It’s easy to assume that insurance companies don’t want you comparing rates. People who compare price quotes will, in all likelihood, buy a different policy because there is a good chance of finding lower rate quotes. A recent survey revealed that drivers who routinely compared quotes saved an average of $3,450 over four years as compared to drivers who don’t regularly compare prices.
If finding the best price on auto insurance in San Francisco is your objective, understanding how to choose a company and compare coverage rates can save money and time.
The easiest way to get budget auto insurance rates is to compare prices annually from providers that insure vehicles in San Francisco.
Step 1: Read about auto insurance and the measures you can take to lower rates. Many risk factors that increase rates such as tickets, at-fault accidents, and a substandard credit history can be controlled by making minor changes in your lifestyle.
Step 2: Compare rates from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only give rate quotes from one company like GEICO or Farmers Insurance, while independent agencies can provide rate quotes for a wide range of companies. View a list of agents
Step 3: Compare the new rate quotes to your existing policy and see if there is a cheaper rate in San Francisco. If you can save some money and decide to switch, make sure coverage is continuous and does not lapse.
Step 4: Tell your current company of your intent to cancel your current policy and submit the signed application along with the required initial payment to the new company. As soon as you have the new policy, place the new certificate verifying proof of insurance along with the vehicle’s registration papers.
A good tip to remember is to compare identical deductibles and limits on each quote request and and to get price quotes from every insurance company. Doing this ensures an apples-to-apples comparison and a complete price analysis.
Auto insurance statistics and figures
The premium information shown below covers a range of insurance costs for Toyota Rav4 models. Understanding how auto insurance prices are figured can help guide drivers when making informed decisions.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAV4 2WD | $366 | $776 | $574 | $34 | $172 | $1,922 | $160 |
| RAV4 2WD | $366 | $776 | $574 | $34 | $172 | $1,922 | $160 |
| RAV4 2WD | $366 | $776 | $574 | $34 | $172 | $1,922 | $160 |
| RAV4 4WD | $366 | $776 | $574 | $34 | $172 | $1,922 | $160 |
| RAV4 4WD | $366 | $776 | $574 | $34 | $172 | $1,922 | $160 |
| RAV4 Sport 2WD | $366 | $776 | $574 | $34 | $172 | $1,922 | $160 |
| RAV4 Sport 2WD | $366 | $776 | $574 | $34 | $172 | $1,922 | $160 |
| RAV4 Limited 4WD | $366 | $776 | $574 | $34 | $172 | $1,922 | $160 |
| RAV4 Limited 2WD | $366 | $776 | $574 | $34 | $172 | $1,922 | $160 |
| RAV4 Limited 2WD | $366 | $776 | $574 | $34 | $172 | $1,922 | $160 |
| RAV4 Limited 2WD | $366 | $776 | $574 | $34 | $172 | $1,922 | $160 |
| RAV4 Limited 4WD | $366 | $776 | $574 | $34 | $172 | $1,922 | $160 |
| RAV4 Sport 4WD | $366 | $776 | $574 | $34 | $172 | $1,922 | $160 |
| RAV4 Sport 4WD | $366 | $776 | $574 | $34 | $172 | $1,922 | $160 |
| RAV4 Limited 4WD | $366 | $776 | $574 | $34 | $172 | $1,922 | $160 |
| RAV4 Limited 4WD | $366 | $776 | $574 | $34 | $172 | $1,922 | $160 |
| RAV4 Limited 2WD | $366 | $776 | $574 | $34 | $172 | $1,922 | $160 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Premium data assumes single female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, homeowner, multi-policy, claim-free, and multi-vehicle. Price estimates do not factor in specific San Francisco garaging location which can influence rates significantly.
The example below demonstrates how deductible levels and can change Toyota Rav4 insurance rates for different age categories. The data assumes a single male driver, full coverage, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
Tickets and at-fault accidents raise rates
The illustration below illustrates how violations and accident claims can drive up Toyota Rav4 insurance rates for different age groups of insureds. The costs are based on a single female driver, comp and collision included, $250 deductibles, and no policy discounts are applied.
Cost comparison with and without full coverage
The chart below compares Toyota Rav4 premium costs when comparing full coverage to liability only. The rates are based on no claims or driving violations, $1,000 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no discounts are factored in.
When to drop comprehensive and collision coverage
There is no clear-cut rule of when to drop comp and collision coverage, but there is a guideline you can consider. If the annual cost of having full coverage is more than 10% of the replacement cost minus the deductible, then it may be the right time to buy liability only.
For example, let’s assume your Toyota Rav4 replacement cost is $9,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is severely damaged, the most your company would pay you is $8,000 after paying your deductible. If it’s costing in excess of $800 annually for full coverage, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.
There are a few cases where buying only liability insurance is not financially feasible. If you haven’t paid off your loan, you have to maintain full coverage to satisfy the loan requirements. Also, if your finances do not allow you to purchase a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should not opt for liability only.
Car insurance coverages for a Toyota Rav4
Learning about specific coverages of a car insurance policy aids in choosing appropriate coverage and proper limits and deductibles. The terms used in a policy can be confusing and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.
Coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers
This provides protection when other motorists do not carry enough liability coverage. This coverage pays for medical payments for you and your occupants and damage to your Toyota Rav4.
Since a lot of drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (15/30/5), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family.
Collision coverage
This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by collision with another car or object. A deductible applies then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision insurance covers claims like rolling your car, sustaining damage from a pot hole and colliding with another moving vehicle. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. You can also choose a higher deductible on your Rav4 to save money on collision insurance.
Comprehensive car insurance
Comprehensive insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You need to pay your deductible first and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against things such as hail damage, rock chips in glass, damage from getting keyed, hitting a bird and theft. The most you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Coverage for medical expenses
Med pay and PIP coverage provide coverage for short-term medical expenses such as rehabilitation expenses, EMT expenses and funeral costs. They can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. Medical payments and PIP cover both the driver and occupants and will also cover any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is not available in all states but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage
Auto liability
This will cover damage that occurs to people or other property by causing an accident. This insurance protects YOU from claims by other people, and does not provide coverage for your injuries or vehicle damage.
It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You might see values of 15/30/5 which means $15,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $30,000, and property damage coverage for $5,000.
Liability coverage pays for claims such as attorney fees, legal defense fees, medical expenses and structural damage. How much liability should you purchase? That is your choice, but buy as much as you can afford. California state minimum liability requirements are 15/30/5 but it’s recommended drivers buy more liability than the minimum.
The illustration below shows why the minimum limit may not be adequate coverage.
How much can you save?
Cheaper auto insurance in San Francisco can be purchased from both online companies and also from your neighborhood San Francisco agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best rate selection. A few companies may not have rate quotes online and many times these smaller companies work with independent agents.
We just showed you a lot of techniques to compare Toyota Rav4 insurance rates in San Francisco. The key thing to remember is the more companies you get car insurance rates for, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may even find the best price on auto insurance is with the least-expected company.
People switch companies for many reasons like extreme rates for teen drivers, policy non-renewal, denial of a claim and not issuing a premium refund. Regardless of your reason, choosing a new insurance company can be pretty painless.
Much more information about auto insurance in California is located at the links below
- Vehicle Insurance (Wikipedia)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for a Dodge Ram in San Francisco? (FAQ)
- How Much are Auto Insurance Quotes for Lyft Drivers in San Francisco? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest San Francisco Auto Insurance Quotes for a Toyota Highlander? (FAQ)
- How to Avoid Common Accidents (State Farm)
- Child Safety Seats (Insurance Information Institute)