If saving money is your primary concern, then the best way to find cheaper prices for car insurance rates in San Francisco is to regularly compare prices from insurance carriers who sell auto insurance in California.
First, take a few minutes and learn about how insurance companies determine prices and the steps you can take to drop your rates. Many factors that cause high rates like speeding tickets, accidents and poor credit can be amended by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility.
Second, compare prices from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only provide price estimates from one company like GEICO or State Farm, while independent agents can provide rate quotes from multiple companies. Click to view companies
Third, compare the new rates to the price on your current policy and determine if cheaper 86 coverage is available. If you find a lower rate, ensure coverage does not lapse between policies.
Fourth, tell your current company of your intent to cancel your current coverage. Submit payment along with a signed and completed policy application to your new insurance company. Once the application is submitted, place the new certificate verifying coverage in your vehicle’s glove compartment or console.
The most important part of shopping around is to try to compare similar deductibles and liability limits on every quote and and to get price estimates from as many car insurance companies as possible. Doing this ensures an apples-to-apples comparison and plenty of rates choose from.
It’s easy to assume that car insurance companies don’t want you comparing rates. Drivers who shop around once a year are very likely to switch companies because there is a good probability of finding discount prices. A recent survey found that consumers who shopped around annually saved about $3,450 over four years compared to other drivers who don’t regularly compare prices.
If finding the most affordable car insurance in San Francisco is your ultimate goal, knowing how to find and compare coverages can help make the process easier and more efficient.
Do you qualify for these ten discounts?
Companies offering auto insurance don’t necessarily list all their discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so the next list breaks down a few of the more common in addition to some of the lesser obvious credits that may apply to you.
- Multiple Policy Discount – When you have multiple policies with the same company you could earn a discount of as much as 10 to 15 percent.
- Anti-lock Brake System – Cars and trucks with anti-lock braking systems are much safer to drive and the ABS can save up to 10%.
- Drivers Ed for Students – Require your teen driver to enroll and complete driver’s education in high school.
- Defensive Driver – Taking part in a course teaching safe driver skills can save you 5% or more and make you a better driver.
- Seat Belt Discounts – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to use their safety belts could cut 10% or more off the personal injury premium cost.
- Clubs and Organizations – Belonging to a civic or occupational organization in San Francisco is a good way to get lower rates on your policy.
- Own a Home and Save – Owning a house in San Francisco can get you a discount due to the fact that maintaining a home requires a higher level of personal finance.
- Accident Free – Good drivers with no accidents pay less in comparison with bad drivers.
- Smart Student Discounts – Being a good student can save 20 to 25%. The discount lasts well after school through age 25.
- Senior Citizen Discount – Older drivers may be able to get reduced rates.
It’s important to understand that most credits do not apply to the entire policy premium. A few only apply to specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. So when it seems like you could get a free insurance policy, insurance companies aren’t that generous.
To find insurance companies that offer discounts in San Francisco, click here to view.
Educate yourself about car insurance coverages
Knowing the specifics of a car insurance policy aids in choosing which coverages you need and proper limits and deductibles. The terms used in a policy can be ambiguous and reading a policy is terribly boring.
Comprehensive insurance – This coverage will pay to fix damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first have to pay a deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive coverage protects against things like rock chips in glass, a tree branch falling on your vehicle, hail damage and hitting a deer. The highest amount your car insurance company will pay is the actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider dropping full coverage.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) – This coverage gives you protection when other motorists do not carry enough liability coverage. This coverage pays for medical payments for you and your occupants and also any damage incurred to your Toyota 86.
Due to the fact that many California drivers have only the minimum liability required by law (which is 15/30/5), their limits can quickly be used up. So UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked.
Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) – Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance pay for immediate expenses like rehabilitation expenses, hospital visits, chiropractic care and doctor visits. They are used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. Coverage applies to all vehicle occupants and also covers being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is not available in all states and may carry a deductible
Liability insurance – Liability coverage will cover damages or injuries you inflict on people or other property. It protects you from claims by other people, and does not provide coverage for your injuries or vehicle damage.
Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. Your policy might show policy limits of 15/30/5 that means you have a limit of $15,000 per injured person, $30,000 for the entire accident, and a limit of $5,000 paid for damaged property.
Liability can pay for claims such as structural damage, medical expenses, bail bonds and medical services. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is your choice, but consider buying higher limits if possible. California requires drivers to carry at least 15/30/5 but you should think about purchasing more liability than the minimum.
The chart below shows why buying the state minimum limits may not be adequate coverage.
Collision coverage – Collision insurance covers damage to your 86 caused by collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You first must pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision insurance covers claims like sustaining damage from a pot hole, rolling your car and colliding with another moving vehicle. This coverage can be expensive, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Another option is to raise the deductible on your 86 to bring the cost down.
Persistence is the key to cheap rates
While you’re price shopping online, do not reduce needed coverages to save money. In many cases, someone dropped physical damage coverage and learned later that it was a big mistake. The ultimate goal is to buy a smart amount of coverage at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.
We just presented a lot of techniques to shop for Toyota 86 insurance online. The key thing to remember is the more you quote San Francisco auto insurance, the higher your chance of finding affordable Toyota 86 insurance quotes. Drivers may even discover the most savings is with some of the lesser-known companies.
There are still a few companies who may not offer online quoting and most of the time these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through independent agents. Discount Toyota 86 insurance can be sourced online in addition to many San Francisco insurance agents, and you should be comparing both to have the best chance of lowering rates.
More information is located at these links:
- Uninsured Motorist Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
- How Much is San Francisco Auto Insurance for Drivers with a DUI? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable San Francisco Auto Insurance for 18 Year Olds? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap San Francisco Car Insurance for Veterans? (FAQ)
- How Much are Car Insurance Quotes for Seniors in San Francisco? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Rates for State Employees in San Francisco? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance Rates for Used Cars in San Francisco? (FAQ)
- Teen Driver Licensing Information (iihs.org)
- Get the Right Protection (InsureUonline.org)
- Side Impact Crash Tests (iihs.org)
- Older Drivers FAQ (iihs.org)