It’s safe to conclude that insurance companies want to keep you from shopping around. Drivers who shop around once a year are highly likely to buy a different policy because they have good chances of finding a more affordable policy. A recent study showed that consumers who regularly compared rates saved an average of $70 a month compared to other drivers who never shopped around for cheaper prices.
If finding the cheapest price on insurance in San Francisco is your objective, then having some knowledge of the best way to quote and compare insurance premiums can help make the process easier and more efficient.
The easiest way to save money on car insurance rates in San Francisco is to start doing a yearly price comparison from companies that sell auto insurance in California. Price quotes can be compared by completing these steps.
- First, try to comprehend the coverage provided by your policy and the steps you can take to drop your rates. Many things that cause high rates like inattentive driving and a bad credit score can be rectified by being financially responsible and driving safely. This article gives more ideas to prevent high prices and earn a bigger discount.
- Second, compare prices from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Exclusive and direct companies can only quote rates from one company like GEICO or Allstate, while independent agencies can quote prices from many different companies.
- Third, compare the quotes to the premium of your current policy to see if a cheaper rate is available. If you find better rates and decide to switch, make sure there is no lapse in coverage.
- Fourth, provide proper notification to your current company of your intention to cancel your current car insurance policy. Submit the application along with any required down payment to the new company. Once received, safely store the proof of insurance paperwork with your vehicle’s registration.
One key aspect when comparing rates is to make sure you enter the same level of coverage on every quote request and and to get rate quotes from every company you can. This guarantees an apples-to-apples comparison and a complete price analysis.
If you are insured now or are looking for a new policy, use these techniques to get lower rates and still get good coverage. Quoting and buying affordable car insurance policy in San Francisco is not as hard as you may think. Smart shoppers just have to understand the most time-saving way to shop online.
Save with these seven discounts
Companies do not advertise every discount available in a way that’s easy to find, so we took the time to find both the well known and the more hidden ways to save on auto insurance.
- Bundled Policy Discount – If you can combine your homeowners and auto policy and insure them both with the same insurance company you could earn a discount of approximately 10% to 15%.
- No Claims – Insureds who avoid accidents and claims pay much less in comparison with insureds who have frequent claims or accidents.
- Discount for Swiching Early – A few companies give discounts for switching policies before your current coverage expires. It could save around 10% when you buy San Francisco auto insurance online.
- Payment Discounts – By paying your policy upfront instead of making monthly payments you may have a lower total premium amount.
- Passenger Safety Discount – Cars that have air bags can receive discounts of 20% or more.
- Mature Driver Discount – Older drivers can get a discount up to 10%.
- Anti-lock Brake System – Cars, trucks, and SUVs with anti-lock braking systems are safer to drive and the ABS can save up to 10%.
You can save money using discounts, but most of the big mark downs will not be given to the overall cost of the policy. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. If you do the math and it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, you aren’t that lucky.
The example below compares Cadillac SRX insurance rates with and without discounts applied to the policy rates. The premiums assume a male driver, no violations or 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 marriage, safe-driver, multi-policy, homeowner, multi-car, and claim-free discounts applied.
A list of auto insurance companies and some of the premium reductions they offer can be found below.
- Progressive has savings for online signing, online quote discount, continuous coverage, multi-vehicle, good student, homeowner, and multi-policy.
- GEICO policyholders can earn discounts including seat belt use, multi-policy, air bags, five-year accident-free, and emergency military deployment.
- State Farm may offer discounts for multiple autos, good driver, accident-free, Drive Safe & Save, student away at school, and Steer Clear safe driver discount.
- Esurance offers discounts for good student, renters, anti-theft, Pac-12 alumni, emergency road assistance, claim free, and DriveSense.
- The Hartford offers premium reductions for anti-theft, vehicle fuel type, bundle, defensive driver, driver training, and good student.
When getting free San Francisco auto insurance quotes, it’s a good idea to all the companies what discounts are available to you. Some discounts may not apply to policies in your area.
The auto insurance companies shown below can provide comparison quotes in San Francisco, CA. If multiple companies are shown, we recommend you visit as many as you can to get the most competitive price.
Auto insurance analysis for a Cadillac SRX
The premium information below showcases a range of insurance prices for Cadillac SRX models. Having a better idea how insurance rates are determined can aid in making smart choices when purchasing an insurance policy.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SRX 2WD | $374 | $664 | $450 | $26 | $134 | $1,648 | $137 |
SRX Luxury 2WD | $374 | $764 | $450 | $26 | $134 | $1,748 | $146 |
SRX Luxury AWD | $374 | $764 | $450 | $26 | $134 | $1,748 | $146 |
SRX Performance 2WD | $416 | $764 | $450 | $26 | $134 | $1,790 | $149 |
SRX Performance AWD | $416 | $764 | $450 | $26 | $134 | $1,790 | $149 |
SRX Premium 2WD | $416 | $764 | $450 | $26 | $134 | $1,790 | $149 |
SRX Premium AWD | $416 | $764 | $450 | $26 | $134 | $1,790 | $149 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Above prices assume married female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, multi-policy, homeowner, multi-vehicle, and claim-free. Estimates do not factor in zip code location which can lower or raise rates noticeably.
Where to set your deductibles
One of the hardest decisions when shopping for auto insurance is how low should you set your deductibles. The rates shown below sum up the difference in cost when you choose different insurance deductibles. The first set of rates uses a $250 deductible and the second pricing table uses a $500 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SRX 2WD | $386 | $678 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,689 | $141 |
SRX Luxury 2WD | $386 | $780 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,791 | $149 |
SRX Luxury AWD | $386 | $780 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,791 | $149 |
SRX Performance 2WD | $430 | $780 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,835 | $153 |
SRX Performance AWD | $430 | $780 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,835 | $153 |
SRX Premium 2WD | $430 | $780 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,835 | $153 |
SRX Premium AWD | $430 | $780 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,835 | $153 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SRX 2WD | $314 | $546 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,460 | $122 |
SRX Luxury 2WD | $314 | $630 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,544 | $129 |
SRX Luxury AWD | $314 | $630 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,544 | $129 |
SRX Performance 2WD | $348 | $630 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,578 | $132 |
SRX Performance AWD | $348 | $630 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,578 | $132 |
SRX Premium 2WD | $348 | $630 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,578 | $132 |
SRX Premium AWD | $348 | $630 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,578 | $132 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Above prices assume married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, safe-driver, multi-policy, homeowner, and multi-vehicle. Table data does not factor in specific garaging location which can affect prices greatly.
Based on this data, using a $250 deductible will cost you approximately $20 more each month or $240 annually across all Cadillac SRX models than quoting the higher $500 deductible. Since you would have to pay $250 more out-of-pocket with a $500 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you tend to go at a minimum 13 months between claims, you would probably save some money going with the higher deductible.
Impact of citations and accidents on insurance rates
The example below shows how violations and at-fault collisions drive up Cadillac SRX auto insurance costs for different insured age categories. The information is based on a married female driver, comp and collision included, $250 deductibles, and no discounts are factored in.
Independent and exclusive auto insurance agents
Some consumers prefer to talk to a local agent and that is a personal choice. Insurance agents can help determine the best coverages and help file insurance claims. The biggest benefit of price shopping on the web is the fact that you can find cheap rate quotes and still have a local agent.
For easy comparison, once you complete this quick form, the coverage information is transmitted to insurance agents in San Francisco that give free quotes for your coverage. There is no reason to visit any agencies since price quotes are sent to you directly. If you have a need to get a comparison quote from a specific company, you can always visit that company’s website and submit a quote form there.
Finding the right company needs to be determined by more than just a cheap price. Any agent in San Francisco should be willing to answer these questions.
- Will they take your side in the event of a claim?
- How long has their agency been in business in San Francisco?
- Which insurance companies are they affiliated with?
- Do they offer accident forgiveness?
- Is auto insurance their primary focus in San Francisco?
Below are San Francisco auto insurance companies that may be able to provide rate quotes for Cadillac SRX insurance in San Francisco.
- 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 - Jerry Verdi – State Farm Insurance Agent
408 Columbus Ave #2 – San Francisco, CA 94133 – (415) 788-7881 – View Map - Fillia Fransisca – State Farm Insurance Agent
2315 Noriega St – San Francisco, CA 94122 – (415) 661-3726 – View Map
Three reasons to not skimp on insurance
Despite the high cost, buying insurance is mandatory in California but it also protects more than you think.
First, most states have mandatory insurance requirements which means you are required to carry a specific level of liability coverage in order to drive the car. 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.
Second, if you have a lien on your vehicle, it’s guaranteed your bank will stipulate that you buy full coverage to ensure loan repayment if the vehicle is totaled. If coverage lapses or is canceled, the lender may insure your Cadillac at a much higher rate and force you to pay the higher premium.
Third, insurance protects both your Cadillac SRX and your assets. Insurance will pay for hospital and medical expenses for yourself as well as anyone injured by you. Liability insurance, one of your policy coverages, also pays expenses related to your legal defense if you are sued as the result of your driving. If your Cadillac gets damaged, collision and comprehensive (also known as other-than-collision) coverage will pay to restore your vehicle to like-new condition.
The benefits of buying enough insurance more than offset the price you pay, especially for larger claims. Unknowingly, the average driver is wasting up to $800 each year so it’s very important to do a rate comparison at every renewal to save money.
Learn about insurance coverages for a Cadillac SRX
Having a good grasp of your insurance policy can help you determine the right coverages and proper limits and deductibles. The coverage terms in a policy can be difficult to understand and coverage can change by endorsement.
Collision coverage – This pays for damage to your SRX caused by collision with another car or object. You have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision coverage protects against things such as sustaining damage from a pot hole, hitting a parking meter and colliding with a tree. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Another option is to choose a higher deductible on your SRX to bring the cost down.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage – This protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other drivers when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered claims include medical payments for you and your occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Due to the fact that many California drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (which is 15/30/5), their limits can quickly be used up. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages should not be overlooked.
Comprehensive coverage – This coverage will pay to fix damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive insurance covers things such as damage from getting keyed, hitting a bird, fire damage, vandalism and damage from a tornado or hurricane. The maximum payout you’ll receive from a claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Liability coverages – This coverage protects you from damages or injuries you inflict on people or other property in an accident. Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You might see policy limits of 15/30/5 that means you have $15,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a limit of $30,000 in injury protection per accident, and a total limit of $5,000 for damage to vehicles and property.
Liability can pay for things like funeral expenses, repair costs for stationary objects, repair bills for other people’s vehicles, attorney fees and legal defense fees. How much coverage you buy is up to you, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as much as you can afford. California requires minimum liability limits of 15/30/5 but it’s recommended drivers buy more liability than the minimum.
The chart below demonstrates why low liability limits may not be high enough to cover claims.
Medical payments coverage and PIP – Med pay and PIP coverage pay for expenses for things like doctor visits, pain medications, X-ray expenses and hospital visits. They are used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. They cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and also covers any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP is not available in all states but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage
One last thing about your coverage
Lower-priced Cadillac SRX insurance in San Francisco can be bought online and with local San Francisco insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some car insurance companies may not offer the ability to get a quote online and these smaller providers prefer to sell through independent agencies.
People change insurance companies for a variety of reasons including delays in responding to claim requests, not issuing a premium refund, delays in paying claims or being labeled a high risk driver. Whatever your reason, finding the right car insurance provider is less work than it seems.
In this article, we covered many tips how you can shop for Cadillac SRX insurance online. It’s most important to understand that the more companies you get rates for, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Drivers may even discover the lowest prices come from a small mutual company.
More information is located below:
- Property Damage Coverage (Liberty Mutual)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for a Subaru Impreza in San Francisco? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest San Francisco Car Insurance Quotes for a Toyota Camry? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest San Francisco Car Insurance Rates for a Nissan Sentra? (FAQ)
- Should I Purchase an Umbrella Liability Policy? (Insurance Information Institute)
- Self-driving cars won’t replace humans (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Rollover Crash FAQ (iihs.org)