Updated July 29, 2026

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Jerry is your proactive car insurance assistant. We help you compare personalized quotes side-by-side from 100+ top insurers, explain coverage in plain English, and switch policies in minutes. No bouncing between sites. No pressure to buy. Just clear options, expert guidance when you want it, and a seamless way to get covered.

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Cheap car insurance in San Francisco, CA

San Francisco drivers pay an average of $473 a month for full coverage and $165 a month for state minimum. Jerry compares 100+ insurers to find you a lower rate in minutes, with no spam calls and no pressure.

$37

Lowest state minimum quote Jerry has found in last 12 months

$170

Lowest full coverage quote Jerry has found in last 12 months

$131

Average monthly savings for drivers who switch and find savings

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Author

Megan Lee

Megan Lee is an editor, writer, and SEO with expertise in insurance, personal finance, travel, and healthcare. Her work has appeared in U.S. News & World Report, USA Today, and more. She has led remote content teams and strategies for sites like NerdWallet. When she`s not working, Megan enjoys discovering new coffee spots and attending themed events.

Credentials:

• 16 years as a professional writer and editor

• 6 years covering personal finance

Insurance Writer

Reviewer

Stephanie Colestock

Stephanie Colestock is a writer, CFEI®, and licensed insurance agent with over 14 years of experience specializing in personal finance topics like insurance, investing, retirement, and household budgeting. Her work has been featured in TIME, Forbes, USA Today, and other leading publications. Through her writing, Stephanie simplifies complex financial concepts, empowering readers to make smarter financial decisions.

Credentials:

• Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI) (2024)

• General Lines Agent, Property & Casualty (2025)

• 14 years as a professional writer and editor

• 10 years covering personal finance

Licensed Insurance Agent

San Francisco has some of the highest car insurance costs in California, and rates here run above both the statewide and national averages in Jerry’s quoting data. What you actually pay comes down to a handful of local forces. San Francisco sits in one of the busiest vehicle theft areas in the country, and dense city traffic, expensive vehicle repairs and a high share of uninsured drivers all push claims costs up. The city’s steep hills, crowded streets and limited parking also contribute to more low speed collisions, scraped bumpers and vandalism claims than many suburban areas. California is also an at fault state that bans the use of credit scores in pricing, so your rate leans heavily on your driving record, your age and where in the city you park. Because insurers can’t rely on credit based insurance scores, they often place even more weight on factors such as your claims history, annual mileage and ZIP code. The result is a market where the same driver can be quoted very different rates from one carrier to the next.

Jerry compares 100+ insurers to help you save. We’ve found quotes for San Francisco drivers starting as low as $170 per month for full coverage (Root) and $57 per month for state minimum (GEICO) in the last 12 months. Where you land depends on your profile, your ZIP and which carrier prices your risk most favorably right now.

Real recent quotes Jerry found for San Francisco drivers

Here are some recent quotes Jerry has pulled for drivers in San Francisco. These aren’t sample rates — they’re actual quotes pulled for San Francisco drivers in the last 30 days. Driver profiles, ZIP codes and coverage levels vary.

Jerry pulls up to 20 quotes from top rated carriers.

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What are the cheapest car insurance companies in San Francisco?

Right now, GEICO is the cheapest average carrier for San Francisco drivers at around $57 per month for state minimum coverage — but “cheapest overall” doesn’t always mean cheapest for you.

One carrier tends to lead San Francisco pricing at both coverage levels in Jerry’s data, but the gap between insurers is wide, so the cheapest name for you depends on your profile. A few things shape which carrier ends up lowest:

• Coverage level and driver profile matter most. While  the cheapest option for San Francisco drivers with clean records is Root for state minimum coverage, that can change once you add full coverage or have a violation on your record. Root prices largely through a usage-based telematics program that tracks real driving, so quotes vary a lot from one driver to the next.

• Discounts add up. Bundling your auto policy with renters or homeowners insurance, adding multiple vehicles to one policy, and qualifying for safe driver discounts can lower your premium by more than simply switching insurers. Many companies also offer savings for paperless billing, paying in full or completing approved defensive driving courses. Before choosing a policy, ask each insurer to review every discount you may qualify for, since available savings can vary significantly from one carrier to the next.

• Your record follows you. A speeding ticket, at fault accident or DUI can reduce the number of insurers willing to offer you a competitive quote and may require an SR-22 filing depending on the violation. Some companies increase rates much more aggressively than others after a violation, so shopping around becomes even more valuable once your record changes. Comparing a broad mix of standard and non standard insurers often produces larger savings than simply renewing with your current company.

• Where you live in the city plays a role. Theft, vandalism, collision frequency and claim costs vary considerably across San Francisco neighborhoods, so two otherwise similar drivers can receive noticeably different quotes simply because they live in different ZIP codes. Insurers also consider whether your vehicle is parked on the street, in a driveway or inside a garage, since secure parking can reduce the likelihood of theft and damage. If you’re moving within the city, it’s worth getting fresh quotes because even a short change in address can affect your premium.

That said, the right carrier for you depends on your driving record, age, and whether you’re bundling or qualify for other discounts. Jerry compares all of these factors across 100+ insurers at once, so you’re not guessing which scenario applies to you.

GEICO is the cheapest car insurance company in San Francisco for state minimum coverage at an average of $57 per month. 

Cheapest carriers in San Francisco by average, state minimum coverage

Insurer	Average monthly cost	Cheapest quote we’ve found
GEICO	$57	$37
GEICO	$57	$37
Root	$69	$56
Mercury	$103	$66
Progressive	$106	$67

GEICO

Average monthly cost

$57

Cheapest quote we’ve found

$37

GEICO

Average monthly cost

$57

Cheapest quote we’ve found

$37

Root

Average monthly cost

$69

Cheapest quote we’ve found

$56

Mercury

Average monthly cost

$103

Cheapest quote we’ve found

$66

Progressive

Average monthly cost

$106

Cheapest quote we’ve found

$67

Last Updated Aug. 1, 2026

Based on Jerry data from the past 12 months.

Root is the cheapest car insurance company in San Francisco for full coverage at an average of $254 per month. 

Cheapest carriers in San Francisco by average, full coverage

Insurer	Average monthly cost	Cheapest quote we’ve found
Root	$254	$170
Mercury	$321	$192
GEICO	$331	$199
GEICO	$331	$199
Progressive	$331	$190

Root

Average monthly cost

$254

Cheapest quote we’ve found

$170

Mercury

Average monthly cost

$321

Cheapest quote we’ve found

$192

GEICO

Average monthly cost

$331

Cheapest quote we’ve found

$199

GEICO

Average monthly cost

$331

Cheapest quote we’ve found

$199

Progressive

Average monthly cost

$331

Cheapest quote we’ve found

$190

Last Updated Aug. 1, 2026

Based on Jerry data from the past 12 months.

Key takeaway: GEICO is the cheapest option for most San Francisco drivers, but the cheapest option depends on your coverage level, your record and the discounts you qualify for. Jerry shows you multiple quotes at once so you can compare and save.

Compare 100+ insurers through Jerry in less than 5 minutes

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Why is car insurance expensive in San Francisco?

Drivers in San Francisco with clean records average $334/mo, which is above the CA state average ($266/mo) and above the national average of $260/mo. That puts San Francisco among the pricier markets in the state and well above what most drivers pay nationally. The pressures that lift rates here are less about any single factor and more about how theft, dense traffic, high repair costs and uninsured drivers stack up in one city.

San Francisco car insurance rates by ZIP code

Where you park in San Francisco has a real effect on your rate, though it usually matters less than your age, driving record and the carrier you choose. In Jerry’s San Francisco data, the priciest ZIP codes run noticeably higher than the cheapest, driven by differences in theft, claims frequency and traffic. Two drivers with the same car and record can pay different amounts based only on which part of the city they call home.

Cheapest ZIP codes

The lowest San Francisco quotes in Jerry’s data cluster in the residential neighborhoods away from the downtown core, from the quieter west-side districts near the ocean to the hillside areas in the city’s center and southwest. These parts of town tend to see less through-traffic and lower theft and claims activity, which helps hold premiums below the citywide average.

Most expensive ZIP codes

The highest San Francisco quotes concentrate in and around the dense eastern and northeastern parts of the city, including the downtown core, South of Market and the busy commercial corridors nearby. Heavier traffic, more congestion and higher theft and claims activity in these areas push premiums above the city average.

San Francisco car insurance rates by driver profile

ZIP code gets a lot of attention, but for most drivers it’s the second or third biggest factor in their rate — not the first. Age, driving record and credit score typically move the needle more.

Here’s what Jerry’s San Francisco data shows for each, and what it actually means for your quote.

By age

Age is one of the strongest forces on a San Francisco car insurance rate, especially for the youngest drivers. Jerry’s San Francisco data shows a rate cliff around 25, resulting in a $63/mo drop between the 21-24 and 25-34 buckets for state minimum, and a $143/mo drop for full coverage. Insurers generally view younger drivers as riskier because they have less driving experience and file more claims on average, but that surcharge begins to shrink as drivers build a longer record behind the wheel. Rates typically continue to decline through middle age before edging up slightly for older drivers as claim severity and injury costs increase. If you’re under 25 and feeling the squeeze, it’s worth shopping for new quotes shortly after your 25th birthday, since insurers don’t all reduce their young driver surcharge at the same pace. Even if your driving history hasn’t changed, a fresh round of quotes can uncover meaningful savings.

Average cost of insurance in San Francisco by age group, state minimum

Average cost of insurance in San Francisco by age group, full coverage

By driving record

Having at-fault accidents adds 4% on average for San Francisco Jerry users. The rest of your record moves your price too, and the pattern is consistent across coverage levels in Jerry’s data. A single speeding ticket adds a moderate amount, an at-fault accident adds more, and a DUI carries the steepest surcharge of all.

The jump is largest on full coverage, where a DUI can push your rate up by the widest margin. Because a violation also narrows the pool of carriers willing to quote you, comparing a wide range of companies after a ticket, accident or DUI is the surest way to find your real lowest rate.

Average cost of state minimum coverage in San Francisco, by driving record

Average cost of full coverage in San Francisco, by driving record

By credit score

California is one of the few states that prohibits insurers from using credit scores when setting auto insurance rates, so your credit history has no direct effect on what you pay in San Francisco. Instead, state law requires insurers to rely much more heavily on factors such as your driving record, annual mileage and years of driving experience when calculating your premium. That means improving your credit score alone won’t lower your car insurance bill the way it might in many other states. Instead, maintaining a clean driving record, avoiding claims when possible and periodically comparing quotes are the most effective ways to reduce your costs. Any small differences you see across the credit tiers in the data below reflect other characteristics of those drivers rather than credit itself, which is why people with very different credit histories can end up paying similar rates in California.

Average cost of state minimum coverage in San Francisco, by credit score

Average cost of full coverage in San Francisco, by credit score

How Jerry finds car insurance savings for San Francisco drivers

If you’ve noticed your car insurance premium going up, you’re not the only one. Jerry helps San Francisco drivers find more affordable coverage by comparing up to 14 insurers in just minutes. Here’s a look at real quotes Jerry customers in San Francisco found when they shopped around.

Recent quotes

Learn more: Best car insurance in California

Calculate your car insurance costs

If you’re looking to find the cheapest car insurance in California, below are four top tips that Jerry’s agents have found.

Jerry Agent Tip 1: Always compare quotes from different companies

Checking quotes before your policy renews helps you avoid overpaying, no matter which coverage level you choose. Since insurers price driver profiles in San Francisco differently, the same coverage can come with very different price tags.

Here’s how those differences show up for real Jerry customers:

Recent customer quotes

Jerry Agent Tip 2: Save more by stacking discounts

Drivers in San Francisco can save by taking advantage of discounts for safe driving, bundling home and auto coverage or getting a quote early. These savings can add up quickly and make your policy more affordable without cutting back on coverage. 

The Jerry app automatically finds and applies the discounts you qualify for, so you don’t leave savings behind.

Jerry Agent Tip 3: Balance protection and price to find the right coverage

When you understand what each coverage level includes, it becomes easier to find protection that fits your life and your budget. Minimum coverage keeps premiums low and covers only what California requires to legally drive on public roads. Higher tiers offer added protections such as coverage for your own car and support with towing and rental costs after an accident. 

Here are four coverage tiers offered by Jerry so you can find the best fit for your needs and budget.

• Coverage Definitions

  Bodily injury liability (BI)

  • Who it pays: The other person, for injuries when you’re at fault in a crash.

  • What it covers: Medical bills, lost wages and legal costs for people injured in an accident you cause.

  • How it pays: Up to your policy limits, shown as two numbers. For example, 50/100 means $50K per person and $100K per accident.*

  • Do you need it? Required by law in every state except New Hampshire. Your state sets a minimum, but Jerry recommends considering limits of at least 100/300.

  Property damage liability (PD)

  • Who it pays: The other person, for property you damage in a crash.

  • What it covers: Costs to repair or replace another person’s car, fence, mailbox or other property you hit.

  • How it pays: Up to your policy’s limit. For example, $50K.*

  • Do you need it? Required by law in every state except New Hampshire. Your state sets a minimum, but Jerry recommends considering limits of at least $100K.

  *Bodily injury liability and property damage liability are typically shown as three numbers on your policy, like 100/300/100. The first two numbers represent your bodily injury limits per person and per accident, while the third number represents your property damage limit.

  Collision

  • Who it pays: You, for damage to your own car.

  • What it covers: Costs to repair or replace your own car after a crash with another car or object, like a guardrail or pole.

  • How it pays: You pay a deductible first, then insurance covers the rest, typically up to your car’s current market value.

  • Do you need it? Required if you’re financing or leasing your car. Optional otherwise, but recommended if your car is worth more than $5,000. May not be worthwhile for older, lower-value cars.

  Comprehensive

  • Who it pays: You, for damage to your own car.

  • What it covers: Damage from non-crash events like theft, vandalism, hail, flooding, falling trees, fire or hitting an animal.

  • How it pays: You pay a deductible first, then insurance covers the rest, typically up to your car’s current market value.

  • Do you need it? Required if you’re financing or leasing your car. Optional otherwise, but recommended if your car is worth more than $5,000. May not be worthwhile for older, lower-value cars.

  Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM)

  • Who it pays: You and your passengers, for injuries and property damage.

  • What it covers: Your own injuries and property damage when the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough to cover your costs, including hit-and-runs in many states.

  • How it pays: Up to your chosen limits, which often match your BI limits. There’s usually no deductible for UM, but UIM may have one.

  • Do you need it? Required in some states, but Jerry recommends every driver get it, since about 1 in 8 drivers does not have car insurance.

  Personal injury protection (PIP)

  • Who it pays: You and your passengers, for medical bills and lost income, no matter who caused the accident.

  • What it covers: Medical bills, lost wages, childcare, funeral costs and other expenses after an accident, regardless of fault.

  • How it pays: Up to your policy limit. There’s usually no deductible, though this varies by state.

  • Do you need it? Required in no-fault states. If available in your state, it’s worth considering.

  Medical payments (MedPay)

  • Who it pays: You and your passengers, for medical bills.

  • What it covers: Medical expenses after an accident, regardless of fault.

  • How it pays: No deductible. Pays up to your policy’s limit.

  • Do you need it? Optional in most states, but can be valuable if you don’t have health insurance or have a high-deductible health plan.

Get personalized car insurance rates now.

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Jerry Agent Tip 4: Pick the right deductible

Raising your deductible typically lowers your car insurance premium. Just be sure you can comfortably cover that cost if you need to file a claim.

Here’s a look at the deductibles Jerry drivers chose in the past year:

To find the ideal deductible:

• Check your car’s value (Jerry tracks this for you monthly).

• Choose what you can afford out-of-pocket.

• See how deductibles change your rate in real time.

California car insurance minimums: What’s required in San Francisco

California requires every driver to carry liability coverage, and the state raised its minimum limits at the start of 2025. Here are the minimum requirements in California:

• $30,000 per person for bodily injury liability.

• $60,000 for bodily injury per accident for multiple persons injured.

• $15,000 for property damage liability per accident.

These limits cover bodily injury and property damage you cause to others, not your own injuries or car. California does not require uninsured motorist, collision or comprehensive coverage, though insurers must offer uninsured motorist protection and lenders usually require full coverage on a financed car.

Because a single serious crash can easily cost more than the state minimum, many San Francisco drivers carry higher liability limits so they are not left paying the difference out of pocket. It is worth pricing out higher limits and full coverage to see how little more they cost. Jerry can help you find affordable car insurance starting at just $37/mo.

Methodology

To find the cheapest car insurance in each state, we use proprietary, real-world quotes from drivers — not third-party estimates. Each shopping journey includes multiple rounds of quotes, with information verified along the way.

At every stage, we aggregate and anonymize data to protect privacy and ensure accuracy. Because Jerry has delivered millions of quotes, often with multiple offers per driver, our datasets are large enough to avoid bias toward any one region, carrier or driver type.

Unlike other sites that rely on modeled rates, Jerry is a licensed insurance broker in 50 states, giving us firsthand visibility into how quotes are generated and validated.

Unless otherwise stated, rates reflect the last six months of verified full-coverage quotes for clean-record drivers. Data involving accidents or credit uses the last 18 months to ensure reliability.

Read more about Jerry’s data gathering and verification processes