To save the most money, the best way to find low-cost prices for auto insurance rates is to compare quotes once a year from different companies in San Francisco. You can compare rates by following these steps.
Step 1: Gain an understanding of how auto insurance works and the things you can control to prevent rate increases. Many things that result in higher rates like speeding tickets, accidents and an imperfect credit history can be eliminated by making minor changes to your lifestyle. This article provides additional ideas to prevent expensive rate increases and get additional discounts.
Step 2: Compare rates from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can only provide price estimates from one company like Progressive and State Farm, while independent agents can quote prices from multiple companies.
Step 3: Compare the quotes to your existing policy to see if switching to a new carrier will save money. If you find better rates and make a switch, ensure there is no coverage lapse between policies.
Step 4: Provide notification to your current company to cancel your existing policy and submit the signed application along with the required initial payment to your new insurance company. As soon as you receive it, place the new proof of insurance certificate along with your vehicle registration.
An important note is to try to compare identical deductibles and limits on each price quote and and to get prices from as many companies as possible. Doing this helps ensure a level playing field and many rates to choose from.
Shockingly, a large majority of auto insurance policyholders renewed their policy with the same company for over three years, and approximately 40% of consumers have never compared rates from other carriers. San Francisco drivers could save almost $469 every year just by comparing rates, but they underestimate how much savings they would realize if they changed companies.
The quickest method to get rate comparisons for Acura MDX insurance in San Francisco is to understand most of the larger companies have advanced systems to give free rates quotes. The only thing you need to do is give them some information such as your education level, the make and model of your vehicles, if you lease or own, and whether you have decent credit. Those rating factors is automatically sent to multiple different insurance companies and you get price estimates quickly.
To compare rates for your Acura MDX now, click here and enter your coverage details.
The auto insurance companies shown below can provide price comparisons in San Francisco, CA. If multiple providers are shown, we recommend you visit two to three different companies to get a more complete price comparison.
Auto insurance protects more than just your car
Even though it’s not necessarily cheap to insure an Acura in San Francisco, insuring your vehicle is a good idea for several reasons.
- Most states have compulsory liability insurance requirements which means it is punishable by state law to not carry a specific level of liability coverage if you drive a vehicle. 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 have a lien on your MDX, it’s most likely the lender will require you to buy insurance to protect their interest in the vehicle. If you let the policy lapse, the bank may insure your Acura at a significantly higher premium and force you to reimburse them much more than you were paying before.
- Auto insurance preserves not only your car but also your financial assets. Insurance will pay for medical transport and hospital expenses for yourself as well as anyone injured by you. Liability coverage, the one required by state law, also covers legal expenses 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 insuring your MDX are definitely more than the cost, especially for larger claims. Despite what companies tell you, the average driver is wasting up to $830 a year so compare rate quotes once a year at a minimum to save money.
Acura MDX insurance rates and statistics
The rate information shown next highlights different insurance prices for Acura MDX models. Being more informed about how insurance policy rates are determined can assist in making decisions when choosing a new policy provider.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MDX 4WD | $370 | $564 | $464 | $28 | $138 | $1,564 | $130 |
MDX with Tech Package 4WD | $370 | $664 | $464 | $28 | $138 | $1,664 | $139 |
MDX with Tech/Entertainment 4WD | $370 | $664 | $464 | $28 | $138 | $1,664 | $139 |
MDX Advance 4WD | $370 | $664 | $464 | $28 | $138 | $1,664 | $139 |
MDX Advance/Entertainment 4WD | $370 | $664 | $464 | $28 | $138 | $1,664 | $139 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Above prices assume married female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-policy, claim-free, safe-driver, and multi-vehicle. Prices do not factor in zip code location which can decrease or increase price quotes noticeably.
Where to set your deductibles
One of the most common car insurance questions is where should you set your physical damage deductibles. The data tables below may help you to understand the differences in premium rates of buying low and high policy deductibles. The first set of rates uses a $250 deductible for physical damage and the second data table uses a $1,000 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MDX 4WD | $430 | $576 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,631 | $136 |
MDX with Tech Package 4WD | $430 | $678 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,733 | $144 |
MDX with Tech/Entertainment 4WD | $430 | $678 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,733 | $144 |
MDX Advance 4WD | $430 | $678 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,733 | $144 |
MDX Advance/Entertainment 4WD | $430 | $678 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,733 | $144 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MDX 4WD | $266 | $362 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,228 | $102 |
MDX with Tech Package 4WD | $266 | $426 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,292 | $108 |
MDX with Tech/Entertainment 4WD | $266 | $426 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,292 | $108 |
MDX Advance 4WD | $266 | $426 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,292 | $108 |
MDX Advance/Entertainment 4WD | $266 | $426 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,292 | $108 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Cost estimates assume married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, claim-free, safe-driver, homeowner, and multi-policy. Table data does not factor in specific zip code location which can revise premium rates significantly.
Using the data above, we can ascertain that using a $250 deductible will cost you about $35 more each month or $420 a year across all Acura MDX models than choosing the higher $1,000 deductible. Because you would be required to pay $750 more to settle a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you go at a minimum 21 months between claims, you would save more money by going with a higher deductible.
The chart below illustrates how choosing a deductible and can influence Acura MDX insurance costs for different age groups. The rate quotes are based on a single male driver, full physical damage coverage, and no discounts are applied.
Insurance rate increases from tickets or accidents
The diagram below highlights how traffic violations and at-fault collisions can affect Acura MDX car insurance costs for different age categories. The price estimates are based on a single male driver, comp and collision included, $100 deductibles, and no discounts are factored in.
Price comparison of only insuring for liability
The example below illustrates the difference between Acura MDX car insurance rates with and without physical damage coverage, medical payments, and uninsured/under-insured motorist coverage. The data is based on no tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no discounts are applied.
Should you be buying full coverage?
There is no exact formula to drop full coverage, but there is a broad guideline. If the annual cost of coverage is about 10% or more of any settlement you would receive from your insurance company, then you might want to think about dropping full coverage.
For example, let’s say your Acura MDX claim settlement value is $7,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, the most your company will settle for is $6,000 after paying your deductible. If you are paying over $600 annually to have full coverage, then it’s probably a good time to buy liability coverage only.
There are some situations where dropping physical damage coverage is not a good plan. If you have an outstanding loan on your vehicle, you are required to maintain full coverage as part of the loan requirements. Also, if you cannot afford to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is damaged, you should not drop full coverage.
These discounts can lower your insurance quotes
Auto insurance companies don’t necessarily list the entire discount list in a way that’s easy to find, so we researched some of the best known and also the lesser-known credits that you can use to lower your rates.
- New Vehicle Savings – Buying a new car model can save you some money because new model year vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
- Seat Belt Usage – Forcing all vehicle occupants to buckle up before driving could cut 10% or more off the personal injury premium cost.
- Service Members Pay Less – Having a deployed family member can result in better premium rates.
- Low Mileage – Low mileage vehicles may enable drivers to earn lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
- Theft Prevention System – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems have a lower chance of being stolen and will qualify for a discount on a San Francisco car insurance quote.
- Discount for Home Ownership – Just owning your own home can get you a discount since home ownership is proof of financial responsibility.
- Discounts for Safe Drivers – Accident-free drivers can save up to 40% or more on their San Francisco car insurance quote compared to rates paid by drivers with frequent claims.
- Senior Citizen Discount – Mature drivers may receive better insurance rates.
- Early Payment Discounts – By paying your policy upfront as opposed to paying monthly you can avoid the installment charge.
A quick disclaimer, most credits do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. Despite the fact that it seems like you could get a free insurance policy, you’re out of luck.
The diagram below illustrates the comparison of Acura MDX yearly insurance costs with and without discounts. The rates are based on a female driver, no claims or driving violations, California state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $1,000 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with marriage, safe-driver, multi-car, multi-policy, homeowner, and claim-free discounts applied.
Some of the insurance companies that have most of the discounts above are:
When quoting, ask all companies you are considering to give you their best rates. Some of the discounts discussed earlier may not apply in San Francisco. To see a list of providers who offer free Acura MDX insurance quotes in California, click here.
Compare rates but still have a local San Francisco insurance agent
A lot of people still prefer to get professional advice from a licensed agent and that is OK! Insurance agents can answer important questions and give you someone to call. One of the great benefits of getting online price quotes is the fact that drivers can get cheap insurance quotes and still have an agent to talk to. Putting coverage with small agencies is still important in San Francisco.
To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this quick form, the coverage information is emailed to insurance agents in San Francisco who will give you quotes to get your business. You never need to leave your computer because quoted prices will be sent directly to you. In the event you want to get a comparison quote from one company in particular, you would need to find their quoting web page and fill out their quote form.
Different types of auto insurance agents in San Francisco
When searching for a reputable insurance agent or broker, it helps to know the two types of agencies that you can select. Agencies in San Francisco may be either independent or exclusive depending on the company they work for. Both types of agents can insure your vehicles properly, but we need to point out the differences since it can impact which agent you choose.
Independent Agencies or Brokers
These type of agents do not write with just one company and that allows them to write policies with an assortment of companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If you are not satisfied with one company, they simply move the coverage in-house and the insured can keep the same agent.
If you are comparing rate quotes, you definitely need to get insurance quotes from a couple of independent agencies for the best price selection. They also have the ability to place coverage with mutual insurance companies which could offer lower prices.
Listed below is a list of independent insurance agencies in San Francisco that may be able to give free insurance rate quotes.
- Robert E. Kennedy Insurance Agency
Flood Building, 870 Market St #740 – San Francisco, CA 94102 – (415) 951-0738 – View Map - Sam and Associates Insurance Agency
2225 Taraval St – San Francisco, CA 94116 – (415) 665-0181 – View Map - Scarborough Insurance Agency
329 Bryant St – San Francisco, CA 94107 – (415) 371-1398 – View Map
Exclusive Insurance Agents
Agents that elect to be exclusive are contracted to one company such as American Family, State Farm, and AAA. Exclusive agents are unable to give you multiple price quotes so it’s a take it or leave it situation. These agents are trained well on the products they sell which helps them sell on service rather than price. Consumers sometimes use the same agent mostly because of high brand loyalty and solid financial strength.
Listed below is a list of exclusive insurance agents in San Francisco that are able to give rate quotes.
- Angela Ng – State Farm Insurance Agent
377 W Portal Ave – San Francisco, CA 94127 – (415) 731-7400 – View Map - Farmers Insurance – Elbert Taylor
386 29th St – San Francisco, CA 94131 – (415) 285-4800 – View Map - Allstate Insurance: Myrna De Vera
2121 19th Ave Ste 102 – San Francisco, CA 94116 – (415) 566-9400 – View Map
Finding a good auto insurance agent requires you to look at more than just a cheap price. These are some questions your agent should answer.
- Do they have cheaper tiers of coverage?
- Can you get a list of referrals?
- Will you get a loaner vehicle if you car is being repaired?
- Will one accident increase rates?
- Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
- Which insurance companies are they affiliated with?
If you receive good answers as well as offering an affordable quote, you may have found an insurance agent that is a good match to insure your vehicles.
The most affordable rates come from being thorough
Insureds who switch companies do it for many reasons like delays in paying claims, delays in responding to claim requests, high rates after DUI convictions or being labeled a high risk driver. Whatever your reason, choosing a new company can be pretty painless.
While you’re price shopping online, it’s not a good idea to buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. In many cases, someone sacrificed comprehensive coverage or liability limits and discovered at claim time that it was a big mistake. Your focus should be to buy the best coverage you can find for the lowest cost, but don’t skip important coverages to save money.
There are still a few companies who do not provide online quoting and these small insurance companies work with independent agents. Cost effective Acura MDX insurance is definitely available both online as well as from independent agents in San Francisco, and you need to price shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates.
Additional auto insurance information is available at the links below
- New Honda safety features benefit drivers of all ages (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Who Has Cheap Car Insurance Rates for Ride Shares in San Francisco? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance for Nurses in San Francisco? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap San Francisco Auto Insurance Quotes for a Toyota Corolla? (FAQ)
- How Much is Auto Insurance for a Dodge Grand Caravan in San Francisco? (FAQ)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for Low Income Drivers in San Francisco? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance Quotes for a Learners Permit in San Francisco? (FAQ)
- Booster Seat Ratings (iihs.org)
- Teen Driving Statistics (iihs.org)
- Determining Auto Insurance Rates (GEICO)