The easiest way to find low-cost Hyundai Santa Fe insurance is to compare prices at least once a year from providers that sell auto insurance in Irvine.
Step 1: Get a basic knowledge of how your policy works and the steps you can take to keep rates low. Many rating criteria that are responsible for high rates such as traffic violations and a lousy credit rating can be eliminated by paying attention to minor details. This article gives information to prevent expensive rate increases and find discounts that may have been missed.
Step 2: Get rate quotes from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Exclusive agents and direct companies can give quotes from one company like Progressive or Allstate, while agents who are independent can provide prices from many different companies.
Step 3: Compare the quotes to the premium of your current policy to determine if switching companies saves money. If you can save some money and change companies, make sure coverage is continuous and does not lapse.
Step 4: Provide proper notification to your current company of your decision to cancel the current policy. Submit a down payment along with a completed application for the new coverage. Don’t forget to keep the new certificate verifying coverage above your visor, in the console, or in the glove compartment.
An essential thing to point out is that you’ll want to compare similar coverage information on every quote request and and to get rates from every company you can. This helps ensure a fair rate comparison and a complete selection of prices.
It’s a fact that car insurance companies don’t want their policyholders to compare prices. Insureds who get comparison quotes at least once a year will probably switch to a new company because they stand a good chance of finding lower rate quotes. Surprisingly, a recent survey revealed that drivers who compared rates once a year saved on average $70 a month compared to those who never shopped around for lower prices.
If finding the cheapest rates on auto insurance is why you’re reading this, understanding how to get price quotes and compare car insurance can make it simple to find affordable coverage.
If you’re already insured, you will definitely be able to reduce premiums using the tips covered below. Our objective in writing this article is to teach you a little about the best ways to compare prices and also save some money in the process Nevertheless, California car owners should learn the way companies charge you for coverage because rates are impacted by many factors.
It’s important to know that making a lot of price comparisons helps improve the odds of finding the best rates.
The following companies are our best choices to provide free rate quotes in Irvine, CA. If you want the best cheap car insurance in CA, we suggest you compare several of them in order to get a fair rate comparison.
Cheaper Irvine auto insurance rates with discounts
The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but you may find discounts to cut the cost considerably. Certain reductions will be credited when you quote, but some must be specially asked for before being credited. If you aren’t receiving every discount you qualify for, you’re just leaving money on the table.
- Telematics Data – Drivers who elect to allow their auto insurance company to scrutinize where and when they drive by using a telematics device like Allstate’s Drivewise could see a rate decrease if they have good driving habits.
- Braking Control Discount – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles are much safer to drive and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
- Professional Memberships – Being in specific professional or occupational memberships or organizations could trigger savings on your bill.
- Seat Belts Save more than Lives – Forcing all vehicle occupants to fasten their seat belts can save 10% or more off PIP or medical payments premium.
- Irvine Homeowners Discount – Just owning your own home may trigger a policy discount on auto insurance since home ownership means you have a higher level of financial diligence.
- Senior Citizen Rates – Drivers over the age of 55 can get lower premium rates.
- Drive Safe and Save – Safe drivers can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates than their less cautious counterparts.
- No Claim Discounts – Good drivers with no accidents can save substantially when compared to drivers who are more careless.
As a sidenote, most credits do not apply to the whole policy. The majority will only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like comp or med pay. So when the math indicates it’s possible to get free car insurance, you won’t be that lucky.
The illustration below compares Hyundai Santa Fe auto insurance costs with and without discounts. The rate quotes are based on a male driver, no violations or claims, California state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $100 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with safe-driver, marriage, multi-car, claim-free, multi-policy, and homeowner discounts applied.
A list of companies and a partial list of their discounts are shown below.
- State Farm may have discounts that include multiple autos, Steer Clear safe driver discount, defensive driving training, anti-theft, good driver, student away at school, and good student.
- GEICO policyholders can earn discounts including air bags, defensive driver, daytime running lights, multi-policy, seat belt use, anti-theft, and five-year accident-free.
- SAFECO offers discounts including homeowner, multi-car, teen safe driver, accident prevention training, bundle discounts, anti-theft, and anti-lock brakes.
- Farmers Insurance offers premium reductions for mature driver, pay in full, alternative fuel, teen driver, and bundle discounts.
- AAA includes discounts for good driver, AAA membership discount, multi-policy, anti-theft, good student, multi-car, and pay-in-full.
- USAA discounts include family discount, safe driver, vehicle storage, loyalty savings, good student, military installation, and driver training.
When getting free Irvine car insurance quotes, it’s a good idea to each company or agent to apply every possible discount. All car insurance discounts may not be available in Irvine. If you would like to view companies that offer many of these discounts in Irvine, click this link.
Analysis of Hyundai Santa Fe rates
The premium information shown below highlights estimates of insurance premium costs for Hyundai Santa Fe models. Having knowledge of how insurance policy rates are figured can assist in making informed decisions when comparing rate quotes.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Santa Fe GLS 2WD | $256 | $570 | $416 | $24 | $124 | $1,390 | $116 |
Santa Fe GLS 4WD | $292 | $570 | $416 | $24 | $124 | $1,426 | $119 |
Santa Fe SE 2WD | $292 | $570 | $416 | $24 | $124 | $1,426 | $119 |
Santa Fe Limited 2WD | $292 | $672 | $416 | $24 | $124 | $1,528 | $127 |
Santa Fe SE 4WD | $292 | $672 | $416 | $24 | $124 | $1,528 | $127 |
Santa Fe Limited 4WD | $330 | $672 | $416 | $24 | $124 | $1,566 | $131 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Prices based on married female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, claim-free, safe-driver, multi-policy, and homeowner. Prices do not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can impact coverage prices significantly.
Physical damage deductibles: Should you raise them?
When buying car insurance, a common question is at what level do you set your deductibles. The rates shown below can help you understand the rate fluctuation when you choose different comp and collision deductibles. The first table uses a $250 deductible and the second rate chart uses a $500 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Santa Fe GLS 2WD | $298 | $576 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,499 | $125 |
Santa Fe GLS 4WD | $342 | $576 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,543 | $129 |
Santa Fe SE 2WD | $342 | $576 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,543 | $129 |
Santa Fe Limited 2WD | $342 | $678 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,645 | $137 |
Santa Fe SE 4WD | $342 | $678 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,645 | $137 |
Santa Fe Limited 4WD | $386 | $678 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,689 | $141 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Santa Fe GLS 2WD | $242 | $464 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,306 | $109 |
Santa Fe GLS 4WD | $278 | $464 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,342 | $112 |
Santa Fe SE 2WD | $278 | $464 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,342 | $112 |
Santa Fe Limited 2WD | $278 | $546 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,424 | $119 |
Santa Fe SE 4WD | $278 | $546 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,424 | $119 |
Santa Fe Limited 4WD | $314 | $546 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,460 | $122 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Price data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, safe-driver, multi-policy, claim-free, and multi-vehicle. Premium costs do not factor in specific garaging location which can increase or decrease coverage rates greatly.
Based on the above data, using a $250 deductible will cost in the ballpark of $17 more each month or $204 every year across all Hyundai Santa Fe models than quoting the higher $500 deductible. Because you would pay $250 more to settle a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you have more than 15 months between claim filings, you would probably be better off if you choose a higher deductible. The table below shows how you can make your own decision.
Average monthly premium for $250 deductibles: | $133 |
Average monthly premium for $500 deductibles (subtract): | – $116 |
Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $17 |
Difference between deductibles ($500 – $250): | $250 |
Divide difference by monthly savings: | $250 / $17 |
Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 15 months |
Car insurance premiums based on gender
The illustration below shows the difference between Hyundai Santa Fe auto insurance rates for male and female drivers. The prices are based on a clean driving record, no claims, full physical damage coverage, $1,000 deductibles, single marital status, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
Neighborhood insurance agents
Many drivers would rather sit down and talk to an agent and that is OK! A nice benefit of comparing rate quotes online is the fact that drivers can get lower rates but still work with a licensed agent. And buying from neighborhood agents is especially important in Irvine.
To find an agent, once you fill out this short form, the coverage information gets sent to agents in your area who will give you quotes and help you find cheaper coverage. It’s much easier because you don’t need to visit any agencies since rate quotes are delivered instantly to you. You can get cheaper auto insurance rates without requiring a lot of work. If for some reason you want to quote rates from a specific auto insurance provider, you would need to jump over to their website and give them your coverage information.
Exclusive and independent Irvine car insurance agents
When searching for a local Irvine insurance agency, you should know the types of agencies and how they can quote your rates. Agencies in Irvine are either exclusive agents or independent agents.
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
These agents can sell policies from many different companies so they can insure your vehicles with multiple insurance companies and get the cheapest rates. If they find a cheaper price, your agent can just switch to a different company without you having to go to a different agency. If you need cheaper auto insurance rates, we highly recommend that you contact several independent agencies in order to have the best price comparison. They often place coverage with less well-known companies which may have better rates.
Featured below is a list of independent insurance agencies in Irvine who can help you get rate quotes.
- Professional Choice Insurance
2151 Michelson Dr Suite 250 – Irvine, CA 92612 – (714) 467-8726 – View Map - Hays Co
18201 Von Karman Ave # 510 – Irvine, CA 92612 – (949) 442-7662 – View Map - Willis Insurance Services of CA Inc
18101 Von Karman Ave # 600 – Irvine, CA 92612 – (949) 885-1200 – View Map
Exclusive Auto Insurance Agencies
Agents that elect to be exclusive can only place business with one company and some examples include Farmers Insurance and State Farm. Exclusive agents cannot shop your coverage around so always compare other rates. Exclusive agents receive a lot of sales training on their products and sales techniques which helps them sell on service rather than price. Some insured continue to choose to use an exclusive agent mainly due to the prominent brand name and the convenience of having a single billing for all their coverages.
Below are Irvine exclusive agencies that can give you price quotes.
- Farmers Insurance
4000 Barranca Pkwy # 250 – Irvine, CA 92604 – (949) 262-3238 – View Map - Steven Wang – State Farm Insurance Agent
15333 Culver Dr #130 – Irvine, CA 92604 – (949) 552-3600 – View Map - Ray Vermeulen – State Farm Insurance Agent
2151 Michelson Dr #242 – Irvine, CA 92612 – (949) 752-6335 – View Map
Deciding on an car insurance agent requires more thought than just a cheap quote. Any good agent in Irvine should know the answers to these questions.
- Where are claims handled?
- Do they review policy coverages at every renewal?
- Which companies can they place coverage with?
- Where would glass claims be handled in Irvine?
- Does the agency have a current Errors and Omissions policy?
- Do they prorate repair cost based on vehicle mileage?
- How long has their agency been in business in Irvine?
After talking to the agent and getting positive feedback to any questions you may have and an affordable coverage quote, you may have just found an auto insurance agent that meets your needs to properly insure your vehicles.
Car insurance is not optional but you don’t have to overpay
Despite the fact that car insurance is not cheap in Irvine, insurance may be required and benefits you in several ways.
First, most states have mandatory liability insurance requirements which means you are required to buy a minimum amount of liability insurance coverage in order to license the vehicle. 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.
Second, if you have a loan on your vehicle, more than likely the lender will require that you have physical damage coverage to guarantee their interest in the vehicle. If the policy lapses, the lender may have to buy a policy to insure your Hyundai at an extremely high rate and require you to pay the higher premium.
Third, car insurance protects not only your Hyundai Santa Fe but also your financial assets. It will also provide coverage for most medical and hospital costs for not only you but also any passengers injured in an accident. Liability coverage, the one required by state law, will also pay for a defense attorney if you are sued as the result of your driving. If you receive damage to your vehicle caused by a storm or accident, your car insurance policy will pay to repair the damage.
The benefits of carrying adequate insurance definitely exceed the price paid, particularly for liability claims. In a recent study of 1,000 drivers, the average customer is currently overpaying as much as $750 every year so it’s important to compare rates at every policy renewal to ensure rates are competitive.
Parts of your insurance policy
Having a good grasp of your insurance policy aids in choosing the right coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. The terms used in a policy can be difficult to understand and coverage can change by endorsement.
Liability
This coverage protects you from injuries or damage you cause to other people or property in an accident. This insurance protects YOU from legal claims by others. Liability doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.
Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. Your policy might show values of 15/30/5 which stand for a $15,000 limit per person for injuries, a limit of $30,000 in injury protection per accident, and property damage coverage for $5,000. Another option is one number which is a combined single limit that pays claims from the same limit and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.
Liability insurance covers claims like repair bills for other people’s vehicles, medical services and attorney fees. How much coverage you buy is a decision to put some thought into, but you should buy higher limits if possible. California state minimum liability requirements are 15/30/5 but drivers should carry more liability than the minimum.
The next chart shows why buying the state minimum limits may not provide you with enough coverage.
Comprehensive protection
This coverage pays for damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first must pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for things like fire damage, damage from flooding and rock chips in glass. The maximum payout your insurance company will pay is the ACV or actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Medical expense coverage
Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for expenses for things like surgery, EMT expenses, ambulance fees and nursing services. They can be used in conjunction with a health insurance program or if you are not covered by health insurance. They cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and will also cover being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal Injury Protection is only offered in select states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Collision coverage
Collision coverage covers damage to your Santa Fe caused by collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You first must pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision insurance covers things such as sustaining damage from a pot hole, hitting a parking meter and backing into a parked car. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are older. It’s also possible to bump up the deductible on your Santa Fe to bring the cost down.
Uninsured or underinsured coverage
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage provides protection from other drivers when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family as well as damage to your Hyundai Santa Fe.
Because many people carry very low liability coverage limits (California limits are 15/30/5), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is important protection for you and your family. Normally your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.
In Summary
Budget-conscious Hyundai Santa Fe insurance is possible from both online companies as well as from independent agents in Irvine, and you should be comparing both so you have a total pricing picture. A few companies may not offer the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these small, regional companies prefer to sell through local independent agencies.
Drivers who switch companies do it for many reasons like extreme rates for teen drivers, delays in responding to claim requests, not issuing a premium refund or even lack of trust in their agent. No matter why you want to switch, choosing a new insurance company is easier than you think.
When buying insurance coverage, don’t be tempted to buy poor coverage just to save money. There are a lot of situations where consumers will sacrifice comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to discover later they didn’t purchase enough coverage. The goal is to get the best coverage possible at the lowest possible cost but still have enough coverage for asset protection.
Additional information is located at the links below
- Understanding your Policy (NAIC.org)
- Who Has Affordable Irvine Auto Insurance for a Kia Forte? (FAQ)
- How Much is Irvine Car Insurance for Teachers? (FAQ)
- How Much are Irvine Car Insurance Rates for a Toyota RAV4? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for a Ford Explorer in Irvine? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Car Insurance Rates for a Honda CR-V in Irvine? (FAQ)
- Bodily Injury Coverage (Liberty Mutual)
- Rearview cameras reduce backing crashes (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- What if I Can’t Find Coverage? (Insurance Information Institute)
- How Does Hitting a Deer Impact Insurance Rates? (Allstate)