If shopping for Irvine car insurance quotes online is new to you, you may be overwhelmed by the vast number of companies selling insurance in Irvine.
Steps to finding more affordable Acura RL insurance in Irvine
The best way to find cheaper auto insurance rates in Irvine is to regularly compare price quotes from insurers in California. You can compare prices by following these steps.
- Spend a few minutes and learn about how car insurance works and the measures you can control to prevent high rates. Many rating criteria that result in higher prices like accidents, careless driving, and a bad credit rating can be controlled by being financially responsible and driving safely.
- Compare prices from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Exclusive agents and direct companies can only give rate quotes from a single company like Progressive and State Farm, while independent agencies can quote rates for a wide range of insurance providers.
- Compare the new rate quotes to the premium of your current policy to see if switching to a new carrier will save money. If you can save money, make sure there is no coverage gap between policies.
- Tell your current agent or company to cancel your current auto insurance policy and submit a completed application and payment to your new carrier. When you receive it, put the certificate of insurance in a readily accessible location in your vehicle.
One thing to point out is to make sure you’re comparing the same physical damage deductibles and liability limits on every quote request and to quote with as many auto insurance providers as possible. This enables an apples-to-apples comparison and a complete price analysis.
A recent survey discovered that most auto insurance policyholders in California kept their policy with the same company for a minimum of four years, and 38% of customers have never compared rates to find cheap insurance. With the average premium in the United States being $1,847, drivers could cut their rates by 46.5% a year by just comparing quotes, but they won’t spend time to find cheap insurance by shopping around.
You may qualify for discounts for Acura RL insurance in Irvine
Insurance is not an enjoyable expense, but there could be significant discounts that can dramatically reduce your bill. Most are applied when you get a quote, but some need to be inquired about prior to receiving the credit.
- Claim Free – Claim-free drivers get the best insurance rates as opposed to drivers with a long claim history.
- Telematics Devices – Drivers who elect to allow their insurance company to track driving habits through the use of a telematics system such as Snapshot from Progressive or Drivewise from Allstate could possibly reduce rates if they show good driving skills.
- Bundled Policy Discount – If you can bundle your auto and home insurance with one insurance company you could save approximately 10% to 15%.
- Student Discounts – Being a good student can earn a discount of 20% or more. The good student discount can last well after school through age 25.
- Multiple Vehicles – Buying a policy with multiple cars with the same company qualifies for this discount.
- Multi-line Discount – Larger insurance carriers have a lower price if you buy life insurance.
- Own a Home and Save – Just being a homeowner can help you save on insurance because of the fact that having a home is proof of financial responsibility.
- Buy New and Save – Buying a new car model is cheaper because new vehicles are generally safer.
- Braking Control Discount – Cars, trucks, and SUVs with anti-lock braking systems are safer to drive and the ABS can save up to 10%.
It’s important to understand that most credits do not apply to all coverage premiums. Some only apply to individual premiums such as collision or personal injury protection. Just because you may think it’s possible to get free car insurance, insurance companies wouldn’t stay in business. But any discount will definitely lower your overall bill.
The diagram below shows the comparison of Acura RL insurance premiums with and without discounts applied. The data assumes a female driver, no claims or driving violations, California state minimum liability limits, full physical damage coverage, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-car, multi-policy, homeowner, marriage, claim-free, and safe-driver discounts applied.
To locate providers with discount rates in California, follow this link.
How to buy Acura RL insurance online
All major insurance companies give coverage price quotes direct online. Doing online quotes for Acura RL insurance in Irvine can be done by anyone as you simply enter your coverage information into the quote form. After you complete the form, the quote system requests information on your driving record and credit history and provides a quote based on the information you submitted.
This makes it a lot easier to compare rates and it is imperative to have as many quotes as possible in order to get lower-cost prices.
To save time and use this form to compare rates, visit the companies below or click here to submit a quote request to multiple companies at once. If you have a policy now, it’s recommended that you enter your coverages as close as possible to your current policy. This way, you are getting comparison quotes for the exact same coverage.
The following companies can provide price comparisons in Irvine, CA. If you want cheap car insurance in California, it’s a good idea that you visit several of them to get the most competitive price.
Analysis of Acura RL rates
The coverage information displayed below highlights a range of insurance coverage prices for Acura RL models. Having insight into how insurance quotes are formulated can be valuable when making smart buying decisions.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
RL 3.7 | $458 | $866 | $450 | $26 | $134 | $1,934 | $161 |
RL 3.7 with Tech Package | $458 | $866 | $450 | $26 | $134 | $1,934 | $161 |
RL 3.7 with Tech/CMBS Package | $458 | $866 | $450 | $26 | $134 | $1,934 | $161 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Data based on married female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, claim-free, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, and homeowner. Rate quotes do not factor in garaging location in Irvine which can lower or raise coverage prices considerably.
Rate comparison for different deductibles
A question often asked by Irvine drivers is what deductibles to buy. The following insurance rates show the differences in premium rates of buying low and high policy deductibles. The first data table uses a $100 deductible for comprehensive and collision coverage and the second set of prices uses a $500 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
RL 3.7 | $528 | $1054 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $2,207 | $184 |
RL 3.7 with Tech Package | $528 | $1054 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $2,207 | $184 |
RL 3.7 with Tech/CMBS Package | $528 | $1054 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $2,207 | $184 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
RL 3.7 | $384 | $712 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,696 | $141 |
RL 3.7 with Tech Package | $384 | $712 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,696 | $141 |
RL 3.7 with Tech/CMBS Package | $384 | $712 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,696 | $141 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Table data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, claim-free, safe-driver, multi-vehicle, and multi-policy. Premium costs do not factor in garaging location in Irvine which can decrease or increase premiums substantially.
Based on this data, using a $100 deductible costs approximately $43 more each month or $516 every year than opting for the higher $500 deductible. Since the policyholder would be required to pay $400 more to settle a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you tend to go more than 9 months between claims, you would probably save some money going with the higher deductible. Below is an example of how we made this calculation.
Average monthly premium for $100 deductibles: | $184 |
Average monthly premium for $500 deductibles (subtract): | – $141 |
Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $43 |
Difference between deductibles ($500 – $100): | $400 |
Divide difference by monthly savings: | $400 / $43 |
Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 9 months |
An important sidenote is that a higher deductible level results in more money out-of-pocket when you do file a claim. You need to have some non-essential savings in order to pay the deductible for vehicle repair.
The diagram below shows how choosing a deductible and can increase or decrease Acura RL insurance rates for each age group. The premiums are based on a married male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no policy discounts are applied.
Liability only or full coverage
The chart below illustrates the comparison of Acura RL insurance costs with full physical damage coverage and with liability coverage only. The rates are based on no claims or driving violations, $250 deductibles, drivers are single, and no other discounts are factored in.
When to stop buying physical damage coverage
There is no clear-cut formula to stop buying physical damage insurance, but there is a guideline you can consider. If the yearly cost of comp and collision coverage is more than 10% of the settlement you would receive from your company, then it could be time to drop full coverage.
For example, let’s say your Acura RL settlement value is $4,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, the most your company will settle for is $3,000 after you pay the deductible. If you are paying over $300 annually for comprehensive and collision coverage, then it’s probably a good time to buy liability coverage only.
There are some circumstances where only buying liability is not in your best interest. If you still have a lienholder on your title, you must maintain physical damage coverage to protect the lienholder’s interest in the vehicle. Also, if your finances do not allow you to purchase a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should maintain full coverage.
How Your RL Insurance Costs are Determined
Many things are used when premium rates are determined. A few of the factors are predictable such as traffic violations, but other criteria are more obscure such as whether you are married and annual miles driven. One of the most helpful ways to save on car insurance is to to have a grasp of some of the factors that come into play when calculating car insurance rates. If you know what determines premiums, this allows you to make educated decisions that could help you find lower car insurance prices.
The items below are most of the major factors car insurance companies consider when setting rates.
Buy as much liability protection as you can afford – Liability insurance provides coverage if ever you are found liable for causing personal injury or damage in an accident. Your liability coverage provides legal defense which can be incredibly expensive. Liability insurance is quite affordable compared to other policy coverages, so do not cut corners here.
Rates and job – Did you know your occupation can influence how much you pay for car insurance? Occupations like fire fighters, social workers, and miners generally have the highest rates attributed to high stress and extremely grueling work hours. Other careers like actors, students and homemakers receive lower rates.
Drive a safer car and pay less – Vehicles with good safety scores tend to have better insurance rates. Highly rated vehicles help reduce the chance of injuries in an accident and any reduction in injury severity translates into savings for insurance companies and more competitive rates for policyholders.
Your age impacts your prices – Inexperience drivers are proven to be inattentive with other occupants in the car therefore car insurance rates are much higher. Older drivers are more responsible, cost insurance companies less in claims, and receive fewer citations.
The following chart uses these assumptions: single driver, full coverage with $1000 deductibles, and no discounts or violations.
Tickets increase prices – Having a clean driving record influences premium rates substantially. Drivers with clean records receive lower rates compared to drivers with tickets. Having a single speeding ticket could increase your next policy renewal forty percent or more. Drivers who have gotten flagrant citations like DUI or willful reckless driving may be required to complete a SR-22 with their state DMV in order to legally drive a vehicle.
The chart below highlights how traffic violations and at-fault collisions influence Acura RL insurance premiums for each age group. The premium estimates are based on a single male driver, comp and collision included, $100 deductibles, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
Small claims can cost you – Insurance companies in California award most affordable rates to drivers that do not abuse their auto insurance. If you frequently file small claims, you can pretty much guarantee much higher rates or policy non-renewal. Insurance coverage is meant to be used in the event of larger claims.
Rates for men may be higher – Statistics have proven women tend to be less risk to insure than men. It does not mean men are worse drivers. They both tend to get into at-fault accidents at a similar rate, but the males get into accidents with more damage. In addition to higher claims, males also receive more major tickets like DWI (DUI) or reckless driving. Youthful male drivers generally have the highest accident percentage so it costs more to insure them.
The example below illustrates the comparison of Acura RL insurance costs for male and female drivers. The premium estimates are based on no claims or driving citations, comp and collision included, $100 deductibles, drivers are single, and no policy discounts are applied.
Acura RL insurance claim data – Car insurance companies study historical loss data when they file their rates in each state. Vehicles that the data shows to have high amounts or severity of claims will have increased rates. The next table shows the insurance loss data for Acura RL vehicles.
For each policy coverage type, the statistical loss for all vehicles, regardless of make, model or trim level, equals 100. Values that are below 100 indicate a favorable loss history, while numbers above 100 indicate a higher chance of having a claim or larger claims.
Make and Model | Collision | Property Damage | Comp | Personal Injury | Medical Payment | Bodily Injury |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Acura RLX 4dr | 128 | 63 | 179 | 82 |
Empty fields indicate not enough data collected
Data Source: iihs.org (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) for 2013-2015 Model Years
When should I get advice from an agent?
A lot of people still like to get professional advice from a licensed agent and that can be a great decision One of the great benefits of comparing rate quotes online is that you can obtain cheap car insurance quotes and still choose a local agent. Buying from and supporting local agencies is important especially in Irvine.
To find an agent, once you fill out this short form, your coverage information gets sent to local insurance agents who can give free rate quotes for your car insurance coverage. You won’t need to contact an agency because quoted prices will be sent immediately to your email address. You can find the lowest rates and work with a local agent. If you want to get a price quote from a particular provider, just visit that company’s website and complete a quote there.
What types of car insurance agents are in Irvine?
If you are searching for local Irvine agents, there are a couple of types of agencies and how they can write your policy. Agents in Irvine are categorized either independent or exclusive.
Independent Insurance Agents
Independent agents are not employed by one company so they can write business with a variety of different insurance companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If they find a lower price, your agent can switch companies and the insured can keep the same agent. When searching for an agent, you absolutely need to include several independent insurance agents in order to have the best price comparison. Most also write with mutual insurance companies who may have lower rates.
Listed below is a short list of independent agencies in Irvine who can help you get pricing information.
- Hodge and Hodge Insurance Inc
10 Hughes # 205 – Irvine, CA 92618 – (949) 458-0442 – View Map - First American Property and Casualty Insurance Agency, Inc.
24 Executive Park Suite 250 – Irvine, CA 92614 – (888) 546-5118 – View Map - Isu Insurance Services Irvine
18022 Cowan Ste 225 – Irvine, CA 92614 – (949) 419-2100 – View Map
Exclusive Agents
Exclusive insurance agents generally can only insure with one company like State Farm, Allstate, or Farmers Insurance. Exclusive agents are unable to provide rate quotes from other companies so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. Exclusive insurance agents receive a lot of sales training on their company’s products and that allows them to sell at a higher price point. Consumers sometimes buy insurance from these agents mainly due to high brand loyalty and the convenience of having a single billing for all their coverages.
Shown below are exclusive insurance agents in Irvine that can give you rate quotes.
- Farmers Insurance: James Lohse
4850 Barranca Pkwy #202 – Irvine, CA 92604 – (949) 559-0175 – View Map - Sharon Leung – State Farm Insurance Agent
18004 Sky Park Cir #250 – Irvine, CA 92614 – (949) 252-0900 – View Map - Steven Wang – State Farm Insurance Agent
15333 Culver Dr #130 – Irvine, CA 92604 – (949) 552-3600 – View Map
Choosing the best insurance agency shouldn’t rely on just the premium amount. Any agent in Irvine should be forthright in answering these questions:
- Are you getting all the discounts the company offers?
- How many years of experience in personal auto insurance do they have?
- Is there a local claims center in Irvine?
- Do they have advanced training designations such as CPCU, AAI, AIC, or CIC?
- Does the agent have a valid license to sell insurance in California?
If you get good responses to any questions you may have and locked in a price quote, you’ve probably found an insurance agent that will properly service your car insurance policy. Just understand that once you purchase a policy you can cancel a policy any time you want so don’t feel you are locked into any particular company for the full policy term.
Protect your vehicle and other assets
Despite the fact that car insurance is not cheap in Irvine, insurance may be required and benefits you in several ways.
- The majority of states have compulsory liability insurance requirements which means it is punishable by state law to not carry a specific level of liability protection if you don’t want to risk a ticket. 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 Acura, most banks will force you to have full coverage to ensure they get paid if you total the vehicle. If you do not keep the policy in force, the bank or lender will purchase a policy for your Acura for a much higher rate and force you to pay the higher price.
- Insurance safeguards both your Acura and your personal assets. It will also cover most medical and hospital costs incurred in an accident. As part of your policy, liability insurance also pays for attorney fees and expenses if you are sued as the result of an accident. If your Acura gets damaged, collision and comprehensive coverages will pay to have it repaired.
The benefits of buying enough insurance greatly outweigh the cost, especially if you ever need it. Unknowingly, the average driver overpays as much as $850 per year so smart consumers compare quotes at least once a year to ensure rates are competitive.
Cover all your bases
Consumers change insurance companies for many reasons like being labeled a high risk driver, denial of a claim, high prices or even unfair underwriting practices. No matter why you want to switch, switching companies is pretty simple and you could end up saving a buck or two.
While you’re price shopping online, make sure you don’t skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There are a lot of situations where drivers have reduced liability limits or collision coverage only to discover later they didn’t have enough coverage. Your objective should be to get the best coverage possible at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.
We covered many ideas to compare Acura RL insurance rates in Irvine. The most important thing to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the higher the chance of saving money. You may even discover the best price on insurance is with a small mutual company.
How to find lower priced Acura RL insurance in Irvine
Truthfully, the best way to get budget Acura RL insurance in Irvine is to regularly compare quotes from providers who provide auto insurance in California. This can be done by following these steps.
- Get a basic knowledge of how companies price auto insurance and the factors you can control to keep rates down. Many policy risk factors that cause rate increases such as multiple speeding tickets and a less-than-favorable credit score can be controlled by making minor driving habit or lifestyle changes.
- Get rate quotes from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Exclusive agents and direct companies can only quote rates from a single company like Progressive or Farmers Insurance, while agents who are independent can provide prices for a wide range of insurance providers.
- Compare the new quotes to your existing policy and see if there is a cheaper rate. If you find a better price and decide to switch, verify that coverage does not lapse between policies.
One thing to remember is that you’ll want to compare similar limits and deductibles on every quote request and and to compare every company you can. This ensures an accurate price comparison and the best rate selection.
For more information, link through to the resources below:
- Information for Teen Drivers (GEICO)
- Who Has Cheap Car Insurance Quotes for Immigrants in Irvine? (FAQ)
- How Much are Irvine Car Insurance Rates for Single Moms? (FAQ)
- Distracted Driving Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
- What does Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Cover? (Allstate)