- Average San Francisco car insurance cost is $2,172 per year, or about $181 per month.
- Crossover vehicles like the Hyundai Venue, Nissan Kicks, Mazda CX-5, and Buick Envision 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 Ford F150 at $2,104 per year, Subaru Impreza at $1,884 per year, Cadillac XT5 at $2,136 per year, and Subaru Legacy at $2,104 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 $2,172 per year, which is 40% more than the overall national average rate of $1,551. The average monthly cost of car insurance in San Francisco is $181 for a full-coverage car insurance policy.
In the state of California, the average car insurance cost is $1,746 per year, so the average cost in San Francisco is $426 more per year. The average cost of car insurance in San Francisco compared to other California locations is $350 per year less than in Los Angeles, $458 per year more expensive than in San Diego, and $372 per year more than in San Jose.
The chart below shows average San Francisco auto insurance cost for all 2022 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 $1,642 per year for a 60-year-old driver with a policy with high physical damage deductibles to $4,994 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 $137 to $416 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 – $7,776 per year or $648 per month
- 17-year-old driver – $7,262 per year or $605 per month
- 18-year-old driver – $6,782 per year or $565 per month
- 19-year-old driver – $6,132 per year or $511 per month
- 20-year-old driver – $4,308 per year or $359 per month
- 30-year-old driver – $2,284 per year or $190 per month
- 40-year-old driver – $2,172 per year or $181 per month
- 50-year-old driver – $1,976 per year or $165 per month
- 60-year-old driver – $1,938 per year or $162 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 Mazda CX-5, Chevrolet Trailblazer, and Subaru Crosstrek.
Average car insurance rates for those models cost $1,810 or less per year ($151 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 Acura RDX, Subaru Impreza, Toyota Corolla Cross, and Subaru Forester. 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 $1,880 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 | Mazda CX-5 | $1,652 | $138 |
| 2 | Nissan Kicks | $1,692 | $141 |
| 3 | Chevrolet Trailblazer | $1,704 | $142 |
| 4 | Honda Passport | $1,742 | $145 |
| 5 | Subaru Crosstrek | $1,742 | $145 |
| 6 | Chevrolet Colorado | $1,788 | $149 |
| 7 | Buick Encore | $1,796 | $150 |
| 8 | Toyota C-HR | $1,796 | $150 |
| 9 | Nissan Rogue Sport | $1,810 | $151 |
| 10 | Hyundai Venue | $1,844 | $154 |
| 11 | Buick Envision | $1,846 | $154 |
| 12 | Kia Seltos | $1,850 | $154 |
| 13 | Ford Maverick | $1,858 | $155 |
| 14 | Acura RDX | $1,860 | $155 |
| 15 | Subaru Ascent | $1,864 | $155 |
| 16 | Toyota Corolla Cross | $1,864 | $155 |
| 17 | Hyundai Kona | $1,880 | $157 |
| 18 | Mazda MX-5 Miata | $1,880 | $157 |
| 19 | Subaru Forester | $1,880 | $157 |
| 20 | Subaru Impreza | $1,884 | $157 |
| 21 | Volkswagen Tiguan | $1,884 | $157 |
| 22 | Chevrolet Spark | $1,896 | $158 |
| 23 | Honda CR-V | $1,902 | $159 |
| 24 | Cadillac XT4 | $1,906 | $159 |
| 25 | Mazda CX-30 | $1,922 | $160 |
| 26 | Ford Ranger | $1,930 | $161 |
| 27 | Honda HR-V | $1,954 | $163 |
| 28 | Ford Edge | $1,956 | $163 |
| 29 | Ford Ecosport | $1,968 | $164 |
| 30 | Subaru Outback | $1,990 | $166 |
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 Acura ILX costing $1,998 per year for full coverage insurance up to the BMW M5 at $3,758 per year.
As another example, in the large luxury SUV segment, the cost of insurance ranges from the Volvo XC90 costing $2,350 per year to the Mercedes-Benz Maybach GLS 600 costing $4,296 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 Chevrolet Spark, Volkswagen Golf, Volkswagen Jetta, Subaru Impreza, and Subaru Legacy. Auto insurance rates for these 2022 models average $176 or less per month.
Not the cheapest in the list, but still ranking well, are cars like the Honda Insight, Toyota Corolla, Kia K5, and Toyota Camry, with average cost of $2,136 per year or less.
Additional vehicles that rank well include the Honda Civic, Mazda 3, Kia Rio, and Hyundai Veloster, which cost between $2,136 and $2,260 per year for auto insurance.
Auto insurance in this segment can cost as low as $157 per month, depending on the company.
The most budget-friendly non-luxury compact car to insure in San Francisco is the Subaru Impreza at $1,884 per year. For midsize cars, the Subaru Legacy has the cheapest rates at $2,104 per year. And for full-size non-luxury cars, the Toyota Avalon has the cheapest car insurance rates at $2,280 per year.
The table below ranks the cars with the most affordable car insurance rates in San Francisco, starting with the Subaru Impreza at $157 per month and ending with the Chevrolet Malibu at $188 per month.
| Make/Model | Vehicle Size | Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subaru Impreza | Compact | $1,884 | $157 |
| Chevrolet Spark | Compact | $1,896 | $158 |
| Volkswagen Golf | Compact | $2,084 | $174 |
| Subaru Legacy | Midsize | $2,104 | $175 |
| Honda Insight | Midsize | $2,112 | $176 |
| Volkswagen Jetta | Compact | $2,112 | $176 |
| Nissan Sentra | Compact | $2,122 | $177 |
| Kia K5 | Midsize | $2,134 | $178 |
| Toyota Corolla | Compact | $2,134 | $178 |
| Toyota Camry | Midsize | $2,136 | $178 |
| Kia Rio | Compact | $2,142 | $179 |
| Volkswagen Passat | Midsize | $2,144 | $179 |
| Honda Civic | Compact | $2,150 | $179 |
| Mazda 3 | Compact | $2,154 | $180 |
| Mazda 6 | Midsize | $2,164 | $180 |
| Toyota Prius | Compact | $2,170 | $181 |
| Hyundai Accent | Compact | $2,198 | $183 |
| Hyundai Veloster | Compact | $2,218 | $185 |
| Kia Forte | Compact | $2,224 | $185 |
| Chevrolet Malibu | Midsize | $2,260 | $188 |
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 Honda Passport, Chevrolet Trailblazer, Mazda CX-5, Subaru Crosstrek, and Nissan Kicks. Car insurance prices for these 2022 models average $1,742 or less per year, or around $145 per month.
Also ranking well in our comparison are SUVs like the Hyundai Venue, Buick Encore, Buick Envision, and Toyota C-HR, with an average cost of $1,846 per year or less.
Some additional 2022 models that make the list include the Hyundai Kona, Volkswagen Tiguan, Kia Seltos, Ford Edge, and Honda HR-V, which average between $1,846 and $1,956 to insure per year.
From a monthly standpoint, full-coverage insurance on this segment in San Francisco for a good driver starts at around $138 per month, depending on your company and location.
The lowest-cost non-luxury compact SUV to insure in San Francisco is the Mazda CX-5 at $1,652 per year. For midsize SUVs, the Honda Passport has the cheapest rates at $1,742 per year. And for large SUVs, the Chevrolet Tahoe has the most affordable rates at $2,180 per year.
The rate comparison table below ranks the SUVs with the cheapest car insurance in San Francisco, starting with the Mazda CX-5 at $1,652 per year and ending with the Ford Edge at $1,956 per year.
| Make/Model | Vehicle Size | Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mazda CX-5 | Compact | $1,652 | $138 |
| Nissan Kicks | Compact | $1,692 | $141 |
| Chevrolet Trailblazer | Compact | $1,704 | $142 |
| Honda Passport | Midsize | $1,742 | $145 |
| Subaru Crosstrek | Compact | $1,742 | $145 |
| Buick Encore | Compact | $1,796 | $150 |
| Toyota C-HR | Compact | $1,796 | $150 |
| Nissan Rogue Sport | Compact | $1,810 | $151 |
| Hyundai Venue | Compact | $1,844 | $154 |
| Buick Envision | Compact | $1,846 | $154 |
| Kia Seltos | Compact | $1,850 | $154 |
| Subaru Ascent | Midsize | $1,864 | $155 |
| Toyota Corolla Cross | Compact | $1,864 | $155 |
| Hyundai Kona | Compact | $1,880 | $157 |
| Subaru Forester | Compact | $1,880 | $157 |
| Volkswagen Tiguan | Compact | $1,884 | $157 |
| Honda CR-V | Compact | $1,902 | $159 |
| Mazda CX-30 | Compact | $1,922 | $160 |
| Honda HR-V | Compact | $1,954 | $163 |
| Ford Edge | Midsize | $1,956 | $163 |
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 Ford Maverick, Chevrolet Colorado, Nissan Frontier, Toyota Tacoma, and Ford Ranger. Insurance rates for these 2022 models average $173 or less per month.
Additional pickups that rank well are the Ford F150, Jeep Gladiator, GMC Canyon, and Honda Ridgeline, with average cost of $2,134 per year or less.
From a monthly standpoint, car insurance rates in San Francisco on this segment for the average driver starts at around $149 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Colorado | Midsize | $1,788 | $149 |
| Ford Maverick | Midsize | $1,858 | $155 |
| Ford Ranger | Midsize | $1,930 | $161 |
| Toyota Tacoma | Midsize | $2,016 | $168 |
| Nissan Frontier | Midsize | $2,070 | $173 |
| GMC Canyon | Midsize | $2,080 | $173 |
| Hyundai Santa Cruz | Midsize | $2,088 | $174 |
| Ford F150 | Full-size | $2,104 | $175 |
| Honda Ridgeline | Midsize | $2,114 | $176 |
| Jeep Gladiator | Midsize | $2,134 | $178 |
| GMC Sierra | Full-size | $2,212 | $184 |
| Nissan Titan | Full-size | $2,294 | $191 |
| Chevrolet Silverado | Full-size | $2,334 | $195 |
| Toyota Tundra | Full-size | $2,336 | $195 |
| Ford F350 Super Duty | Heavy Duty | $2,362 | $197 |
| Chevrolet Silverado HD 3500 | Heavy Duty | $2,376 | $198 |
| Nissan Titan XD | Heavy Duty | $2,444 | $204 |
| Ram Truck | Full-size | $2,480 | $207 |
| GMC Sierra 2500 HD | Heavy Duty | $2,534 | $211 |
| GMC Sierra 3500 | Heavy Duty | $2,554 | $213 |
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 $1,880 per year. Second place is the Ford Mustang at $2,292 per year, in third place is the BMW Z4, costing an average of $2,338 per year, and the fourth cheapest is the Subaru WRX, costing an average of $2,472 per year.
Also ranking well in our comparison are models like the Chevrolet Corvette, Toyota GR Supra, Audi TT, and BMW M3, with an average cost of $2,812 per year or less.
Ranked in the bottom half of the top 20 cheapest sports cars to insure, models like the Dodge Challenger, Chevrolet Camaro, Lexus LC 500, Porsche Taycan, Porsche 911, and BMW M4 average between $2,812 and $3,582 per year for auto insurance in San Francisco.
On a monthly basis, car insurance rates in this segment can cost as low as $157 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 $1,880 per year and ending with the Lexus LC 500 at $3,582 per year.
| Make/Model | Vehicle Type | Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mazda MX-5 Miata | Sports Car | $1,880 | $157 |
| Ford Mustang | Sports Car | $2,292 | $191 |
| BMW Z4 | Sports Car | $2,338 | $195 |
| Subaru WRX | Sports Car | $2,472 | $206 |
| Toyota GR86 | Sports Car | $2,534 | $211 |
| Toyota GR Supra | Sports Car | $2,588 | $216 |
| Audi TT | Sports Car | $2,644 | $220 |
| Subaru BRZ | Sports Car | $2,724 | $227 |
| Chevrolet Corvette | Sports Car | $2,736 | $228 |
| BMW M3 | Sports Car | $2,812 | $234 |
| Porsche 718 | Sports Car | $2,938 | $245 |
| Chevrolet Camaro | Sports Car | $3,010 | $251 |
| Lexus RC F | Sports Car | $3,068 | $256 |
| Dodge Challenger | Sports Car | $3,088 | $257 |
| Mercedes-Benz AMG GT53 | Sports Car | $3,136 | $261 |
| Jaguar F-Type | Sports Car | $3,282 | $274 |
| Porsche Taycan | Sports Car | $3,370 | $281 |
| Porsche 911 | Sports Car | $3,450 | $288 |
| BMW M4 | Sports Car | $3,460 | $288 |
| Lexus LC 500 | Sports Car | $3,582 | $299 |
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 ILX, at an average of $1,998 per year. Second place is the Mercedes-Benz A220 at $2,134 per year, and the third most affordable is the BMW 330i, costing an average of $2,296 per year.
Additional luxury cars that have affordable insurance rates include the Alfa Romeo Giulia, Lexus RC 300, BMW 230i, and BMW 228i, with average insurance cost of $2,410 per year or less.
Ranked in the bottom half of the top 20 cheapest luxury cars to insure, cars like the Cadillac CT5, Cadillac CT4, BMW i4, Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA35, and Audi S3 average between $2,410 and $2,524 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 $167 per month, depending on your location.
The lowest-cost compact luxury car to insure in San Francisco is the Mercedes-Benz A220 at $2,134 per year. For midsize luxury models, the Acura ILX is the cheapest model to insure at $1,998 per year. And for large luxury cars, the Audi A5 has the cheapest rates at $2,552 per year.
The rate comparison table below ranks the twenty cars with the cheapest car insurance rates in San Francisco, starting with the Acura ILX at $1,998 per year ($167 per month) and ending with the Audi S3 at $2,524 per year ($210 per month).
| Make/Model | Vehicle Size | Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acura ILX | Midsize | $1,998 | $167 |
| Mercedes-Benz A220 | Compact | $2,134 | $178 |
| BMW 330i | Compact | $2,296 | $191 |
| Acura TLX | Compact | $2,310 | $193 |
| Volvo S60 | Compact | $2,328 | $194 |
| BMW 330e | Compact | $2,340 | $195 |
| BMW 228i | Compact | $2,352 | $196 |
| BMW 230i | Compact | $2,366 | $197 |
| Lexus RC 300 | Midsize | $2,406 | $201 |
| Alfa Romeo Giulia | Compact | $2,410 | $201 |
| Cadillac CT4 | Compact | $2,414 | $201 |
| Lexus RC 350 | Compact | $2,416 | $201 |
| Genesis G70 | Compact | $2,452 | $204 |
| Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA35 | Midsize | $2,464 | $205 |
| BMW i4 | Midsize | $2,478 | $207 |
| Cadillac CT5 | Midsize | $2,486 | $207 |
| Audi A3 | Midsize | $2,510 | $209 |
| Audi A4 | Compact | $2,516 | $210 |
| Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA45 | Midsize | $2,522 | $210 |
| Audi S3 | Compact | $2,524 | $210 |
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 $1,860 per year, Cadillac XT4 at $1,906 per year, Volvo XC40 at $2,090 per year, and Cadillac XT5 at $2,136 per year.
Other models that rank well include the Lexus UX 250h, Lexus UX 200, Lexus NX 350h, and Lexus NX 350, with an average cost to insure of $2,220 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 $155 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 $1,860 per year ($155 per month) and ending with the Lincoln Corsair at $2,300 per year ($192 per month).
| Make/Model | Vehicle Size | Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acura RDX | Compact | $1,860 | $155 |
| Cadillac XT4 | Compact | $1,906 | $159 |
| Volvo XC40 | Compact | $2,090 | $174 |
| Cadillac XT5 | Midsize | $2,136 | $178 |
| Lexus NX 250 | Compact | $2,160 | $180 |
| BMW X1 | Compact | $2,164 | $180 |
| Lexus NX 350h | Compact | $2,176 | $181 |
| Lexus UX 250h | Compact | $2,176 | $181 |
| Lexus NX 350 | Compact | $2,212 | $184 |
| Lexus UX 200 | Compact | $2,220 | $185 |
| Jaguar E-Pace | Midsize | $2,226 | $186 |
| Lexus RX 350 | Midsize | $2,234 | $186 |
| Acura MDX | Midsize | $2,246 | $187 |
| Lincoln Nautilus | Midsize | $2,268 | $189 |
| Lexus NX 450h | Compact | $2,276 | $190 |
| Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 | Compact | $2,284 | $190 |
| Lexus RX 450h | Midsize | $2,288 | $191 |
| Infiniti QX50 | Midsize | $2,296 | $191 |
| Land Rover Evoque | Compact | $2,296 | $191 |
| Lincoln Corsair | Compact | $2,300 | $192 |
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 $2,480 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 $341 per year over a credit rating of 670-739. Conversely, a not-so-perfect credit rating could cost up to $395 more per year. Not all states use credit score as a rating factor, so check with your agent or company.
