationwide would also be considered some of the more affordable Irvine, CA car insurance companies.
In this example, if you currently have coverage with CSAA and switched to Century National, you might achieve an annual premium reduction of upwards of $44. Insureds with Nationwide may save as much as $48 a year, and 21st Century policyholders might realize rate reductions of up to $147 a year.
Be aware that those rates are averaged across all ages of drivers and types of vehicles and and are not figured with a specific location for drivers with a bad driving record. So the auto insurance company that can offer you the best price may not even be in the list above. That is why you need to get car insurance quotes using your own specific driver and vehicle information.
Finding the best insurance provider is hard considering how many different companies sell coverage in Irvine. The company ratings shown next may help you decide which auto insurers to look at comparing rates with.
These ratings are only comprised of large nationwide companies, so companies that only write business in California or surrounding areas are not included in the list. To get price quotes from these and other top-rated companies, just click here.
Top 10 Major Auto Insurers Overall in Irvine
- USAA
- American Family
- AAA of Southern California
- State Farm
- The Hartford
- AAA Insurance
- GEICO
- The General
- Titan Insurance
- Progressive
Drive responsibly or pay higher rates
The obvious way to find affordable auto insurance premiums in Irvine for bad drivers is to be a good driver and not get tickets or have accidents. The illustration below illustrates how violations and accident claims raise insurance costs for different age groups. The premium estimates are based on a married male driver, comp and collision included, $100 deductibles, and no other discounts are factored in.
The chart shows that the average cost of an auto insurance policy in California per year with a clean driving record and no accidents is $2,882. Factor in two speeding tickets and the average cost swells to $3,996, an increase of $1,114 each year. Then throw in two accidents along with the two speeding tickets and the yearly cost of auto insurance for drivers with a bad driving record jumps again to an average of $7,985. That’s an increase of $5,103, or $425 per month, just for not driving responsibly!
How to find cheaper auto insurance for drivers with a bad driving record
Lowering your rates is not difficult, and here are some of the recommended penny-pinching ideas that can help you find cheap coverage.
- Do not get traffic citations
- Remove physical damage coverage on older vehicles
- At-fault accidents will increase rates
- Choose a safer vehicle and pay lower rates
- Clean up your credit
- Higher physical damage deductibles lower rates
- Keep rates low by shopping around frequently
That last tip is notably important, as was noted in the prior information. Coverage prices in Irvine can change in a short period of time, so don’t be hesitant to change insurance companies if a more affordable rate is found.
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 potentially thousands of dollars a year. Take a few minutes and compare prices to find cheaper car insurance for drivers with a bad driving record.