Are you overwhelmed by the wide range of auto insurance sources that you can choose from? There are so many sources to choose from that it can quickly become a difficult mission to find the perfect company for you. Lots of people think Irvine is an awesome place to live, but high auto insurance premiums can make it difficult for lots of drivers to maintain proper levels of coverage.
Sadly, the vast majority of consumers in California renewed their policy with the same company for four years or more, and approximately 40% of consumers have never shopped around. Many consumers in the United States could cut their rates by $859 a year by just shopping around, but they assume it’s a waste of time to find cheap auto insurance rates.
If you have a current auto insurance policy, you should be able to get lower rates using the techniques covered below. The goal of this article is to familiarize you with the best way to buy inexpensive auto insurance and also save some money in the process Although California consumers do need to understand the way companies calculate your auto insurance rates because it can help you find the best coverage.
Good Decisions Result in Lower Insurance Rates
Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that help calculate the price you pay for auto insurance. If you have a feel for what positively or negatively impacts your premiums, this allows you to make good choices that can earn you cheaper rates.
The itemized list below are some of the most rate-impacting factors auto insurance companies consider when setting premiums.
- Improve your credit rating – Your credit history can be an important factor in determining your rates. People that have very good credit scores tend to file fewer claims as compared to drivers with lower credit scores. If your credit score could use some work, you could potentially save money when insuring your Hyundai Accent by taking the time to improve your credit score.
-
Insurance is expensive for teen drivers – More experienced drivers are shown to be more cautious, cost insurance companies less in claims, and get fewer tickets. Teen drivers have a tendency to be easily distracted in a vehicle therefore auto insurance rates are much higher.
The data below uses these variables: single driver, full coverage with $1000 deductibles, and no discounts or violations.
- Cheaper rates with high comp and collision deductibles – Protection for physical damage, also called comprehensive and collision insurance, protects your Hyundai from damage. Examples of some claims that would be covered would be a windshield shattered by a rock, flood damage, or theft. The deductibles you choose define the amount you are required to pay before your auto insurance pays a claim. The more damage repair cost you pay before a claim is paid (deductible), the lower your rates will be.
- Choose high safety ratings and save – Safer cars are cheaper to insure. Safe vehicles help reduce the chance of injuries in an accident and reduced instances of injuries translates into savings for insurance companies passed on to you as lower rates. If your Hyundai Accent scored better than four stars on Safercar.gov or an “acceptable” rating on iihs.org you are probably receiving a discount.
-
What type of car do you drive? – The make and model of the vehicle you are insuring makes a significant difference in the rate you pay. The best insurance prices are for economy passenger vehicles, but your final cost has many other factors.
The following data uses these variables: married female driver age 50, full coverage with $100 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. The chart compares Hyundai Accent insurance rates compared to other models of vehicles that have a range of performance risks.
-
Gender and insurance – Statistics show that females tend to be a little less risky than males. That doesn’t necessarily mean that men are worse drivers. Both sexes cause at-fault accidents in similar percentages, but the males cause more damage. Not only are claims higher, but men receive more costly citations such as DWI and reckless driving.
The illustration below visualizes the comparison of Hyundai Accent insurance prices for male and female drivers. The information is based on no violations or accidents, comprehensive and collision coverage, $500 deductibles, drivers are single, and no other discounts are factored in.
-
Loss statistics for a Hyundai Accent – Companies include the past claim history for a vehicle when they file their rates in each state. Models that the statistics show to have higher frequency or amount of claims will cost more for specific coverages.
The information below illustrates the loss history for Hyundai Accent vehicles. For each insurance policy coverage type, the claim probability for all vehicles averaged together is considered to be 100. Values under 100 represent a good loss history, while values that are above 100 indicate frequent claims or an increased probability of a larger loss.
Hyundai Accent Insurance Claim Statistics Vehicle Model Collision Property Damage Comp Personal Injury Medical Payment Bodily Injury Hyundai Accent 98 109 89 129 129 133 BETTERAVERAGEWORSEStatistics Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2013-2015 Model Years
To find the best auto insurance rates, there are several ways of comparing price quotes from local Irvine auto insurance companies. The simplest method to find competitive Hyundai Accent insurance rates is simply to get online rate quotes. It’s important to know that getting more free quotes increases your odds of finding more affordable rates. Some smaller insurers do not give price estimates online, so it’s necessary to compare rates on coverage from those companies, too.
The companies shown below are ready to provide free quotes in Irvine, CA. If multiple companies are listed, it’s highly recommended you click on several of them to get the best price comparison.
Hyundai Accent insurance coverage information
The rate information displayed next covers a range of policy rates for Hyundai Accent models. Having a better idea how policy premiums are calculated can aid in making smart choices when choosing a car insurance company.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accent Blue 2-Dr Hatchback | $152 | $292 | $384 | $22 | $114 | $964 | $80 |
| Accent GS 2-Dr Hatchback | $178 | $354 | $384 | $22 | $114 | $1,052 | $88 |
| Accent GLS 4-Dr Sedan | $178 | $418 | $510 | $30 | $152 | $1,288 | $107 |
| Accent SE 2-Dr Hatchback | $204 | $482 | $384 | $22 | $114 | $1,206 | $101 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Above prices assume married female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, multi-vehicle, claim-free, homeowner, and safe-driver. Table data does not factor in zip code location which can change premium rates greatly.
Policy deductibles
A question often asked by Irvine drivers is how high should the deductibles for physical damage be. The figures shown below can help illustrate the difference in cost between low and high deductibles. The first rate estimation uses a $100 deductible and the second price table uses a $500 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accent Blue 2-Dr Hatchback | $282 | $564 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,381 | $115 |
| Accent GS 2-Dr Hatchback | $332 | $686 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,553 | $129 |
| Accent GLS 4-Dr Sedan | $332 | $810 | $500 | $30 | $150 | $1,847 | $154 |
| Accent SE 2-Dr Hatchback | $380 | $932 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,847 | $154 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accent Blue 2-Dr Hatchback | $206 | $382 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,098 | $92 |
| Accent GS 2-Dr Hatchback | $242 | $464 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,216 | $101 |
| Accent GLS 4-Dr Sedan | $242 | $546 | $500 | $30 | $150 | $1,468 | $122 |
| Accent SE 2-Dr Hatchback | $278 | $630 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,418 | $118 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, claim-free, homeowner, safe-driver, and multi-vehicle. Price estimates do not factor in vehicle garaging location which can increase or decrease prices noticeably.
We can derive from the above data that using a $100 deductible costs roughly $30 more each month or $360 annually across all Hyundai Accent models than quoting the higher $500 deductible. Since you would have to pay $400 more out-of-pocket with a $500 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you tend to have at a minimum 13 months between claim filings, you would save money by selecting a higher deductible.
How to determine if higher deductibles are a good idea
| Average monthly premium for $100 deductibles: | $138 |
| Average monthly premium for $500 deductibles (subtract): | – $108 |
| Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $30 |
| Difference between deductibles ($500 – $100): | $400 |
| Divide difference by monthly savings: | $400 / $30 |
| Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 13 months |
One thing to note is that higher deductibles results in a higher out-of-pocket expense when you file a claim. You must have some extra funds in the event you need to pay the deductible for vehicle repair.
Hyundai Accent full coverage rates compared to liability only
The diagram below compares Hyundai Accent annual premium costs with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying liability only. The information is based on no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, single status, and no discounts are applied.
When to drop comp and collision
There is no definitive guideline to delete comp and collision coverage, but there is a broad guideline. If the annual cost of your full coverage insurance is more than about 10% of the replacement cost of your vehicle minus the policy deductible, the it may be a good time to stop paying for full coverage.
For example, let’s say your Hyundai Accent replacement cost is $7,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled in an accident, the most you would get paid by your company is $6,000 after you pay the deductible. If it’s costing in excess of $600 annually for full coverage, then it might be time to buy liability only.
There are some cases where only buying liability is not in your best interest. If you still owe a portion of the original loan, you have to keep full coverage in order to prevent the bank from purchasing higher-priced coverage. Also, if you don’t have enough money to buy a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should maintain full coverage.
It may be expensive, but it’s not optional
Even though it can be expensive, buying insurance is not optional due to several reasons.
- The majority of states have mandatory liability insurance requirements which means it is punishable by state law to not carry a specific level of liability coverage if you drive a 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.
- If you took out a loan on your Hyundai, it’s guaranteed your bank will require you to have insurance to protect their interest in the vehicle. If you default on your policy, the lender may insure your Hyundai at a more expensive rate and make you pay the higher price.
- Insurance protects both your assets and your vehicle. It will also cover medical transport and hospital expenses for not only you but also any passengers injured in an accident. One policy coverage, liability insurance, also pays expenses related to your legal defense if you are sued as the result of your driving. If damage is caused by hail or an accident, collision and comprehensive coverages will cover the damage repairs after a deductible is paid.
The benefits of buying enough insurance are without a doubt worth the cost, especially if you ever need it. According to a recent study, the average American driver overpays as much as $825 a year so you should quote and compare rates at every renewal to ensure rates are inline.
Car insurance policy discounts you can’t miss
Buying car insurance is not cheap, but you might find some hidden discounts to help offset the cost. Many discounts should be triggered when you get a quote, but some must be asked for before they will apply. If you do not check that you are getting every discount available, you are paying more than you should be.
- Waiver for an Accident – This isn’t a discount exactly, but some companies like Allstate and Progressive allow you one accident without getting socked with a rate hike with the catch being you have to be claim-free prior to the accident.
- Professional Organizations – Having an affiliation with a professional or civic organization could earn you a nice discount on your next renewal.
- Driver Training Discounts – Passing a class that teaches driver safety techniques could earn you a small percentage discount and easily recoup the cost of the course.
- Smart Student Discounts – Being a good student can earn a discount of 20% or more. You can use this discount normally up to age 25.
- Federal Government Employee – Simply working for the federal government may reduce rates when you quote Irvine car insurance depending on your company.
- Discount for Low Mileage – Driving less could earn better prices on cars that stay parked.
- Discount for New Cars – Buying insurance on a new vehicle can be considerably cheaper since new vehicles have better safety ratings.
- Include Life Insurance and Save – Car insurance companies who offer life insurance give lower prices if you buy auto and life insurance together.
- Responsible Driver Discount – Accident-free drivers can save as much as half off their rates than drivers with accidents.
- Early Switch Discount – Some companies provide a discount for buying a policy before your current Accent insurance policy expires. You can save around 10% with this discount.
While discounts sound great, it’s important to understand that many deductions do not apply to your bottom line cost. The majority will only reduce specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. Just because you may think adding up those discounts means a free policy, you won’t be that lucky.
The example below visualizes the comparison of Hyundai Accent yearly insurance costs with and without discounts applied to the policy premium. The premium estimates are based on a male driver, no violations or claims, California state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-policy, multi-car, claim-free, marriage, safe-driver, and homeowner discounts applied.
Auto insurance companies who may offer some of the discounts shown above are:
When quoting, ask each company or agent which discounts they offer. Depending on the company, some discounts might not be offered on policies in Irvine. To see companies who offer discounts in California, click this link.
Get rate quotes but still have a local Irvine insurance agent
Some people still prefer to buy from a licensed agent and that can be a great decision The best thing about getting free rate quotes online is that drivers can save money and get cheaper auto insurance rates and also buy local. And providing support for local insurance agencies is important especially in Irvine.
By using this form (opens in new window), your insurance coverage information is emailed to local insurance agents in Irvine who will give competitive quotes and help you find cheaper coverage. You won’t need to search for any insurance agencies as quotes are delivered to you instantly. You can most likely find cheaper rates without a big time investment. If you have a need to get a comparison quote for a specific company, feel free to find their quoting web page and submit a quote form there.
Choose an insurance agent wisely
If you are wanting to purchase car insurance from a local Irvine insurance agency, it helps to know the two different types of agencies and how they can service your needs differently. Irvine agents can be classified as either independent agents or exclusive agents.
Independent Agencies or Brokers
Agents in the independent channel do not work for one specific company so they can write business through many different car insurance companies and get you the best rates possible. If you are not satisfied with one company, they simply move the coverage in-house without you having to go to a different agency. If you are comparing rate quotes, we highly recommend that you include a couple of independent agencies to have the most options to choose from. Most can insure with less well-known companies that may have much lower rates than larger companies.
Listed below is a short list of independent insurance agents in Irvine that may be able to give free car insurance rate quotes.
- Wells Fargo Insurance Services: Harper James
2030 Main St #700 – Irvine, CA 92614 – (949) 358-6100 – View Map - AIS | Auto Insurance Specialists | Irvine
16969 Von Karman Ave #100 – Irvine, CA 92606 – (949) 660-7061 – View Map - Wozencraft Insurance Agency
17321 Irvine Blvd #201 – Tustin, CA 92780 – (714) 263-2626 – View Map
Exclusive Agents
Exclusive insurance agents can only place business with one company and examples are American Family, State Farm, and Allstate. Exclusive agencies are unable to provide other company’s prices so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. Exclusive insurance agents are usually well trained in insurance sales which helps them sell on service rather than price. Drivers often use the same exclusive agent mainly due to the brand legacy rather than low rates.
The following are exclusive agents in Irvine that can give you price quote information.
- Ken LaTourette – State Farm Insurance Agent
1032 Irvine Blvd – Tustin, CA 92780 – (714) 544-3779 – View Map - Allstate Insurance: Kay Yang
4255 Campus Dr A270 – Irvine, CA 92612 – (949) 509-2888 – View Map - Steven Wang – State Farm Insurance Agent
15333 Culver Dr #130 – Irvine, CA 92604 – (949) 552-3600 – View Map
Choosing the best auto insurance agent is decision based upon more than just the price. Here are some questions you should ask.
- Who are their largest clients?
- Do they specialize in personal lines auto insurance in Irvine?
- If you are a high risk driver, do they have special markets for your coverage?
- Is vehicle mileage a factor when determining depreciation for repairs?
- Are they giving you every discount you deserve?
- Are claims handled at the agent’s location?
Cheaper auto insurance is a realistic goal
As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, make sure you don’t buy poor coverage just to save money. There are many occasions where someone dropped physical damage coverage only to find out they didn’t have enough coverage. Your focus should be to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford but still have enough coverage for asset protection.
We just showed you quite a bit of information on how to compare Hyundai Accent insurance rates in Irvine. The key thing to remember is the more rate comparisons you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may even discover the lowest rates come from some of the smallest insurance companies.
Consumers switch companies for a variety of reasons including delays in responding to claim requests, not issuing a premium refund, high rates after DUI convictions and even being labeled a high risk driver. Regardless of your reason, finding a new company is easier than you think.
How to find low-cost rates for Hyundai Accent insurance in Irvine
The most effective way to find cheaper Hyundai Accent insurance in Irvine is to annually compare prices from providers who sell insurance in California.
- Get a basic knowledge of how car insurance works and the measures you can control to drop your rates. Many risk factors that increase rates like getting speeding tickets and a bad credit rating can be controlled by making minor changes to your lifestyle.
- Get rate quotes from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only quote rates from one company like GEICO or Allstate, while independent agencies can give you price quotes for a wide range of insurance providers.
- Compare the new rate quotes to the premium of your current policy to see if a cheaper price is available in Irvine. If you can save some money and switch companies, make sure there is no coverage gap between policies.
- Provide adequate notice to your current company of your decision to cancel your existing policy. Submit payment and a completed application for the new coverage. Be sure to keep your new proof of insurance paperwork along with the vehicle’s registration papers.
The most important part of this process is that you use identical coverage information on each price quote and and to compare all possible companies. Doing this guarantees the most accurate price comparison and a better comparison of the market.
Additional auto insurance information is available at these links:
- Eight Auto Insurance Myths (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has Affordable Car Insurance Rates for a Dodge Ram in Irvine? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance Quotes for 16 Year Olds in Irvine? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Irvine Auto Insurance Quotes for a Honda Civic? (FAQ)
- Child Safety Seats (Insurance Information Institute)
- Rental Reimbursement Coverage (Allstate)