Cheap Car Insurance Quotes in San Francisco (October 2026)

The cheapest insurer in San Francisco is USAA, with an average liability-only rate of $76 per month. San Francisco’s high car theft rates and population density affect its car insurance rates.

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Theresa Stevens
Writer: Theresa Stevens

Qualifications:
  • AFCPE Accredited Financial Counselor

  • 6 years experience in the personal financial industry


Theresa is a writer and former financial advisor with experience helping clients solve money challenges. She uses her expertise to clarify complex personal finance concepts.


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Editor: Katie PowersLicensed P&C Agent, Senior Insurance Editor

Qualifications:
  • Licensed auto and home insurance agent

  • 4+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing

  • NPN: 20564519


Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.

Mark Friedlander
Reviewer: Mark FriedlanderSenior Director, Media Relations, Insurance Information Institute

Qualifications:
  • Media relations director for Insurance Information Institute

  • 20+ years in insurance and communications

  • Impartial, independent expert


As Senior Director, Media Relations, for Insurance Information Institute, Mark serves as the non-profit’s national spokesperson, sharing information and education on a wide array of insurance issues.

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How much is car insurance in San Francisco, CA?

The average cost of car insurance in San Francisco is $100 per month for liability insurance and $244 per month for full coverage. San Francisco drivers pay higher average rates than Fresno drivers and cheaper car insurance rates than Los Angeles drivers.

San Francisco car insurance rates match the California state average of $98 for liability-only coverage and exceed the state average of $203 per month for full coverage. San Francisco likely has higher full-coverage rates than the state for a few reasons, including high vehicle theft rates.

The city also has a population density of more than 18,600 people per square mile, which adds risk factors like heavy traffic congestion and an above-average one-way commute time of 30.4 minutes.[1]

Shop for San Francisco Car Insurance

Cheap liability quotes in San Francisco start at $76/mo.

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Cheapest liability-only car insurance in San Francisco: USAA

The average liability auto insurance policy in San Francisco costs $100 per month, which is similar to the state average of $98 per month. USAA and GEICO are some of the cheapest insurers in San Francisco for liability-only car insurance coverage. 

California’s car insurance requirements include $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident in bodily injury liability coverage for medical expenses. It also requires minimum coverage of $15,000 per accident for property damage liability.[2]

But these are only the state-minimum requirements. Many drivers purchase additional coverages, like medical payments, comprehensive coverage, and collision coverage.

The following table shows the lowest liability-only car insurance rates in San Francisco.

The below rates in San Francisco, CA, are estimated rates current as of: Wednesday, September 30 at 5:00 PM PDT. 
Insurance Company
Average Monthly Quote: Liability Only
USAA$76
GEICO$77
Aspire General$78
Sun Coast$80
Mercury$83
National General$83
Progressive$85
Dairyland$93
Direct Auto$96
Root$99
Anchor$107
Farmers$107
Bristol West$116
State Farm$116
Kemper Special$117
Travelers$120
Kemper Rsvp$130
21st Century$132
Hugo$169
First Acceptance$175
Chubb$206
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time San Francisco car insurance quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual car insurance quotes in San Francisco may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in San Francisco: Aspire General

The cheapest insurer for full-coverage car insurance in San Francisco is Aspire General. The average full-coverage rate in San Francisco is $244 per month, which is higher than the state average of $203 per month.

San Francisco policyholders may want to consider a full-coverage auto insurance policy due to the city’s high auto theft rate, chance of vandalism, and congested population.

The following table shows the lowest rates for full-coverage car insurance in San Francisco.

The below rates in San Francisco, CA, are estimated rates current as of: Wednesday, September 30 at 5:00 PM PDT. 
Insurance Company
Average Monthly Quote: Full Coverage
Aspire General$141
Root$155
GEICO$163
Mercury$165
Progressive$169
USAA$172
Kemper Special$186
Kemper Rsvp$190
Sun Coast$196
Anchor$204
National General$228
Dairyland$232
Direct Auto$237
Farmers$244
Bristol West$252
State Farm$264
Travelers$277
21st Century$302
First Acceptance$397
Chubb$470
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time San Francisco car insurance quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual car insurance quotes in San Francisco may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Car insurance rates in other California cities

Car insurance rates in San Francisco are higher than the California average. San Francisco drivers pay $172 per month, compared to the state average of $150 per month. 

The most expensive city for car insurance in California is Glendale, with an average monthly rate of $276.

San Luis Obispo, Hanford, and Ridgecrest are a few of the cheapest California cities for car insurance.

Car insurance in San Francisco, the fourth-largest city in the state, might be more expensive than in other places in California due to its population density and the number of car thefts.

The following table shows average car insurance rates in different California cities.

The below rates in San Francisco, CA, are estimated rates current as of: Wednesday, September 30 at 5:00 PM PDT. 
City
Average Monthly Quote
Lompoc$108
Ridgecrest$109
San Luis Obispo$109
Chico$110
Santa Cruz$112
Redding$113
Hanford$114
Santa Maria$115
Woodland$115
Tulare$118
Visalia$118
Palm Desert$119
Campbell$121
Poway$121
Santee$121
Santa Barbara$123
Hollister$125
La Quinta$125
La Mesa$127
Napa$127
Petaluma$129
Dublin$130
Santa Rosa$130
Cathedral City$131
Chula Vista$131
Vista$131
Novato$132
Pacifica$132
San Marcos$132
Bakersfield$133
Brentwood$133
Yuba City$133
Folsom$134
Fresno$134
Milpitas$134
Palm Springs$134
Beaumont$135
Oceanside$135
San Clemente$135
San Diego$135
Hemet$137
Lake Forest$137
Temecula$137
Fremont$138
Lodi$138
San Ramon$138
Concord$139
Oxnard$139
Camarillo$140
Cupertino$140
Escondido$140
San Jose$140
Saratoga$140
West Sacramento$140
Aliso Viejo$141
Palo Alto$141
Redlands$141
Ceres$142
Fairfield$142
San Mateo$143
El Cerrito$144
Menifee$144
Modesto$144
Roseville$144
Laguna Niguel$145
National City$145
Watsonville$145
Citrus Heights$146
Elk Grove$146
Santa Clara$146
El Cajon$147
Norco$147
Tracy$147
Colton$148
Wildomar$148
Murrieta$149
South San Francisco$149
Placentia$150
Stockton$150
Thousand Oaks$151
Antioch$153
Huntington Beach$153
Pittsburg$153
Vallejo$153
Corona$154
Lathrop$154
Orange$154
Riverside$154
Hayward$155
Moreno Valley$155
Berkeley$156
Chino$156
Perris$156
Brea$157
Cypress$157
San Leandro$157
Chino Hills$158
Newport Beach$158
La Mirada$159
Ontario$159
Santa Ana$159
Irvine$161
Rialto$161
Sacramento$161
San Bernardino$161
Fontana$162
Garden Grove$162
Fountain Valley$164
Hesperia$164
Azusa$165
Rancho Cucamonga$165
Victorville$165
Anaheim$167
Buena Park$167
Adelanto$169
San Pedro$169
La Puente$170
Simi Valley$170
Whittier$170
Norwalk$171
Pomona$172
Covina$173
Diamond Bar$173
Torrance$174
Long Beach$175
Oakland$175
Paramount$175
Carson$178
Richmond$178
Cerritos$179
Temple City$179
Walnut$179
Lancaster$182
Santa Clarita$186
Culver City$187
Pasadena$188
El Monte$189
Palmdale$189
Bell Gardens$191
San Gabriel$195
Lynwood$204
Compton$206
Santa Monica$207
Inglewood$210
Burbank$221
Studio City$224
Los Angeles$230
Winnetka$242
Reseda$247
Northridge$250
West Hollywood$256
Glendale$276
Beverly Hills$279
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time San Francisco car insurance quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual car insurance quotes in San Francisco may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Why is car insurance in San Francisco so expensive?

Average car insurance rates may be higher in San Francisco due to its large population size and above-average auto repair costs. California is also one of the most expensive states in the country for auto repairs, which insurers will factor into your insurance costs.

San Francisco’s vehicle theft rate can also lead to higher car insurance premiums. San Francisco is among the top 50 cities in the country for the most stolen cars, according to Insurify data. The city reported more than 6,000 vehicles stolen in 2024.

Cheapest recent car insurance quotes in California

Recent San Francisco, California car insurance prices for Chevrolet, Nissan, MINI, and more.

*Quotes generated for Insurify users in and around San Francisco, California within the last 10 days. Last updated on October 13, 2026. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.

Rates shown are real-time Insurify user quotes from 500+ insurance companies and Quadrant Information Services data. Insurify’s algorithm excludes anomalous quotes and anonymizes personal details, then displays refined quotes by price, date, and insurer popularity up to 10 days ago from October 13, 2026. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.

*Quotes generated for Insurify users in and around San Francisco, California within the last 10 days. Last updated on October 13, 2026. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.

Rates shown are real-time Insurify user quotes from 500+ insurance companies and Quadrant Information Services data. Insurify’s algorithm excludes anomalous quotes and anonymizes personal details, then displays refined quotes by price, date, and insurer popularity up to 10 days ago from October 13, 2026. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.

Cheapest car insurance quotes in San Francisco by driving record

If you’ve had an incident on the road, such as a speeding ticket, car accident, or a driving under the influence (DUI) conviction, you’ll likely pay a higher rate for car insurance.

Here are the cheapest car insurance companies for San Francisco drivers by driving record:

  • Cheapest car insurance for San Francisco drivers with a clean driving record: USAA

  • Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket in San Francisco: USAA

  • Cheapest car insurance for San Francisco drivers with an at-fault accident: USAA 

  • Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI in San Francisco: USAA

Affordable car insurance for drivers with an incident in San Francisco

Of the San Francisco driving population, 3.12% have a speeding ticket, 5.60% have a car accident, and 0.89% have a DUI on their record, according to Insurify data. With more than 5% of drivers having past accidents, it’s important to stay alert while driving. In 2025, the city had 25 recorded car accident fatalities.[3]

DUI offenders should be aware of the statewide ignition interlock device (IID) pilot program, which requires repeat and injury-involved offenders to install an IID in their vehicle for up to four years, depending on the number of previous DUI convictions.[4]

You can explore average monthly car insurance quotes in San Francisco for different driving records in the table below.

Driving Record
Average Monthly Quote
Clean driving record$172
Speeding ticket$219
At-fault accident$221
DUI$236
Disclaimer: Table data is based on real-time San Francisco quotes from Insurify’s network of 500+ insurance partners. Actual rates may vary depending on the policyholder’s individual profile and coverage needs.

What to know about driving in San Francisco

San Francisco’s above-average commute time contributes to higher car insurance rates by increasing overall driving risk. The average Bay Area commute takes about 30 minutes, which is longer than the national average of 27 minutes.

Around 13% of San Francisco drivers spent at least one hour commuting to work each day in 2024. Longer commute times in San Francisco mean drivers are on the road for extended periods, increasing exposure to potential accidents.

Tourism also adds to road congestion and parking difficulty in prime areas, like the South of Market, Downtown, and Mission Bay neighborhoods. In 2023, about 23 million people visited San Francisco. Parking in Mission Bay can be particularly challenging during events at the Chase Center, home of the Golden State Warriors.

How San Francisco traffic affects car insurance rates

Congestion likely affects car insurance rates in San Francisco. The city is No. 15 for traffic congestion in the U.S., according to the INRIX 2025 Global Traffic Scorecard. Some of the worst areas for traffic congestion in San Francisco are I-80 and 19th Street, the latter of which serves as a major arterial route through the city.

In 2023, California Gov. Gavin Newsom approved an assembly bill that authorized the establishment of a speed safety system pilot program. This program includes speed cameras installed on multiple roads, including Fulton Street, Geary Boulevard, and Bay Street. It’s a good idea to be aware of these speed cameras, as the program started issuing citations in August 2025.[5]

Cheap car insurance for San Francisco teen drivers: USAA

Teens in California must be at least 15 and a half to get a learner’s permit, the first step toward a driver’s license.[6] 

Teen drivers in San Francisco pay monthly averages of $177 for liability policies and $433 for full-coverage policies.

The following table shows the cheapest liability rates for teenage drivers in San Francisco.

The below rates in San Francisco, CA, are estimated rates current as of: Wednesday, September 30 at 5:00 PM PDT. 
Insurance Company
Average Monthly Quote: Liability Only
USAA$136
GEICO$137
Aspire General$138
Sun Coast$142
Root$146
Mercury$148
Progressive$151
Dairyland$157
National General$161
Direct Auto$184
Bristol West$201
Anchor$202
Kemper Special$208
Farmers$209
State Farm$220
21st Century$230
Kemper Rsvp$231
Travelers$244
Hugo$300
First Acceptance$310
Chubb$412
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time San Francisco car insurance quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual car insurance quotes in San Francisco may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Find Cheap Car Insurance in San Francisco

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Cheap car insurance quotes for San Francisco senior drivers: USAA

About 18% of San Francisco residents are aged 65 and older, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. California drivers older than 70 must renew their driver’s license in person and pass a vision test. 

Senior drivers in San Francisco pay an average of $91 per month for liability insurance. 

The following table shows the cheapest liability rates for senior drivers in San Francisco.

The below rates in San Francisco, CA, are estimated rates current as of: Wednesday, September 30 at 5:00 PM PDT. 
Insurance Company
Average Monthly Quote: Liability Only
GEICO$63
USAA$63
National General$67
Mercury$67
Aspire General$71
Sun Coast$73
Progressive$77
Direct Auto$80
Dairyland$81
Farmers$87
Anchor$88
Root$93
State Farm$94
Travelers$99
Bristol West$99
Kemper Special$106
21st Century$107
Kemper Rsvp$118
Hugo$153
First Acceptance$159
Chubb$160
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time San Francisco car insurance quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual car insurance quotes in San Francisco may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

San Francisco auto insurance FAQs

Check out these answers to frequently asked questions about finding the best car insurance in San Francisco.

How much is car insurance per month in San Francisco?

San Francisco drivers pay an average of $172 per month for car insurance, with liability coverage averaging $100 per month and full coverage averaging $244 per month.

What company has the cheapest auto insurance in San Francisco?

USAA offers the cheapest average car insurance in San Francisco, based on Insurify data. USAA’s liability coverage averages $76 per month.

Is car insurance high in San Francisco?

Car insurance in San Francisco is higher than the California average. Drivers in San Francisco pay $172 per month for car insurance, while the state average is $150 per month.

What factors affect car insurance rates in San Francisco?

Many factors affect car insurance rates in San Francisco, including your ZIP code, credit history, driving history, coverage choices, and deductible. The city also has unique risk factors due to its high population density and vehicle theft rates, which insurers will consider when issuing policies in San Francisco.

How can you find cheaper car insurance in San Francisco?

You can find cheap auto insurance rates in San Francisco by working with your insurance agent to explore car insurance companies and check whether you qualify for insurance discounts, like good driver or good student savings. Bundling with your homeowners or renters insurance or dropping optional coverages can also help you lower your premium.

Sources

  1. United States Census Bureau. "QuickFacts San Francisco County, California."
  2. State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. "Insurance Requirements."
  3. City and County of San Francisco. "Traffic Fatalities."
  4. State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. "Statewide Ignition Interlock Device Pilot Program."
  5. San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. "Speed Safety Cameras."
  6. State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. "Learner's Permits."

Methodology

Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 250 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 500+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.

Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).

Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:

  • Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
  • Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
  • No additional coverage
Full-coverage premium averages correspond to the same bodily injury and property damage limits in addition to:
  • Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
  • Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible
Theresa Stevens
Writer: Theresa Stevens

Qualifications:
  • AFCPE Accredited Financial Counselor

  • 6 years experience in the personal financial industry


Theresa is a writer and former financial advisor with experience helping clients solve money challenges. She uses her expertise to clarify complex personal finance concepts.


Photo of an Insurify author
Editor: Katie PowersLicensed P&C Agent, Senior Insurance Editor

Qualifications:
  • Licensed auto and home insurance agent

  • 4+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing

  • NPN: 20564519


Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.

Mark Friedlander
Reviewer: Mark FriedlanderSenior Director, Media Relations, Insurance Information Institute

Qualifications:
  • Media relations director for Insurance Information Institute

  • 20+ years in insurance and communications

  • Impartial, independent expert


As Senior Director, Media Relations, for Insurance Information Institute, Mark serves as the non-profit’s national spokesperson, sharing information and education on a wide array of insurance issues.