San Francisco, CA Car Insurance

What rates should residents of San Francisco expect to pay for their car insurance? How does San Francisco stack up to the rest of the area, or even California as a whole? You can see the cost breakdowns and contributing factors in the charts and writeups below:

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How much is car insurance in San Francisco?

Based on the chart above, you can see that car insurance rates in San Francisco are in line with rates across the rest of California.

When stacked up against the national average, the average monthly policy payment for San Francisco is more affordable. It's around $28 less to insure your vehicle compared to the average rate for the U.S. as a whole.

Keep in mind that while these are the average car insurance rates for San Francisco, it isn't guaranteed that it's what you'll pay. Insurance companies take in a number of factors when deciding what amount to charge you for insuring your vehicle. The final dollar amount you'll be asked to pay each month is calculated off of your age, gender, vehicle make and model, driving record, and in some cases, your credit score.

We've done the heavy lifting for you and broken down the average rate for San Francisco so that you can get a more accurate idea of what you might pay. And if you're not sure if you're getting the cheapest rate for your area, simply enter your ZIP below and find out!

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Average Car Insurance Rates by Age

The older you are, the more experience you're likely to have on the roads, right? That experience can lead to some serious savings when it comes to auto insurance bills. As you can see, 18-24-year-olds pay $24 more than drivers 65 and older.

Every ten years or so you can expect to see a decline in your monthly premium. Having said that, once you approach retirement your rates may climb back up in San Francisco.

Average Car Insurance Rates by Gender

On average, female drivers pay slightly less for car insurance than their male counterparts. While male drivers actually pay a bit less than female drivers on their monthly auto insurance coverage, the difference in San Francisco is only about $2 a month.

Average Auto Insurance Rates by Driving Record

Depending on your driving record, your rates can vary wildly. A clean driving record will obviously get you a lower rate than one with accidents or infractions. In San Francisco, a driving record with one accident will usually get you a rate around $67 a month. Likewise, drivers with one ticket will be looking at a rate of around $71 a month on average.

When it comes to your monthly premium, accidents, tickets, and other driving infractions can really take a toll. So, if you want the cheapest rates, drive carefully and try to maintain a clean driving record.

Average Insurance Rates by Vehicle

The most affordable vehicles to insure in San Francisco are by and large SUVs, which run about $51 per month.

Car owners can expect to pay an average of around $54 a month for their policy, while truck and van drivers are usually around $57 to insure each month.

Your vehicle's age also plays a role in your monthly payment. Newer vehicles are generally going to be the most expensive to insure. However, once your car is a few years old, you might start to see your rates slide back down slightly. In San Francisco, the most expensive vehicles to insure are vehicles eight-to-ten years old.

The age of your vehicle can also affect your monthly bill. Newer vehicles are generally going to be the most expensive to insure. Once your car is around 5 years old, however, you may see your bill start to shrink a bit. The most expensive vehicles to insure in San Francisco, however, are vehicles eight-to-ten years old.

Average Car Insurance Rates by Relationship Status

Generally, those who have settled down into marriage will pay slightly less for car insurance coverage. This usually boils down to owners having multiple vehicles on the same policy, something many companies extend special discounts for.

At a national level, single drivers usually pay more than married couples do for auto insurance. San Francisco follows that pattern, with the difference totaling to around $4 a month.

Average Car Insurance Rates by Housing Situation

Another factor that comes into play is your housing situation. Homeowners in San Francisco can expect to pay around $4 a month less than those who rent. But if you live with your parents, you can expect to pay a lot more.

Bundling your home or rental insurance with your auto insurance can oftentimes reduce your average costs, depending on your insurance company.

Car Insurance Companies in San Francisco, CA

Recent trends in car insurance for San Francisco drivers

Since car insurance rates are constantly changing, it's a good idea to know the local trends in your area before choosing an insurance policy.

In San Francisco, the rates for car insurance had been decreasing from 2017-2018, but began to increase in 2021. This trend has continued through 2022 when rates have most recently reached $57.

How does San Francisco compare to neighboring areas?

Why are car insurance rates in San Francisco different from other areas?

When considering how much to charge for a monthly rate, car insurance companies will consider a lot of factors. While we already talked about the ones that affect your personal policy, others are based around where you live and drive. These include things like:

• Total number of drivers in the region
• Local regulations
• Access to off-street parking
• Crime rates
• Road Safety (total number of local car accidents)

Having an awareness of these factors is critical when thinking about buying a new policy or potentially moving to a new home. Different cities and towns will each have different rates, so guides like these are a handy way to learn more.

How can I find the cheapest car insurance in San Francisco?

Familiarizing yourself with patterns in the average costs of drivers like you will give you a leg up in conversations with insurance companies. Ultimately, the only way to know exactly what your rate will be is by requesting a quote from those car insurance companies.

Luckily, Compare.com can handle all of this for you. Just put in your ZIP Code below, answer a few questions related to the factors we outlined above, and you'll be quickly comparing the cheapest quotes from dozens of car insurance companies offering coverage in San Francisco.

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San Francisco Insurance FAQs

What factors affect car insurance quotes in San Francisco?

Car insurance companies calculate quotes based on a wide array of factors. These include things you can't control like your age and gender but also factors like your vehicle's year, make and model, as well as your driving record, credit score, marital status, and address.

Why is the cost of car insurance in San Francisco different from other neighboring cities?

Auto insurance companies consider regional factors, such as local laws, parking situations, and crime rates into account when calculating the monthly rate for coverage. Since these can all vary from city to city the rates you may see can differ from neighboring areas.

Which car insurance company will offer me the cheapest rate in San Francisco?

There isn't one company that can guarantee the cheapest rate to everybody, since the rates they charge for coverage are calculated based off of factors that can vary from person to person, such as vehicle make and model, driving record, and number of drivers on the policy. By using sites like Compare.com to compare multiple quotes simultaneously, you can rest assured that you're getting the best price available.

Do I need to change my insurance if I move to San Francisco?

Whenever you relocate or experience another major life event, such as getting married or finding a new job, you should consider re-evaluating your current insurance policy. By using services like Compare.com to compare quotes from multiple companies at once, you can be sure to capture any new savings brought about by your new situation.

Do I need to wait for my policy to expire to switch to a different car insurance company?

No. You can switch companies at any time, regardless of how long is left on your current policy. So, if you've recently moved to San Francisco or it's been a while since you last compared car insurance rates, you may want to take 10 minutes and see if Compare.com can save you money.