Cost & Pricing
How much does an MRI cost without insurance?
At Crown Valley Imaging, a self-pay MRI starts at $665.50 on our 1.5T magnet in Mission Viejo, or $726.00 on the 3T in Newport Beach — published prices you can see before you book. No facility fee surprises, no hospital markup.
Self-pay price
$665.50
starting, self-pay, no contrast, Mission Viejo
Want an exact number? Request a free Good Faith Estimate.
What's included
- The scan itself on our 1.5T (Mission Viejo) or 3T (Newport Beach) magnet
- A board-certified, fellowship-trained radiologist's read
- Your report and images sent to your ordering physician
- A copy of your images on request, at no extra charge
What affects the final price
- • Body part and number of regions scanned
- • Whether IV contrast is required (your physician's order specifies this)
- • Which office — the 3T magnet in Newport Beach is priced above the 1.5T in Mission Viejo
Published self-pay prices
Cash prices, covering the exam and the radiologist's read. Anything not listed here is quoted in writing before you book.
| Exam | Self-pay price |
|---|---|
| Mission Viejo (1.5T) — no contrast | $665.50 |
| Newport Beach (3T) — no contrast | $726.00 |
| Mission Viejo (1.5T) — with contrast | $830.50 |
| Newport Beach (3T) — with contrast | $896.50 |
| Mission Viejo (1.5T) — with and without | $1,017.50 |
| Newport Beach (3T) — with and without | $1,078.00 |
Common questions about MRI cost
- Why is an MRI cheaper here than at a hospital?
- Freestanding outpatient centers like ours generally bill far less than hospital-based imaging departments, which add a facility fee on top of the scan. We publish one all-in self-pay price so there's nothing to decode after the fact.
- Do I still need a doctor's order for a self-pay MRI?
- Yes — an MRI billed or scheduled for a diagnostic purpose requires a written order from your physician. Your order also tells us which body part to scan and whether contrast is needed.
- Can I get an exact price before I come in?
- Yes. Because the final price depends on body part and contrast, request a free Good Faith Estimate and we'll give you an exact, written quote — by email at billing@cvimaging.net or by phone at (949) 215-3304.
- Is the $665.50 the whole cost, or are there separate radiologist fees?
- It's the whole cost for a standard non-contrast MRI of one region at our Mission Viejo office — the scan and the radiologist's interpretation are both included. Contrast, additional regions, or scanning at Newport Beach can change the total, which a Good Faith Estimate will spell out.
- Why does the 3T in Newport Beach cost more than the 1.5T in Mission Viejo?
- A 3T magnet produces higher signal-to-noise, which is what makes the subspecialty protocols we run in Newport Beach possible, and it costs more to operate. Both offices are priced the same way otherwise: one published figure covering the scan and the read. Your physician's order usually determines which magnet you need.