It’s well known that auto insurance companies want to prevent you from shopping around. Insureds who shop around for the cheapest rate will presumably switch auto insurance companies because they have good chances of finding coverage at a cheaper rate. A recent survey found that consumers who compared prices regularly saved about $3,450 over four years compared to policyholders who don’t regularly compare prices.
If finding the cheapest rates on insurance in San Francisco is the reason you’re here, then having a grasp of the best ways to find and compare insurance can save time, money, and frustration.
Truthfully, the best way to get the cheapest auto insurance rates is to begin comparing prices regularly from different companies who provide auto insurance in San Francisco. You can compare rates by following these steps.
- Step 1: Try to understand individual coverages and the things you can change to keep rates down. Many rating factors that increase rates like accidents, careless driving, and a poor credit rating can be remedied by making minor changes to your lifestyle. Later in this article we will cover additional ideas to find cheap prices and get additional discounts.
- Step 2: Request price quotes from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Exclusive and direct companies can only provide price estimates from a single company like GEICO or Allstate, while independent agents can quote prices from multiple insurance companies. View insurance agents
- Step 3: Compare the new quotes to your current policy and determine if cheaper Yaris coverage is available. If you find a better price and change companies, make sure there is no coverage gap between policies.
- Step 4: Tell your current agent or company to cancel the current policy and submit payment and a signed application for your new coverage. Once the application is submitted, put the new certificate verifying coverage above your visor, in the console, or in the glove compartment.
A valuable tip to remember is to try to compare the same deductibles and limits on every price quote and and to get price estimates from as many different companies as possible. This guarantees a fair rate comparison and maximum price selection.
Getting a cheaper price on Toyota Yaris insurance is actually quite simple. You just have to take time comparing price quotes online with multiple companies.
Comparison shopping price quotes online is easy and it takes the place of having to actually drive to insurance agents’ offices. The ability to quote Toyota Yaris insurance online eliminates this option unless you’re the type of person who wants the peace of mind of a licensed agent. It is possible with some companies get prices online but purchase the actual policy in an agency.
The providers in the list below can provide free rate quotes in San Francisco, CA. If multiple companies are shown, we suggest you click on several of them in order to get a fair rate comparison.
Insurance discounts are available to cut your rates
Insurance is not inexpensive, but you can get discounts that you may not even be aware of. Certain credits will be shown at the time of purchase, but lesser-known reductions have to be manually applied prior to receiving the credit.
- Discount for Good Grades – Getting good grades could provide a savings of up to 20% or more. You can use this discount normally until age 25.
- Life Insurance Discount – Insurance companies who offer life insurance give a small discount if you purchase a life policy as well.
- ABS and Traction Control Discounts – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles prevent accidents and the ABS can save up to 10%.
- Defensive Driver Discounts – Taking a class that teaches driver safety techniques could save 5% or more and easily pay for the cost of the class.
- Payment Method – If you can afford to pay the entire bill rather than paying monthly you could save 5% or more.
- Theft Prevention Discount – Cars, trucks, and SUVs optioned with advanced anti-theft systems are stolen with less frequency and that can save you a little bit as well.
- Seat Belt Usage – Drivers who require all vehicle occupants to wear their seat belts can save up to 10 percent (depending on the company) off PIP or medical payments premium.
- Claim-Free Discount – Drivers who don’t have accidents get the best insurance rates when compared with frequent claim filers.
- Multiple Cars – Buying coverage for multiple vehicles with the same company qualifies for this discount.
- Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Vehicles equipped with air bags or automatic seat belts can receive discounts of 20% or more.
We need to note that some credits don’t apply to all coverage premiums. Some only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like comp or med pay. Just because it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, insurance companies wouldn’t stay in business.
The chart below compares Toyota Yaris yearly insurance costs with and without discounts applied to the policy rates. The prices are based on a female driver, no tickets, no at-fault accidents, California state minimum liability limits, full physical damage coverage, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with homeowner, multi-car, claim-free, multi-policy, marriage, and safe-driver discounts applied.
To see insurers that offer many of these discounts in San Francisco, click here.
Car insurance statistics for a Toyota Yaris
The data table shown below outlines different prices for Toyota Yaris models. Being able to understand how premiums are determined is important to be able to make smart choices when buying a policy.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yaris 2-Dr Hatchback | $286 | $650 | $650 | $38 | $194 | $1,818 | $152 |
Yaris 4-Dr Hatchback | $286 | $650 | $574 | $34 | $172 | $1,716 | $143 |
Yaris 4-Dr Sedan | $286 | $650 | $574 | $34 | $172 | $1,716 | $143 |
Yaris S 2-Dr Hatchback | $328 | $650 | $650 | $38 | $194 | $1,860 | $155 |
Yaris S 4-Dr Hatchback | $328 | $650 | $574 | $34 | $172 | $1,758 | $147 |
Yaris S 4-Dr Sedan | $328 | $650 | $574 | $34 | $172 | $1,758 | $147 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Data variables include single female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, safe-driver, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, and claim-free. Rate quotes do not factor in zip code location which can alter price quotes greatly.
Analysis of deductible levels
One frequently asked question is how low should you set your deductibles. The comparisons below help summarize how much more rates are when you buy lower versus higher physical damage deductibles. The first data table uses a $100 physical damage deductible and the second rate table uses a $1,000 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yaris 2-Dr Hatchback | $332 | $686 | $500 | $30 | $150 | $1,723 | $144 |
Yaris 4-Dr Hatchback | $332 | $686 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,643 | $137 |
Yaris 4-Dr Sedan | $332 | $686 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,643 | $137 |
Yaris S 2-Dr Hatchback | $380 | $686 | $500 | $30 | $150 | $1,771 | $148 |
Yaris S 4-Dr Hatchback | $380 | $686 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,691 | $141 |
Yaris S 4-Dr Sedan | $380 | $686 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,691 | $141 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yaris 2-Dr Hatchback | $184 | $362 | $500 | $30 | $150 | $1,226 | $102 |
Yaris 4-Dr Hatchback | $184 | $362 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,146 | $96 |
Yaris 4-Dr Sedan | $184 | $362 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,146 | $96 |
Yaris S 2-Dr Hatchback | $210 | $362 | $500 | $30 | $150 | $1,252 | $104 |
Yaris S 4-Dr Hatchback | $210 | $362 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,172 | $98 |
Yaris S 4-Dr Sedan | $210 | $362 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,172 | $98 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Data rating is based on 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. Information does not factor in vehicle garaging location which can lower or raise insurance rates significantly.
Based on this data, using a $100 deductible will cost you about $42 more each month or $504 each year than quoting the higher $1,000 deductible. Since you would pay $900 more if you turn in a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you average at least 21 months between claims, you would save more money by selecting a higher deductible.
The example below illustrates how your choice of deductibles and can increase or decrease Toyota Yaris insurance rates for each different age group. The premiums are based on a single female driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
Impact of speeding/accidents on car insurance rates
The example below highlights how speeding tickets and accidents can impact Toyota Yaris auto insurance rates for different ages of insureds. Data assumes a married female driver, full physical damage coverage, $100 deductibles, and no discounts are factored in.
Full coverage rates compared to liability-only
The example below shows the comparison of Toyota Yaris auto insurance costs with and without physical damage coverage. The information is based on no accidents or driving violations, $100 deductibles, single status, and no discounts are applied.
Are you wasting money paying for full coverage?
There is no exact formula of when to exclude comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, but there is a broad guideline. If the annual cost of coverage is more than around 10% of the replacement cost of your vehicle minus the policy deductible, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.
For example, let’s say your Toyota Yaris claim 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 it’s costing you more than $600 annually for your policy with full coverage, then you might consider buying liability only.
There are a few cases where eliminating full coverage is not a good plan. If you have an outstanding loan on your vehicle, you have to carry full coverage to protect the lienholder’s interest in the vehicle. Also, if you can’t afford to buy a different vehicle in the even your car is totaled, you should not drop full coverage.