If saving money is your primary concern, then the best way to save money on car insurance rates is to regularly compare price quotes from different companies that insure vehicles in San Francisco.
First, spend a few minutes and learn about individual coverages and the changes you can make to drop your rates. Many rating factors that are responsible for high rates like accidents, traffic violations, and a negative credit rating can be eliminated by making minor changes to your lifestyle.
Second, quote rates from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Exclusive agents and direct companies can only give prices from a single company like GEICO and Allstate, while independent agents can provide prices for a wide range of companies.
Third, compare the new rates to your current policy and see if there is a cheaper rate in San Francisco. If you find better rates and decide to switch, ensure there is no coverage lapse between policies.
Fourth, provide written notification to your current company of your decision to cancel your current car insurance policy. Submit a completed policy application and payment for the new coverage. Immediately keep your new certificate verifying coverage in your vehicle’s glove compartment or console.
The key thing to remember is to compare identical coverage information on each price quote and and to get price quotes from as many auto insurance providers as possible. This guarantees a fair price comparison and the most accurate and complete price analysis.
Astonishing but true, a large majority of car insurance policyholders in California have remained with the same car insurance company for four years or more, and 38% of drivers have never compared rates from other carriers. With the average car insurance premium being $1,847, U.S. drivers could save almost $860 each year, but they just don’t understand the large savings they would see if they swap their current policy for a cheaper one.
Getting a more affordable price on BMW 328i insurance can be quick and easy. All that’s required is to take the time to get quotes to discover which company has cheaper San Francisco car insurance quotes.
The following companies are our best choices to provide price quotes in California. If several companies are displayed, we recommend you get prices from several of them in order to get a fair rate comparison.
Three reasons to not skimp on auto insurance
Despite the potentially high cost of BMW 328i insurance, paying for auto insurance serves an important purpose.
- The majority of states have compulsory liability insurance requirements which means it is punishable by state law to not carry a specific level of liability if you want to drive legally. 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 your vehicle has a lienholder, it’s most likely the lender will stipulate that you have insurance to guarantee loan repayment. If you do not keep the policy in force, the lender will be forced to insure your BMW for a lot more money and require you to pay much more than you were paying before.
- Insurance protects your BMW 328i and your assets. It will also provide coverage for many types of medical costs incurred in an accident. One policy coverage, liability insurance, also covers all legal expenses up to the policy limit if someone files suit against you as the result of an accident. If damage is caused by hail or an accident, comprehensive (other-than-collision) and collision coverage will pay to restore your vehicle to like-new condition.
The benefits of carrying adequate insurance more than cancel out the cost, particularly if you ever have a claim. According to a survey of 1,000 drivers, the average driver is overpaying more than $750 every year so you should quote and compare rates at least once a year to ensure rates are inline.
BMW 328i coverage analysis
The table displayed below outlines different insurance rates for BMW 328i models. Being more informed about how insurance premiums are calculated can help you make decisions when choosing a new policy provider.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
328I 4-Dr Sedan | $378 | $780 | $534 | $32 | $160 | $1,884 | $157 |
328I 4-Dr Sedan | $378 | $780 | $534 | $32 | $160 | $1,884 | $157 |
328I Station Wagon | $420 | $898 | $454 | $26 | $136 | $1,934 | $161 |
328I 2-Dr Coupe | $420 | $898 | $454 | $26 | $136 | $1,934 | $161 |
328I 2-Dr Coupe | $420 | $898 | $454 | $26 | $136 | $1,934 | $161 |
328I xDrive 4-Dr Sedan | $420 | $898 | $534 | $32 | $160 | $2,044 | $170 |
328I xDrive 4-Dr Sedan | $420 | $898 | $534 | $32 | $160 | $2,044 | $170 |
328I 2-Dr Convertible | $420 | $898 | $534 | $32 | $160 | $2,044 | $170 |
328I 2-Dr Convertible | $420 | $898 | $534 | $32 | $160 | $2,044 | $170 |
328I 2-Dr Coupe | $420 | $898 | $454 | $26 | $136 | $1,934 | $161 |
328I xDrive 2-Dr Coupe | $420 | $898 | $454 | $26 | $136 | $1,934 | $161 |
328I xDrive Station Wagon | $420 | $898 | $454 | $26 | $136 | $1,934 | $161 |
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Prices above based on single male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, homeowner, safe-driver, claim-free, and multi-policy. Premium amounts do not factor in vehicle location which can revise premiums noticeably.
Comparison of policy deductibles
When shopping for insurance, a common question is which deductible level should you buy. The following insurance rates help summarize the costs and benefits between high and low comp and collision deductibles. The first set of rates uses a $100 deductible for physical damage and the second set of rates uses a $1,000 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
328I 4-Dr Sedan | $430 | $810 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,865 | $155 |
328I 4-Dr Sedan | $430 | $810 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,865 | $155 |
328I Station Wagon | $478 | $932 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,945 | $162 |
328I 2-Dr Coupe | $478 | $932 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,945 | $162 |
328I 2-Dr Coupe | $478 | $932 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,945 | $162 |
328I xDrive 4-Dr Sedan | $478 | $932 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $2,035 | $170 |
328I xDrive 4-Dr Sedan | $478 | $932 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $2,035 | $170 |
328I 2-Dr Convertible | $478 | $932 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $2,035 | $170 |
328I 2-Dr Convertible | $478 | $932 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $2,035 | $170 |
328I 2-Dr Coupe | $478 | $932 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,945 | $162 |
328I xDrive 2-Dr Coupe | $478 | $932 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,945 | $162 |
328I xDrive Station Wagon | $478 | $932 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,945 | $162 |
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Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
328I 4-Dr Sedan | $238 | $426 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,264 | $105 |
328I 4-Dr Sedan | $238 | $426 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,264 | $105 |
328I Station Wagon | $266 | $490 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,266 | $106 |
328I 2-Dr Coupe | $266 | $490 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,266 | $106 |
328I 2-Dr Coupe | $266 | $490 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,266 | $106 |
328I xDrive 4-Dr Sedan | $266 | $490 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,356 | $113 |
328I xDrive 4-Dr Sedan | $266 | $490 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,356 | $113 |
328I 2-Dr Convertible | $266 | $490 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,356 | $113 |
328I 2-Dr Convertible | $266 | $490 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,356 | $113 |
328I 2-Dr Coupe | $266 | $490 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,266 | $106 |
328I xDrive 2-Dr Coupe | $266 | $490 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,266 | $106 |
328I xDrive Station Wagon | $266 | $490 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,266 | $106 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Prices based on 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. Estimates do not factor in vehicle location which can affect price quotes substantially.
Based on the figures above, using a $100 deductible will cost you approximately $56 more each month or $672 annually than opting for the higher $1,000 deductible. Because you would be required to pay $900 more if you turn in a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you normally average at least 16 months between claim filings, you would more than likely save some money if you opt for a higher deductible.
The illustration below illustrates how choosing a deductible and can increase or decrease BMW 328i yearly insurance costs for different ages of insureds. The price estimates are based on a married female driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
Poor driving habits will raise your insurance rates
The illustration below shows how speeding tickets and at-fault accidents drive up BMW 328i annual premium costs for different categories of driver ages. The premium estimates are based on a single male driver, full coverage, $500 deductibles, and no additional discounts are factored in.
Insurance rates by age and gender in San Francisco
The illustration below shows the comparison of BMW 328i annual premium costs for male and female drivers. Data assumes no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, full coverage, $250 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no other discounts are factored in.
Difference between liability only and full coverage rates
The diagram below shows the difference between BMW 328i insurance costs with and without physical damage coverage. The premium estimates are based on a clean driving record, no claims, $1,000 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no discounts are applied.
Should you pay for full coverage?
There is no definitive guideline to stop paying for full coverage on your policy, but there is a general guideline. If the yearly cost of full coverage is 10% or more of the replacement cost minus the deductible, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.
For example, let’s say your BMW 328i settlement value is $9,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is destroyed, the most your company will settle for is $8,000 after paying your policy deductible. If it’s costing you more than $800 a year to have full coverage, then you might want to think about dropping full coverage.
There are some circumstances where dropping full coverage is not in your best interest. If you still have a lienholder on your title, you have to keep full coverage to satisfy the loan requirements. Also, if you cannot afford to purchase a different vehicle in case of an accident, you should keep full coverage on your policy.
Cheaper BMW 328i insurance in San Francisco
Insurance is not an enjoyable expense, but there could be significant discounts that many consumers don’t even know exist. Some trigger automatically when you purchase, but a few need to be specially asked for before you get the savings. If they aren’t giving you every credit you qualify for, you’re paying more than you need to.
- Student Discounts – Performing well in school can save 20 to 25%. This discount can apply up until you turn 25.
- Homeowners Savings – Owning a home in San Francisco can earn you a little savings because it is proof of financial responsibility.
- Paperless Signup – Many companies provide a small discount for buying your policy on the internet.
- Employee of Federal Government – Employees or retirees of the government may reduce rates when you quote San Francisco car insurance depending on your insurance provider.
- Auto/Home Discount – If you can combine your auto and homeowners policy and insure them with the same company you could earn a discount of nearly 15% which can help you find cheap 328i insurance.
- Theft Deterrent Discount – Cars, trucks, and SUVs equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems are less likely to be stolen and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
- No Claim Discounts – San Francisco drivers who stay claim-free pay much less as opposed to insureds who have frequent claims or accidents.
- Waiver for an Accident – This isn’t a discount exactly, but companies like State Farm, Progressive and GEICO allow you one accident before hitting you with a surcharge so long as you are claim-free for a certain period of time.
While discounts sound great, it’s important to understand that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire policy premium. A few only apply to individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. So despite the fact that it appears having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it’s just not the way it works.
The diagram below illustrates the comparison of BMW 328i yearly insurance costs with and without discounts applied to the policy premium. Data assumes a male driver, a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, California state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $100 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-policy, multi-car, safe-driver, marriage, claim-free, and homeowner discounts applied.
If you would like to view insurance companies offering insurance discounts in California, click this link.