bestauto insuranceSan FranciscoCompare the Cheapest Car Insurance Quotes in San Francisco, CA
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Ensure you're getting the best rate. Review quotes from a top insurance company.
San Francisco’s cheapest car insurance provider overall and for drivers with a speeding ticket is Esurance, but more affordable offers are available depending on your preferences and profile. Progressive has the cheapest rates for minimum liability policies. USAA presents affordable options for drivers with a military background. AAA balances cost and customer service, making it MoneyGeek’s best-rated car insurance company.
bestauto insuranceSan FranciscoThe Cheapest and Best Car Insurance in San Francisco
Cheapest Overall - Esurance
Cheapest State Minimum - Progressive
Cheapest With a Driving Violation - Esurance
Best Overall - AAA
The Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in San Francisco
A full coverage car insurance policy financially protects the driver from most circumstances since it includes liability, comprehensive and collision coverages.
These providers offer the cheapest full coverage policies in San Francisco for an average driver:
- Esurance: $1,096 per year
- Progressive: $1,111 per year
USAA is an affordable option for drivers with a military background or who are part of a military family with an annual rate of $1,301.
MoneyGeek’s research shows that Esurance, San Francisco’s cheapest provider, is 70.4% less expensive than Travelers, the city’s most expensive car insurance company.
Cheapest Car Insurance in San Francisco
Full Coverage 100/300/100
- Company100/300/100per year
- 1.$1,096
- 2.$1,111
- 3.$1,163
- 4.$1,301
- 5.$1,316
The auto insurance rates in this guide are for a 40-year-old male driver in San Francisco with a full coverage policy, following MoneyGeek’s methodology.
A full coverage car insurance provides broad financial protections for a driver since it includes comprehensive and collision coverages, aside from the state’s minimum liability and other required coverages. Due to its extensive coverage, it’s more expensive than a minimum coverage policy.
- Comprehensive Coverage: Covers repairs for damages not caused by a collision, including weather-related damages, theft and falling objects.
- Collision Coverage: Pays for vehicle repair if you’re in an accident.
Full coverage insurance can be more expensive than an older car’s actual worth. A liability-only or state minimum insurance is recommended for older vehicles to obtain the best rates.
Compare Car Insurance Rates in San Francisco
Ensure you're getting the best rate for your car insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.
Cheapest Car Insurance in San Francisco for Minimum Coverage
A state minimum policy can be the best option for drivers looking for San Francisco’s most affordable car insurance offers. These providers have the most affordable minimum coverage policies:
- GEICO: $468 per year
- Progressive: $480 per year
Eligible military members and their family in San Francisco can also look at USAA, with affordable rates at $538 annually.
MoneyGeek’s analysis shows GEICO is $343 cheaper than the city’s most expensive provider, Farmers.
State minimum is significantly cheaper than other car insurance policies. However, they expose the driver to financial risks in case of an accident since they don’t include comprehensive and collision coverages.
Toggle the table below to see how rates change depending on liability coverage.
Cheapest Minimum Liability Car Insurance in San Francisco
State Minimum
- CompanyState Minimumper year
- 1.$468
- 2.$480
- 3.$538
- 4.CSAA$553
- 5.$584
The state of California requires its drivers to have at least a minimum coverage policy, which includes coverages for bodily injury liability, property damage liability, uninsured motorist bodily injury and uninsured motorist property damage.
Since minimum coverage policies are San Francisco’s cheapest car insurance, choosing this type of coverage will lead to savings on your monthly premiums. However, you may end up paying more overall in case of an accident.
Liability insurance in California only covers $15,000 for bodily injuries per person. If you’re at fault in an accident and the other party’s medical expenses reach $30,000, you’ll have to pay $15,000 from your own pocket.
California Minimum Liability Requirements
- ItemDescription
- Bodily Injury and Property Damage$15,000 per person, $30,000 per accident and $5,000 for property damage. A more protective level is 100/300/100.
Cheapest Car Insurance in San Francisco if You Have Driving Violations
If you have a speeding ticket, DUI, or at-fault accident on your driving history, you can see your car insurance rates going up. Fortunately, you can seek to improve your records over time and get your rates lowered.
While waiting, your best option is to shop around and compare deals from various car insurance providers for San Francisco drivers. MoneyGeek’s research shows that these companies offer the most affordable car insurance for drivers with a driving record:
- Cheapest after a ticket: Esurance, $1,392 per year
- Cheapest after an at-fault accident: Esurance, $1,721 per year
- Cheapest after a DUI: Progressive, $2,652 per year
Cheapest Car Insurance in San Francisco With a Violation
Speeding Ticket
Average Cost of Car Insurance in San Francisco
San Francisco$1,488
California$1,429
U.S.$1,424
The average car insurance rate in San Francisco is $1,488 per year, which is a bit higher than both the state and national average costs of auto insurance. Drivers living in the city can expect to pay about 4.1% higher than California’s annual average of $1,429. In comparison, San Francisco’s rate is about 4.5% higher than the $1,424 national average annual premium.
Personalized Quotes to Get You the Cheapest Car Insurance in San Francisco
Car insurance companies in San Francisco consider several factors when coming up with specific quotes for an individual. These factors include the driver's age, gender, car make and model, ZIP code and driving history.
For instance, in San Francisco, senior citizens can get better deals on auto insurance than teens, who generally tend to pay the highest rates due to their inexperience behind the wheel and their higher likelihood to take more risks while they're driving compared to seniors.
A State Farm policy for 70-year-old males costs an average of $1,078 per year. In comparison, on average, State Farm will give a 40-year-old male an annual premium of $1,347. Meanwhile, the price for an 18-year-old male's average policy is $2,558. Regularly comparing auto insurance quotes can help you ensure you're getting the best deal on car insurance available to you.
Compare Car Insurance Rates in San Francisco
Ensure you're getting the best rate for your car insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.
The Best Car Insurance Companies in San Francisco
MoneyGeek evaluated San Francisco’s best car insurance companies to help you find affordable and quality providers.
Our study shows that, on average, the best car insurance companies in San Francisco are:
- AAA: MoneyGeek score of 90 out of 100
- GEICO: MoneyGeek score of 90 out of 100
USAA gained the best scores based on MoneyGeek’s rating system. However, it has been excluded in this analysis because it’s only available to military members, veterans and their families.
1
GEICO
Score:90
2
Esurance
Score:90
3
AAA
Score:84
4
State Farm
Score:79
5
Progressive
Score:79
6
MetLife
Score:72
7
Mercury
Score:55
8
Allstate
Score:51
9
Travelers
Score:44
10
Farmers
Score:37
11
Hartford
Score:32
12
Allied
Score:18
Average Cost of Car Insurance by Postal Code
The average car insurance rates in San Francisco also differ depending on the ZIP code. This difference is because crime, accidents and the number of drivers vary by region. The difference between the cheapest and most expensive rates in the city is an average of $100. The most affordable region for car insurance, 94122, has an average annual premium of $1,448. Meanwhile, the most expensive ZIP code for auto coverage averages to $1,548, in 94112.
- Zip CodeState Minimumper year
- 94122$1,448
- 94110$1,450
- 94109$1,470
- 94121$1,523
- 94112$1,548
Factors That Impact Insurance Costs in San Francisco
In addition to individual driver needs and history, location-specific factors like the percentage of uninsured motorists and the rate of car thefts also contribute to car insurance rates in San Francisco. How San Francisco ranks compared to the 300 most populous cities in the United States can have a significant impact on premium costs.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
