It’s a known fact that car insurance companies don’t want policyholders to shop around. People who perform rate comparisons will, in all likelihood, switch car insurance companies because there is a great chance of finding coverage at a cheaper rate. Remarkably, a study showed that consumers who compared rate quotes regularly saved as much as $70 a month compared to people who never compared other company’s rates.
If finding the most affordable auto insurance is your intention, understanding how to get free comparison quotes and analyze coverage rates can make shopping around easier.
It takes a few minutes, but the best way to find lower priced auto insurance rates in San Francisco is to regularly compare quotes from different companies in California. Drivers can shop around by completing these steps.
- Step 1: Read about how companies set rates and the things you can change to keep rates in check. Many factors that result in higher prices such as accidents, traffic violations, and a negative credit score can be eliminated by making minor changes to your lifestyle.
- Step 2: Request rate estimates from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only provide price estimates from a single company like GEICO or Allstate, while independent agencies can quote prices for a wide range of companies. Compare rates
- Step 3: Compare the quotes to your existing policy to see if you can save by switching companies. If you can save some money and change companies, verify that coverage does not lapse between policies.
- Step 4: Provide notification to your current company to cancel your existing policy and submit payment along with a signed and completed policy application to your new agent or company. Once the paperwork is finalized, place your new certificate verifying proof of insurance with the vehicle registration.
The key thing to know about shopping around is to make sure you enter the same level of coverage on each quote and and to analyze as many companies as feasibly possible. Doing this helps ensure a fair price comparison and a complete price analysis.
Getting a cheap price on insurance isn’t really that difficult. The only thing you need to do is take a few minutes getting comparison quotes online from several insurance companies.
Comparing free price quotes online is easy and it, makes it a waste of time to call or drive to different agent offices. The ability to buy insurance online can eliminate the need for a local agent unless you require the professional advice of a local agency. It is possible with some companies compare the best prices online and have a local agent actually service the policy.
The companies shown below provide free quotes in California. If several companies are displayed, we suggest you get rate quotes from several of them to get a more complete price comparison.
Get cheaper BMW Z4 insurance in San Francisco with discounts
Companies offering auto insurance don’t list every policy discount in a way that’s easy to find, so we took the time to find some of the more common and also the lesser-known ways to save on car insurance.
- Own a Home and Save – Just owning your own home can earn you a little savings because it shows financial diligence.
- Telematics Data – Insureds who allow their car insurance company to monitor driving habits by installing a telematics device such as Snapshot from Progressive or Drivewise from Allstate might get better premium rates as long as they are good drivers.
- Low Mileage Discounts – Low mileage vehicles may allow you to get discounted prices on garaged vehicles.
- Federal Employees – Federal government employees may reduce rates when you quote San Francisco auto insurance with some car insurance companies.
- Discounts for Seat Belt Usage – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts may be able to save a few bucks off the medical payments premium.
- Savings for New Vehicles – Insuring a vehicle that is new can save you some money compared to insuring an older model.
- Discount for Good Grades – This discount can save 20 to 25%. Many companies even apply the discount to college students up until you turn 25.
- No Claims – Claim-free drivers pay less in comparison to drivers who are more careless.
Policy discounts save money, but most of the big mark downs will not be given to your bottom line cost. Most only apply to individual premiums such as comp or med pay. So even though they make it sound like you could get a free car insurance policy, you’re out of luck.
The diagram below compares BMW Z4 insurance rates with and without policy discounts. The data is based on a male driver, no claims or violations, California state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with homeowner, marriage, safe-driver, multi-policy, multi-car, and claim-free discounts applied.
A few of the larger companies and a summarized list of policyholder discounts include:
- State Farm may include discounts for Drive Safe & Save, good driver, driver’s education, multiple policy, and safe vehicle.
- Progressive offers discounts including multi-policy, online signing, homeowner, continuous coverage, and online quote discount.
- Travelers has discounts for IntelliDrive, driver training, home ownership, student away at school, multi-car, save driver, and early quote.
- American Family discounts include Steer into Savings, air bags, defensive driver, mySafetyValet, and accident-free.
- Liberty Mutual policyholders can earn discounts including new vehicle discount, safety features, newly married, newly retired, preferred payment discount, and multi-car.
Before buying, ask every prospective company which discounts they offer. All car insurance discounts might not be offered in your state. To see insurers that offer the discounts shown above in San Francisco, click here.
Rates and statistics
The coverage information displayed below highlights estimates of policy rates for BMW Z4 models. Understanding how insurance policy premiums are figured is important for you to make smart choices when selecting a policy.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Z4 3.0I SDRIVE 2-Dr Roadster | $260 | $564 | $454 | $26 | $136 | $1,440 | $120 |
| Z4 3.5I SDRIVE 2-Dr Roadster | $260 | $564 | $454 | $26 | $136 | $1,440 | $120 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Data based on single male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, claim-free, multi-policy, homeowner, and multi-vehicle. Estimates do not factor in your specific San Francisco location which can raise or lower prices considerably.
An analysis of deductible level
When buying auto insurance, a common question is the level to set your comp and collision deductibles. The tables below may aid in understanding how much more rates are when you buy lower versus higher insurance deductibles. The first rate table uses a $100 deductible for comprehensive and collision coverage and the second rate table uses a $500 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Z4 3.0I SDRIVE 2-Dr Roadster | $478 | $932 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,945 | $162 |
| Z4 3.5I SDRIVE 2-Dr Roadster | $478 | $932 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,945 | $162 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Z4 3.0I SDRIVE 2-Dr Roadster | $348 | $630 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,488 | $124 |
| Z4 3.5I SDRIVE 2-Dr Roadster | $348 | $630 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,488 | $124 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Above prices assume married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, claim-free, multi-policy, homeowner, and safe-driver. Premium amounts do not factor in zip code location which can raise or lower coverage prices substantially.
Based on these figures, using a $100 deductible could cost the average driver approximately $38 more each month or $456 annually than requesting the higher $500 deductible. Since you would have to pay $400 more to settle a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you usually have more than 11 months between claim filings, you would probably be better off by selecting a higher deductible.
How to determine when to raise deductibles
| Average monthly premium for $100 deductibles: | $162 |
| Average monthly premium for $500 deductibles (subtract): | – $124 |
| Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $38 |
| Difference between deductibles ($500 – $100): | $400 |
| Divide difference by monthly savings: | $400 / $38 |
| Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 11 months |
One big caveat is that raising deductibles to get cheaper rates results in a higher out-of-pocket expense when you file a claim. It will be required that you have some savings in order to pay more to get your vehicle repaired.
The information below illustrates how choosing a deductible and can change BMW Z4 insurance costs for each different age group. The prices are based on a married male driver, full physical damage coverage, and no additional discounts are factored in.
Annual premiums for males compared to females in San Francisco
The information below visualizes the comparison of BMW Z4 insurance rates for male and female drivers. Data assumes no accidents or driving violations, full physical damage coverage, $1,000 deductibles, single status, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
Exclusive or independent insurance agents
A lot of people prefer to sit down and talk to an agent. Professional agents can point out coverage gaps and help in the event of a claim. One of the benefits of getting free rate quotes online is the fact that you can find cheap rate quotes but still work with a licensed agent.
To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this form (opens in new window), your insurance coverage information is emailed to companies in San Francisco who want to provide quotes for your insurance coverage. There is no need to contact any insurance agencies as quotes are delivered straight to your inbox. In the event you want to get a rate quote from one company in particular, you would need to jump over to their website and give them your coverage information.
Choosing a insurance company needs to be determined by more than just the premium amount. Here are some questions to ask:
- Does the company have a local claim office in San Francisco?
- Can you choose the body shop in case repairs are needed?
- Do they assist clients in filing claims?
- Did they already check your driving record and credit reports?
- Will the company cover a rental car if your car is getting fixed?
- How are they compensated?
- Do they review policy coverages at every renewal?
- Can glass repairs be made at your home?
What types of car insurance agents are in San Francisco?
When searching for a reliable insurance agent, there are a couple of different agency structures to choose from. Insurance agencies in San Francisco can be categorized as either exclusive or independent. Either can write policy coverage, but it is a good idea to know why they differ because it can impact buying decisions.
Exclusive Insurance Agencies
Agents of this type write business for a single company and some examples include Farmers Insurance, American Family, State Farm and Allstate. Exclusive agents cannot provide prices from multiple companies so they have to upsell other benefits. Exclusive agencies are usually well trained on what they offer which aids in selling service over price.
Shown below is a list of exclusive agents in San Francisco that can give you rate quotes.
Alan Chan State Farm Insurance
1820 Van Ness Ave – San Francisco, CA 94109 – (415) 776-2190 – View Map
Farmers Insurance – Elbert Taylor
386 29th St – San Francisco, CA 94131 – (415) 285-4800 – View Map
Allstate Insurance: Dawn Prince
655 14th St – San Francisco, CA 94114 – (415) 552-6200 – View Map
Independent Agents
Independent agencies are appointed with more than one company so they can quote policies with lots of companies and get you the best rates possible. To transfer your coverage to a different company, an independent agent can move your coverage and you don’t have to find a new agent.
When shopping rates, it’s recommended you include price quotes from a couple of independent agencies to have the most options to choose from.
The following is a list of independent agents in San Francisco that are able to give rate quotes.
Robert E. Kennedy Insurance Agency
Flood Building, 870 Market St #740 – San Francisco, CA 94102 – (415) 951-0738 – View Map
Primeras Insurance Agency
3339 23rd St – San Francisco, CA 94108 – (415) 829-7312 – View Map
Scarborough Insurance Agency
329 Bryant St – San Francisco, CA 94107 – (415) 371-1398 – View Map
How Your Z4 Insurance Rates are Determined
An important part of buying insurance is that you know the different types of things that are used to determine your policy premiums. If you know what determines base rates, this enables you to make decisions that may reward you with big savings.
See if your company offers a multi-policy discount – The majority of companies will award lower prices to customers that purchase more than one policy. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. Discounts can amount to ten or even fifteen percent. Even if you already get this discount, you still need to shop around to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible. Consumers may find a better deal by splitting coverages up.
Liability protection is cheap – Liability insurance will protect you if ever you are found liable for physical damage or personal injury to other. It provides for a legal defense starting from day one. Liability is cheap when compared to the cost of physical damage coverage, so do not skimp.
Choose high crash test ratings and save – Vehicles that have high safety ratings tend to be cheaper to insure. Highly rated vehicles reduce the chance of injuries and fewer injuries means lower claim amounts and thus lower rates. If your BMW Z4 is rated at least an “acceptable” rating on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website you may qualify for a discount.
The type of car you drive affects your premiums – The performance of the car, truck or SUV you need insurance for makes a substantial difference in your auto insurance rates. The lowest base rates are generally reserved for smaller low performance passenger vehicles, but that’s not the only thing that factors into the final price.
The following data uses these assumptions: single female driver age 30, full coverage with $100 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. It illustrates BMW Z4 rates compared to other makes and models that have a range of performance rating factors.
Obey driving laws and save – Having a single chargeable violation can boost insurance rates by twenty percent. Careful drivers get better prices as compared to those with violations. Drivers with severe violations such as reckless driving or DUI may need to complete a SR-22 to the state department of motor vehicles in order to continue driving.
The example below highlights how speeding tickets and fender-benders increase BMW Z4 insurance costs for each age group. The costs are based on a married female driver, full physical damage coverage, $250 deductibles, and no other discounts are factored in.
Teenagers vs. older drivers – Young drivers in California are statistically shown to get distracted easily in a vehicle so car insurance rates are higher. Older, more experienced drivers tend to be more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents, and are generally more financially stable.
The chart below is based on a single driver, full coverage with $1000 deductibles, and no discounts or violations.
Insurance loss probability for a BMW Z4 – Companies analyze claim trends for every vehicle as a tool for profitable underwriting. Models that tend to have high amounts or severity of claims will cost more for coverage.
The table below demonstrates the insurance loss data for BMW Z4 vehicles. For each policy coverage type, the claim probability for all vehicles, as an average, is represented as 100. Numbers that are below 100 suggest a better than average loss history, while values over 100 indicate more frequent claims or statistically larger losses.
| Vehicle Model | Collision | Property Damage | Comp | Personal Injury | Medical Payment | Bodily Injury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW Z4 Convertible | 131 | 67 | 78 |
Empty fields indicate not enough data collected
Statistics from IIHS.org for 2013-2015 Model Years
Protect your BMW vehicle and other assets
Despite the high insurance cost for a BMW Z4 in San Francisco, insuring your vehicle is required for several reasons.
- Almost all states have minimum liability requirements which means you are required to carry a specific minimum amount of liability insurance coverage in order to license the vehicle. In California these limits are 15/30/5 which means you must have $15,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $5,000 of property damage coverage.
- If you have a loan on your BMW Z4, most lenders will force you to carry insurance to guarantee loan repayment. If you do not pay your insurance premiums, the lender will be forced to insure your BMW at a much higher rate and require you to fork over the higher price.
- Car insurance preserves not only your car but also your financial assets. It also can pay for medical transport and hospital expenses for you, your passengers, and anyone else injured in an accident. Liability coverage, the one required by state law, also pays expenses related to your legal defense if you are sued as the result of an accident. If you have damage to your BMW as the result of the weather or an accident, comprehensive and/or collision insurance will pay all costs to repair after the deductible has been paid.
The benefits of carrying adequate insurance more than cancel out the cost, particularly when you have a large claim. On average, a vehicle owner in San Francisco is wasting up to $865 each year so it’s very important to do a rate comparison at least once a year to make sure the price is not too high.
Affordable insurance is out there
You just read a lot of ways to save on BMW Z4 insurance in San Francisco. The key thing to remember is the more you quote San Francisco auto insurance, the better your chances of lowering your premium rates. You may even find the lowest car insurance rates are with the least-expected company. Some small companies may only write in your state and offer lower premium rates than their larger competitors like Allstate or State Farm.
Some companies don’t offer rates over the internet and most of the time these regional insurance providers work with local independent agents. Lower-priced insurance in San Francisco is possible online and from local agencies, and you should be comparing both to have the best selection.
More information is available on the following sites:
- Keeping Children Safe in Crashes Video (iihs.org)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for a GMC Sierra in San Francisco? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance for Postal Workers in San Francisco? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance Quotes for a Learners Permit in San Francisco? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Car Insurance Quotes for Uninsured Drivers in San Francisco? (FAQ)
- Credit and Insurance Scores (Insurance Information Institute)
- Understanding your Policy (NAIC.org)
- Side Impact Crash Tests (iihs.org)
- Insuring a Leased Car (Insurance Information Institute)