Best Insurance for an Audi A8 in San Francisco

Astonishing but true according to a recent study, most car insurance buyers in California renewed their policy with the same company for four years or more, and approximately 40% of consumers have never even compared quotes to find lower-cost rates. American consumers could save nearly 46.5% a year just by comparing rates, but they mistakenly think it’s difficult to find lower-cost insurance by shopping around.

It takes a few minutes, but the best way to find more affordable Audi A8 insurance in San Francisco is to compare quotes once a year from different companies that sell auto insurance in California.

• First, get a basic knowledge of car insurance and the measures you can control to prevent expensive coverage. Many things that cause rate increases like inattentive driving and a poor credit score can be eliminated by making minor driving habit or lifestyle changes. Later in this article we will cover more ideas to help keep prices low and get discounts that may be overlooked.
• Second, compare price quotes from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only give rate quotes from a single company like GEICO or Allstate, while independent agencies can quote rates from multiple insurance companies.
• Third, compare the new quotes to the price on your current policy to see if switching to a new carrier will save money. If you can save some money, make sure the effective date of the new policy is the same as the expiration date of the old one.

One thing to remember is to use similar limits and deductibles on each price quote and and to get prices from as many different insurance providers as possible. Doing this ensures a fair rate comparison and maximum price selection.

If you are already insured or just want a better rate, you can use this information to cut your premiums without sacrificing coverage. Choosing the most cost-effective auto insurance policy in San Francisco can be much easier if you know how to start. Smart shoppers just need to understand the most efficient way to compare rates from many companies at once.

Cheapest companies for Audi A8 insurance in California

The following companies offer free quotes in San Francisco, CA. If several companies are displayed, we recommend you visit two to three different companies to get the best price comparison.

Coverage statistics and figures

The table displayed next covers different insurance premium costs for Audi A8 models. Having knowledge of how insurance policy premiums are determined can assist in making informed decisions when comparing rate quotes.

Data based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, claim-free, safe-driver, multi-policy, and multi-vehicle. Premium costs do not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can alter coverage rates substantially.

Policy deductibles

One of the hardest decisions when shopping for auto insurance is which comprehensive and collision deductibles to buy. The tables below lay out how much more rates are of buying low and high insurance deductibles. The first set of prices uses a $250 deductible and the second price table uses a $1,000 deductible.

Above prices assume married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, safe-driver, multi-vehicle, homeowner, and claim-free. Price information does not factor in specific zip code location which can alter premium rates greatly.

Based on these figures, using a $250 deductible costs an average of $52 more each month or $624 each year averaged for all A8 models than selecting the higher $1,000 deductible. Because you would be required to pay $750 more if you turn in a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you usually have at a minimum 14 months between claim filings, you would save money if you decide on a higher deductible.

One thing to note is that raising deductibles to get cheaper rates results in having to pay to pay more out-of-pocket when you do file a claim. You should have enough money in the bank in order to pay the deductible.

The example below shows how choosing a deductible and can affect Audi A8 insurance prices for each age group. The costs are based on a single male driver, comp and collision included, and no additional discounts are factored in.

Rate comparison of full coverage and liability-only

The illustration below shows the difference between Audi A8 insurance costs with and without full coverage. The prices are based on no claims or driving violations, $500 deductibles, marital status is single, and no discounts are applied to the premium.

When to drop full coverage

There is no definitive formula that is best for determining when to drop full coverage, but there is a guideline you can use. If the yearly cost of full coverage is more than about 10% of the settlement you would receive from your company, then you might consider buying liability only.

For example, let’s say your Audi A8 book value is $5,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is severely damaged, the most you would receive is $4,000 after paying your policy deductible. If it’s costing you more than $400 a year for comprehensive and collision coverage, then you might want to think about dropping full coverage.

There are some cases where dropping full coverage is not advised. If you haven’t paid off your loan, you have to maintain full coverage in order to keep the loan. Also, if you cannot afford to purchase a different vehicle in the even your car is totaled, you should keep full coverage in place.

How to Lower Your Insurance Rates

Lots of things are used in the calculation when you get your auto insurance bill. Most are fairly basic like a motor vehicle report, but other criteria are less apparent such as your marital status or how safe your car is. An important part of buying insurance is that you know the factors that are used to determine the rates you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels, this allows you to make good choices that could result in cheaper rates.

Bundle and save – The majority of auto insurance companies afford discounts to clients who consolidate policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even if you already get this discount, it’s always a smart idea to compare other San Francisco A8 insurance rates to verify if the discount is saving money. Drivers may still save money by buying from different companies

Big city or small town – Being located in less populated areas of the country can save you money when insuring your vehicles. Less people translates into fewer accidents. Residents of big cities tend to have much more traffic and more severe claims. More time commuting means more chances of being involved in an auto accident.

Is insurance coverage cheaper for females or males? – Statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. This data doesn’t prove that females are better drivers. Females and males cause auto accidents in similar percentages, but men tend to have higher claims. Not only that, but men also get higher numbers of serious violations like reckless driving and DUI. Teenage male drivers cause the most accidents and are penalized with high auto insurance rates.

The diagram below shows the difference between Audi A8 car insurance costs for male and female drivers. The premiums assume no claims or driving citations, full physical damage coverage, $1,000 deductibles, drivers are single, and no additional discounts are factored in.

Improve your credit history and save – Having a good credit history can be a huge factor in determining premium rates. Insureds that have very high credit ratings tend to file fewer claims than those with lower credit ratings. If your credit rating leaves room for improvement, you may save money insuring your Audi A8 by improving your credit score.

Lower premiums for safer cars – Safe vehicles tend to be cheaper to insure. Vehicles built for safety result in less severe injuries and better occupant protection means lower claim amounts which can result in lower premiums. If your Audi A8 is rated at a minimum an “acceptable” rating on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website it is probably cheaper to insure.

Always have auto insurance – Driving your car without having proper coverage is against the law and as a result your rates will increase for letting your coverage have a gap. Not only will you pay higher rates, the inability to provide proof of insurance can result in a steep fine or even jail time. You may then have to file a SR-22 with the California motor vehicle department to get your license reinstated.

Avoid tickets and save – Attentive drivers get better prices compared to drivers with tickets. Only having one driving citation may increase your cost forty percent or more. Drivers unfortunate enough to have dangerous violations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions might be required by their state to submit a SR-22 form to the state department of motor vehicles in order to prevent a license revocation.

The information below highlights how speeding tickets and accidents can drive up Audi A8 premium costs for different categories of driver ages. The costs are based on a married male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $100 deductibles, and no discounts are applied to the premium.

Audi A8 insurance loss data – Companies use past loss statistics for each vehicle to help set a rate to offset losses. Models that have high amounts or severity of claims will have increased rates.

The next table shows the compiled insurance loss statistics for Audi A8 vehicles. For each policy coverage type, the claim probability for all vehicles, regardless of manufacturer or model, equals 100. Values that are below 100 indicate better than average losses, while numbers above 100 indicate frequent claims or an increased chance of larger losses than average.

Auto insurance discounts help lower rates for Audi A8 insurance in San Francisco

Auto insurance is expensive, but you may be missing some discounts that can help lower your rates. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically when you get a quote, but some need to be asked for before they will apply.

• Student Driver Training – It’s a good idea to have your young drivers participate in a local driver’s education class as it can save substantially.
• Low Mileage Discounts – Low annual miles may enable drivers to earn slightly better premium rates than normal.
• Defensive Driver Discounts – Passing a class that teaches driver safety techniques may get you a small discount and also improve your driving technique.
• Discounts for Safe Drivers – Insureds who avoid accidents may receive a discount up to 45% compared to accident prone drivers.
• Discount for Home Ownership – Just owning your own home can get you a discount because it is proof of financial responsibility.
• Discount for Passive Restraints – Cars that have air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems may earn rate discounts up to 30%.
• Distant College Student Discount – College-age children who live away from home at college and don’t have a car could get you a discount.
• Discounts for Multiple Vehicles – Drivers who insure more than one vehicle with the same auto insurance company can reduce rates for all insured vehicles.
• Life Insurance Discount – Not all insurance companies offer life insurance, but some may give you a discounted price on car insurance if you buy life insurance.
• Buy New and Save – Buying insurance coverage on a new vehicle can save you some money compared to insuring an older model.

One thing to note about discounts is that most credits do not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only cut specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. Even though the math looks like all those discounts means the company will pay you, nobody gets a free ride.

The illustration below illustrates the comparison of Audi A8 yearly insurance costs with and without discounts applied to the policy premium. The data assumes a female driver, no accidents or driving violations, California state minimum liability limits, full physical damage coverage, and $100 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with marriage, safe-driver, claim-free, multi-car, homeowner, and multi-policy discounts applied.

Insurance companies that possibly offer most of the discounts above include:

• GEICO
• SAFECO
• State Farm
• MetLife
• 21st Century
• Progressive

Before you buy a policy, ask each insurance company which discounts you qualify for. Depending on the company, some discounts may not apply in your state. To view insurers that can offer you the previously mentioned discounts in California, click this link.

Insurance agents can help

Many people still prefer to get advice from a local agent and doing that can be a smart decision Good insurance agents can point out coverage gaps and help submit paperwork. One of the great benefits of getting free rate quotes online is the fact that drivers can get lower rates and still have an agent to talk to. Buying from local agents is important especially in San Francisco.

To help locate an agent, after submitting this form (opens in new window), your insurance coverage information is sent to companies in San Francisco that give free quotes for your coverage. It makes it easy because there is no need to contact any agents since rate quotes are delivered instantly to you. If you need to get a price quote from a specific insurance provider, don’t hesitate to visit that company’s website and submit a quote form there.

If you need to find local San Francisco agents, it’s helpful to know the different agency structures and how they operate. Insurance agents are classified as either exclusive or independent agents depending on their company appointments. Either one can insure your vehicles properly, but it’s worth mentioning the difference in how they write coverage because it can influence your agent selection.

Independent Agencies or Brokers

Agents that choose to be independent can quote rates with many companies so they can quote policies with an assortment of companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. To move your coverage to a new company, an independent agent can move your coverage which requires no work on your part.

When comparing rate quotes, you should always contact multiple independent agents to maximize your price options.

Shown below is a short list of independent insurance agencies in San Francisco who can help you get price quote information.

More San Francisco agents

Exclusive Insurance Agencies

These type of agents work for only one company like Allstate, Farmers Insurance or State Farm. Exclusive agents cannot compare other company’s rates so you need to shop around if the rates are high. Exclusive agencies are highly trained on their company’s products which helps overcome the inability to quote other rates.

Shown below is a list of exclusive insurance agents in San Francisco that can give you price quotes.

More San Francisco agents

Finding a good auto insurance agent should include more criteria than just a cheap price. The answers to these questions are important, too.

• Does the agent recommend any additional coverage?
• How would your car be valued if totaled?
• Are they in the agency full-time?
• Are they giving you every discount you deserve?
• Which members of your family are coverage by the policy?
• Do they specialize in personal lines auto insurance in San Francisco?
• How often do they review policy coverages?
• Do they have advanced training designations such as CPCU, AAI, AIC, or CIC?

Cheap auto insurance premiums are out there

Some companies do not provide the ability to get quotes online and many times these small, regional companies sell through independent insurance agencies. Lower-priced Audi A8 insurance in San Francisco can be found on the web and also from your neighborhood San Francisco agents, so you should compare both in order to have the best price selection to choose from.

As you prepare to switch companies, you should never skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. In many cases, an accident victim reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits and found out when filing a claim that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your goal should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best possible price, but do not skimp to save money.

More detailed auto insurance information can be read at these sites:

• Child Safety FAQ (iihs.org)
• Who Has Cheap San Francisco Auto Insurance Rates for Low Mileage Drivers? (FAQ)
• Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance for Teachers in San Francisco? (FAQ)
• Who Has Cheap San Francisco Auto Insurance for Hybrid Vehicles? (FAQ)
• Who Has Affordable Car Insurance Rates for Teenagers in San Francisco? (FAQ)
• Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for a Honda CR-V in San Francisco? (FAQ)
• New Honda safety features benefit drivers of all ages (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
• Steps to Take After an Auto Accident (Insurance Information Institute)
• Protecting Teens from Drunk Driving (Insurance Information Institute)
• Side airbags reduce rollover fatalities (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)