Truthfully, the best way to get low-cost Chevy Traverse insurance is to compare prices once a year from insurers who sell insurance in San Francisco.
First, spend some time learning about car insurance and the things you can change to lower rates. Many rating criteria that cause rate increases such as traffic violations and a not-so-good credit history can be improved by making lifestyle changes or driving safer.
Second, request price quotes from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can provide rates from a single company like Progressive and State Farm, while independent agents can quote rates from multiple companies. Begin your rate comparison
Third, compare the new quotes to your existing rates to see if a cheaper price is available. If you find a lower rate and buy the policy, verify that coverage does not lapse between policies.
Fourth, give proper notification to your current agent or company of your decision to cancel your current auto insurance policy. Submit payment and a completed application for the new policy. As soon as you have the new policy, place your new proof of insurance paperwork in an accessible location in your vehicle.
An important bit of advice to remember is that you’ll want to compare similar limits and deductibles on every quote and and to get price estimates from as many companies as you can. This ensures a fair price comparison and the best price quote selection.
Unbelievable but true according to a study the vast majority of car insurance customers kept their coverage with the same car insurance company for over three years, and virtually 40% of consumers have never compared car insurance rates at all. San Francisco drivers can save hundreds of dollars each year just by comparing rates, but most tend to underestimate the rate savings if they moved their coverage to a different company.
Our objective is to help you learn the best way to quote coverages and some tricks to saving. If you are insured now, you should be able to get lower rates using the ideas covered in this article. Drivers just have to know the best way to shop over the internet.
The companies shown below offer comparison quotes in San Francisco, CA. If multiple companies are shown, we recommend you get prices from several of them to get the cheapest price.
Auto insurance quotes and discounts
Auto insurance companies don’t list the complete list of policy discounts very clearly, so here is a list some of the best known and also the lesser-known auto insurance savings.
- Low Miles Discount – Low annual miles can qualify you for discounted premium rates on garaged vehicles.
- Student in College – Any of your kids who are enrolled in a college that is more than 100 miles from San Francisco without a vehicle on campus can receive lower rates.
- Paper-free Discount – Some of the larger companies will provide an incentive shop San Francisco car insurance online.
- Government Employees – Employees or retirees of the government may reduce rates when you quote San Francisco car insurance depending on your auto insurance provider.
- Early Renewal Discounts – A few companies give discounts for switching policies before your current Traverse insurance policy expires. It could save around 10% when you buy San Francisco car insurance online.
- Payment Method – By making one initial payment rather than paying monthly you could save up to 5%.
A little note about advertised discounts, most discounts do not apply to the entire cost. Most only cut individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. So when it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, you won’t be that lucky.
The information below shows the comparison of Chevy Traverse car insurance rates with and without policy discounts. The data is based on a male driver, no claims or violations, California state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-policy, multi-car, claim-free, safe-driver, homeowner, and marriage discounts applied.
Larger auto insurance companies and some of their more popular discounts can be found below.
- GEICO discounts include federal employee, seat belt use, military active duty, multi-vehicle, anti-lock brakes, and membership and employees.
- MetLife may offer discounts for good driver, good student, claim-free, defensive driver, multi-policy, and accident-free.
- State Farm policyholders can earn discounts including passive restraint, driver’s education, good student, safe vehicle, and multiple policy.
- Progressive offers discounts for online quote discount, online signing, multi-policy, homeowner, and good student.
- Mercury Insurance includes discounts for location of vehicle, type of vehicle, ease of repair, multi-policy, annual mileage, age of vehicle, and professional/association.
- 21st Century may have discounts that include theft prevention, early bird, teen driver, defensive driver, 55 and older, and automatic seat belts.
- Allstate has savings for multi-policy, resident student, good payer, auto/life discount, and economy car.
Before you buy a policy, ask each company which discounts can lower your rates. Some of the discounts discussed earlier may not apply to policies in your state. To choose auto insurance companies with the best discounts in San Francisco, follow this link.
Car insurance analysis for a Chevy Traverse
The table displayed below highlights estimates of rate quotes for Chevy Traverse models. Learning as much as possible about how car insurance prices are determined is important for making informed decisions when comparing rates.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Traverse LS 2WD | $206 | $342 | $454 | $26 | $136 | $1,164 | $97 |
Traverse LS AWD | $234 | $342 | $454 | $26 | $136 | $1,192 | $99 |
Traverse LT 2WD | $234 | $342 | $454 | $26 | $136 | $1,192 | $99 |
Traverse LT AWD | $234 | $416 | $454 | $26 | $136 | $1,266 | $106 |
Traverse LTZ 2WD | $234 | $416 | $454 | $26 | $136 | $1,266 | $106 |
Traverse LTZ AWD | $234 | $416 | $454 | $26 | $136 | $1,266 | $106 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Prices based on single male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, homeowner, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, and claim-free. Table data does not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can affect auto insurance rates significantly.
Higher deductibles save money
One of the most common car insurance questions is how high should the physical damage deductibles be. The tables below can help you understand how much more you’ll pay between high and low insurance deductibles. The first set of rates uses a $250 deductible for comp and collision and the second rate chart uses a $1,000 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Traverse LS 2WD | $342 | $472 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,349 | $112 |
Traverse LS AWD | $386 | $472 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,393 | $116 |
Traverse LT 2WD | $386 | $472 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,393 | $116 |
Traverse LT AWD | $386 | $576 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,497 | $125 |
Traverse LTZ 2WD | $386 | $576 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,497 | $125 |
Traverse LTZ AWD | $386 | $576 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,497 | $125 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Traverse LS 2WD | $210 | $298 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,018 | $85 |
Traverse LS AWD | $238 | $298 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,046 | $87 |
Traverse LT 2WD | $238 | $298 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,046 | $87 |
Traverse LT AWD | $238 | $362 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,110 | $93 |
Traverse LTZ 2WD | $238 | $362 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,110 | $93 |
Traverse LTZ AWD | $238 | $362 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,110 | $93 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Data based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, claim-free, and multi-policy. Rate information does not factor in vehicle garaging location which can alter rates considerably.
Based on these figures, using a $250 deductible costs approximately $30 more each month or $360 every year across all Chevrolet Traverse models than buying the higher $1,000 deductible. Because you would pay $750 more out-of-pocket with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you normally go at least 25 months between claim filings, you would probably be better off by going with a higher deductible.
How to determine when to raise your deductibles
Average monthly premium for $250 deductibles: | $120 |
Average monthly premium for $1,000 deductibles (subtract): | – $90 |
Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $30 |
Difference between deductibles ($1,000 – $250): | $750 |
Divide difference by monthly savings: | $750 / $30 |
Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 25 months |
The diagram below shows how choosing a deductible and can raise or lower Chevy Traverse insurance costs for each age group. The rates are based on a married female driver, comp and collision included, and no other discounts are factored in.
Impact of violations and accidents on rates in San Francisco
The chart below shows how violations and accident claims increase Chevy Traverse annual premium costs for different insured age categories. The rates are based on a married female driver, full coverage, $100 deductibles, and no additional discounts are factored in.
Cost difference between full coverage and liability
The illustration below shows the difference between Chevy Traverse annual premium costs with and without physical damage coverage, medical payments, and uninsured/under-insured motorist coverage. The premiums are based on a clean driving record, no claims, $250 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no other discounts are factored in.
When to stop paying for full coverage
There is no definitive rule to eliminate comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, but there is a general guideline. If the annual cost of coverage is more than about 10% of the replacement cost minus the deductible, the it may be a good time to stop paying for full coverage.
For example, let’s assume your Chevy Traverse replacement value is $4,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, the most you would receive is $3,000 after the policy deductible has been paid. If you are paying in excess of $300 a year for comprehensive and collision coverage, then you might want to consider buying only liability coverage.
There are a few situations where eliminating full coverage is not financially feasible. If you still have a lienholder on your title, you are required to maintain full coverage to protect the lienholder’s interest in the vehicle. Also, if your finances do not allow you to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is totaled, you should keep full coverage.
Shop online but buy locally
Many people just prefer to buy from a local agent and that is not a bad decision Insurance agents can help you build your policy and will help you if you have claims. The biggest benefit of comparing rate quotes online is that you can obtain cheap auto insurance quotes and also buy local. Putting coverage with neighborhood insurance agencies is important especially in San Francisco.
To help locate an agent, after submitting this simple form, your coverage information is submitted to participating agents in San Francisco who want to provide quotes for your auto insurance coverage. It’s much easier because you don’t need to leave your computer since price quotes are sent immediately to you. If you have a need to compare rates from a specific insurance company, you can always jump over to their website and give them your coverage information.
Choose an insurance agent wisely
If you are searching for a good insurance agency, you need to know there are two types of insurance agents and how they differ in how they quote coverages. San Francisco agents are categorized either exclusive or independent (non-exclusive). Both handle auto insurance, but we need to point out how they differ since it can impact the kind of agent you use.
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
Independent insurance agents are not limited to a single company and that allows them to write policies with a variety of different insurance companies and find you cheaper rates. To transfer your coverage to a different company, an independent agent can move your coverage which requires no work on your part.
When searching for an agent, you need to get insurance quotes from a few independent agents so that you have a good selection of quotes to compare.
Shown below are San Francisco independent agencies that may be able to provide competitive price quotes.
Jessica Liu Insurance Services
3428 Balboa St – San Francisco, CA 94121 – (415) 386-2283 – View Map
John A. Morton Insurance Agency
3372 22nd St – San Francisco, CA 94110 – (415) 282-5888 – View Map
Sam and Associates Insurance Agency
2225 Taraval St – San Francisco, CA 94116 – (415) 665-0181 – View Map
View more San Francisco agents
Exclusive Insurance Agents
Agents that choose to be exclusive work for only one company and some examples include AAA, State Farm, Farmers Insurance, and Allstate. They are unable to place coverage with different providers so they really need to provide good service. They are trained well on the products they sell which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums.
The following is a short list of exclusive agencies in San Francisco willing to provide price quotes.
Walter Li – State Farm Insurance Agent
1329 Chestnut St – San Francisco, CA 94123 – (415) 346-1000 – View Map
Toan Tieu – State Farm Insurance Agent
690 Monterey Blvd – San Francisco, CA 94127 – (415) 610-8000 – View Map
Angela Chan – State Farm Insurance Agent
756 Sacramento St – San Francisco, CA 94108 – (415) 956-4888 – View Map
View more San Francisco agents
Finding a good insurance agent is decision based upon more than just a cheap price. The questions below may impact your decision as well.
- Will you get a loaner vehicle if you car is being repaired?
- How long has their agency been in business in San Francisco?
- Where would glass claims be handled in San Francisco?
- Does the agent have a valid license to sell insurance in California?
- Is every driver in your family covered?
- Is coverage determined by price?
- Will vehicle repairs be made with aftermarket parts or OEM replacement parts?
After talking to the agent and getting positive responses to any questions you have and a good coverage price, you may have found an auto insurance agent that is reliable enough to properly insure your vehicles.
Insurance just makes sense
Even though it’s not necessarily cheap to insure a Chevy in San Francisco, insurance serves a purpose in several ways.
- Almost all states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means state laws require specific minimum amounts of liability insurance coverage in order to be legal. 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 took out a loan on your vehicle, it’s most likely the lender will make it mandatory that you have full coverage to ensure the loan is repaid in case of a total loss. If you cancel or allow the policy to lapse, the bank will be required to insure your Chevy at a much higher premium rate and make you pay a much higher amount than you were paying before.
- Insurance preserves your car and your assets. It will also cover medical transport and hospital expenses for both you and anyone you injure as the result of an accident. One of the most valuable coverages, liability insurance, also covers all legal expenses up to the policy limit if you cause an accident and are sued. If you receive damage to your vehicle caused by a storm or accident, collision and comprehensive (also known as other-than-collision) coverage will cover the damage repairs after a deductible is paid.
The benefits of buying insurance greatly outweigh the cost, especially when you need to use it. According to a recent study, the average American driver is wasting up to $865 each year so we recommend shopping around each time the policy renews to ensure rates are competitive.
Car insurance coverage information
Understanding the coverages of your car insurance policy can be of help when determining the best coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. Policy terminology can be difficult to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring. Shown next are typical coverage types offered by car insurance companies.
Coverage for medical expenses – Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage kick in for immediate expenses for things like ambulance fees, funeral costs and dental work. They can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. They cover you and your occupants as well as if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal Injury Protection is only offered in select states and may carry a deductible
Coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers – This coverage protects you and your vehicle from other motorists when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered losses include injuries to you and your family and damage to your Chevy Traverse.
Due to the fact that many California drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits (which is 15/30/5), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked. Usually these coverages are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.
Comprehensive car insurance – This covers damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first have to pay a deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive can pay for claims like fire damage, falling objects, hail damage and theft. The most your car insurance company will pay is the cash value of the vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Liability insurance – This coverage will cover injuries or damage you cause to other people or property. It protects you against claims from other people, and does not provide coverage for damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.
It consists of three limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. Your policy might show limits of 15/30/5 that means you have a $15,000 limit per person for injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $30,000, and $5,000 of coverage for damaged property. Alternatively, you may have one limit called combined single limit (CSL) which limits claims to one amount with no separate limits for injury or property damage.
Liability insurance covers things like funeral expenses, legal defense fees and bail bonds. How much coverage you buy is your choice, but consider buying as much as you can afford. California state minimum liability requirements are 15/30/5 but you should think about purchasing higher limits.
The illustration below demonstrates why minimum state limits may not provide you with enough coverage.
Collision – Collision coverage covers damage to your Traverse resulting from a collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You will need to pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision can pay for claims like colliding with another moving vehicle, driving through your garage door, scraping a guard rail, crashing into a building and hitting a parking meter. This coverage can be expensive, so consider dropping it from older vehicles. Another option is to raise the deductible on your Traverse to save money on collision insurance.
Get the best coverage at the best price
As you quote San Francisco car insurance, it’s very important that you do not buy less coverage just to save a little money. There are a lot of situations where drivers have reduced collision coverage and learned later that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your focus should be to get the best coverage possible at the best possible price, but do not sacrifice coverage to save money.
You just learned some good ideas how to get a better price on Chevy Traverse insurance in San Francisco. The key thing to remember is the more rate comparisons you have, the higher your chance of finding low cost San Francisco car insurance quotes. You may even be surprised to find that the lowest premium rates are with some of the lesser-known companies. These smaller insurers often have lower prices on specific markets than their larger competitors like State Farm or Progressive.
To learn more, take a look at the resources below:
- Eight Auto Insurance Myths (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has Affordable San Francisco Auto Insurance for College Graduates? (FAQ)
- How Much is Auto Insurance for Handicapped Drivers in San Francisco? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Rates for a Honda Accord in San Francisco? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance for a Nissan Altima in San Francisco? (FAQ)
- Collision Insurance Coverage (Nationwide)
- New vehicle ratings focus on headlights (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Auto Insurance FAQ (Farmers Insurance)
- What Determines the Price of My Auto Insurance Policy? (Insurance Information Institute)