Deciphering which companies quote the best auto insurance rates for 16 year olds requires a little more effort than just comparing a company or two. Each insurance company has a different formula for determining rates in each state, so we’ll go over the auto insurance companies with the most affordable rates in Irvine.
It’s a good idea to be aware that California auto insurance rates are based on many factors that will increase or decrease the cost of your policy. Simply getting older, getting divorced, or getting a driving violation can cause premium changes that can now make some companies cheaper than competitors.
Find Cheaper Car Insurance for Teens
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | USAA | $1,143 |
| 2 | Wawanesa | $1,146 |
| 3 | CSAA | $1,222 |
| 4 | Century National | $1,226 |
| 5 | Nationwide | $1,250 |
| 6 | 21st Century | $1,325 |
| 7 | Grange | $1,491 |
| 8 | Mercury | $1,503 |
| 9 | Progressive | $1,512 |
| 10 | Allstate | $1,543 |
| 11 | GEICO | $1,575 |
| 12 | Allied | $1,603 |
| 13 | MetLife | $1,638 |
| 14 | The Hartford | $1,639 |
| 15 | Unitrin | $1,682 |
| 16 | State Farm | $1,699 |
| 17 | Esurance | $1,705 |
| 18 | Bristol West | $1,777 |
| 19 | Travelers | $1,788 |
| 20 | Farmers | $2,026 |
| Find Your Rate Go | ||
USAA offers some of the lowest car insurance rates in Irvine at around $1,143 a year. This is $508 less than the average rate paid by California drivers of $1,651. Wawanesa, CSAA, Century National, and Nationwide are also some of the lowest-priced Irvine, CA auto insurance companies.
In the above example, if you have coverage with Nationwide and switched to Wawanesa, you could see a yearly price reduction of roughly $104. Insureds with 21st Century could save as much as $179 a year, and Grange insureds might reduce rates by $345 a year.
These policy rates are averaged across all types of drivers and the different vehicles they drive and and are not calculated with an exact zip code location for 16 year olds. So the auto insurance company that fits you best may not even be in the list above. That points out the importance of why you need to compare prices as often as possible using your own driver and vehicle profiles.
The make and model of vehicle you are insuring is one of the main factors that determines if you can find cheaper insurance for 16 year olds. Vehicles with high performance engines, a lack of safety features, or a history of substantial liability claims will cost quite a bit more to insure than more economical and safe models. The list below ranks coverage rates for the cheaper automobiles to buy insurance for.
| Make, Model, and Trim Level | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Ford Escape XLS 2WD | $3,735 |
| Honda Accord LX-P 4-Dr Sedan | $3,741 |
| Hyundai Elantra GLS Touring Station Wagon | $3,735 |
| Honda CR-V EX 4WD | $3,770 |
| Toyota Prius | $4,033 |
| Chevrolet Silverado LS Regular Cab 4WD | $4,166 |
| Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 2WD | $4,201 |
| Ford Edge SEL 2WD | $4,393 |
| Ford Fusion S 4-Dr Sedan | $4,428 |
| Toyota RAV4 Sport 4WD | $4,436 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LT AWD | $4,428 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan Crew | $4,464 |
| Ford F-150 FX2 2WD | $4,470 |
| Chevrolet Malibu LT | $4,464 |
| Toyota Tacoma Double Cab TRD Off-Road Package 4WD | $4,470 |
| Ford Focus SES 4-Dr Sedan | $4,623 |
| Nissan Altima 2.5 S 4-Dr Sedan | $4,658 |
| Start Your Quote Go | |
Data variables include single male driver age 16, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, and safe-driver. Prices do not factor in vehicle garaging location which can affect insurance rates considerably.
Based on these rates, you can conclude that cars like the Ford Escape, Honda Accord, Hyundai Elantra, and Honda CR-V should be some of the cheaper vehicles to insure for new drivers. Auto insurance rates will tend to be higher because of the fact that there is a higher risk for 16 year olds, but in general those models will tend to have the lowest insurance prices that you’ll find.
The chart below highlights how deductible selection can raise or lower insurance prices when quoting cheap insurance for 16 year olds. The premiums are based on a married female driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
The chart above illustrates that a 30-year-old driver could save $350 a year by changing from a $100 deductible to a $500 deductible, or save $530 by changing to a $1,000 deductible. Even younger insureds, like the Age 20 category, can cut as much as $750 or more by selecting a higher deductible.
When insureds make the decision to increase the deductibles on their policy, it’s a good idea to have additional funds squirreled away to allow you to pay the extra out-of-pocket expense, which is the one shortcoming of high deductibles.
Price comparison of only insuring for liability
Saving on auto insurance is important to the majority of vehicle owners, and an easy way to buy cheaper insurance for 16 year olds is to buy liability only. The diagram below shows the comparison of insurance premiums with full coverage compared to only the California minimum liability coverage. The premiums are based on a clean driving record, no claims, $1,000 deductibles, single status, and no policy discounts are applied.
If all age groups are averaged, physical damage insurance costs $2,501 per year over and above liability only. At some point, every insured wonders if you should buy full coverage. There is no clear-cut formula that works best for making the decision to drop physical damage insurance, but there is a general guideline. If the annual cost of coverage is more than around 10% of replacement cost minus your deductible, then you might consider buying liability only.
For example, let’s say your vehicle’s claim settlement value is $6,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is severely damaged, you would only receive $5,000 after paying your deductible. If you are paying over $500 a year for full coverage, then it’s probably a good time to buy liability coverage only.
Irvine auto insurance companies
Ending up with the highest-rated company can be challenging considering how many different insurance companies sell coverage in Irvine. The rank data displayed below can help you analyze which coverage providers to look at comparing prices from. The rankings below are for the largest companies in America, so smaller companies will not be included in these rankings.
| 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 |
| Compare Rates Now Go | ||||||
Data Source: Insure.com Best Car Insurance Companies
If you have coverage questions and would like to have a consultation when shopping around for cheaper insurance for 16 year olds, the agents shown below are willing to aid you in deciding which policy is best.
To locate an Irvine insurance agent closest to you, click the link at the bottom or click here to get price quotes now.
- John Luithly – State Farm Insurance Agent
16277 Laguna Canyon Rd F – Irvine, CA 92618 – (949) 727-4442 - Gardner Insurance Orange County
4952 Warner Ave – Huntington Beach, CA 92649 – (714) 846-4231 - Farmers Insurance – Al Kash
17702 Mitchell N – Irvine, CA 92614 – (949) 216-3620
View map of Irvine, CA insurance agents
Ideas to find budget-friendly insurance for 16 year olds
It is possible to find better rates, and here are a few penny-pinching ideas that can help you buy cheaper car insurance.
- Claim-free drivers earn discounts
- Serious violations like DUI or careless driving can make car insurance unaffordable
- Bundle home and auto and earn a discount
- Choose a safer vehicle and pay lower rates
- Having at-fault accidents will increase rates
- Older vehicles may not need full coverage
- Compare price quotes at least once a year
The final tip is remarkably valuable, as was discussed in the prior information. Car insurance rates in Irvine can change considerably based on profitability, so don’t hesitate to switch companies if a more affordable price is available. Many drivers have brand loyalty and that’s fine, but we do not recommend it if your bullheadedness ends up costing you a considerable chunk of change every month. Spend a few minutes and compare prices to find cheaper auto insurance for 16 year olds.