Kia Soul Insurance Quotes in San Francisco

If you want to find the absolute lowest rates, then the best way to get affordable auto insurance rates in San Francisco is to compare prices once a year from insurance carriers in California.

1. Get a basic knowledge of how companies set rates and the modifications you can make to prevent high rates. Many things that cause rate increases like getting speeding tickets and an unfavorable credit rating can be improved by making lifestyle changes or driving safer. Keep reading for information to get cheaper coverage and earn larger discounts.
2. Compare prices from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Exclusive and direct companies can provide rates from one company like GEICO or Allstate, while agents who are independent can provide prices for many different companies. Find a San Francisco insurance agent
3. Compare the new rate quotes to your existing rates to determine if switching companies saves money. If you can save money and switch companies, make sure coverage is continuous and does not lapse.
4. Give proper notification to your current agent or company to cancel your current auto insurance policy. Submit a down payment and signed policy application to the newly selected company. Make sure you put the certificate verifying coverage in your vehicle’s glove compartment or console.

One key aspect when comparing rates is to make sure you enter the same coverage limits and deductibles on each price quote and and to get rates from as many companies as possible. Doing this helps ensure an apples-to-apples comparison and a complete selection of prices.

It’s amazing but the majority of drivers kept their policy with the same company for more than four years, and just under half have never compared rates to find cheap insurance. Drivers in the United States could save themselves $859 a year just by shopping around, but they mistakenly think it’s difficult to compare rate quotes online.

It’s important to know that comparing a wide range of rates increases your odds of finding a lower rate than you’re paying now. Not every company allows you to get online price quotes, so you also need to get prices from them as well.

The companies in the list below can provide price comparisons in California. If multiple companies are listed, it’s highly recommended you click on several of them in order to find the most affordable rates.

Auto insurance discounts help lower rates for Kia Soul insurance in San Francisco

Companies don’t always advertise the entire discount list in an easy-to-find place, so we took the time to find a few of the more common and the harder-to-find credits available to lower your premiums when you buy San Francisco auto insurance online.

• E-sign – Certain larger companies will give you a small discount for buying a policy and signing up over the internet.
• Passive Restraints – Cars that have air bags can qualify for discounts of 20 to 30 percent.
• Telematics Data Discounts – Policyholders that allow companies to track driving patterns by using a telematic data system such as Allstate’s Drivewise and State Farm’s In-Drive system might get better premium rates if they exhibit good driving behavior.
• Discount for Low Mileage – Low annual miles could earn cheaper auto insurance rates.
• Save over 55 – If you’re over the age of 55, you can get lower premium rates.

A little note about advertised discounts, most discounts do not apply to the whole policy. Most cut individual premiums such as collision or personal injury protection. Just because you may think you would end up receiving a 100% discount, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous.

The diagram below illustrates the difference between Kia Soul insurance rates with and without discounts applied to the policy premium. The data is based on a male driver, no accidents, no driving violations, 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 claim-free, homeowner, multi-car, multi-policy, marriage, and safe-driver discounts applied.

Popular auto insurance companies and some of the premium reductions they offer are:

• Farm Bureau offers discounts for youthful driver, 55 and retired, good student, renewal discount, safe driver, multi-policy, and driver training.
• MetLife may include discounts for claim-free, defensive driver, multi-policy, good driver, and accident-free.
• Progressive has discounts for online signing, online quote discount, homeowner, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, and continuous coverage.
• AAA may offer discounts for education and occupation, AAA membership discount, pay-in-full, multi-car, good driver, and good student.
• American Family policyholders can earn discounts including air bags, Steer into Savings, TimeAway discount, good student, and defensive driver.
• GEICO may have discounts that include air bags, military active duty, driver training, emergency military deployment, daytime running lights, multi-vehicle, and membership and employees.
• State Farm has savings for accident-free, anti-theft, Drive Safe & Save, Steer Clear safe driver discount, student away at school, defensive driving training, and passive restraint.

If you are trying to find low cost San Francisco auto insurance quotes, ask every insurance company which discounts you qualify for. Some of the earlier mentioned discounts may not be offered everywhere. To locate auto insurance companies who offer free Kia Soul insurance quotes in California, click here to view.

Kia Soul insurance charts and tables

The table displayed next showcases a range of insurance coverage prices for Kia Soul models. Learning how car insurance prices are established can help customers make decisions when shopping your coverage around.

Table data represents single male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, multi-vehicle, homeowner, safe-driver, and claim-free. Information does not factor in specific San Francisco garaging location which can raise or lower premiums significantly.

Physical damage deductibles

One frequently asked question is how high should your deductibles be. The following insurance rates may help to conceptualize the costs and benefits when you choose different deductibles. The first rate estimation uses a $250 physical damage coverage deductible and the second data table uses a $500 deductible.

Prices based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, homeowner, claim-free, multi-policy, and safe-driver. Premium costs do not factor in your specific San Francisco location which can affect premium rates significantly.

Based on the above data, using a $250 deductible costs approximately $17 more each month or $204 every year averaged for all Soul models than requesting the higher $500 deductible. Because you would pay $250 more out-of-pocket with a $500 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you tend to go more than 15 months between claims, you would probably come out ahead by selecting a higher deductible.

Difference between liability only and full coverage rates

The chart below shows the difference between Kia Soul insurance prices with and without physical damage coverage, medical payments, and uninsured/under-insured motorist coverage. Data assumes no claims or driving violations, $100 deductibles, single marital status, and no discounts are factored in.

When to stop buying physical damage coverage

There is no exact formula of when to stop paying for full coverage, but there is a guideline you can consider. If the yearly cost of full coverage is 10% or more of replacement cost minus your deductible, the it may be a good time to stop paying for full coverage.

For example, let’s pretend your Kia Soul replacement value is $9,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, the most you would receive is $8,000 after the deductible is paid. If premium cost is more than $800 a year to have full coverage, the it may be a good time to stop paying for full coverage.

There are some scenarios where buying only liability insurance is not advised. If you haven’t paid off your loan, you have to carry full coverage in order to satisfy the requirements of the loan. Also, if your finances do not allow you to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is in an accident, you should not eliminate full coverage.

Buying car insurance from San Francisco car insurance agents

Certain consumers prefer to have an agent’s advice. One of the benefits of comparing insurance prices online is you can get lower rates and still have a local agent. Buying insurance from local agents is important especially in San Francisco.

To find an agent, once you fill out this form (opens in new window), the coverage information is instantly submitted to agents in your area who want to provide quotes to get your business. You never need to contact any insurance agencies since rate quotes are delivered to the email address you provide. You’ll get the best rates AND a local agent. If you want to compare prices from a particular provider, you would need to jump over to their website and complete a quote there.

If you would like to find a reliable agent, there are two types of agencies and how they are distinctly different. Agents in San Francisco are either exclusive or independent (non-exclusive).

Independent Car Insurance Agencies or Brokers

Agents of this type are not employed by one company so they have the ability to put coverage with a variety of different insurance companies and find the cheapest rate. If you are not satisfied with one company, an independent agent can move your coverage without you having to go to a different agency. If you need lower rates, it’s a good idea to get insurance quotes from several independent agencies to have the best price comparison.

The following is a partial list of independent agencies in San Francisco that may be able to give you free rate quotes.

View more agents

Exclusive Car Insurance Agencies

Agents that elect to be exclusive can only place business with one company and some examples include American Family, State Farm, and AAA. They generally cannot provide rate quotes from other companies so they really need to provide good service. Exclusive insurance agents receive a lot of sales training on their company’s products which helps offset the inability to provide other markets.

Shown below are San Francisco exclusive agents willing to provide comparison quotes.

View more agents

Finding the right auto insurance agent requires you to look at more than just the premium amount. Ask your prospective agent these questions:

• Are claim adjusters local or do you have to take your car somewhere else?
• Do they reduce claim amounts on high mileage vehicles?
• Do you work with a CSR or direct with the agent?
• Who is covered by the car insurance policy?
• Who are their largest clients?
• Can they give you a list of client referrals?
• Do they get extra compensation for selling add-on coverages?
• If you raise deductibles, how much can you save?

If you get answers to your satisfaction to any questions you may have in addition to an acceptable price estimate, you have narrowed it down to a car insurance agent that will insure your vehicles.

Insurance can get complicated

When it comes to coverage for your vehicles, there is no one size fits all plan. Every situation is different.

For instance, these questions can help discover if you might need an agent’s assistance.

• Is my ex-spouse still covered by my policy?
• What is an umbrella policy?
• Am I covered by my employer’s commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
• Will my Kia Soul be repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
• Do I need special coverage while pulling a rented trailer?
• When can my company non-renew my policy?
• Where can I get insurance after a DUI in California?
• What are the liability requirements in my state?
• How much can I save by bundling my policies?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, simply complete this short form.

What Determines Kia Soul Insurance Premiums?

Multiple criteria are considered when you get a price on insurance. Some of the criteria are obvious such as your driving history, but other factors are more obscure such as your credit history or your commute time. The best way to find cheaper insurance is to take a look at some of the elements that go into determining your premiums. When you understand what positively or negatively impacts your premiums, this allows you to make good choices that will entitle you to cheaper rates.

• Safety first – Vehicles with high crash test scores tend to be cheaper to insure. These vehicles result in less severe injuries and any reduction in injury severity translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims which can result in lower premiums.
• How much liability protection – Your insurance policy’s liability coverage is the coverage that protects you when a court rules you are at fault for damages from an accident. This coverage provides for a legal defense to attempt to prove you were not liable. This coverage is relatively inexpensive compared to other policy coverages, so drivers should carry high limits.
• Car and home together may be cheaper – Most insurance companies apply lower prices to policyholders that purchase more than one policy such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can add up to ten percent or more. Even if you’re getting this discount you still need to shop around to make sure you are getting the best deal.There is a good possibility that you can find better rates by buying insurance from more than one company.

• Impacts performance impacts auto insurance prices – The type of car you are buying insurance for makes a huge difference in your rates. Small economy passenger cars usually are quite affordable to insure, but other factors influence the final cost greatly.

  The next chart is based on a single female driver age 30, full coverage with $500 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. The data compares Kia Soul insurance premiums compared to other models of vehicles that have a range of performance rating factors.

• Incidental coverages that may not be needed – Insurance companies have many extra coverages that sound like a good idea at the time if you aren’t careful. Coverages for rental car reimbursement, towing, and membership fees are examples of these. They may seem like a good idea initially, but if they’re wasting money eliminate them to save money.
• Having a spouse can lower rates – Being married can actually save you money on your insurance bill. Having a significant other may mean you are more mature and responsible and statistics show being married results in fewer claims.

• Cheaper to insure women? – Over the last 30 years, statistics show that females take fewer risks when driving. However, don’t assume that men are worse drivers. Males and females cause fender benders at a similar rate, but guys tend to have higher claims. Men also receive more costly citations like reckless driving and DUI.

  The diagram below illustrates the comparison of Kia Soul yearly insurance costs for male and female drivers. The prices are based on no accidents, no driving violations, comp and collision included, $1,000 deductibles, single status, and no additional discounts are factored in.

• Loss statistics for a Kia Soul – Insurers use past insurance losses to calculate a rate that will offset any claims. Models that historically have higher frequency or amount of claims will have higher rates for specific coverages.

  The table shown below demonstrates the compiled insurance loss statistics for Kia Soul vehicles. For each type of coverage, the loss probability for all vehicles compiled together is equal to 100. Numbers shown that are under 100 suggest a better than average loss history, while numbers above 100 indicate frequent claims or statistically larger losses.

  
  

  Kia Soul Insurance Claim Statistics

  Vehicle Make and Model	Collision	Property Damage	Comp	Personal Injury	Medical Payment	Bodily Injury
  Kia Soul	89	98	84	138	138	118

  BETTER

  AVERAGE

  WORSE

  Statistics Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2013-2015 Model Years

Why you need Kia vehicle insurance in California

Despite the potentially high cost of Kia Soul insurance, insuring your vehicle may be required and benefits you in several ways.

First, almost all states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means it is punishable by state law to not carry specific limits of liability if you want to drive legally. 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 bought your car with a loan, almost all lenders will force you to have full coverage to guarantee payment of the loan. If coverage lapses or is canceled, the lender may have to buy a policy to insure your Kia for a much higher rate and make you pay a much higher amount than you were paying before.

Third, insurance safeguards not only your car but also your financial assets. It will also pay for hospital and medical expenses for not only you but also any passengers injured in an accident. As part of your policy, liability insurance will also pay for a defense attorney in the event you are sued. If you have damage to your Kia as the result of the weather or an accident, comprehensive (other-than-collision) and collision coverage will pay all costs to repair after the deductible has been paid.

The benefits of having insurance outweigh the cost, particularly for liability claims. On average, a vehicle owner in San Francisco overpays as much as $855 a year so it’s recommended you shop around each time the policy renews to make sure the price is not too high.

You can find cheap coverage

Some companies do not offer rates over the internet and these small insurance companies provide coverage only through independent insurance agents. Cheap Kia Soul insurance in San Francisco can be sourced from both online companies in addition to local insurance agencies, and you need to comparison shop both to get a complete price analysis.

People who switch companies do it for a variety of reasons including unfair underwriting practices, an unsatisfactory settlement offer, delays in responding to claim requests and lack of trust in their agent. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, choosing a new insurance company is not as hard as you think.

We just showed you a lot of tips how to compare Kia Soul insurance premium rates in San Francisco. The key thing to remember is the more quotes you get, the better chance you’ll have of finding affordable Kia Soul insurance quotes. Consumers could even find that the lowest priced insurance comes from the least-expected company.

More information

• Speed and Speed Limit FAQ (iihs.org)
• Who Has Affordable San Francisco Auto Insurance for College Graduates? (FAQ)
• What Car Insurance is Cheapest for 19 Year Olds in San Francisco? (FAQ)
• Warning systems don’t curb driver distraction (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
• Auto Insurance FAQ (Farmers Insurance)
• How to Avoid Common Accidents (State Farm)
• How do I File a Claim? (Insurance Information Institute)