- Average San Francisco car insurance cost is $2,376 per year, or about $198 per month.
- Crossover vehicles like the Kia Seltos, Subaru Crosstrek, Chevrolet Trailblazer, and Hyundai Venue are the top choices for cheap car insurance in San Francisco.
- Models with the lowest cost car insurance in San Francisco for their segment include the Nissan Titan at $2,348 per year, Subaru Impreza at $1,966 per year, Lexus RX 350 at $2,126 per year, and Subaru Legacy at $2,188 per year.
- Car insurance quotes in San Francisco can vary from as low as $30 per month for minimum liability insurance to over $654 per month for high-risk drivers.
How much does San Francisco car insurance cost?
The average car insurance cost in San Francisco is $2,376 per year, which is 34% more than the overall national average rate of $1,685. The average monthly cost of car insurance in San Francisco is $198 for a full-coverage car insurance policy.
In the state of California, the average car insurance cost is $2,134 per year, so the average cost in San Francisco is $242 more per year. The average cost of car insurance in San Francisco compared to other California locations is $370 per year less than in Los Angeles, $474 per year more expensive than in San Diego, and $388 per year more than in San Jose.
The chart below shows average San Francisco auto insurance cost for all 2023 models. Rates are averaged for all San Francisco Zip Codes and shown not only by the age of the driver, but also by three different comprehensive and collision deductibles.
In the chart above, the cost of auto insurance in San Francisco ranges from $1,796 per year for a 60-year-old driver with a policy with high physical damage deductibles to $5,490 per year for a 20-year-old driver with a low deductible. From a monthly standpoint, the average cost in the previous chart ranges from $150 to $458 per month.
The age of the driver influences the price you pay for car insurance, so the list below illustrates these differences by showing average car insurance rates in San Francisco for driver ages from 16 to 60.
Average cost of car insurance in San Francisco, CA, by driver age
- 16-year-old driver – $8,510 per year or $709 per month
- 17-year-old driver – $7,958 per year or $663 per month
- 18-year-old driver – $7,436 per year or $620 per month
- 19-year-old driver – $6,728 per year or $561 per month
- 20-year-old driver – $4,726 per year or $394 per month
- 30-year-old driver – $2,506 per year or $209 per month
- 40-year-old driver – $2,376 per year or $198 per month
- 50-year-old driver – $2,162 per year or $180 per month
- 60-year-old driver – $2,124 per year or $177 per month
Which autos have the cheapest car insurance?
When comparing all car, SUV, and pickup models, the models with the cheapest auto insurance prices in San Francisco, CA, tend to be small SUVs like the Chevrolet Trailblazer, Nissan Kicks, and Nissan Rogue Sport.
Average car insurance rates for those models cost $1,896 or less per year ($158 per month) for full coverage car insurance.
A few other vehicles that have very good insurance quotes in our car insurance cost comparison are the Honda HR-V, Subaru Forester, Chevrolet Colorado, and Ford Edge. Average car insurance rates are slightly higher for those models than the cheapest compact SUVs and crossovers at the top of the list, but they still have average rates of $2,016 or less per year in San Francisco.
The following table shows the 30 cheapest vehicles to insure in San Francisco, sorted by annual and monthly insurance cost.
| Rank | Make/Model | Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chevrolet Trailblazer | $1,798 | $150 |
| 2 | Subaru Crosstrek | $1,812 | $151 |
| 3 | Nissan Kicks | $1,822 | $152 |
| 4 | Honda Passport | $1,846 | $154 |
| 5 | Nissan Rogue Sport | $1,854 | $155 |
| 6 | Mazda CX-5 | $1,866 | $156 |
| 7 | Buick Encore | $1,894 | $158 |
| 8 | Buick Envision | $1,896 | $158 |
| 9 | Kia Seltos | $1,926 | $161 |
| 10 | Subaru Ascent | $1,932 | $161 |
| 11 | Hyundai Venue | $1,938 | $162 |
| 12 | Subaru Impreza | $1,966 | $164 |
| 13 | Ford Maverick | $1,972 | $164 |
| 14 | Chevrolet Colorado | $1,976 | $165 |
| 15 | Honda HR-V | $1,976 | $165 |
| 16 | Acura RDX | $1,980 | $165 |
| 17 | Hyundai Kona | $1,994 | $166 |
| 18 | Subaru Forester | $2,002 | $167 |
| 19 | Ford Edge | $2,012 | $168 |
| 20 | Honda CR-V | $2,016 | $168 |
| 21 | Mazda CX-30 | $2,020 | $168 |
| 22 | Ford Explorer | $2,022 | $169 |
| 23 | Volkswagen Atlas | $2,026 | $169 |
| 24 | Chevrolet Trax | $2,042 | $170 |
| 25 | Nissan Murano | $2,042 | $170 |
| 26 | Subaru Outback | $2,042 | $170 |
| 27 | Nissan Frontier | $2,050 | $171 |
| 28 | Volkswagen Tiguan | $2,064 | $172 |
| 29 | Ford Bronco Sport | $2,070 | $173 |
| 30 | Fiat 500X | $2,104 | $175 |
A list of 30 vehicle models with cheap San Francisco car insurance doesn’t really provide a detailed summary of the cost of car insurance. Considering we track over 700 vehicles, less than 4% of total vehicles are shown. Let’s take a different approach and break out the cheapest models in a better format, by automotive segment.
The next section of this article showcases the different automotive segments and the average cost of auto insurance in San Francisco. The average rates shown will give you a good idea of which segments have the overall cheapest average car insurance rates. Then the following six sections show the cheapest insurance rates for specific models in each individual segment.
Car insurance rates by automotive segment
If you’re considering buying a new car, it’s useful to have an idea of which styles of vehicles have more favorable auto insurance rates.
For instance, many people wonder if midsize SUVs have more affordable insurance than full-size SUVs or which size of luxury car has costs less to insure.
The chart below shows average auto insurance cost by vehicle segment in San Francisco. In general, compact SUVs and midsize pickup trucks have the least expensive rates, with sports cars and performance luxury models having the most expensive average insurance cost.
Average auto insurance rates by segment are fine for making an overall comparison, but cost varies significantly within each of the segments displayed in the previous chart.
For example, in the midsize luxury car segment, car insurance rates in San Francisco range from the Cadillac CT5 costing $2,554 per year for full coverage insurance up to the BMW M8 at $3,978 per year.
As another example, in the large luxury SUV segment, the cost of insurance ranges from the Volvo XC90 costing $2,450 per year to the Mercedes-Benz Maybach GLS 600 costing $4,516 per year.
In the following sections, we eliminate much of the variability by analyzing the cost of auto insurance in San Francisco for specific vehicles rather than by segments.
Cheapest car insurance rates in San Francisco, CA
Ranking in the top five for the cheapest San Francisco car insurance rates in the car segment (excluding luxury models) are the Volkswagen Jetta, Subaru Legacy, Toyota Corolla, Subaru Impreza, and Nissan Sentra. Auto insurance rates for these 2023 models average $186 or less per month.
Not the cheapest in the list, but still ranking well, are cars like the Volkswagen Golf, Mazda 3, Toyota Camry, and Kia K5, with average cost of $2,290 per year or less.
Additional vehicles that rank well include the Honda Civic, Kia Forte, Chrysler 300, and Toyota Crown, which cost between $2,290 and $2,492 per year for auto insurance.
Auto insurance in this segment can cost as low as $164 per month, depending on the company.
The most budget-friendly non-luxury compact car to insure in San Francisco is the Subaru Impreza at $1,966 per year. For midsize cars, the Subaru Legacy has the cheapest rates at $2,188 per year. And for full-size non-luxury cars, the Chrysler 300 has the cheapest car insurance rates at $2,318 per year.
The table below ranks the cars with the most affordable car insurance rates in San Francisco, starting with the Subaru Impreza at $164 per month and ending with the Volkswagen Arteon at $208 per month.
| Make/Model | Vehicle Size | Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subaru Impreza | Compact | $1,966 | $164 |
| Volkswagen Jetta | Compact | $2,172 | $181 |
| Subaru Legacy | Midsize | $2,188 | $182 |
| Nissan Sentra | Compact | $2,206 | $184 |
| Toyota Corolla | Compact | $2,228 | $186 |
| Volkswagen Golf | Compact | $2,234 | $186 |
| Toyota Prius | Compact | $2,240 | $187 |
| Toyota Camry | Midsize | $2,258 | $188 |
| Mazda 3 | Compact | $2,282 | $190 |
| Kia K5 | Midsize | $2,290 | $191 |
| Chevrolet Malibu | Midsize | $2,314 | $193 |
| Chrysler 300 | Full-size | $2,318 | $193 |
| Honda Civic | Compact | $2,328 | $194 |
| Kia Forte | Compact | $2,334 | $195 |
| Mitsubishi Mirage G4 | Compact | $2,342 | $195 |
| Nissan Leaf | Compact | $2,394 | $200 |
| Honda Accord | Midsize | $2,402 | $200 |
| Toyota Crown | Midsize | $2,412 | $201 |
| Tesla Model 3 | Midsize | $2,428 | $202 |
| Volkswagen Arteon | Midsize | $2,492 | $208 |
For all vehicle comparisons, see our guides for compact car insurance, midsize car insurance, and full-size car insurance.
Is your vehicle not in the list? No sweat! Enter your zip code at the bottom of the table and click the orange ‘GO’ button to get cheap San Francisco car insurance quotes from the best companies in California.
Cheapest SUV insurance rates in San Francisco
Ranking highest for the most affordable San Francisco auto insurance rates in the non-luxury SUV segment are the Nissan Rogue Sport, Nissan Kicks, Chevrolet Trailblazer, Honda Passport, and Subaru Crosstrek. Car insurance prices for these 2023 models average $1,854 or less per year, or around $155 per month.
Also ranking well in our comparison are SUVs like the Kia Seltos, Buick Encore, Subaru Ascent, and Mazda CX-5, with an average cost of $1,932 per year or less.
Some additional 2023 models that make the list include the Subaru Forester, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Venue, Chevrolet Trax, and Volkswagen Atlas, which average between $1,932 and $2,042 to insure per year.
From a monthly standpoint, full-coverage insurance on this segment in San Francisco for a good driver starts at around $150 per month, depending on your company and location.
The lowest-cost non-luxury compact SUV to insure in San Francisco is the Chevrolet Trailblazer at $1,798 per year. For midsize SUVs, the Honda Passport has the cheapest rates at $1,846 per year. And for large SUVs, the Chevrolet Tahoe has the most affordable rates at $2,226 per year.
The rate comparison table below ranks the SUVs with the cheapest car insurance in San Francisco, starting with the Chevrolet Trailblazer at $1,798 per year and ending with the Chevrolet Trax at $2,042 per year.
| Make/Model | Vehicle Size | Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Trailblazer | Compact | $1,798 | $150 |
| Subaru Crosstrek | Compact | $1,812 | $151 |
| Nissan Kicks | Compact | $1,822 | $152 |
| Honda Passport | Midsize | $1,846 | $154 |
| Nissan Rogue Sport | Compact | $1,854 | $155 |
| Mazda CX-5 | Compact | $1,866 | $156 |
| Buick Encore | Compact | $1,894 | $158 |
| Buick Envision | Compact | $1,896 | $158 |
| Kia Seltos | Compact | $1,926 | $161 |
| Subaru Ascent | Midsize | $1,932 | $161 |
| Hyundai Venue | Compact | $1,938 | $162 |
| Honda HR-V | Compact | $1,976 | $165 |
| Hyundai Kona | Compact | $1,994 | $166 |
| Subaru Forester | Compact | $2,002 | $167 |
| Ford Edge | Midsize | $2,012 | $168 |
| Honda CR-V | Compact | $2,016 | $168 |
| Mazda CX-30 | Compact | $2,020 | $168 |
| Ford Explorer | Midsize | $2,022 | $169 |
| Volkswagen Atlas | Midsize | $2,026 | $169 |
| Chevrolet Trax | Compact | $2,042 | $170 |
For all vehicle comparisons, see our guides for compact SUV insurance, midsize SUV insurance, and full-size SUV insurance.
Is your SUV missing from the table above? Enter your zip code at the bottom of the table above and click the orange ‘GO’ button to get free car insurance quotes from top-rated car insurance companies in California.
Cheapest pickup truck insurance rates in San Francisco
Ranking at the top for the cheapest San Francisco auto insurance rates in the pickup truck segment are the Chevrolet Colorado, Ford Maverick, GMC Canyon, Ford Ranger, and Nissan Frontier. Insurance rates for these 2023 models average $180 or less per month.
Additional pickups that rank well are the Nissan Titan, Ford F150, Toyota Tacoma, and Honda Ridgeline, with average cost of $2,414 per year or less.
From a monthly standpoint, car insurance rates in San Francisco on this segment for the average driver starts at around $164 per month, depending on your location and insurance company. The rate comparison table below ranks the pickups with the cheapest car insurance rates in San Francisco.
| Make/Model | Vehicle Size | Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Maverick | Midsize | $1,972 | $164 |
| Chevrolet Colorado | Midsize | $1,976 | $165 |
| Nissan Frontier | Midsize | $2,050 | $171 |
| Ford Ranger | Midsize | $2,108 | $176 |
| GMC Canyon | Midsize | $2,156 | $180 |
| Toyota Tacoma | Midsize | $2,170 | $181 |
| Hyundai Santa Cruz | Midsize | $2,208 | $184 |
| Nissan Titan | Full-size | $2,348 | $196 |
| Honda Ridgeline | Midsize | $2,358 | $197 |
| Ford F150 | Full-size | $2,414 | $201 |
| GMC Sierra 2500 HD | Heavy Duty | $2,432 | $203 |
| Jeep Gladiator | Midsize | $2,474 | $206 |
| Toyota Tundra | Full-size | $2,498 | $208 |
| GMC Sierra 3500 | Heavy Duty | $2,508 | $209 |
| GMC Sierra | Full-size | $2,592 | $216 |
| Ram Truck | Full-size | $2,596 | $216 |
| Chevrolet Silverado | Full-size | $2,600 | $217 |
| Chevrolet Silverado HD 2500 | Heavy Duty | $2,606 | $217 |
| Chevrolet Silverado HD 3500 | Heavy Duty | $2,614 | $218 |
| Nissan Titan XD | Heavy Duty | $2,652 | $221 |
See our comprehensive guides for midsize pickup insurance and large pickup insurance to view data for pickups not featured in the table.
Don’t see rates for your pickup? No sweat! Enter your zip code at the bottom of the above table and click the orange ‘GO’ button to get free San Francisco car insurance quotes from top car insurance companies in California.
Cheapest sports cars to insure in San Francisco, California
Ranked at #1 in San Francisco for the lowest-cost average insurance in the sports car segment is the Mazda MX-5 Miata, at $2,194 per year. Second place is the Audi TT at $2,464 per year, in third place is the Ford Mustang, costing an average of $2,578 per year, and the fourth cheapest is the BMW Z4, costing an average of $2,594 per year.
Also ranking well in our comparison are models like the Toyota GR86, Nissan Z, Toyota GR Supra, and Subaru BRZ, with an average cost of $2,866 per year or less.
Ranked in the bottom half of the top 20 cheapest sports cars to insure, models like the Porsche 718, BMW M3, Lexus LC 500, Jaguar F-Type, Porsche Taycan, and BMW M4 average between $2,866 and $3,570 per year for auto insurance in San Francisco.
On a monthly basis, car insurance rates in this segment can cost as low as $183 per month, depending on your location and insurance company.
The next table ranks the twenty sports cars with the most affordable average insurance rates in San Francisco, starting with the Mazda MX-5 Miata at $2,194 per year and ending with the Lexus LC 500 at $3,570 per year.
| Make/Model | Vehicle Type | Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mazda MX-5 Miata | Sports Car | $2,194 | $183 |
| Audi TT | Sports Car | $2,464 | $205 |
| Ford Mustang | Sports Car | $2,578 | $215 |
| BMW Z4 | Sports Car | $2,594 | $216 |
| Subaru WRX | Sports Car | $2,624 | $219 |
| Nissan Z | Sports Car | $2,664 | $222 |
| Toyota GR Supra | Sports Car | $2,706 | $226 |
| BMW M2 | Sports Car | $2,744 | $229 |
| Toyota GR86 | Sports Car | $2,746 | $229 |
| Subaru BRZ | Sports Car | $2,866 | $239 |
| Chevrolet Corvette | Sports Car | $2,930 | $244 |
| BMW M3 | Sports Car | $2,992 | $249 |
| Lexus RC F | Sports Car | $3,058 | $255 |
| Porsche 718 | Sports Car | $3,058 | $255 |
| Chevrolet Camaro | Sports Car | $3,108 | $259 |
| Mercedes-Benz AMG GT53 | Sports Car | $3,296 | $275 |
| Jaguar F-Type | Sports Car | $3,410 | $284 |
| Porsche Taycan | Sports Car | $3,486 | $291 |
| BMW M4 | Sports Car | $3,530 | $294 |
| Lexus LC 500 | Sports Car | $3,570 | $298 |
Don’t see your sports car in the list? Enter your zip code at the bottom of the above table and click the orange ‘GO’ button to get free car insurance quotes from the best companies in California.
Cheapest luxury car insurance rates in San Francisco
Ranked at #1 in San Francisco for cheapest insurance in the luxury sedan segment is the Acura Integra, at an average of $2,132 per year. Second place is the BMW 330i at $2,412 per year, and the third most affordable is the Acura TLX, costing an average of $2,452 per year.
Additional luxury cars that have affordable insurance rates include the BMW 228i, Lexus ES 250, BMW 330e, and Lexus ES 350, with average insurance cost of $2,582 per year or less.
Ranked in the bottom half of the top 20 cheapest luxury cars to insure, cars like the Audi A4, Lexus RC 300, Mercedes-Benz C300, Lexus RC 350, BMW 230i, and Volvo S60 average between $2,582 and $2,654 to insure per year in San Francisco.
On a monthly basis, full-coverage car insurance on this segment in San Francisco for the average driver will start around $178 per month, depending on your location.
The lowest-cost compact luxury car to insure in San Francisco is the Acura Integra at $2,132 per year. For midsize luxury models, the Cadillac CT5 is the cheapest model to insure at $2,554 per year. And for large luxury cars, the Audi A5 has the cheapest rates at $2,668 per year.
The rate comparison table below ranks the twenty cars with the cheapest car insurance rates in San Francisco, starting with the Acura Integra at $2,132 per year ($178 per month) and ending with the Volvo S60 at $2,654 per year ($221 per month).
| Make/Model | Vehicle Size | Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acura Integra | Compact | $2,132 | $178 |
| BMW 330i | Compact | $2,412 | $201 |
| Acura TLX | Compact | $2,452 | $204 |
| Cadillac CT4 | Compact | $2,482 | $207 |
| Genesis G70 | Compact | $2,532 | $211 |
| Cadillac CT5 | Midsize | $2,554 | $213 |
| Lexus ES 350 | Midsize | $2,562 | $214 |
| BMW 330e | Compact | $2,570 | $214 |
| Lexus ES 250 | Midsize | $2,576 | $215 |
| BMW 228i | Compact | $2,582 | $215 |
| Lexus RC 300 | Midsize | $2,586 | $216 |
| Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA35 | Midsize | $2,592 | $216 |
| Audi A3 | Midsize | $2,596 | $216 |
| BMW 230i | Compact | $2,600 | $217 |
| Mercedes-Benz C300 | Compact | $2,620 | $218 |
| Audi A4 | Compact | $2,632 | $219 |
| Lexus RC 350 | Compact | $2,632 | $219 |
| Audi S3 | Compact | $2,650 | $221 |
| Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA45 | Midsize | $2,650 | $221 |
| Volvo S60 | Compact | $2,654 | $221 |
See our comprehensive guide for luxury car insurance to view data for vehicles not featured in the table.
Don’t see insurance rates for your vehicle? That’s no problem! Enter your zip code at the bottom of the table and click the orange ‘GO’ button to get free car insurance quotes from the best car insurance companies in California.
Cheapest luxury SUV insurance rates in San Francisco
The four cheapest luxury SUV models to insure in San Francisco are the Acura RDX at $1,980 per year, Lexus RX 350 at $2,126 per year, Cadillac XT4 at $2,144 per year, and Volvo XC40 at $2,184 per year.
Other models that rank well include the Mercedes-Benz GLA250, Mercedes-Benz GLB 250, Cadillac XT5, and Cadillac XT6, with an average cost to insure of $2,314 per year or less.
As a cost per month, full-coverage car insurance in this segment for a good driver can cost as low as $165 per month, depending on the company. The table below ranks the twenty SUVs with the lowest-cost insurance rates in San Francisco, starting with the Acura RDX at $1,980 per year ($165 per month) and ending with the Mercedes-Benz GLC300 at $2,422 per year ($202 per month).
| Make/Model | Vehicle Size | Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acura RDX | Compact | $1,980 | $165 |
| Lexus RX 350 | Midsize | $2,126 | $177 |
| Cadillac XT4 | Compact | $2,144 | $179 |
| Volvo XC40 | Compact | $2,184 | $182 |
| Infiniti QX50 | Midsize | $2,196 | $183 |
| Lexus UX 250h | Compact | $2,222 | $185 |
| Cadillac XT5 | Midsize | $2,258 | $188 |
| Mercedes-Benz GLA250 | Compact | $2,306 | $192 |
| Cadillac XT6 | Midsize | $2,310 | $193 |
| Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 | Compact | $2,314 | $193 |
| Lexus NX 250 | Compact | $2,344 | $195 |
| Acura MDX | Midsize | $2,362 | $197 |
| Lexus NX 350h | Compact | $2,372 | $198 |
| Lexus NX 350 | Compact | $2,386 | $199 |
| Lincoln Corsair | Compact | $2,388 | $199 |
| Lexus NX 450h | Compact | $2,392 | $199 |
| Lincoln Nautilus | Midsize | $2,406 | $201 |
| BMW X1 | Compact | $2,408 | $201 |
| Alfa Romeo Tonale | Compact | $2,412 | $201 |
| Mercedes-Benz GLC300 | Compact | $2,422 | $202 |
See our guide for luxury SUV insurance to view luxury vehicles not shown in the table.
Don’t see your vehicle? Enter your zip code at the bottom of the above table and click the orange ‘GO’ button to get cheap San Francisco car insurance quotes from the best companies in California.
Tips for finding cheaper auto insurance quotes
San Francisco drivers are always looking to reduce their monthly car insurance expenses. So glance through the savings tips in the list below and it’s very likely you can save some money on your next policy.
- Remove optional coverage on older vehicles. Deleting comprehensive and collision coverage from vehicles whose value has dropped to the point where coverage is not cost effective can reduce the cost of car insurance substantially.
- Shop your coverage around. Taking a few minutes to get a few free car insurance quotes could save you a significant amount. Rates change frequently and you can change companies at any time.
- Stay claim free. Car insurance companies give a discounted rate for not having any claims. Car insurance is intended to be used to protect you from significant financial loss, not for insignificant claims.
- Choose a vehicle that is cheaper to insure. The vehicle you choose to drive is a huge factor in the price you pay for insurance. As an example, a Honda CR-V costs $2,532 less per year to insure in San Francisco than a Audi R8. Choose cheaper models and save money.
- Improve your credit for cheaper auto insurance rates. Having a high credit score of 800+ could save $373 per year over a credit rating of 670-739. Conversely, a not-so-perfect credit rating could cost up to $432 more per year. Not all states use credit score as a rating factor, so check with your agent or company.
