If you’re new to shopping for San Francisco car insurance quotes online, you may be confused by the large number of online car insurance companies and websites that all promise to save you money.
Amazingly, nearly 70% of drivers have stayed with the same insurance company for at least four years, and approximately 40% of consumers have never compared quotes from other companies. With the average premium in California being $1,390, drivers could save themselves about 35% a year just by comparing rates, but they don’t understand how simple it is to compare rates online.
If you are already insured, you will be able to find better prices using this information. Comparison shopping for the best-priced auto insurance coverage in San Francisco is not that difficult. But California drivers can benefit from knowing the methods companies use to determine premium rates because rates are impacted by many factors.
Affordable companies for Lexus GS 450h insurance
The companies shown below have been selected to offer price comparisons in San Francisco, CA. If the list has multiple companies, we suggest you compare several of them to find the lowest car insurance rates.
Coverage analysis
The information displayed below showcases estimates of insurance premium costs for Lexus GS 450h models. Having a better idea how rates are figured can benefit drivers when making informed coverage decisions.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GS 450H Hybrid | $480 | $970 | $456 | $26 | $136 | $2,068 | $172 |
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Price data assumes married male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, 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 modify prices greatly.
Comparison of policy deductibles
When shopping for car insurance, a common question is at what level do you set your deductibles. The premium rates below help summarize the price difference of buying low and high physical damage coverage deductibles. The first rate comparisons uses a $250 physical damage deductible and the second price grid uses a $1,000 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GS 450H Hybrid | $474 | $882 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,981 | $165 |
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Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GS 450H Hybrid | $292 | $556 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,448 | $121 |
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Data based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, safe-driver, multi-vehicle, homeowner, and multi-policy. Premium costs do not factor in San Francisco location which can influence premium rates substantially.
Based on the figures above, using a $250 deductible would cost the average driver about $44 more each month or $528 every year averaged for all GS 450h models than choosing the higher $1,000 deductible. Because you would be required to pay $750 more out of your own pocket with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you tend to average more than 17 months between claim filings, you would more than likely save some money if you choose a higher deductible.
How to calculate if a higher deductible is a good decision
Average monthly premium for $250 deductibles: | $165 |
Average monthly premium for $1,000 deductibles (subtract): | – $121 |
Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $44 |
Difference between deductibles ($1,000 – $250): | $750 |
Divide difference by monthly savings: | $750 / $44 |
Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 17 months |
Rate increases following a ticket or accident
The information below shows how traffic citations and at-fault collisions can increase Lexus GS 450h annual premium costs for each age group. The rates are based on a married female driver, full physical damage coverage, $100 deductibles, and no additional discounts are factored in.
Full coverage rates compared to liability-only
The diagram below illustrates the difference between Lexus GS 450h car insurance rates with and without physical damage coverage, medical payments, and uninsured/under-insured motorist coverage. Data assumes no accidents, no driving violations, $500 deductibles, marital status is single, and no policy discounts are applied.
Guidelines for dropping full coverage
There is no definitive formula of when to exclude comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, but there is a guideline you can use. If the annual cost of coverage is more than around 10% of the vehicle’s replacement cost less your deductible, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.
For example, let’s pretend your Lexus GS 450h book value is $7,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled in an accident, the most you would receive is $6,000 after you pay the deductible. If you are paying over $600 annually for comprehensive and collision coverage, then it might be time to buy liability only.
There are a few cases where buying only liability insurance is not financially feasible. If you have an outstanding loan on your vehicle, you are required to maintain full coverage as part of the loan conditions. Also, if your finances do not allow you to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is in an accident, you should not opt for liability only.
Discounts can help lower premiums on Lexus GS 450h insurance in San Francisco
Some insurance providers do not advertise every discount in a way that’s easy to find, so the next list breaks down some of the more common as well as some of the hidden discounts that you can inquire about if you buy San Francisco car insurance online.
- Include Life Insurance and Save – Some companies give a discounted rate on car insurance if you buy a life policy as well.
- Seat Belts Save more than Lives – Requiring all passengers to fasten their seat belts may be able to save a few bucks off the personal injury premium cost.
- Driver Safety – Successfully completing a course teaching safe driver skills could save 5% or more depending on where you live.
- Discount for New Cars – Buying insurance on a new vehicle can get you a discount because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
- No Accidents – Drivers who don’t have accidents pay less when compared to drivers who are more careless.
- Onboard Data Collection – Insureds who allow their insurance company to study their driving habits through the use of a telematics system such as In-Drive from State Farm or Allstate’s Drivewise system could possibly reduce rates as long as they are good drivers.
- No Charge for an Accident – Not a discount per se, but a handful of insurance companies will allow you to have one accident before your rates go up if your claims history is clear before the accident.
- Distant Student – Kids who are enrolled in a college that is more than 100 miles from San Francisco and do not take a car to college could get you a discount.
- Auto/Home Discount – If you combine your homeowners and auto policies with one insurance company you could earn a discount of up to 20% off your total GS 450h insurance premium.
- Payment Method – If you pay your bill all at once instead of paying each month you could save up to 5%.
One thing to note about discounts is that some of the credits will not apply to all coverage premiums. Some only apply to individual premiums such as collision or personal injury protection. Despite the appearance that you would end up receiving a 100% discount, nobody gets a free ride. Any qualifying discounts will definitely lower your overall premium however.
The example below compares Lexus GS 450h auto insurance costs with and without discounts applied to the rates. The prices are based on a male 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 safe-driver, multi-policy, claim-free, marriage, homeowner, and multi-car discounts applied.
Some of the larger companies that may have these benefits are:
If you need lower rates, check with each company the best way to save money. Some credits might not be offered on policies in your area. To locate providers that offer the discounts shown above in San Francisco, follow this link.
Local San Francisco auto insurance agents
Some people prefer to visit with an insurance agent and there is nothing wrong with that. An additional benefit of comparing rate quotes online is the fact that drivers can get cheap rate quotes and still have a local agent.
To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this short form, your coverage information is emailed to insurance agents in San Francisco who can give free rate quotes for your business. It simplifies rate comparisons since you won’t have to find an agent since rate quotes are delivered to the email address you provide. You can find better rates without requiring a lot of work. In the event you want to get a comparison quote from a specific company, feel free to find their quoting web page and fill out their quote form.
Choosing an provider should include more criteria than just a cheap price quote. The questions below may impact your decision as well.
- Which companies can they place coverage with?
- When do they do a full risk review?
- Do they regularly work with personal auto policies in San Francisco?
- Do they offer accident forgiveness?
- Does the company use OEM repair parts?
- Do they offer claims assistance after hours?
- Are there any extra charges for paying monthly?
- Does the agency have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau?
When narrowing the list to find a reliable agent, there are two different types of agents and how they are slightly different. Insurance agencies in San Francisco can be classified as either exclusive or independent (non-exclusive).
Exclusive Agents
Agents of this type are contracted to one company like Allstate, State Farm and Farmers Insurance. These agents are unable to compare rates from other companies so if the price isn’t competitive there isn’t much they can do. They are highly trained in insurance sales and that allows them to sell at a higher price point. Drivers often buy from exclusive agents mainly due to the brand legacy instead of buying on price only.
Shown below is a list of exclusive agents in San Francisco willing to provide price quotes.
- Lynn Petrie Lange – State Farm Insurance Agent
3717 Buchanan St #100 – San Francisco, CA 94123 – (415) 923-0192 – View Map - Jing Lee – State Farm Insurance Agent
4444 Geary Blvd #300 – San Francisco, CA 94118 – (415) 752-8888 – View Map - Dave and Jake Stewart State Farm Insurance
821 Folsom St #101 – San Francisco, CA 94107 – (415) 982-9033 – View Map
View more San Francisco agents
Independent Agents
Agents of this type are not restricted to one company so they can insure your vehicles with any number of different companies and find the cheapest rate. If your agent finds better pricing, your agent can switch companies and you don’t have to find a new agent.
If you are comparing auto insurance prices, we highly recommend that you get rate quotes from multiple independent agents for maximum quote selection. A lot of them also have access to smaller regional carriers that may provide cheaper auto insurance rates.
Shown below are independent agents in San Francisco who can help you get comparison quotes.
- Milber Health Insurance Agent
1492 11th Ave – San Francisco, CA 94122 – (415) 564-8829 – View Map - April Insurance Agency
1788 19th Ave – San Francisco, CA 94122 – (415) 242-8100 – View Map - John A. Morton Insurance Agency
3372 22nd St – San Francisco, CA 94110 – (415) 282-5888 – View Map
View more San Francisco agents
When in doubt talk to an agent
When it comes to buying the best insurance coverage, there isn’t really a one size fits all plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s so your insurance should reflect that
These are some specific questions may help you determine if your insurance needs would benefit from professional advice.
- Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?
- Will my insurance pay for OEM parts?
- Does low annual mileage earn a discount?
- Is upholstery damage covered by car insurance?
- Does liability extend to a camper or trailer?
- Why am I required to get a high-risk car insurance policy?
- What does roadside assistance cover?
- Is business property covered if stolen from my car?
- Are there any extra discounts I can get?
- Do I need replacement cost coverage on my Lexus GS 450h?
If you can’t answer these questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with an agent. If you don’t have a local agent, fill out this quick form or click here for a list of insurance companies in your area.
The coverage is in the details
Knowing the specifics of your policy helps when choosing which coverages you need at the best deductibles and correct limits. The terms used in a policy can be difficult to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Shown next are the usual coverages offered by car insurance companies.
Comprehensive insurance – Comprehensive insurance coverage will pay to fix damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first have to pay a deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive can pay for things like damage from a tornado or hurricane, hail damage, a broken windshield, theft and falling objects. The highest amount your car insurance company will pay is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Collision – Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from colliding with another car or object. You first must pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision insurance covers claims such as backing into a parked car, hitting a parking meter, colliding with a tree, crashing into a building and hitting a mailbox. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from lower value vehicles. You can also choose a higher deductible on your GS 450h to bring the cost down.
Liability car insurance – This provides protection from injuries or damage you cause to other’s property or people by causing an accident. It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. Your policy might show values of 15/30/5 which means a $15,000 limit per person for injuries, a limit of $30,000 in injury protection per accident, and property damage coverage for $5,000.
Liability coverage pays for claims like repair bills for other people’s vehicles, structural damage, funeral expenses, medical services and attorney fees. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but consider buying higher limits if possible. California requires minimum liability limits of 15/30/5 but you should think about purchasing more coverage.
The illustration below shows why buying the state minimum limits may not be high enough to cover claims.
Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) – Med pay and PIP coverage reimburse you for immediate expenses like funeral costs, X-ray expenses, chiropractic care, ambulance fees and doctor visits. They are used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance plan or if you lack health insurance entirely. They cover all vehicle occupants and will also cover being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal Injury Protection is not an option in every state but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) – Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other motorists when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. It can pay for medical payments for you and your occupants and damage to your Lexus GS 450h.
Because many people carry very low liability coverage limits (15/30/5 in California), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked.
Don’t give up on cheaper rates
Lower-priced Lexus GS 450h insurance in San Francisco can be sourced both online and from local agencies, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. There are still a few companies who may not offer rate quotes online and these smaller companies provide coverage only through independent agents.
In this article, we covered some good ideas how you can get a better price on Lexus GS 450h insurance in San Francisco. The most important thing to understand is the more quotes you get, the better likelihood of getting affordable San Francisco car insurance quotes. Drivers may even discover the best prices are with the smaller companies. Regional companies may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments compared to the large companies like Allstate and Progressive.
How to find low-cost Lexus GS 450h insurance in San Francisco
The best way to get discount Lexus GS 450h insurance in San Francisco is to regularly compare prices from companies in California. Prices can be compared by completing these steps.
- It will benefit you to learn about how insurance works and the measures you can control to keep rates down. Many things that cause rate increases like traffic violations, accidents, and an unacceptable credit rating can be improved by making lifestyle changes or driving safer.
- Quote rates from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only give rate quotes from one company like Progressive and State Farm, while independent agencies can quote prices from multiple insurance companies.
- Compare the new rate quotes to your current policy and determine if there is any savings. If you find a better price and change companies, make sure there is no lapse in coverage.
- Provide notification to your current agent or company to cancel your current coverage. Submit a signed application and payment to the new company. Once coverage is bound, place the new proof of insurance certificate in your glove compartment.
An important part of this process is to compare identical coverage information on every price quote and and to look at as many different companies as possible. This guarantees a fair price comparison and the best price selection.
More information is available at the links below
- Information for Teen Drivers (GEICO)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for Business Use in San Francisco? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable San Francisco Auto Insurance for 18 Year Olds? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable San Francisco Car Insurance for Electric Cars? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Rates for a Honda Accord in San Francisco? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for a Honda CR-V in San Francisco? (FAQ)
- Safety Tips for Teen Drivers (Insurance Information Institute)
- Honda warning system reduces insurance claims (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- New head restraint design cuts injuries (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)