Finding affordable car insurance for a GMC Sierra doesn’t take too much effort, but it depends on a very complex rating algorithm that uses multiple factors such as miles driven annually, if you have prior claims, and your driving record. Drivers in California will pay around $1,560 annually to insure their Sierra, but that amount is calculated based on a 30-year-old married male driver with full coverage and $250 deductibles.
More likely than not, you may not be 30 years old (or even male), you might be single instead of married, and maybe your Sierra just needs liability-only coverage. Different coverage needs are the reason why the only real way to find the cheapest rates for your GMC is to compare rates from as many companies as possible.
Cheapest GMC Sierra Insurance Rates
The trim level of your GMC can impact the cost of coverage, so the price you will pay to insure a Sierra SLE Regular Cab 2WD will be $292 lower than the insurance cost for the more well-appointed Sierra Denali Crew Cab 4WD trim level, as demonstrated by the prices below.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra SLE Regular Cab 2WD | $342 | $576 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,518 | $127 |
| Sierra SL Extended Cab 2WD | $342 | $576 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,518 | $127 |
| Sierra SLE Crew Cab 2WD | $342 | $576 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,518 | $127 |
| Sierra SL Crew Cab 2WD | $386 | $678 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,664 | $139 |
| Sierra SLE Crew Cab 2WD | $386 | $678 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,664 | $139 |
| Sierra SLE Regular Cab 4WD | $386 | $678 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,664 | $139 |
| Sierra SLE Extended Cab 4WD | $386 | $678 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,664 | $139 |
| Sierra SLE Crew Cab 4WD | $386 | $678 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,664 | $139 |
| Sierra SLT Extended Cab 2WD | $386 | $678 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,664 | $139 |
| Sierra SL Crew Cab 4WD | $386 | $678 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,664 | $139 |
| Sierra SLT Extended Cab 4WD | $386 | $678 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,664 | $139 |
| Sierra SLT Crew Cab 2WD | $386 | $678 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,664 | $139 |
| Sierra SLT Crew Cab 4WD | $430 | $780 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,810 | $151 |
| Sierra Denali Crew Cab 2WD | $430 | $780 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,810 | $151 |
| Sierra Denali Crew Cab 4WD | $430 | $780 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,810 | $151 |
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Table data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, homeowner, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, and claim-free. Table data does not factor in specific zip code location which can impact prices considerably.
Best insurance in San Francisco
Ending up with the right insurance provider can be rather challenging considering how many companies sell coverage in California. The company information listed below could help you select which insurers to look at comparing rates from. The rankings below are for companies with a nationwide focus, so smaller regional companies will not be included in this list.
Top 10 Large Auto Insurance Companies in San Francisco Ranked by Customer Satisfaction
- Titan Insurance – 95%
- USAA – 94%
- AAA of Southern California – 92%
- AAA Insurance – 91%
- Nationwide – 90%
- State Farm – 90%
- The Hartford – 89%
- GEICO – 89%
- The General – 88%
- 21st Century – 88%
Top 10 Large Auto Insurance Companies in San Francisco Ranked by A.M. Best Rating
- USAA – A++
- Travelers – A++
- State Farm – A++
- GEICO – A++
- Esurance – A+
- Nationwide – A+
- Allstate – A+
- Mercury Insurance – A+
- Progressive – A+
- Titan Insurance – A+
Impact of citations and accidents on insurance rates
In a perfect world, the best way to snag the cheapest insurance prices in San Francisco for a Sierra pickup is to be a safe driver and not get tickets or have accidents. The illustration below demonstrates how traffic citations and at-fault fender-benders drive up yearly insurance costs for different ages of insureds. The price estimates are based on a married male driver, full physical damage coverage, $1,000 deductibles, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
The data in the chart shows the average cost of a car insurance policy in San Francisco per year with no accidents or violations is $1,989. Receive one speeding ticket and the average cost increases to $2,289, an increase of $300 each year. Next add one accident along with the one speeding ticket and the annual cost of insurance for a GMC Sierra jumps again to an average of $3,127. That’s an increase of $1,138, or $95 per month, just for a couple of infractions!
Discount San Francisco auto insurance rates
Car insurance companies that offer cheap quotes for a GMC Sierra could also offer special discounts that can lower rates by 35% or more if you can meet the requirements. Larger insurance companies and some of the premium reductions they offer can be read below.
- State Farm offers discounts including good student, Steer Clear safe driver discount, multiple autos, driver’s education, and student away at school.
- Progressive may have discounts that include multi-policy, continuous coverage, online signing, online quote discount, good student, homeowner, and multi-vehicle.
- Progressive has discounts for continuous coverage, online quote discount, multi-vehicle, homeowner, and good student.
- MetLife may include discounts for accident-free, good student, defensive driver, multi-policy, good driver, claim-free
- Farm Bureau includes discounts for safe driver, 55 and retired, good student, multi-vehicle, youthful driver, driver training, and renewal discount.
- GEICO offers discounts for emergency military deployment, five-year accident-free, daytime running lights, membership and employees, driver training, and seat belt use.
- SAFECO discounts include teen safety rewards, bundle discounts, homeowner, multi-car, and teen safe driver.
The example below visualizes the comparison of car insurance rates with and without discounts applied to the policy rates. The rate quotes are based on a female driver, no claims, a clean driving record, California state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $250 deductibles.
The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second bar shows the rates with claim-free, multiple vehicle, homeowner, accident-free, vehicle safety, and defensive driving course discounts applied. When drivers take advantage of discounts, theaverage yearly reduction on insurance for a GMC Sierra is 28% or $846.
Low rates today, overpriced tomorrow
California insurance rates are calculated based on many things which can significantly increase or decrease the price you pay for coverage. Getting older, buying another vehicle, or having an accident may generate price changes resulting in some rates now being cheaper than competitors.
Not only that, but car insurance companies change premium rates every year or even multiple times each year to adjust for heavy claims or excess profits. A period of higher than normal claims can cause higher priced premiums, while better underwriting may cause cheaper Sierra insurance rates.
As an example, the data below shows a variety of companies that have the cheapest car insurance in San Francisco, CA for a 35-year-old male driver with a clean driving record, no accidents, and good credit. When comparing rates based on his current rating profile, USAA might quote the most affordable car insurance rates in San Francisco at $1,507 a year. This is $144 less than the average rate paid by California drivers of $1,651. Wawanesa, Nationwide, Century National, and CSAA round out the rest of the cheapest San Francisco, CA auto insurance companies.
Now we will give the driver from the above example a claim surcharge, less-than-perfect credit, and a stop sign violation. Because each company has a proprietary formula to set premium rates, getting updated rate quotes could now result in a different list of affordable companies as shown below.
Mercury now has the cheapest price in San Francisco with Grange, Progressive, Allstate, and Allied also having competitive pricing. This example demonstrates why it is important to shop around with many companies to get affordable car insurance quotes for a GMC Sierra. Auto insurance prices are calculated by many factors and change frequently, so the best option two years ago may now be priced much higher than other options.
If you have coverage questions and would like to have a little guidance when shopping around for cheaper insurance for a Sierra pickup, the agents listed below can most likely help you decide which coverages are best. To locate an agency closest to you, click the button at the bottom or click here to compare price quotes now.
Toan Tieu – State Farm Insurance Agent
690 Monterey Blvd – San Francisco, CA 94127 – (415) 610-8000
Milber Health Insurance Agent
1492 11th Ave – San Francisco, CA 94122 – (415) 564-8829
Alan Chan State Farm Insurance
1820 Van Ness Ave – San Francisco, CA 94109 – (415) 776-2190
Find a San Francisco, CA insurance agent near you
How to find cheaper auto insurance for a GMC Sierra
It’s not impossible to find cheaper rates, and here are some of the better penny-pinching suggestions that can help drivers quote low-cost coverage.
- If possible, do not file small claims
- Buying home and auto insurance together can earn discounts
- At-fault accidents can raise rates significantly
- Avoid speeding and other traffic citations and pay less
- Drive safe vehicles
- Keep rates low by comparing prices once a year
The last idea is extremely necessary, as we discussed in this piece. Insurance rates change constantly, so don’t be unwilling to buy a different policy if a more affordable rate is found. Brand loyalty is not necessarily bad, but is isn’t recommended if that devotion results in you overpaying hundreds of dollars year after year. Now is a great time to compare rates and find cheaper auto insurance for a GMC Sierra in San Francisco.