A recent car insurance study revealed that the majority of drivers have bought car insurance from the same company for four years or more, and practically 40% of car insurance customers have never even compared quotes to find affordable rates. Many drivers in the United States could save nearly 46.5% each year just by getting comparison quotes, but they don’t understand how simple it is to compare rate quotes.
The easiest way to get affordable Lincoln MKZ insurance in Irvine is to compare prices regularly from insurers that insure vehicles in California.
- Step 1: Read about auto insurance and the changes you can make to keep rates down. Many risk factors that cause rate increases like your driving record and an unfavorable credit rating can be remedied by making minor changes to your lifestyle.
- Step 2: Request rate estimates from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Direct and exclusive agents can only quote rates from one company like Progressive or Allstate, while agents who are independent can provide rate quotes for many different companies.
- Step 3: Compare the quotes to your current policy premium to determine if you can save on MKZ insurance in Irvine. If you find a lower rate quote, verify that coverage does not lapse between policies.
An important part of this process is that you’ll want to make sure you compare identical deductibles and limits on each price quote and and to get prices from as many different companies as possible. This provides a level playing field and and a good selection of different prices.
Getting a cheap price on Lincoln MKZ insurance can be relatively painless. Just invest a little time comparing free Irvine auto insurance quotes to discover which company has cheaper Irvine auto insurance quotes.
The companies shown below are our best choices to provide price comparisons in California. If you want to find cheap auto insurance in California, it’s a good idea that you visit as many as you can in order to find the lowest rates.
Insurance coverage details
The table displayed below covers estimates of insurance prices for Lincoln MKZ models. Understanding how policy rates are formulated can assist in making smart choices when purchasing an auto insurance policy.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
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MKZ 4-Dr Sedan | $374 | $764 | $510 | $30 | $152 | $1,830 | $153 |
MKZ AWD 4-Dr Sedan | $374 | $764 | $510 | $30 | $152 | $1,830 | $153 |
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Prices based on married female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-policy, claim-free, multi-vehicle, and safe-driver. Rate quotes do not factor in specific zip code location which can affect auto insurance rates noticeably.
Choosing deductibles
One frequently asked question is how high should your deductibles be. The rates shown below can help you visualize the cost difference when you buy lower versus higher deductibles. The first set of prices uses a $250 deductible for comprehensive and collision coverage and the second price grid uses a $1,000 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
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MKZ 4-Dr Sedan | $386 | $780 | $500 | $30 | $150 | $1,871 | $156 |
MKZ AWD 4-Dr Sedan | $386 | $780 | $500 | $30 | $150 | $1,871 | $156 |
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Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MKZ 4-Dr Sedan | $238 | $490 | $500 | $30 | $150 | $1,408 | $117 |
MKZ AWD 4-Dr Sedan | $238 | $490 | $500 | $30 | $150 | $1,408 | $117 |
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Data rating is based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, multi-vehicle, claim-free, homeowner, and safe-driver. Premium amounts do not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can modify coverage prices greatly.
Using the premium rates above, we can conclude that using a $250 deductible will cost in the ballpark of $39 more each month or $468 every year than quoting the higher $1,000 deductible. Since the policyholder would be required to pay $750 more out-of-pocket with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you go at least 19 months between claim filings, you would come out ahead going with the higher deductible.
Calculate deductible break even point
Average monthly premium for $250 deductibles: | $156 |
Average monthly premium for $1,000 deductibles (subtract): | – $117 |
Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $39 |
Difference between deductibles ($1,000 – $250): | $750 |
Divide difference by monthly savings: | $750 / $39 |
Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 19 months |
One important note is that raising deductibles results in a higher out-of-pocket expense when you have to file a claim. You need to make sure you have a higher level of savings in the event you have to pay the higher deductible in order to repair your vehicle.
The diagram below highlights how deductible selection and can increase or decrease Lincoln MKZ insurance costs for each age group. The prices are based on a married female driver, full coverage, and no other discounts are factored in.
Full coverage versus liability-only
The example below illustrates the difference between Lincoln MKZ insurance premiums when comparing full coverage to liability only. The information is based on no accidents, no driving violations, $250 deductibles, single marital status, and no additional discounts are factored in.
Should you be buying full coverage?
There is no set guideline of when to stop paying for physical damage coverage, but there is a general guideline. If the annual cost of having full coverage is more than around 10% of the settlement you would receive from your company, then it could be time to drop full coverage.
For example, let’s assume your Lincoln MKZ settlement value is $4,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is destroyed, the most your company would pay you is $3,000 after the deductible is paid. If premium cost is more than $300 a year for full coverage, the it may be a good time to stop paying for full coverage.
There are some circumstances where removing full coverage is not advised. If you still owe money on your vehicle, you have to maintain full coverage in order to satisfy the requirements of the loan. Also, if you don’t have enough money to buy a different vehicle if your current one is damaged, you should keep full coverage in place.
Car insurance is not optional but you don’t have to overpay
Despite the high cost of buying insurance for a Lincoln MKZ in Irvine, car insurance is required in California but also provides important benefits.
- Just about all states have mandatory liability insurance requirements which means the state requires a minimum amount of liability protection if you want to drive legally. 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 your vehicle has a loan, it’s guaranteed your bank will stipulate that you have insurance to ensure they get paid if you total the vehicle. If you do not pay your insurance premiums, the lender will be forced to insure your Lincoln at a much higher premium rate and require you to fork over for it.
- Insurance protects not only your vehicle but also your financial assets. It will also reimburse you for most medical and hospital costs for you, any passengers, and anyone injured in an accident. Liability coverage, the one required by state law, will also pay to defend you if you are named as a defendant in an auto accident. If your car is damaged in a storm or accident, comprehensive and collision coverage will pay to repair the damage.
The benefits of insuring your MKZ more than offset the price you pay, especially with large liability claims. Unknowingly, the average driver overpays more than $830 a year so you should quote and compare rates at every renewal to help ensure money is not being wasted.
How Insurers Determine Lincoln MKZ Insurance Prices
Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that go into determining your car insurance rates. If you understand what influences your rates, this allows you to make good choices that will entitle you to lower rates.
Shown below are a partial list of the pieces utilized by car insurance companies to help set your rates.
- Don’t abuse car insurance claims – If you’re an insured who likes to file claims you can definitely plan on higher rates. Auto insurance companies in California generally give better rates to policyholders who file claims infrequently. Your car insurance is designed for the bigger claims that can’t be paid out-of-pocket.
- Drive less and save – The higher the miles on your Lincoln in a year the more it will cost to insure it. Many insurance companies calculate rates based on their usage. Autos that are left in the garage can be on a lower rate level as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. A policy that improperly rates your MKZ may be costing you higher rates. It’s a good idea to make sure your car insurance declarations sheet states the right rating data.
- Excellent credit saves on car insurance – Credit score can be an important factor in determining your rates. So if your credit history is low, you could save money insuring your Lincoln MKZ by repairing your credit. Insureds with excellent credit scores tend to file fewer claims as compared to drivers with lower credit ratings.
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Women pay lower rates – Statistics have proven that females tend to be a little less risky than males. It does not mean women are BETTER drivers than men. Males and females cause fender benders in similar numbers, but the men tend to have more serious accidents. Not only are claims higher, but men get higher numbers of serious violations like DUI and reckless driving. Young males are the most expensive to insure and are penalized with high car insurance rates.
The chart below shows the difference between Lincoln MKZ insurance prices for male and female drivers. The price estimates are based on no violations or claims, full coverage, $500 deductibles, marital status is single, and no additional discounts are factored in.
- Do thieves like your car? – Choosing to buy a car with anti-theft technology or alarm system can help bring down rates. Advanced theft deterrents like OnStar, LoJack tracking, and tamper alarms can help prevent auto theft and help lower rates.
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Tickets cost more than a fine – Being a careful driver impacts premiums far more than you think. Attentive drivers pay lower auto insurance prices than their less careful counterparts. Having just one speeding ticket or other violation can increase rates by as much as twenty percent. Drivers who get flagrant citations such as DUI, reckless driving or excessive speeding might be required by their state to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with their state’s department of motor vehicles in order to legally drive a vehicle.
The chart below highlights how traffic violations and at-fault collisions impact Lincoln MKZ auto insurance costs for different ages of insureds. The price estimates are based on a married female driver, full physical damage coverage, $100 deductibles, and no additional discounts are factored in.
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Lincoln MKZ statistical loss data – Auto insurance companies use past loss statistics for each vehicle in order to profitably underwrite each model. Models that the data shows to have higher prevalence or dollar amount of losses will have higher rates for specific coverages. The table below shows the historical insurance loss data for Lincoln MKZ vehicles.
For each type of coverage, the statistical loss for all vehicles, regardless of make or model, is set at 100. Numbers below 100 mean the vehicle has better than average losses, while percentage values above 100 point to more claims or an increased chance of a larger loss.
Lincoln MKZ Insurance Loss Statistics Vehicle Model Collision Property Damage Comp Personal Injury Medical Payment Bodily Injury Lincoln MKZ 4dr 2WD 137 85 107 95 89 75 Lincoln MKZ 4dr 4WD 140 82 126 99 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid 4dr 148 84 100 74 82 76 BETTERAVERAGEWORSEEmpty fields indicate not enough data collected
Statistics from IIHS.org for 2013-2015 Model Years
Get cheaper Lincoln MKZ insurance rates in Irvine
Car insurance companies don’t always list the complete list of policy discounts very well, so we took the time to find both well-publicized as well as the least known discounts that you can inquire about if you buy Irvine auto insurance online.
- Discounts for Multiple Vehicles – Drivers who insure multiple cars or trucks on a single policy could earn a price break for each car.
- Onboard Data Collection – Insureds that choose to allow their insurance company to spy on driving patterns by using a telematics device in their vehicle such as Snapshot from Progressive or Drivewise from Allstate may see discounts if they exhibit good driving behavior.
- Paperwork-free – A few larger online companies will give you a small discount get Irvine auto insurance on the web.
- Clubs and Organizations – Belonging to qualifying employment or professional organizations is a simple method to lower premiums on your policy.
- Federal Employees – Active or retired federal employment could provide a small rate reduction with a few insurance companies.
- Accident Free – Insureds with no claims or accidents pay less when compared to accident-prone drivers.
- Mature Driver Discount – Older drivers may be able to get a discount up to 10%.
- Payment Method – By paying your policy upfront rather than paying monthly you could save up to 5%.
Policy discounts save money, but most discount credits are not given to the entire policy premium. A few only apply to individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. So when the math indicates you could get a free insurance policy, you won’t be that lucky.
The chart below visualizes the comparison of Lincoln MKZ car insurance rates with and without discounts applied to the rates. The premiums are based on a male driver, no claims or driving violations, California state minimum liability limits, full physical damage coverage, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-car, safe-driver, marriage, multi-policy, homeowner, and claim-free discounts applied.
A list of companies and the discounts they provide can be read below.
- AAA offers discounts for anti-theft, good student, good driver, multi-car, and pay-in-full.
- Progressive includes discounts for good student, continuous coverage, online signing, online quote discount, multi-vehicle, and homeowner.
- State Farm has discounts for multiple autos, Drive Safe & Save, defensive driving training, safe vehicle, anti-theft, and good driver.
- Esurance may offer discounts for anti-lock brakes, anti-theft, defensive driver, online shopper, and multi-policy.
- Nationwide may include discounts for multi-policy, family plan, Farm Bureau membership, business or organization, defensive driving, good student, and anti-theft.
If you want affordable Irvine auto insurance quotes, ask every prospective company how many discounts you can get. Depending on the company, some discounts may not apply in every state. If you would like to view insurance companies that provide some of the discounts listed above in California, click here to view.
What is the best insurance coverage?
When choosing your policy, there really isn’t a single plan that fits everyone. Everyone’s situation is unique.
For instance, these questions might help in determining whether you may require specific advice.
- What are good deductibles for a Lincoln MKZ?
- Am I getting all the discounts available?
- Am I covered when pulling a rental trailer?
- Do I have coverage if my license is suspended?
- How do I buy GAP insurance?
- Is a driver training discount available?
- Should I pay a claim out-of-pocket?
- What can I do if my company won’t pay a claim?
If you’re not sure about those questions but you know they apply to you then you might want to talk to an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form. It’s fast, free and can help protect your family.
When to contact a local insurance agent
Some people just prefer to buy from a licensed agent and that is OK! Agents can help you build your policy and help file insurance claims. One of the best bonuses of comparing rates online is that you can obtain the lowest rates and still have a local agent. Buying from and supporting neighborhood insurance agencies is especially important in Irvine.
After filling out this form (opens in new window), the quote information is transmitted to participating agents in Irvine who can give free rate quotes to get your business. You never need to visit any agencies since price quotes are sent to you. If you have a need to get a rate quote from one company in particular, feel free to visit that company’s website to submit a rate quote request.
Selecting a insurer should include more criteria than just the bottom line cost. Below are some questions you should ask.
- Can glass claims be handled at your home?
- Do the companies they represent have a solid financial rating?
- Do they assist clients in filing claims?
- Does the company allow you to choose your own collision repair facility?
- Are they properly licensed to sell insurance in California?
- Does the company use OEM repair parts?
- What companies can they write with?
After you get good feedback to all your questions and a good coverage price, you may have found an provider that can be trusted to adequately provide car insurance.
Lower rates by being persistent
Drivers who switch companies do it for many reasons like policy cancellation, questionable increases in premium, high rates after DUI convictions and being labeled a high risk driver. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch switching companies is actually quite simple.
As you shop your coverage around, you should never reduce needed coverages to save money. There are a lot of situations where someone dropped liability limits or collision coverage and found out when filing a claim they didn’t purchase enough coverage. The proper strategy is to find the BEST coverage for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.
We just presented many ideas to reduce Lincoln MKZ insurance premium rates online in Irvine. The key concept to understand is the more you quote Irvine auto insurance, the better chance you’ll have of finding inexpensive Irvine auto insurance quotes. You may even discover the best premium rates are with the least-expected company.
Much more information about car insurance in California can be read at the links below
- Rental Car Insurance Tips (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has the Cheapest Irvine Car Insurance for Young Drivers? (FAQ)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for College Graduates in Irvine? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance Rates for a Company Car in Irvine? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for 4×4 Vehicles in Irvine? (FAQ)
- How Much are Irvine Car Insurance Rates for a Ford Escape? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for Good Drivers in Irvine? (FAQ)
- Protect Yourself Against Auto Theft (Insurance Information Institute)
- How to shop for a safer car (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)