Are you regretting buying an overpriced car insurance policy? Don’t sweat it because you’re not the only one.
Sad but true, most car insurance policyholders have remained with the same car insurance company for four years or more, and 38% of customers have never even shopped around for affordable coverage. With the average premium in California being $1,387, drivers could save approximately 35% every year by just comparing quotes, but they just feel it’s too hard to do a rate comparison. Big-name insurance companies like State Farm, GEICO and Farmers Insurance persitently shower you with TV and radio ads and it is difficult to see past the corporate glitz and do the work needed to find the best deal.
If you have a current car insurance policy or want to find a cheaper company, follow these tips to reduce premiums without reducing coverage. Locating the best insurance company for you in San Francisco seems hard but is not really that difficult. Consumers just have to know the most efficient way to shop for car insurance from many companies at once.
The companies shown below provide comparison quotes in California. If the list has multiple companies, we suggest you click on several of them to get a more complete price comparison.
Audi Q5 insurance discounts in San Francisco
Some providers don’t list all their discounts very well, so the next list breaks down both the well known as well as some of the hidden credits available to bring down your rates.
- Theft Deterrent System – Vehicles that have factory alarm systems and tracking devices can help prevent theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
- Homeowners Savings – Owning a home in San Francisco can help you save on auto insurance because owning a home requires a higher level of personal finance.
- ABS Braking Discount – Cars and trucks with anti-lock braking systems can reduce accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
- Drivers Ed for Students – Teen drivers should successfully take a driver’s education course as it can save substantially.
- Driver Safety – Taking time to complete a course that instructs on driving safety is a good idea and can lower rates and also improve your driving technique.
Keep in mind that some of the credits will not apply to the entire cost. Some only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. Just because it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, you’re out of luck.
The information below compares Audi Q5 insurance prices with and without some available policy discounts. The information is based on a male driver, no tickets, no at-fault accidents, California state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-car, safe-driver, multi-policy, marriage, homeowner, and claim-free discounts applied.
Some of the larger companies that may include these benefits are:
If you need lower rates, check with each company or agent to give you their best rates. All car insurance discounts might not apply in San Francisco.
Facts and figures for Audi Q5 insurance
The rate information displayed next covers estimates of insurance prices for Audi Q5 models. Learning how auto insurance premiums are calculated helps drivers make smart choices when selecting a coverage provider.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Q5 3.2 Premium AWD | $184 | $408 | $416 | $24 | $124 | $1,156 | $96 |
Q5 3.2 Premium Plus AWD | $204 | $408 | $416 | $24 | $124 | $1,176 | $98 |
Q5 3.2 Premium Plus S-Line AWD | $204 | $408 | $416 | $24 | $124 | $1,176 | $98 |
Q5 3.2 Prestige AWD | $204 | $460 | $416 | $24 | $124 | $1,228 | $102 |
Q5 3.2 Prestige S-Line AWD | $204 | $460 | $416 | $24 | $124 | $1,228 | $102 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Data variables include married female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, multi-policy, claim-free, safe-driver, and homeowner. Premium costs do not factor in specific zip code location which can increase or decrease price quotes substantially.
The chart below illustrates how your choice of deductibles and can affect Audi Q5 insurance costs for different insured age categories. The data assumes a single female driver, comp and collision included, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
Rate increases following a ticket or accident
The information below demonstrates how citations and at-fault fender-benders increase Audi Q5 car insurance costs for different age groups. The premiums are based on a married female driver, full coverage, $100 deductibles, and no discounts are factored in.
How much more does full coverage cost in San Francisco?
The chart below visualizes the comparison of Audi Q5 insurance rates with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying the minimum liability limits required in California. The price estimates are based on no claims or violations, $100 deductibles, single status, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
Guidelines for eliminating full coverage
There is no exact formula to exclude physical damage coverage on your policy, but there is a broad guideline. If the annual cost of having full coverage is about 10% or more of replacement cost minus your deductible, then it might be time to buy liability only.
For example, let’s say your Audi Q5 settlement value is $5,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled in an accident, the most you would get paid by your company is $4,000 after the deductible is paid. If it’s costing you more than $400 a year for your policy with full coverage, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.
There are some scenarios where eliminating full coverage is not recommended. If you haven’t paid off your loan, you are required to maintain full coverage in order to prevent the bank from purchasing higher-priced coverage. Also, if your savings is not enough to buy a different vehicle if your current one is damaged, you should maintain full coverage.
Insurance agencies are professional risk managers
A lot of people would prefer to sit down with an agent and doing so can bring peace of mind Insurance agents can answer important questions and will help you if you have claims. One of the great benefits of price shopping on the web is that drivers can save money and get lower rates but still work with a licensed agent. Supporting local agencies is definitely important in San Francisco.
For easy comparison, once you complete this simple form, the quote information is transmitted to local insurance agents that can provide free San Francisco car insurance quotes to get your business. It’s much easier because you don’t need to do any legwork because quoted prices will be sent to you instantly. In the event you want to compare rates from a particular provider, just jump over to their website and fill out their quote form.
If you want to use a local insurance agency, you must know there are a couple types of agencies and how they can quote your rates. Insurance agencies in San Francisco can be categorized as either independent or exclusive. Both types of agents can sell affordable insurance policies, but it’s worth learning the subtle differences since it could factor into the type of agent you choose.
Independent Insurance Agents (or Brokers)
Independent agents are normally appointed by many insurers and that enables them to quote your coverage through many different insurance companies and find you cheaper rates. If they find a lower price, your agent can just switch to a different company and you can keep the same agent.
If you are trying to find cheaper rates, you definitely need to compare prices from independent agents for the best price selection.
Listed below is a list of independent insurance agents in San Francisco that may be able to give you cheap rate quotes.
Express Service Insurance
2085 Van Ness Ave – San Francisco, CA 94109 – (415) 440-5136 – View Map
Blum-Blackfield Insurance Agency
2 Twin Peaks Blvd – San Francisco, CA 94114 – (415) 665-1440 – View Map
Scarborough Insurance Agency
329 Bryant St – San Francisco, CA 94107 – (415) 371-1398 – View Map
Exclusive Agents
These agents work for only one company and some examples include State Farm, Allstate and AAA. These agents are unable to compare other company’s rates so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. Exclusive agencies receive extensive training on the products they sell which helps overcome the inability to quote other rates.
The following are San Francisco exclusive insurance agencies that can give you price quotes.
State Farm: Debra O’Farrell
870 Market St #440 – San Francisco, CA 94102 – (415) 982-9900 – View Map
Linda Williams – State Farm Insurance Agent
1536 20th St – San Francisco, CA 94107 – (415) 648-1155 – View Map
Yan Lukito – State Farm Insurance Agent
5214 Diamond Heights Blvd i – San Francisco, CA 94131 – (415) 282-5558 – View Map
Finding the right car insurance agent shouldn’t rely on just the bottom line cost. Any good agent in San Francisco should know the answers to these questions.
- How are they compensated?
- Will the agent help in case of a claim?
- Which insurance companies are they affiliated with?
- Do they have a Better Business Bureau rating in San Francisco?
- Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?
- How much training do they have in personal risk management?
- Which family members are covered?
Which is the best car insurance?
When it comes to buying coverage online or from an agent, there really is not a one size fits all plan. Every insured’s situation is different so this has to be addressed.
Here are some questions about coverages that may help you determine if your insurance needs may require specific advice.
- Do all my vehicles need collision coverage?
- Do I have ACV or replacement cost coverage?
- Can I afford to buy a different vehicle if my Audi Q5 is totaled?
- When should I drop full coverage on my Audi Q5?
- Is my son or daughter covered when driving my car?
- When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
- Should I buy only the required California minimum liability coverage?
- Do I have coverage when pulling a U-Haul trailer?
- Are my custom wheels covered?
- Does insurance cover tools stolen from my truck?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It only takes a few minutes and can help protect your family.
Buying the right Audi Q5 insurance in California is an important decision
Despite the high cost, maintaining insurance may be required and benefits you in several ways.
- Most states have mandatory insurance requirements which means state laws require a specific level of liability insurance coverage if you drive a vehicle. In California these limits are 15/30/5 which means you must have $15,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $5,000 of property damage coverage.
- If you have a loan on your Audi Q5, almost all lenders will stipulate that you carry insurance to guarantee payment of the loan. If coverage lapses or is canceled, the lender may insure your Audi at an extremely high rate and require you to fork over for it.
- Insurance preserves your Audi and your assets. It will also reimburse you for most medical and hospital costs for both you and anyone you injure as the result of an accident. Liability insurance, one of your policy coverages, also covers legal expenses if you cause an accident and are sued. If your vehicle suffers damage from an accident or hail, comprehensive (other-than-collision) and collision coverage will cover the damage repairs after a deductible is paid.
The benefits of having insurance are definitely more than the cost, especially with large liability claims. Unknowingly, the average driver overpays as much as $865 each year so you should quote rates at every renewal to help ensure money is not being wasted.
Educate yourself about car insurance coverages
Knowing the specifics of a car insurance policy can help you determine the right coverages for your vehicles. Car insurance terms can be impossible to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Below you’ll find the normal coverages available from car insurance companies.
Auto collision coverage
This coverage will pay to fix damage to your Q5 resulting from colliding with another car or object. A deductible applies and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision can pay for claims such as scraping a guard rail, crashing into a ditch and damaging your car on a curb. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider dropping it from older vehicles. Another option is to bump up the deductible on your Q5 to get cheaper collision coverage.
Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage reimburse you for short-term medical expenses such as rehabilitation expenses, X-ray expenses, prosthetic devices and ambulance fees. They are used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. They cover all vehicle occupants and will also cover if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP coverage is not universally available and may carry a deductible
Coverage for liability
Liability coverage will cover damage that occurs to other’s property or people. Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. As an example, you may have liability limits of 15/30/5 that means you have $15,000 bodily injury coverage, $30,000 for the entire accident, and a total limit of $5,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Alternatively, you may have one number which is a combined single limit that pays claims from the same limit with no separate limits for injury or property damage.
Liability coverage protects against claims like loss of income, attorney fees and medical expenses. How much coverage you buy is a personal decision, but buy as large an amount as possible. California requires drivers to carry at least 15/30/5 but drivers should carry better liability coverage.
The chart below demonstrates why buying minimum limits may not provide you with enough coverage.
Comprehensive insurance
Comprehensive insurance will pay to fix damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You need to pay your deductible first then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive insurance covers things like falling objects, hitting a deer and a tree branch falling on your vehicle. The most you’ll receive from a claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider dropping full coverage.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM)
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other drivers when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. This coverage pays for hospital bills for your injuries as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Because many people have only the minimum liability required by law (which is 15/30/5), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is very important. Frequently these coverages are set the same as your liability limits.
Do the work, save more money
We covered a lot of techniques to find cheap Audi Q5 insurance in San Francisco. The most important thing to understand is the more quotes you get, the better your comparison will be. You may even be surprised to find that the best prices are with some of the lesser-known companies. Some small companies may only write in your state and offer lower rates compared to the large companies like State Farm, GEICO and Nationwide.
When getting San Francisco car insurance quotes online, do not buy less coverage just to save a little money. There have been many cases where consumers will sacrifice collision coverage and learned later that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The goal is to purchase plenty of coverage at the best possible price, but don’t skip important coverages to save money.
Cost effective Audi Q5 insurance is available from both online companies and from local agencies, so you need to quote San Francisco car insurance with both to have the best chance of lowering rates. There are still a few companies who may not have the ability to get a quote online and these regional carriers only sell coverage through local independent agencies.
How to find discount Audi Q5 insurance in San Francisco
If you want to save the most money, the best way to get cheaper auto insurance rates is to make a habit of comparing prices annually from insurance carriers that sell auto insurance in San Francisco. You can compare prices by completing these steps.
- Step 1: Read and learn about what coverages are included in your policy and the things you can change to drop your rates. Many rating criteria that result in higher prices such as at-fault accidents and a not-so-good credit score can be rectified by being financially responsible and driving safely.
- Step 2: Obtain price quotes from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Direct and exclusive agents can give quotes from a single company like GEICO or State Farm, while agents who are independent can quote rates from multiple companies. Get quotes now
- Step 3: Compare the new quotes to your existing policy to see if a cheaper price is available. If you find better rates and switch companies, verify that coverage does not lapse between policies.
- Step 4: Provide notification to your current company to cancel your existing policy. Submit a down payment and signed policy application to your new company or agent. Be sure to place the new certificate verifying coverage in your vehicle.
A good tip to remember is to try to use identical coverages on every quote request and and to get price quotes from as many carriers as you can. Doing this helps ensure a level playing field and and a good selection of different prices.
For more information, take a look at the following helpful articles:
- Teen Driver Licensing Information (iihs.org)
- How Much is Auto Insurance for a Dodge Grand Caravan in San Francisco? (FAQ)
- What Auto Insurance is Cheapest for Drivers with Accidents in San Francisco? (FAQ)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for Drivers Requiring a SR22 in San Francisco? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap San Francisco Auto Insurance Rates for Teenage Females? (FAQ)
- If I File a Claim will My Insurance Go Up? (Insurance Information Institute)
- Older Drivers FAQ (iihs.org)
- New vehicle ratings focus on headlights (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)