Affordable Insurance for a Dodge Caliber in San Francisco

Do you want to stop overpaying and find cheaper Dodge Caliber insurance in San Francisco? Trying to find cheaper insurance for a Dodge Caliber in California can be difficult, but you can learn the following methods to save time.

There are more efficient ways to find auto insurance online and you need to know the proper way to quote coverages on a Dodge and obtain the lowest price from both online companies and San Francisco agents.

Dodge Caliber insurance quotes comparison

Lowering your car insurance rates is not rocket science. You just need to take a couple of minutes comparing rates online from several insurance companies.

The following companies offer comparison quotes in San Francisco, CA. If several companies are displayed, it’s highly recommended you visit several of them to find the cheapest car insurance rates.

Insurance coverage details

The data table shown next highlights estimates of insurance prices for Dodge Caliber models. Being more informed about how premiums are calculated is important for drivers to make smart choices when purchasing an insurance policy.

Prices based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, multi-policy, homeowner, multi-vehicle, and claim-free. Table data does not factor in specific location which can change premiums noticeably.

Analysis of deductible levels

One of the more difficult decisions when buying insurance is how high should the physical damage deductibles be. The comparisons below summarize the price difference when you select higher and lower insurance deductibles. The first table uses a $100 physical damage deductible and the second data table uses a $500 deductible.

Cost estimates assume 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. Prices do not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can alter price quotes noticeably.

We can derive from the above data that using a $100 deductible could cost the average driver approximately $29 more each month or $348 every year than buying the higher $500 deductible. Because you would pay $400 more out of your own pocket with a $500 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you usually have more than 14 months between claims, you would save money if you decide on a higher deductible. The numbers below show the way we made this calculation.

One big caveat is that higher deductibles means you will have to pay more of your own money when you file a claim. That will force you to have some extra funds in the event you need to pay the deductible.

Tickets and at-fault accidents raise rates

The information below demonstrates how speeding tickets and at-fault claims raise Dodge Caliber premium costs for each different age category. Data assumes a married female driver, comp and collision included, $1,000 deductibles, and no discounts are taken into consideration.

Rate comparison of male drivers versus female drivers

The diagram below shows the difference between Dodge Caliber insurance prices for male and female drivers. The rate quotes are based on no violations or accidents, full coverage, $1,000 deductibles, marital status is single, and no discounts are applied to the premium.

Difference between liability only and full coverage rates

The information below compares Dodge Caliber auto insurance rates with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying the minimum liability limits required in California. The premiums assume no claims or violations, $100 deductibles, single marital status, and no additional discounts are factored in.

When to drop comp and collision

There is no set rule for excluding full coverage on your policy, but there is a general school of thought. If the annual cost of comprehensive and collision coverage is about 10% or more of the replacement cost minus the deductible, then it could be time to drop full coverage.

For example, let’s pretend your Dodge Caliber settlement value is $7,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, you would only receive $6,000 after the policy deductible has been paid. If premium cost is more than $600 a year for physical damage coverage, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.

There are some circumstances where eliminating full coverage is not in your best interest. If you haven’t satisfied your loan, you must maintain physical damage coverage as part of the loan conditions. Also, if your emergency fund is not enough to purchase a different vehicle in the even your car is totaled, you should not drop full coverage.

Insuring your vehicle just makes sense

Even though it’s not necessarily cheap to insure a Dodge in San Francisco, buying insurance serves several important purposes.

• Almost all states have mandatory insurance requirements which means it is punishable by state law to not carry specific limits of liability insurance in order to get the vehicle licensed. 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 bought your Dodge Caliber with a loan, almost all lenders will require you to buy insurance to guarantee payment of the loan. If you do not keep the policy in force, the lender may insure your Dodge at a more expensive rate and force you to pay for the much more expensive policy.
• Insurance safeguards your Dodge Caliber and your assets. It will also provide coverage for medical expenses for you, any passengers, and anyone injured in an accident. Liability coverage, the one required by state law, also covers legal expenses in the event you are sued. If you have damage to your Dodge as the result of the weather or an accident, comprehensive and/or collision insurance will pay to have it repaired.

The benefits of buying insurance greatly outweigh the cost, especially when you need to use it. The average driver in America is overpaying more than $820 a year so compare rate quotes at every renewal to ensure rates are inline.

Cheaper rates with these six discounts

Not many people think insurance is cheap, but discounts can save money and there are some available that could help you make your next renewal payment. Some of these discounts will be visible at the time of purchase, but a few need to be requested specifically before being credited. If they aren’t giving you every credit you deserve, you’re just leaving money on the table.

• Pay Early and Save – If paying your policy premium upfront instead of paying each month you can avoid the installment charge.
• Smart Student Discounts – Being a good student could provide a savings of up to 20% or more. The good student discount can last until age 25.
• 55 and Retired – If you’re over the age of 55, you could receive a slight reduction on a San Francisco auto insurance quote.
• Air Bags and Passive Restraints – Vehicles equipped with air bags or automatic seat belts could see savings up to 30%.
• Resident Student – College-age children living away from San Francisco attending college and do not have a car may be insured at a cheaper rate.
• Bundle and Save – When you combine your home and auto insurance with the same company you may earn at least 10% off all policies.

It’s important to note that most of the big mark downs will not be given to your bottom line cost. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Despite the fact that it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, car insurance companies aren’t that generous.

The information below shows the comparison of Dodge Caliber car insurance costs with and without policy discounts. The data is based on a female driver, no tickets, no at-fault accidents, California state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with homeowner, safe-driver, multi-car, multi-policy, claim-free, and marriage discounts applied.

Large car insurance companies and some of their more popular discounts are outlined below.

• AAA discounts include education and occupation, pay-in-full, AAA membership discount, good driver, and multi-policy.
• Progressive offers premium reductions for continuous coverage, multi-vehicle, good student, homeowner, and online signing.
• State Farm offers discounts for Drive Safe & Save, good student, anti-theft, Steer Clear safe driver discount, multiple autos, and driver’s education.
• Esurance may have discounts that include anti-lock brakes, anti-theft, multi-policy, good student, paid-in-full, and safety device.
• Nationwide may include discounts for anti-theft, good student, multi-policy, business or organization, Farm Bureau membership, easy pay, and family plan.

If you need lower rates, check with every insurance company what discounts are available to you. A few discounts might not apply in San Francisco.

Local San Francisco auto insurance agents and auto insurance

Many people would prefer to talk to a local agent and there is nothing wrong with that. Licensed agents are very good at helping people manage risk and help in the event of a claim. A good thing about getting free rate quotes online is the fact that drivers can get lower rates but also keep your business local. Buying insurance from neighborhood agents is especially important in San Francisco.

To find an agent, once you fill out this simple form, the quote information is transmitted to participating agents in San Francisco who will give you bids for your coverage. You won’t need to contact any insurance agencies because prices are sent to the email address you provide. If you need to compare prices for a specific company, you can always jump over to their website and fill out the quote form the provide.

What types of auto insurance agents are in San Francisco?

If you are searching for a local insurance agency, there are two types of agencies and how they are distinctly different. Auto insurance agents are classified as either exclusive agents or independent agents. Either one can insure your vehicles, but it is important to understand why they differ because it can factor into your agent selection.

Independent Auto Insurance Agents (or Brokers)

Independent insurance agents are not locked into one company so they have the ability to put coverage through many different auto insurance companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If your agent finds better pricing, they simply switch companies in-house which makes it simple for you. When comparing auto insurance rates, you definitely need to get rate quotes from at least one independent agent for maximum quote selection. Most can insure with smaller companies that may provide cheaper auto insurance rates.

Featured below are independent agencies in San Francisco that can possibly get you cheap rate quotes.

• Al Zeidler Insurance Agency
  1714 Stockton St #417 – San Francisco, CA 94133 – (415) 753-1936 – View Map
• Primeras Insurance Agency
  3339 23rd St – San Francisco, CA 94108 – (415) 829-7312 – View Map
• Sam and Associates Insurance Agency
  2225 Taraval St – San Francisco, CA 94116 – (415) 665-0181 – View Map

More insurance agents

Exclusive Agencies

Exclusive insurance agents work for only one company and examples are State Farm, Allstate and AAA. Exclusive agencies are unable to provide other company’s prices so if the price isn’t competitive there isn’t much they can do. Exclusive agents are very knowledgeable on the products they sell which aids in selling service over price. Consumers sometimes use the same agent primarily because of loyalty to the company instead of buying on price only.

Shown below are exclusive agents in San Francisco who can help you get comparison quotes.

• Jake Ng – State Farm Insurance Agent
  1643 Noriega St – San Francisco, CA 94122 – (415) 564-0333 – View Map
• Kate McIntyre – State Farm Insurance Agent
  1215 9th Ave b – San Francisco, CA 94122 – (415) 661-3650 – View Map
• Joe Freund – State Farm Insurance Agent
  1734 Divisadero St – San Francisco, CA 94115 – (415) 359-9311 – View Map

More insurance agents

Picking the best insurance agent requires more thought than just the premium amount. Get answers to these questions too.

• Do they have a Better Business Bureau rating in San Francisco?
• Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in California?
• Will the agent help in case of a claim?
• How will an accident affect your rates?
• Will high miles depreciate repair valuations?
• If you are a high risk driver, do they have special markets for your coverage?
• How is replacement cost determined on your vehicle?
• Are there any discounts for paying up front?

What insurance coverages do I need?

Keep in mind that when it comes to choosing your policy, there really isn’t a one-size-fits-all type of policy. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs.

Here are some questions about coverages that may help highlight if you might need an agent’s assistance.

• If I use my vehicle for business use is it covered?
• Which companies will insure high-risk drivers?
• Is motorclub coverage worth it?
• Can I afford low physical damage deductibles?
• Is business equipment covered while in my vehicle?
• When should my teen driver be added to my policy?
• Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
• Does rental coverage apply when I am renting a car?
• Will filing a claim cost me more?

If you’re not sure about those questions but one or more may apply to you then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, complete this form. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and can provide invaluable advice.

Coverages available on your policy

Learning about specific coverages of a auto insurance policy aids in choosing appropriate coverage at the best deductibles and correct limits. Policy terminology can be confusing and coverage can change by endorsement.

Coverage for medical expenses

Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance provide coverage for short-term medical expenses for things like surgery, ambulance fees and pain medications. They are often utilized in addition to your health insurance program or if there is no health insurance coverage. It covers you and your occupants in addition to being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is only offered in select states but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage

Collision insurance

This coverage will pay to fix damage to your Caliber resulting from a collision with an object or car. You have to pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision insurance covers claims such as crashing into a ditch, rolling your car, hitting a mailbox, damaging your car on a curb and colliding with another moving vehicle. 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 increase the deductible on your Caliber in order to get cheaper collision rates.

Coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers

This coverage provides protection from other drivers when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. It can pay for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and also any damage incurred to your Dodge Caliber.

Since many California drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (15/30/5), their limits can quickly be used up. So UM/UIM coverage is very important. Frequently these limits are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.

Comprehensive auto insurance

Comprehensive insurance pays for 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 coverage protects against things such as damage from a tornado or hurricane, hitting a bird, damage from flooding, damage from getting keyed and a tree branch falling on your vehicle. The maximum payout a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

Liability auto insurance

Liability insurance can cover damage that occurs to a person or their property that is your fault. It consists of three limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You might see policy limits of 15/30/5 that means you have $15,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $30,000, and $5,000 of coverage for damaged property. Alternatively, you may have a combined single limit or CSL which combines the three limits into one amount and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.

Liability insurance covers claims such as attorney fees, emergency aid and bail bonds. How much liability should you purchase? That is your choice, but you should buy as large an amount as possible. California requires minimum liability limits of 15/30/5 but you should consider buying higher limits.

The illustration below shows why minimum state limits may not provide adequate coverage.

Quote often and quote early

Insureds who switch companies do it for any number of reasons including lack of trust in their agent, being labeled a high risk driver, not issuing a premium refund and denial of a claim. It doesn’t matter what your reason, switching insurance companies is not as difficult as it may seem.

In this article, we covered many ideas to save on Dodge Caliber insurance in San Francisco. The most important thing to understand is the more times you quote, the better your comparison will be. You may even find the most savings is with some of the lesser-known companies.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it’s not a good idea to sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There are a lot of situations where someone sacrificed full coverage only to find out that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your focus should be to get the best coverage possible at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.

Steps to finding lower priced Dodge Caliber insurance in San Francisco

Really, the only way to find low-cost prices for Dodge Caliber insurance in San Francisco is to regularly compare prices from different companies who provide car insurance in California.

1. Get a basic knowledge of car insurance and the changes you can make to prevent expensive coverage. Many risk factors that result in higher rates such as speeding tickets, careless driving and poor credit history can be improved by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility.
2. Request price quotes from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only give rate quotes from a single company like GEICO or Farmers Insurance, while independent agencies can provide prices for a wide range of companies.
3. Compare the price quotes to the price on your current policy to see if switching to a new carrier will save money. If you can save money and buy the policy, make sure there is no coverage gap between policies.

One bit of advice is to make sure you’re comparing the same amount of coverage on every quote request and and to get price estimates from as many companies as feasibly possible. This provides a level playing field and and a good selection of different prices.

Additional articles

• State Laws for Cellphones and Texting (iihs.org)
• What Auto Insurance is Cheapest for a Chevrolet Equinox in San Francisco? (FAQ)
• Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance for Drivers Over Age 60 in San Francisco? (FAQ)
• Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes for College Students in San Francisco? (FAQ)
• Hybrid vehicles cost insurers more (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
• Auto Insurance Facts and Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)