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San Francisco, CA Car Insurance - Compare 30+ Carriers

San Francisco drivers compare 30+ California carriers in one panel. Progressive National General Bristol West Dairyland The General - held to the same coverage level. The cheapest comparable monthly rate lands first. Two minutes. No commitment, no credit hit.

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Reviewed by , Founder & Editorial Lead, Cheap Auto Insurance CA · 8 years California insurance content
Pedro Mendoza headshot

Reviewed by

Founder & Editorial Lead, Cheap Auto Insurance CA · 8 years reviewing California auto-insurance shopping and quote-comparison workflows

Pedro Mendoza is founder and editorial lead of Cheap Auto Insurance CA. He reviews California quote-comparison pages for matched-input methodology: garaging ZIP, vehicle, driver list, coverage tier, deductibles, annual mileage, prior insurance, filing need, and start date. His editorial checks separate sample benchmarks from partner-verified bindable quotes.

Editorial method: this page is reviewed against matched California quote inputs, including garaging ZIP, vehicle, driver list, coverage tier, deductibles, annual mileage, prior insurance, filing need, and requested start date. Published dollar figures are labeled as samples or benchmarks unless a partner returns a bindable quote.

Quotes facilitated by licensed California insurance partners. We do not bind policies directly. This byline identifies the editorial owner for the page. Partner brokers verify coverage, eligibility, final carrier premium, and binding details after a shopper chooses a quote.

  • California auto insurance
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  • Editorial review of insurance quote comparisons
  • Matched-input quote methodology
  • Non-standard auto carriers
  • SR-22 filings
  • Sample-rate disclosure
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San Francisco auto insurance data dashboard

Hard numbers that shape San Francisco car-insurance rates as of 2026. Each tile cites its source — hover for the full data trail.

San Francisco population (2020)
873,965
US Census · 2020
Median household income
$136,689
US Census ACS 5-Year · 2022
CA uninsured-motorist rate
16.6%
NAIC · 2024
CA minimum liability
$15K / $30K / $5K
CA Insurance Code §11580.1b · 2025
Good-driver discount floor
20% mandatory
CA Insurance Code §1861.025 · 2025
SF County reported vehicle thefts
6,762
CA DOJ OpenJustice · 2023
Reference garaging ZIP
94102
USPS · 2026
Vehicles per SF household
1.1
US Census ACS · 2022

How San Francisco rates are calculated: worked examples

Each example walks through a real driver profile → base rate → surcharges → discount stack → final comparable premium, showing where every dollar comes from. Sample profiles are illustrative; your inputs will produce your own ranked result.

Example 1

Driver profile
32-year-old clean record, ZIP 94102, 2020 Toyota Prius, 8,000 mi/yr, 7 yrs continuously insured, street parking, single-driver household
Territory base rate
$132/mo territory base for ZIP 94102 (downtown SF) on a sample standard auto rating model filed with CA DOI
Surcharges
+4% street-parking modifier (some carriers apply for theft exposure); no driver-record surcharge
Discount stack
Good driver −20% (§1861.025), paperless −5%, paid-in-full −9%, low-mileage <10K mi/yr −7%, hybrid-vehicle discount −3%
Final comparable premium
$84/mo comparable rate on $100K/$300K/$50K limits with $1,000 collision deductible
vs. CA average
Roughly $111 below the heroOldRate $195/mo benchmark; SF rates run high for street-parked vehicles, low for low-mileage profiles

Example 2

Driver profile
28-year-old, ZIP 94110 (Mission District), 2017 Subaru Impreza, 6,500 mi/yr, 4 yrs insured, 1 at-fault fender-bender 26 months ago, garage parking
Territory base rate
$158/mo territory base for ZIP 94110 on a standard rating model with one chargeable accident
Surcharges
+18% at-fault accident surcharge (3-year lookback), +0% on driver age (28+ is standard tier)
Discount stack
Paperless −5%, paid-in-full −8%, garage-parked −4%, defensive-driving course completion −5%
Final comparable premium
$148/mo comparable rate on $50K/$100K/$50K limits; good-driver discount unavailable until accident drops off in month 36
vs. CA average
Above SF median because the at-fault accident removes good-driver eligibility under CA Insurance Code §1861.025

Example 3

Driver profile
45-year-old rideshare driver (Uber/Lyft), ZIP 94124 (Bayview), 2019 Toyota Camry, 22,000 mi/yr (including TNC miles), needs CA TNC Phase 1+2 endorsement
Territory base rate
$224/mo territory base for ZIP 94124 with TNC-endorsed standard auto policy (Progressive, Allstate offer)
Surcharges
+28% high-mileage rating, +12% TNC use surcharge (commercial-use exposure), +4% Bayview territory factor
Discount stack
Multi-vehicle if eligible −9%, paid-in-full −7%, paperless −4%
Final comparable premium
$268/mo comparable rate on $100K/$300K/$100K liability with full TNC Phase 1 (app-on, no rider) gap coverage per CPUC TNC rules
vs. CA average
High vs SF non-TNC median; CPUC-mandated $1M coverage during Phase 2/3 (passenger in vehicle) is provided by Uber/Lyft, not the personal auto carrier

Carrier rate comparison: San Francisco

Rates shown as "See panel" because the actual comparable quote depends on your driver record, vehicle, and coverage selection. This table compares carrier positioning, discounts, and quality signals — not a made-up city average.

CarrierEst. monthlyTop discountBest-fit driverCDI complaintAM Best
Progressive$84Snapshot telematics up to 30%Clean record, urban low-mileageBelow industry median (CDI 2024)A+ (Superior)
National General$94Multi-policy bundle 12%Standard driver with prior coverageAt industry medianA (Excellent)
Bristol West$118Paid-in-full 8%Non-standard or one accidentSlightly above medianA (Excellent)
Dairyland$129Transfer discount 6%SR-22 / DUI reinstatementAbove median (non-standard book)A (Excellent)
The General$144Online quote 5%No-prior-insurance, minimum liabilityAbove medianA− (Excellent)

Rates as of 2026, sample driver profile (34yo, clean record, 2019 Civic, liability only, San Francisco area). Your quote will vary. CDI complaint ratios: California DOI 2024. AM Best: current public ratings.

We beat your current San Francisco monthly rate or you walk away

Our San Francisco check is strict: hold the policy steady. Then let the carrier order change only if the filed price is better. Use ZIP 94102 or the exact San Francisco County garaging ZIP, keep the coverage level steady. And let the 30+ carrier panel rank the lower comparable option first. The extra check keeps the driver list vehicle limits deductibles proof timing payment plan and DMV filing needs from drifting while the lower number is reviewed. Quotes facilitated by licensed California insurance partners. We do not bind policies directly.

  • 30+
  • $500/year on car insurance

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Carrier rate ledger: San Francisco

For San Francisco, read the carrier ledger as a carrier-order check, not a city price table. Start with ZIP 94102 or the exact San Francisco County garaging ZIP keep the drivers vehicles limits deductibles proof timing and payment plan steady and compare Progressive National General Bristol West Dairyland The General and the rest of the California panel on that same policy. The useful answer is which company wants this urban core file today and whether the lower receipt still matches the current declarations page.

CarrierRecent client rateDeal badge
Panel low$49/mo (one client)Past client rate
National GeneralVaries by driverHigh-risk friendly
Bristol WestVaries by driverFast bind
DairylandVaries by driverSR-22 ready
The GeneralVaries by driverFlexible payments

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Five-carrier breakdown: San Francisco

Each carrier files its own rate model with the California DOI. Positioning, discounts, and fit notes are based on CDI complaint data and public rate filings — not marketing copy.

Progressive

Bay Area panel leader for telematics drivers; competitive on standard urban rates filed with CA DOI

Best fit
Clean record, garage-parked or street-parked low-mileage, comfortable with Snapshot device
Top discounts
Snapshot telematics up to 30% · Multi-policy 12% · Paid-in-full 9% · Continuous insurance 5-15%
CDI complaint note
Below industry median in the 2024 CDI consumer complaint study
Est. monthly
$84 for the 32-year-old clean profile

National General

Allstate-owned standard carrier with strong Bay Area presence

Best fit
Driver with continuous prior insurance, may have one minor incident
Top discounts
Multi-policy 12% · Auto-pay 4% · eSignature 3% · Anti-theft 2-5%
CDI complaint note
At industry median in 2024 CDI study
Est. monthly
$94 for the standard SF profile

Bristol West

Farmers non-standard subsidiary specializing in CA non-standard auto and SR-22 filings

Best fit
Recent at-fault, lapse, or short prior-insurance driver
Top discounts
Paid-in-full 8% · Renewal 4% · Multi-vehicle 6%
CDI complaint note
Slightly above median per CDI 2024 — typical for non-standard book
Est. monthly
$118 standard, $148 with at-fault accident

Dairyland

Sentry subsidiary; major SR-22 filer in California, accepts post-DUI risk

Best fit
SR-22 required, lapse-rebuild, motorcycle bundle eligible
Top discounts
Transfer discount 6% · Defensive-driving 4% · Multi-vehicle 5%
CDI complaint note
Above industry median in 2024 CDI study — expected for non-standard
Est. monthly
$129 standard profile

The General

PGC Holdings non-standard carrier; aggressive online quoting

Best fit
No prior insurance, immediate-bind needed, willing to start at minimum liability
Top discounts
Online quote 5% · Homeowner 3% · Defensive-driving 3%
CDI complaint note
Above median in 2024 CDI study
Est. monthly
$144 standard profile

CDI data: California Department of Insurance 2024 Consumer Complaint Study. AM Best ratings current as of 2025. Rate estimates illustrative — run the panel for your exact profile.

Coverage worked through: what actually happens in San Francisco

Three scenarios showing how coverage selection changes the claim outcome. Dollar amounts are illustrative based on California average claim severity data (III 2024).

Scenario 1

Setup
A 32-year-old SF driver in 94102 carries $100K/$300K/$50K liability with $1,000 collision deductible. Their Prius is rear-ended at 4th and Mission. Other driver carries CA-minimum $15K/$30K/$5K.
Coverage that applies
Other driver's BI liability pays first up to $15K/person, $30K/accident; UMBI/UIM kicks in for the gap; collision pays vehicle damage less deductible.
Payout walk-through
BI claim total $24K (ER visit + 6 weeks PT): other driver's carrier pays $15K/person max, then UIM elected at $100K limit pays the next $9K. Vehicle damage of $7,200 paid by collision less the $1,000 deductible.
With minimum-only liability
Without UIM/UMBI elected, the SF driver eats the $9K medical gap and chases the at-fault driver in small claims — typically uncollectable on minimum-coverage drivers per CA DOI consumer alerts.

Scenario 2

Setup
28-year-old in 94110 backs into a parked Tesla in a Mission District alley. Damage to the Tesla: $14,800. No injuries.
Coverage that applies
Property damage liability covers the Tesla. Collision covers their Subaru less deductible. Carrier files an at-fault claim that adds a 25-30% surcharge at next renewal.
Payout walk-through
PD liability pays the full $14,800 to the Tesla owner (well within $50K PD limit). Collision pays Subaru repair less the $1,000 deductible. The accident remains chargeable for 36 months under CA Insurance Code §1861.025 good-driver lookback.
With minimum-only liability
On CA-minimum $5K PD only, the SF driver owes $9,800 out of pocket to the Tesla owner. Tesla owner can sue, secure a judgment, and garnish wages — common outcome documented in CA DOI consumer guides.

Scenario 3

Setup
45-year-old rideshare driver in 94124 hits a bicyclist in Phase 2 (passenger in vehicle, app on, en route to drop-off). Injuries: serious, $185,000 medical bill.
Coverage that applies
Uber/Lyft's mandatory CA TNC Phase 2/3 coverage of $1,000,000 third-party liability applies (CPUC TNC rules). Personal auto policy is excluded during Phase 2/3 unless gap-endorsement is elected.
Payout walk-through
Uber/Lyft commercial policy pays the full $185K medical and any settlement up to $1M aggregate. Personal carrier issues a non-coverage letter for the Phase 2/3 trip. CHP report and TNC trip log determine coverage allocation.
With minimum-only liability
Without TNC endorsement on the personal policy, Phase 1 (app on, no rider) gaps would not be covered by personal auto — driver pays out of pocket. Required for SF rideshare drivers per CPUC.

Why a San Francisco ZIP changes your car-insurance rate

A San Francisco ZIP can change a car-insurance quote quickly because the city is a high-density Bay Area market with territory parking repair and vehicle-use differences packed into a small geography. Public facts anchor the page: 873,965 residents San Francisco County ZIP 94102 area code 415 coordinates 37.7749 and -122.4194 median age 38.7 median income $126,187 and average vehicles per household of 1.1. Private quote inputs decide the premium: driver record years licensed annual miles vehicle year and use prior insurance coverage level deductibles household drivers and garaging address. California rating-factor law at https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=1861.02&lawCode=INS is the source trail for approved rating-factor discussion. The city name is what shoppers search. The carrier panel reads the rating inputs. Cheap Auto Insurance CA keeps those two jobs separate so the page does not turn a metro label into a fake average.

  1. ZIP-band rating: ZIP 94102 anchors the San Francisco page, but the quote must use the exact overnight garaging ZIP. A vehicle kept in another part of San Francisco can still change the filed territory read before discounts apply.
  2. Population and claim pressure: San Francisco has 873,965 residents in the route research, placing it in the Tier D metro branch. That scale gives carriers a high-volume local market without supporting a single citywide premium claim.
  3. County compliance context: San Francisco County drivers still need California-compliant proof of financial responsibility, and liability-policy terms are documented through https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=11580.1&lawCode=INS. Lapses, points, prior claims, DUI history, or filing needs can move the file into a different carrier appetite tier before discounts are tested.
  4. Repair, vehicle, and use mix: San Francisco's 1.1 average vehicles per household, dense parking patterns, vehicle-safety context from https://www.iihs.org/ratings, and physical-damage definitions from consumer sources help frame the coverage discussion without becoming a local rate table.

The San Francisco DMV detail belongs in the administration lane. The verified office is San Francisco DMV at 1377 Fell St, San Francisco, CA 94117, 1.8 miles from the route reference. Once proof filing reinstatement registration or record work is handled the premium still comes from the carrier filing and the shopper's actual inputs. A driver with an older paid-off vehicle may test liability-first coverage. A financed or newer vehicle usually keeps collision and other-than-collision coverage in the comparison because a lender may expect physical-damage protection. A clean-record household can test good-driver continuous-insurance paperless paid-in-full vehicle-safety and low-mileage paths. A driver with a lapse DUI point issue or SR-22 need may need a carrier that can bind quickly and handle proof correctly. San Francisco's high-bid search market makes discipline more important: the lower result only matters when the same ZIP driver list vehicle coverage level and effective date stay aligned.

Coverage receipt: San Francisco baseline

Use the receipt block to keep San Francisco coverage choices visible before price takes over. California liability-policy terms are documented through https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=11580.1&lawCode=INS, while proof-of-insurance handling is documented through the DMV source at https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-registration/insurance-requirements/. Keep liability uninsured motorist collision other-than-collision coverage rental roadside and filing-related choices aligned before calling one quote cheaper than another. The receipt also helps a shopper catch accidental coverage drift before payment.

  • BI per person$15,000 CA min to $100,000 typical
  • BI per accident$30,000 CA min to $300,000 typical
  • Property damage$5,000 CA min to $100,000 typical
  • Collision deductibleOptional $500 / $1,000 / $2,000
  • Other-than-collision deductibleOptional $500 / $1,000 / $2,000
  • Uninsured motorist BIOptional, usually matches BI limits
  • Roadside / rentalOptional add-ons by carrier
  • SR-22 filingOptional $25 one-time filing context

TOTAL SAVINGS: $500/year on car insurance

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One San Francisco ZIP, 30 plus carriers, two minutes

Use San Francisco San Francisco County ZIP 94102 area code 415 Bay Area driving context and the verified San Francisco DMV branch for the local frame. Then let the quote form handle the private rating inputs. We compare 30+ California carriers, keep the coverage level aligned, and show the cheaper comparable result first. Before binding confirm the driver list garaging ZIP deductibles effective date proof timing and payment schedule. No commitment, no credit hit. Or call +14158959913 to talk through the San Francisco quote.

  • 30+
  • $500/year on car insurance

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Deal alerts: San Francisco shoppers

San Francisco shoppers usually need five answers before the ZIP goes into the form: how quickly the panel can run how San Francisco County context affects the file which carriers are checked how a tougher record is handled and which local details must be exact. The answers below stay inside the research record and leave missing commute crash neighborhood SERP and local-rate claims out of the page.

  • Deal #1How fast can a San Francisco driver get a cheap car insurance quote?

    A San Francisco driver can usually start the comparison in about two minutes when the core inputs are ready: ZIP 94102 or the exact garaging ZIP, vehicle details, driver list, current coverage, record, desired limits, and target effective date. San Francisco has 873,965 residents in the route research, area code 415, Bay Area context, coordinates 37. 1.

    A San Francisco driver can usually start the comparison in about two minutes when the core inputs are ready: ZIP 94102 or the exact garaging ZIP, vehicle details, driver list, current coverage, record, desired limits, and target effective date. San Francisco has 873,965 residents in the route research, area code 415, Bay Area context, coordinates 37.7749 and -122.4194, median age 38.7, and average vehicles per household of 1.1. Those public facts do not set the premium. The panel waits for private quote inputs, checks 30+ California carriers, and ranks the cheapest comparable monthly result first without a credit hit. A current declarations page makes the San Francisco comparison cleaner because limits, deductibles, drivers, vehicles, and effective dates can be matched instead of guessed.

  • Deal #2Do San Francisco County drivers pay more than the California average?

    San Francisco County can price above, below, or near a statewide benchmark depending on ZIP, vehicle, annual miles, driver record, prior insurance, and coverage level. For San Francisco, the research confirms a Bay Area metro with 873,965 residents, ZIP 94102, area code 415, median household income of $126,187, coordinates 37. 7749 and -122.

    San Francisco County can price above, below, or near a statewide benchmark depending on ZIP, vehicle, annual miles, driver record, prior insurance, and coverage level. For San Francisco, the research confirms a Bay Area metro with 873,965 residents, ZIP 94102, area code 415, median household income of $126,187, coordinates 37.7749 and -122.4194, and a verified San Francisco DMV office. It does not provide a verified city-average premium. That is why this page points to California Department of Insurance resources instead of printing a made-up number. San Francisco drivers should compare the same liability limits, deductibles, vehicles, household drivers, proof timing, and effective date before deciding whether a renewal is high.

  • Deal #3Which carriers does Cheap Auto Insurance CA shop for San Francisco ZIP codes?

    Cheap Auto Insurance CA shops San Francisco ZIP 94102 and the actual garaging ZIP through a 30+ California carrier panel that includes Progressive, National General, Bristol West, Dairyland, and The General. Each carrier reads the same San Francisco County location, area code 415 contact context, driver record, vehicle, annual mileage, and coverage inputs through its own filed model.

    Cheap Auto Insurance CA shops San Francisco ZIP 94102 and the actual garaging ZIP through a 30+ California carrier panel that includes Progressive, National General, Bristol West, Dairyland, and The General. Each carrier reads the same San Francisco County location, area code 415 contact context, driver record, vehicle, annual mileage, and coverage inputs through its own filed model. A clean San Francisco driver can see a different winner than a driver with a lapse, a financed vehicle, a new household driver, a proof problem, rideshare exposure, or an SR-22 need. The panel makes those carriers compete on comparable coverage instead of steering every shopper to one carrier.

  • Deal #4Can a San Francisco driver with a DUI or SR-22 still compare cheap rates?

    Yes. A San Francisco driver with a DUI, lapse, point issue, or SR-22 need can still compare carriers, but the rate usually changes because carrier appetite changes. The research record names San Francisco DMV at 1377 Fell St, San Francisco, CA 94117 and gives the distance as 1. 8 miles, but DMV administration does not set the premium.

    Yes. A San Francisco driver with a DUI, lapse, point issue, or SR-22 need can still compare carriers, but the rate usually changes because carrier appetite changes. The research record names San Francisco DMV at 1377 Fell St, San Francisco, CA 94117 and gives the distance as 1.8 miles, but DMV administration does not set the premium. Proof or filing steps run through California DMV systems. The price still depends on ZIP 94102 or the real garaging ZIP, San Francisco County, the driver record, the vehicle, and the selected coverage level. Use the same filing need and liability selection across carriers so the cheaper result is a real comparison.

  • Deal #5What local details should San Francisco shoppers check before choosing coverage?

    San Francisco shoppers should check the exact garaging ZIP, San Francisco County address, area code 415 contact details, vehicle ownership, lender requirements, driver list, current declarations page, annual mileage, rideshare or delivery use, and deductible comfort. The public research details are San Francisco, Bay Area, population 873,965, ZIP 94102, coordinates 37. 7749 and -122. 1, median age 38.

    San Francisco shoppers should check the exact garaging ZIP, San Francisco County address, area code 415 contact details, vehicle ownership, lender requirements, driver list, current declarations page, annual mileage, rideshare or delivery use, and deductible comfort. The public research details are San Francisco, Bay Area, population 873,965, ZIP 94102, coordinates 37.7749 and -122.4194 for schema and local context, average vehicles per household of 1.1, median age 38.7, and San Francisco DMV at 1377 Fell St, San Francisco, CA 94117. The research has no verified commute minutes, neighborhood-pair data, city crash count, or local filed-rate rows, so those should not be guessed. A strong comparison matches coverage first, then lets the carrier panel decide whether the cheaper price is real.

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