It’s an obvious statement that insurance companies don’t want you to look at other companies. Insureds who shop around for the cheapest price are very likely to switch auto insurance companies because there is a high probability of finding a lower rate. A study discovered that drivers who compared prices regularly saved $860 a year compared to other drivers who never shopped for cheaper rates.
If finding the best rates on car insurance is your objective, knowing how to compare cheaper coverage can make the process less intimidating.
The easiest way to get the cheapest auto insurance rates in San Francisco is to do an annual price comparison from providers that sell auto insurance in California.
- First, it will benefit you to learn about how insurance companies determine prices and the modifications you can make to drop your rates. Many factors that are responsible for high rates such as traffic citations and a poor credit score can be improved by making minor changes in your lifestyle. This article provides more details to keep prices down and find additional discounts.
- Second, compare rates from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only provide price estimates from a single company like GEICO or Farmers Insurance, while agents who are independent can give you price quotes from many different companies.
- Third, compare the new rates to your existing policy to see if you can save by switching companies. If you find a lower rate and decide to switch, make sure the effective date of the new policy is the same as the expiration date of the old one.
- Fourth, notify your company or agent to cancel your current auto insurance policy. Submit a down payment and signed policy application to your new agent or company. Be sure to put the certificate verifying coverage with the vehicle registration.
A crucial key to this process is that you’ll want to make sure you compare the same coverage limits and deductibles on every quote request and and to look at as many companies as possible. This enables a level playing field and a better comparison of the market.
The providers in the list below are our best choices to provide quotes in California. If multiple companies are shown, we suggest you visit several of them in order to find the most competitive rates.
Discount San Francisco insurance rates
Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, but there could be available discounts to reduce the price significantly. Many discounts should be triggered at the time of quoting, but occasionally some discounts must be specifically requested before you get the savings.
- Discounts for Safe Drivers – Accident-free drivers may save up to 50% more than drivers with accident claims.
- Government Employee Discount – Having worked for a branch of the government can earn a discount up to 10% but check with your company.
- Anti-theft System – Cars and trucks equipped with tracking devices and advanced anti-theft systems are less likely to be stolen and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
- Low Mileage Discounts – Low mileage vehicles can qualify you for lower premium rates due to less chance of an accident.
- Accident Forgiveness – Not a discount per se, but some insurance companies will turn a blind eye to one accident before hitting you with a surcharge if your claims history is clear before the accident.
- Active Service Discounts – Having an actively deployed family member could trigger a small discount.
- Savings for New Vehicles – Adding a new car to your policy is cheaper since newer models are generally safer.
You should keep in mind that some credits don’t apply to the entire cost. Most only cut the price of certain insurance coverages like comp or med pay. So despite the fact that it appears all the discounts add up to a free policy, you’re out of luck. Any qualifying discounts will help reduce the premium cost.
The illustration below illustrates the difference between Honda Accord Crosstour auto insurance costs with and without discounts applied to the premium. The information is based on a male driver, no claims or driving violations, California state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $100 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-policy, safe-driver, multi-car, homeowner, claim-free, and marriage discounts applied.
Companies and some of the discounts are included below.
- Progressive may have discounts that include homeowner, continuous coverage, multi-vehicle, online signing, online quote discount, good student, and multi-policy.
- Farmers Insurance has discounts for bundle discounts, alternative fuel, multi-car, mature driver, and youthful driver.
- Farm Bureau policyholders can earn discounts including good student, 55 and retired, safe driver, youthful driver, multi-vehicle, renewal discount, and multi-policy.
- State Farm has savings for driver’s education, Steer Clear safe driver discount, safe vehicle, Drive Safe & Save, good student, and good driver.
- GEICO offers discounts for defensive driver, military active duty, five-year accident-free, emergency military deployment, multi-policy, and air bags.
- SAFECO offers premium reductions for bundle discounts, teen safe driver, anti-theft, homeowner, anti-lock brakes, multi-car, and drive less.
- Liberty Mutual may offer discounts for new move discount, exclusive group savings, good student, newly retired, hybrid vehicle, and safety features.
If you are trying to find affordable Honda Accord Crosstour insurance quotes, ask each insurance company what discounts are available to you. Some discounts listed above may not apply everywhere.
Coverage analysis
The price information below outlines estimates of insurance rates for Honda Accord Crosstour models. Knowing how auto insurance prices are figured can be of help when making smart choices when comparing insurance rates.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accord Crosstour EX 2WD | $296 | $584 | $530 | $32 | $158 | $1,600 | $133 |
| Accord Crosstour EX-L 2WD | $296 | $584 | $530 | $32 | $158 | $1,600 | $133 |
| Accord Crosstour EX-L 4WD | $334 | $688 | $530 | $32 | $158 | $1,742 | $145 |
| Accord Crosstour EX-L Navigation 2WD | $334 | $688 | $530 | $32 | $158 | $1,742 | $145 |
| Accord Crosstour EX-L Navigation 4WD | $334 | $688 | $530 | $32 | $158 | $1,742 | $145 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Price data assumes married male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-vehicle, claim-free, multi-policy, and safe-driver. Rate quotes do not factor in specific location information which can decrease or increase coverage rates considerably.
Full coverage versus liability-only
The information below compares Honda Accord Crosstour annual premium costs with full physical damage coverage and with liability coverage only. The information is based on a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, single marital status, and no other discounts are factored in.
Guidelines for eliminating full coverage
There isn’t a steadfast formula for eliminating full coverage, but there is a guideline you can use. If the yearly cost of comp and collision coverage is more than around 10% of any settlement you would receive from your insurance company, then it could be time to drop full coverage.
For example, let’s say your Honda Accord Crosstour replacement value is $7,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is destroyed, the most your company will settle for is $6,000 after paying your deductible. If you are currently paying more than $600 annually for comprehensive and collision coverage, then it’s probably a good time to buy liability coverage only.
There are some scenarios where dropping full coverage is not in your best interest. If you still owe a portion of the original loan, you have to maintain full coverage in order to prevent your loan from defaulting. Also, if you can’t afford to buy a different vehicle in the even your car is totaled, you should not buy liability only.
When to contact an insurance agency
Certain consumers still prefer to visit with an insurance agent and we recommend doing that Professional insurance agents can make sure you are properly covered and give you someone to call. The biggest benefit of comparing insurance prices online is that you can find cheap rate quotes and still have an agent to talk to. Buying insurance from neighborhood insurance agencies is definitely important in San Francisco.
To help locate an agent, after submitting this quick form, the quote information gets sent to insurance agents in San Francisco that can give you free San Francisco car insurance quotes for your insurance coverage. You never need to find an agent due to the fact that quote results will go to you directly. If for some reason you want to quote rates from a specific insurance company, just find their quoting web page and fill out their quote form.
When looking for a local agent, there are two different agency structures that you can choose from. Insurance agencies in San Francisco are either independent agents or exclusive agents depending on their employer. Either type can sell auto insurance policies, but it’s worth learning how they are different because it can influence the selection process.
Independent Auto Insurance Agents (or Brokers)
These type of agents do not have single company limitations and that is an advantage because they can write policies amongst many companies and find you cheaper rates. If prices rise, your agent can just switch to a different company and you don’t have to find a new agent. When comparing rate quotes, you definitely need to get some free quotes from several independent agencies for maximum quote selection. Many can place coverage with mutual insurance companies who may have lower rates.
Featured below are San Francisco independent agencies who can help you get free rate quotes.
- Nationwide Insurance: Nathan Douglas Gleason Agency
101 California St #2710 – San Francisco, CA 94111 – (415) 870-6999 – View Map - Carrie Insurance
2126 Sutter St – San Francisco, CA 94115 – (415) 567-7660 – View Map - Express Service Insurance
2085 Van Ness Ave – San Francisco, CA 94109 – (415) 440-5136 – View Map
Exclusive Agencies
These type of agents write business for a single company and some examples include State Farm, Allstate, or Farmers Insurance. Exclusive agencies are unable to provide other company’s prices so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. Exclusive agencies are usually quite knowledgeable on their company’s products which helps offset the inability to provide other markets. Some insured continue to choose to use an exclusive agent mostly because of loyalty to the company instead of buying on price only.
The following are San Francisco exclusive agencies that are able to give price quotes.
- Alan Chan State Farm Insurance
1820 Van Ness Ave – San Francisco, CA 94109 – (415) 776-2190 – View Map - Angela Chan – State Farm Insurance Agent
756 Sacramento St – San Francisco, CA 94108 – (415) 956-4888 – View Map - Kate McIntyre – State Farm Insurance Agent
1215 9th Ave b – San Francisco, CA 94122 – (415) 661-3650 – View Map
Deciding on an car insurance agent requires more thought than just the premium amount. The answers to these questions are important, too.
- Do they have cheaper tiers of coverage?
- In the event of vehicle damage, can you pick the collision repair facility?
- How much training do they have in personal risk management?
- Are they involved in claim handling?
- Which companies do they recommend if they are an independent agency?
- Are claims handled at the agent’s location?
If you get good feedback for all questions you ask and an acceptable price quote, you’ve probably found an auto insurance agent that is a good match to insure your vehicles.
Educated Choices Result in Lower Insurance Prices
Lots of factors are used in the calculation when quoting car insurance. Some are pretty understandable like a motor vehicle report, but other criteria are not quite as obvious such as your marital status or your financial responsibility. Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the things that go into determining auto insurance rates. When you understand what impacts premium levels, this allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get cheaper rates.
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Younger driver insurance rates – Teenage drivers in California are statistically shown to be inattentive and easily distracted when driving with friends so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Older, more experienced drivers are shown to be more cautious, file fewer claims, and are generally more financially stable.
The data below assumes a single driver, full coverage with $100 deductibles, and no discounts or violations.
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Careless drivers pay higher rates – Being a careful driver impacts premiums far more than you think. Only having one chargeable violation can increase rates by twenty percent. Good drivers pay less for auto insurance compared to drivers with tickets. Drivers who have dangerous violations such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may need to prove financial responsibility to the state department of motor vehicles in order to prevent a license revocation.
The example below shows how traffic citations and accident claims drive up Honda Accord Crosstour annual premium costs for different age groups. Data assumes a married female driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $1,000 deductibles, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
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Are you male or female? – Statistics show females are less aggressive when driving. Now that doesn’t mean women are better drivers. Males and females have accidents in similar percentages, but the males cause more damage. Not only that, but men also get ticketed for serious violations such as reckless driving.
The diagram below illustrates the difference between Honda Accord Crosstour insurance costs for male and female drivers. The premium estimates are based on no violations or claims, comp and collision included, $250 deductibles, single marital status, and no additional discounts are factored in.
- Rate your vehicle for proper use – The higher the mileage driven in a year’s time the more you’ll pay to insure your vehicle. Most companies calculate rates based upon how you use the vehicle. Vehicles that do not get driven very much can get a lower rate compared to those used for work or business. An incorrectly rated Accord Crosstour is just wasting money. It’s always a good idea to double check that your auto insurance coverage properly reflects the proper vehicle usage.
- Big city or small town – Choosing to live in smaller towns and rural areas of the country is a positive aspect when talking about auto insurance. Drivers in populated areas regularly have much more traffic and longer commutes to work. Fewer people means fewer accidents and a lower car theft rate.
- Do you need those extra policy coverages? – There are a ton of extra add-on coverages that may not really be needed if you aren’t careful. Coverages like rental car reimbursement, accident forgiveness, and motor club memberships are some examples. The coverages may be enticing when buying your policy, but your needs may have changed so remove them and pocket the money.
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Loss probability for a Honda Accord Crosstour – Insurers use past insurance losses to help calculate premium rates. Vehicles that statistically have higher number or severity of losses will cost more for coverage. The next table shows the insurance loss data used by companies for Honda Accord Crosstour vehicles.
For each policy coverage type, the loss probability for all vehicles, regardless of make or model, is equal to 100. Values below 100 suggest losses that are better than average, while numbers shown that are more than 100 point to more losses or an increased likelihood of larger losses.
Honda Accord Crosstour Insurance Loss Statistics Vehicle Model Collision Property Damage Comp Personal Injury Medical Payment Bodily Injury Honda Accord Crosstour 4dr 2WD 85 97 83 122 113 94 Honda Accord Crosstour 4dr 4WD 99 102 94 120 93 BETTERAVERAGEWORSEEmpty fields indicate not enough data collected
Statistics from IIHS.org for 2013-2015 Model Years
Here’s why car insurance is not optional
Despite the potentially high cost of Honda Accord Crosstour insurance, car insurance is a good idea for several reasons.
- Almost all states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means the state requires specific limits of liability protection if you don’t want to risk a ticket. 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 your Accord Crosstour has a lienholder, most banks will force you to buy full coverage to protect their interest in the vehicle. If you do not keep the policy in force, the lender will be forced to insure your Honda at a more expensive rate and make you pay for the much more expensive policy.
- Insurance protects both your assets and your vehicle. Insurance will also pay for many types of medical costs incurred in an accident. Liability insurance, one of your policy coverages, also pays for attorney fees and expenses if someone files suit against you as the result of an accident. If mother nature or an accident damages your car, your car insurance policy will pay to restore your vehicle to like-new condition.
The benefits of buying car insurance more than offset the price you pay, particularly when you have a large claim. The average driver in California is currently overpaying as much as $810 a year so it’s recommended you shop around every year to ensure rates are competitive.
Be persistent and save
Cheaper Honda Accord Crosstour insurance in San Francisco is available online as well as from insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance companies may not offer online rate quotes and usually these smaller providers sell through local independent agencies.
As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it’s a bad idea to skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. In many instances, consumers will sacrifice physical damage coverage and learned later that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The ultimate goal is to purchase plenty of coverage at a price you can afford while not skimping on critical coverages.
Insureds who switch companies do it for any number of reasons including delays in responding to claim requests, policy cancellation, being labeled a high risk driver or questionable increases in premium. Whatever your reason, finding the right insurance provider is easier than you think.
Helpful learning opportunities
- A Tree Fell on Your Car: Now What? (Allstate)
- How Much are Car Insurance Rates for High School Students in San Francisco? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable San Francisco Auto Insurance for a Ford F-150? (FAQ)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for Drivers Requiring a SR22 in San Francisco? (FAQ)
- Frontal Crash Tests (iihs.org)
- Event Data Recorders FAQ (iihs.org)
- Understanding Your Insurance Deductible (Insurance Information Institute)