Car Insurance in San Francisco, CA - May 2023

How Much Does Car Insurance Cost In San Francisco?

San Francisco RATES vs California vs the United States Averages

The average annual cost of car insurance in San Francisco, California, is $2268. This is higher than the California average ($1881) and higher than the current national average ($1557). Continue reading to determine how much you can expect to pay in San Francisco based on your credit score, gender, marital status, and other common factors.

Furthermore, your car insurance premiums will increase as your driving profile evolves. For these reasons, it is strongly advised that drivers shop for car insurance quotes regularly to find the best car insurance coverage.

Continue reading to determine how much you can expect to pay in San Francisco based on your credit score, gender, marital status, and other common factors.

San Francisco Auto Insurance Premiums By Company

Car insurance rates can vary significantly between companies, so it's critical to compare quotes thoroughly and choose your insurer wisely.

In San Francisco, Mercury has the most affordable rates for the average insurance customer. See the list below for the best options for low-cost auto insurance in San Francisco. Remember to compare car insurance quotes based on your driving history.

San Francisco Auto Insurance Premiums By Age Group

Drivers in their 60s pay the least for auto insurance in San Francisco ($2040 per year). In San Francisco, the difference in rates paid by teenage drivers and drivers in their twenties is $5142, the most significant difference between any two age groups.

San Francisco Auto Insurance Premiums By Marital Status

A driver's marital status will influence the car insurance rates they pay in some cases. In San Francisco, married drivers pay $98 less for car insurance than single drivers. In many areas, married drivers pay less for car insurance than single drivers.

San Francisco Auto Insurance Premiums By Gender

Another factor that can influence auto insurance premiums is gender. In San Francisco, female drivers pay $3 more per year for car insurance than male drivers.

San Francisco Auto Insurance Premiums By Driving Record

Keep your driving record clean if you want to keep your car insurance costs low. Speeding tickets, reckless driving charges, DUIs and DWIs, and at-fault accidents all tend to raise rates.

DUI and reckless driving are two of the most expensive citations to receive. Drivers convicted of reckless driving in San Francisco face an increase in insurance rates of $1,214 per year compared to the citywide average. A DUI conviction can result in a $1,037 rate increase, while a speeding ticket can increase a $282 rate.

San Francisco Auto Insurance Premiums By Credit Rating

Credit is a vital insurance rating factor. Drivers with a poor credit history typically pay more for car insurance than those with good credit. Moving from the "Very Poor" credit tier to the "Fair" credit tier is one of the most significant steps a driver can take in the pursuit of lower car insurance rates.

In San Francisco, raising your credit score to "Fair" results in a $0 reduction in annual car insurance rates.

What Would Increase Your Car Insurance Rate In San Francisco?

Speeding tickets, reckless driving citations, DUIs and DWIs, and at-fault accidents can all increase insurance rates when it comes to auto insurance, San Francisco drivers who are found guilty of reckless driving pay a steep price, with a rate increase of $3,765 per year compared to the city average.

Auto Theft Statistics In San Francisco

As a major city in California, San Francisco has a fair amount of car theft, though it is moderate when compared to other large cities. In 2019, 48 cars were stolen per 1,000 residents, higher than in Los Angeles or San Diego but far lower than in Oakland or Bakersfield.

Accidents Statistics In San Francisco

In 2021, 48 people were killed in traffic accidents for every 100,000 people. Even though this figure is still high, it is lower than 65 deaths per 100,000 people. This figure also indicates that traffic accidents are the leading cause of unintentional deaths in San Francisco.

The car accident statistics for San Francisco in 2021 are also higher than those for 2020. There were 1545 fatalities from car accidents in the first six months of 2021, a 3% increase from the previous six months of 2020.

Useful Info For Driving In San Francisco

Traveling around San Francisco by car can be difficult for visitors and residents. People switch lanes like flies zigzagging from point to point, and one-way streets are typical. Bicyclists, buses, and pedestrians share the road, and those massive hills can be intimidating, especially if you're driving a stick shift.

Here are some driving tips for the city by the Bay to help you navigate the picturesque streets safely and securely.

• Plan Your Route: Before you leave, plan your route to your destination.
• Investigate Alternative Routes: Plan alternate routes that aren't too far out of the way. Even though San Francisco is only seven square miles, the streets are densely packed. You should be ready for anything.
• Extra Assistance in Navigation: Both digital and printed maps are helpful, so bring them with you.

Keep an eye out for street signs

In San Francisco, street signs are your best friend. They will inform you if:

• The street you're about to turn onto is a one-way street.
• The lane you're in is only for buses.
• You can or cannot make that left-hand turn at that time of day.

Look out for San Francisco bicyclists

San Franciscans enjoy riding their bikes, and they can be found commuting on them all over the city. There are also bike messengers who zip through city streets like bullets.

While there are plenty of bike lanes on city streets, it is critical to

• Check your mirrors frequently to see any cyclists in your vicinity.
• Avoid cyclists when pulling away from the curb or out of a driveway and crossing through a bike lane.
• Assume cyclists will not obey traffic laws; wait for them to make the first move to avoid colliding with them.

First Preference is for Pedestrians

San Francisco is a walking city. Always yield to pedestrians and ensure they clear the crosswalk before driving through it. They have the right of way under the law in both marked and unmarked crosswalks.

Be aware that jaywalking is a part of San Francisco's culture. Yes, it's against the law, but everyone does it. It's better to yield to a jaywalker than to assume they will yield to you.

Getting Over The Hills

If you're unfamiliar with scaling one of San Francisco's famous inclines, there's a little trick to it. It is usually preferable to drive faster than slower.

• Using an Automatic Transmission: You may find it easier to manage the hill if you have an automatic transmission because you won't stall. However, it would be best if you gained enough speed on the way up to the hill so that you can climb it without damaging the engine.
• Using a Stick: If your car has a manual transmission, which requires you to use a stick shift, you'll want to go fast enough to shift into at least second gear and maintain your speed so you don't stall. There are many stop signs on these long, steep hills, and you don't want to roll back and hit the car behind you as you try to leave the stop sign. Automatic transmission makes this task a little easier, but if you're driving a stick, use your parking brake until you've balanced the clutch and gas so you know you'll move forward rather than backward.
• Hillside Parking: Parking on a steep hill can be a physics challenge, but the most important rule to remember when parallel parking is to turn your wheels away from the curb when facing uphill. Turn your wheels toward the curb if you're facing downhill. If your parking brake fails, the wheels will prevent the car from careening down the hill.

Car Insurance Companies In San Francisco

Are you looking for cheap full coverage of auto insurance in San Francisco? Are you looking for great car insurance in San Francisco that's also reasonably priced?

Our knowledgeable local >agents are ready to assist you in understanding even the most complex state requirements, insurance terms, coverages, and deductibles. Take a look at the top car insurance companies in San Francisco below: