Save Money on Volkswagen Golf Insurance in San Francisco

The most effective way to find better pricing on auto insurance rates in San Francisco is to compare prices annually from different companies in California.

1. It will benefit you to learn about what coverages are included in your policy and the measures you can control to keep rates low. Many things that cause high rates like speeding tickets, accidents and a less-than-favorable credit history can be improved by making minor driving habit or lifestyle changes.
2. Get rate quotes from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can provide rates from a single company like Progressive or State Farm, while independent agents can quote prices for a wide range of companies.
3. Compare the price quotes to your existing policy to see if switching to a new carrier will save money. If you can save money and buy the policy, verify that coverage does not lapse between policies.

The most important part of shopping around is to use identical limits and deductibles on each price quote and and to analyze as many companies as feasibly possible. This ensures an accurate price comparison and a complete rate analysis.

It’s amazing but the vast majority of consumers have remained with the same auto insurance company for more than four years, and approximately 38% of consumers have never compared rates with other companies. With the average premium in California being $1,387, drivers could save roughly $469 each year by just shopping around, but they don’t want to spend time to go online and compare rates.

The majority of larger companies such as GEICO, State Farm and Progressive provide prices for coverage online. Getting Volkswagen Golf insurance prices online is pretty easy as you simply enter your coverage information into a form. Behind the scenes, their rating system gets information on your driving record and credit history and generates pricing information based on many factors. Quoting online for Volkswagen Golf insurance in San Francisco streamlines rate comparisons, and it’s very important to compare as many rates as possible if you want to get a better rate.

If you want to fill out one form to compare multiple rates now, compare rates from the companies below. If you currently have coverage, we recommend that you enter the coverages as close as possible to your current policy. This helps ensure you will be getting comparison quotes based on the exact same insurance coverage.

The providers in the list below can provide free quotes in California. If multiple providers are shown, it’s highly recommended you visit two to three different companies to get the best price comparison.

Why car insurance is not optional

Despite the potentially high cost of Volkswagen Golf insurance, insurance is required by state law in California and it also provides benefits you may not be aware of.

First, most states have mandatory insurance requirements which means state laws require specific limits of liability protection 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.

Second, if you have a loan on your Volkswagen Golf, it’s guaranteed your bank will force you to carry insurance to protect their interest in the vehicle. If coverage lapses or is canceled, the bank may insure your Volkswagen at an extremely high rate and force you to reimburse them much more than you were paying before.

Third, car insurance protects not only your car but also your assets. Insurance will pay for medical expenses for yourself as well as anyone injured by you. Liability insurance also pays expenses related to your legal defense if you are sued as the result of an accident. If your car is damaged in a storm or accident, collision and comprehensive (also known as other-than-collision) coverage will pay to have it repaired.

The benefits of having car insurance more than offset the price you pay, particularly if you ever have a claim. According to a 2015 survey, the average American driver is wasting up to $855 a year so smart consumers compare quotes once a year at a minimum to help ensure money is not being wasted.

Rates and statistics

The coverage table shown next showcases different insurance coverage prices for Volkswagen Golf models. Having a good understanding how premiums are determined can help you make decisions when choosing a new policy provider.

Premium data assumes single female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, homeowner, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, and multi-policy. Premium costs do not factor in specific San Francisco garaging location which can alter premium rates substantially.

The illustration below shows how different deductible levels and can change Volkswagen Golf insurance costs for different age groups. The information is based on a married female driver, comp and collision included, and no discounts are factored in.

Insurance rate increases from tickets or accidents

The diagram below illustrates how violations and at-fault claims can raise Volkswagen Golf insurance costs for each age group. The rate quotes are based on a married female driver, comp and collision included, $500 deductibles, and no discounts are applied.

Rate comparison of men versus women in San Francisco

The example below illustrates the difference between Volkswagen Golf premium costs for male and female drivers. The data is based on no violations or accidents, comp and collision included, $1,000 deductibles, single status, and no discounts are taken into consideration.

Full coverage or liability only

The illustration below visualizes the comparison of Volkswagen Golf auto insurance costs when comparing full coverage to state minimum liability only. The prices are based on no claims or driving violations, $500 deductibles, single marital status, and no policy discounts are applied.

When to stop buying physical damage coverage

There is no specific rule of when to eliminate physical damage insurance, but there is a general guideline. If the yearly cost for physical damage coverage is about 10% or more of replacement cost minus your deductible, then it may be the right time to buy liability only.

For example, let’s assume your Volkswagen Golf claim settlement value is $4,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is severely damaged, the most your company would pay you is $3,000 after paying your deductible. If you are paying over $300 a year for comprehensive and collision coverage, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.

There are some circumstances where eliminating full coverage is not a good idea. If you haven’t paid off your loan, you have to keep full coverage in order to satisfy the requirements of the loan. Also, if your savings is not enough to buy a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should not drop full coverage.

Do you qualify for discounts on Volkswagen Golf insurance in San Francisco?

Some insurers don’t always advertise every available discount very clearly, so the list below contains a few of the more common and also the more inconspicuous discounts you could be receiving when you buy San Francisco auto insurance online.

• Discounts for Federal Employees – Active or former government employment can save as much as 8% with certain companies.
• Senior Citizen Rates – Seniors may be able to get a discount up to 10%.
• Multi-line Discount – Larger insurance companies have better rates if you take out a life insurance policy as well.
• Active Military Service – Having an actively deployed family member could mean lower auto insurance rates.
• Defensive Driving Course – Taking time to complete a driver safety course could save 5% or more and easily recoup the cost of the course.
• Distant Student – Kids who are enrolled in a college that is more than 100 miles from San Francisco and don’t have a car may be insured at a cheaper rate.
• Anti-theft Discount – Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems are stolen with less frequency and will save you 10% or more on Golf insurance in San Francisco.
• Savings for New Vehicles – Insuring a new Golf is cheaper since newer models have better safety ratings.
• Use Seat Belts – Forcing all vehicle occupants to buckle their seat belts could cut 10% or more off the PIP or medical payment premium.
• Accident-Free Discounts – Good drivers with no accidents can save substantially compared to insureds who have frequent claims or accidents.

Discounts save money, but please remember that many deductions do not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only apply to individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Despite the fact that it seems like you can get free auto insurance, you won’t be that lucky. Any amount of discount will help reduce the premium cost.

The example below shows the difference between Volkswagen Golf car insurance rates with and without policy discounts. The data is based on a female driver, no claims or driving violations, California state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-policy, homeowner, claim-free, marriage, multi-car, and safe-driver discounts applied.

The best auto insurance companies and their offered discounts can be found below.

• Progressive includes discounts for online quote discount, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, online signing, homeowner, and good student.
• SAFECO may have discounts that include drive less, teen safety rewards, accident prevention training, safe driver, anti-lock brakes, anti-theft, and homeowner.
• American Family has discounts for bundled insurance, accident-free, Steer into Savings, TimeAway discount, and air bags.
• MetLife has savings for defensive driver, claim-free, good driver, multi-policy, accident-free, good student
• GEICO may include discounts for daytime running lights, emergency military deployment, air bags, driver training, multi-policy, and multi-vehicle.
• The Hartford policyholders can earn discounts including air bag, defensive driver, driver training, vehicle fuel type, and bundle.

If you are trying to find affordable Volkswagen Golf insurance quotes, ask each company which discounts they offer. Some credits might not apply in San Francisco. If you would like to choose from a list of insurers that offer many of these discounts in California, follow this link.

Local neighborhood San Francisco car insurance agents

Some people still like to get advice from a local agent and doing so can bring peace of mind One of the best bonuses of getting free rate quotes online is you may find cheaper premium rates and still have an agent to talk to. Buying from and supporting neighborhood agents is important especially in San Francisco.

By using this simple form, your information is immediately sent to agents in your area who will give you quotes for your insurance coverage. There is no reason to find an agent because prices are sent straight to your inbox. You’ll get the best rates and work with a local agent. If you wish to quote rates from one company in particular, you just need to search and find their rate quote page and fill out the quote form the provide.

The following are agents in San Francisco willing to provide rate quotes for Volkswagen Golf insurance in San Francisco.

More San Francisco agents

Deciding on an insurance company shouldn’t rely on just a cheap quote. Below are some questions you should ask.

• Can glass claims be handled at your home?
• Is there a Errors and Omissions policy in force?
• How experienced are they in personal risk management?
• Will high miles depreciate repair valuations?
• Will vehicle repairs be made with aftermarket parts or OEM replacement parts?
• What kind of financial rating does the company have?

Learn about auto insurance coverages for a Volkswagen Golf

Knowing the specifics of your auto insurance policy can help you determine the right coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be difficult to understand and coverage can change by endorsement. Listed below are the normal coverages offered by auto insurance companies.

Comprehensive coverages

Comprehensive insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You need to pay your deductible first and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive insurance covers claims like a tree branch falling on your vehicle, hitting a bird, damage from flooding and damage from getting keyed. The highest amount your auto insurance company will pay is the ACV or actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

Coverage for medical payments

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage provide coverage for immediate expenses like rehabilitation expenses, ambulance fees, X-ray expenses, dental work and surgery. They are often utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. Coverage applies to both the driver and occupants in addition to any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP is not an option in every state and may carry a deductible

Liability car insurance

Liability coverage can cover damage or injury you incur to other people or property by causing an accident. Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. Your policy might show policy limits of 15/30/5 which means $15,000 bodily injury coverage, a limit of $30,000 in injury protection per accident, and a limit of $5,000 paid for damaged property. Some companies may use one limit called combined single limit (CSL) which combines the three limits into one amount without having the split limit caps.

Liability insurance covers claims like repair bills for other people’s vehicles, attorney fees and structural damage. How much liability should you purchase? That is a personal decision, but consider buying as high a limit as you can afford. California requires drivers to carry at least 15/30/5 but drivers should carry more liability than the minimum.

The chart below demonstrates why low liability limits may not provide you with enough coverage.

Uninsured and underinsured coverage

This coverage provides protection from other drivers when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered losses include injuries to you and your family as well as your vehicle’s damage.

Due to the fact that many California drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (15/30/5 in California), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is a good idea. Usually these coverages are set the same as your liability limits.

Coverage for collisions

Collision insurance pays for damage to your Golf resulting from colliding with an object or car. You have to pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision can pay for things like hitting a mailbox, backing into a parked car and hitting a parking meter. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Another option is to choose a higher deductible on your Golf to save money on collision insurance.

More quotes mean more car insurance savings

As you prepare to switch companies, never buy poor coverage just to save money. There have been many situations where drivers have reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret at claim time that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. The proper strategy is to buy the best coverage you can find at the best possible price.

There are still a few companies who do not offer online rate quotes and most of the time these small, regional companies only sell coverage through local independent agents. Affordable Volkswagen Golf insurance in San Francisco can be sourced from both online companies and with local San Francisco insurance agents, so compare prices from both so you have a total pricing picture.

More information is located at the links below

• Alcohol Impaired Driving FAQ (iihs.org)
• How Much is Auto Insurance for 17 Year Olds in San Francisco? (FAQ)
• Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance for Postal Workers in San Francisco? (FAQ)
• Property Damage Coverage (Liberty Mutual)
• Learn About Car Insurance (GEICO)