Car Insurance in San Francisco, California
Estimated full coverage in San Francisco runs about $1,760 a year ($147/month) — ▲ +13% versus the California average, ranking 2nd most expensive of the 77 California cities we cover.
Why car insurance in San Francisco costs more than the California average
Insurers price by territory, and San Francisco's numbers explain most of the gap. With 827,526 residents on 46.7 square miles, the city's density (17,726 people per square mile) is 7.8 times the density where the typical California resident lives (2,278). The average commute is 30.4 minutes (California: 28.7), and 29% of workers drive alone. Together these put our location factor at 1.14× the state baseline for liability and collision, and 1.08× for comprehensive once FEMA weather risk for San Francisco County is included.
| Factor | San Francisco | California ref. | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population density | 17,726 / sq mi | 2,278 / sq mi | More vehicles per mile of road means more fender-benders and claims. |
| Average commute | 30.4 min | 28.7 min | Longer daily drives add exposure to crashes. |
| Commutes over 60 min | 11.3% | — | Long highway commutes raise mileage-based risk. |
| Drive alone to work | 28.6% | — | Share of workers commuting by car. |
| Public transit to work | 18.7% | — | Transit use lowers how much residents drive. |
| Work from home | 31.0% | — | Remote workers may qualify for low-mileage pricing. |
| Households without a car | 30.2% | — | Context for non-owner and occasional-driver policies. |
| Weather hazard score (FEMA) | 44.8 | 64.0 | Hail, wind, flood and hurricane exposure drive comprehensive claims. |
Car insurance cost by ZIP code in San Francisco
Rates can change from one ZIP code to the next. Across 27 San Francisco ZIP codes, our full-coverage estimate ranges from $1,495 in 94129 to $1,835 in 94109. Denser, longer-commute neighborhoods estimate higher. Click a column to sort.
| ZIP | Population | Density / sq mi | Commute | No car | Est. full / yr | vs. city |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 94112 | 79,277 | 23,757 | 31.0 min | 13.9% | $1,795 | +2% |
| 94110 | 66,865 | 27,977 | 30.2 min | 25.8% | $1,800 | +2% |
| 94122 | 55,819 | 17,138 | 31.5 min | 16.1% | $1,770 | +1% |
| 94109 | 54,553 | 50,559 | 29.2 min | 51.8% | $1,835 | +4% |
| 94116 | 43,791 | 17,336 | 33.6 min | 11.0% | $1,805 | +3% |
| 94121 | 41,995 | 16,566 | 31.8 min | 19.8% | $1,775 | +1% |
| 94118 | 39,130 | 19,516 | 33.2 min | 22.7% | $1,810 | +3% |
| 94134 | 38,633 | 15,127 | 30.9 min | 14.1% | $1,755 | 0% |
| 94117 | 36,198 | 28,391 | 30.8 min | 33.3% | $1,810 | +3% |
| 94102 | 35,976 | 54,344 | 27.7 min | 68.8% | $1,820 | +3% |
| 94103 | 34,964 | 25,447 | 27.7 min | 53.4% | $1,755 | 0% |
| 94124 | 34,475 | 7,390 | 29.1 min | 16.8% | $1,665 | −5% |
| 94114 | 33,020 | 23,841 | 32.8 min | 25.4% | $1,820 | +3% |
| 94115 | 32,629 | 28,723 | 29.3 min | 34.7% | $1,785 | +1% |
| 94107 | 31,823 | 17,428 | 30.6 min | 29.3% | $1,760 | 0% |
| 94131 | 28,504 | 14,097 | 31.3 min | 10.5% | $1,750 | −1% |
| 94132 | 26,859 | 8,578 | 28.3 min | 14.2% | $1,670 | −5% |
| 94123 | 24,054 | 22,418 | 32.0 min | 26.1% | $1,805 | +3% |
| 94133 | 23,804 | 36,176 | 29.5 min | 48.8% | $1,810 | +3% |
| 94127 | 20,288 | 10,878 | 30.5 min | 6.8% | $1,720 | −2% |
| 94105 | 13,861 | 28,116 | 23.9 min | 35.7% | $1,705 | −3% |
| 94158 | 11,314 | 20,571 | 29.9 min | 23.3% | $1,765 | 0% |
| 94108 | 11,305 | 43,818 | 25.9 min | 70.2% | $1,775 | +1% |
| 94111 | 4,579 | 13,834 | 30.3 min | 39.3% | $1,735 | −1% |
| 94129 | 3,836 | 1,626 | 25.0 min | 1.6% | $1,495 | −15% |
| 94130 | 2,429 | 2,757 | 37.5 min | 23.2% | $1,695 | −4% |
| 94104 | 498 | 6,385 | 30.8 min | 74.2% | $1,680 | −5% |
Minimum car insurance in San Francisco
San Francisco drivers follow California's rules: at least 30/60/15 liability coverage. California is at-fault (tort). We estimate state-minimum coverage in San Francisco at $650 a year, and $910 for 100/300/100 limits.
| Coverage | Required? | Minimum | What it pays for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | Yes | $30,000 per person / $60,000 per accident | Injuries you cause to other people |
| Property damage liability | Yes | $15,000 | Damage you cause to other vehicles and property |
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | No | — California does not require personal injury protection. | Your own medical bills and lost wages, regardless of fault |
| Uninsured motorist (UM) | No | — Insurers must offer uninsured motorist bodily injury and property damage coverage; declining it requires a signed waiver. | Your injuries when the at-fault driver has no insurance |
| Underinsured motorist (UIM) | No | — Underinsured motorist coverage is offered with uninsured motorist coverage and can be waived in writing. | The gap when the at-fault driver’s limits are too low |
| Medical payments (MedPay) | No | — Medical payments coverage is optional. | Medical bills for you and your passengers |
Income-eligible good drivers can meet the law through the California Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program at lower limits of 10/20/3.
Minimums were raised recently from 15/30/5.
Risk factors that shape San Francisco premiums
Accidents
California recorded 3,876 traffic deaths, or 1.19 per 100 million vehicle miles (U.S.: 1.19), in the latest full year of federal crash data. Local crash frequency is folded into our density and commute factors.
Vehicle theft
California's vehicle theft rate is 317 per 100,000 residents (U.S.: 197). The most-stolen vehicle in the state is the Chevrolet Pickup (Full Size) (NICB). Theft losses are paid by comprehensive coverage.
Weather
FEMA rates San Francisco County as very low for hail, relatively high for inland flooding and very low for strong wind.
Traffic & commuting
11.3% of San Francisco commuters spend an hour or more getting to work, and there are 1.05 vehicles per household. 31.0% work from home — worth mentioning to insurers that offer low-mileage pricing.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Score (0–100) | Insurance impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 18.1 | Comprehensive (car); roof claims (home) | |
| Tornado | 34.9 | Comprehensive; dwelling | |
| Hurricane | — | Comprehensive; wind/hurricane deductibles (home) | |
| Inland (river) flooding | 98.6 | Comprehensive; home needs a separate flood policy | |
| Coastal flooding | 62.0 | Comprehensive; home needs a separate flood policy | |
| Strong wind | 10.3 | Comprehensive; dwelling | |
| Winter weather | 1.2 | Collision (icy roads); frozen pipes (home) |
Scores are national percentiles of FEMA's county risk (higher means more expected loss than most other U.S. counties).
Estimated car insurance in San Francisco by driver profile
A clean-record driver in their 50s pays the least in our San Francisco model (about $1,620 for full coverage); an 18-year-old on their own policy pays about $4,840, and a DUI pushes a 30-something to $3,255.
| Driver | Minimum | Standard | Full coverage | Full / month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teen driver (18, own policy) | $1,790 | $2,495 | $4,840 | $403 |
| Young adult (22) | $1,040 | $1,450 | $2,815 | $235 |
| Adult in their 30s | $650 | $910 | $1,760 | $147 |
| Adult in their 50s | $600 | $835 | $1,620 | $135 |
| Senior (72) | $730 | $1,015 | $1,970 | $164 |
| 30s, one at-fault accident | $945 | $1,315 | $2,550 | $213 |
| 30s, DUI on record | $1,205 | $1,680 | $3,255 | $271 |
Minimum vs. standard vs. full coverage in San Francisco
| Coverage level | What it includes | Per year | Per month | Typical range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State minimum liability | Only the liability (and PIP/UM where required) limits your state mandates. No coverage for your own car. | $650 | $54 | $535–$770 |
| Standard liability (100/300/100) | Higher liability limits plus uninsured motorist coverage. Still no coverage for damage to your own car. | $910 | $76 | $745–$1,070 |
| Full coverage | Standard liability plus collision and comprehensive, typically required on a financed or leased car. | $1,760 | $147 | $1,445–$2,075 |
Estimate your premium in San Francisco
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Cheap car insurance in San Francisco: how to lower your rate
The cheapest policy is the one that fits your situation. These levers are priced with San Francisco's own numbers:
| Change | Est. yearly savings | Good fit if… |
|---|---|---|
| Raise collision/comprehensive deductible from $500 to $1,000 | $120 | You have savings to cover a bigger out-of-pocket repair. |
| Low-mileage / usage-based pricing (under 7,500 mi) | $125 | You're among the 31.0% of San Francisco workers who work from home, or you rarely drive. |
| Drop collision & comprehensive on an older car | $465 | The car is paid off and worth little more than a year of premiums. |
| Standard (100/300/100) instead of full coverage | $850 | No loan or lease requires physical-damage coverage. |
| Avoid one speeding ticket | $385 | Everyone — violations typically affect rates for three to five years. |
Also ask about bundling, good-student, paid-in-full and defensive-driving discounts, and re-shop at every renewal — the same driver can be priced very differently by different insurers. We don't recommend specific companies. Common car insurance discounts.
Comparing car insurance quotes in San Francisco
- Use identical limits and deductibles on every quote — e.g. 100/300/100 liability with $1,000 deductibles — or prices aren't comparable.
- Get quotes from different channels: captive agents, independent agents who quote several insurers, and direct online insurers. There are 81 offices listed below.
- Check complaint records with the California Department of Insurance (complaint information) before you buy.
- Mention your ZIP code accurately — within San Francisco, our estimates differ by up to $340 a year between neighborhoods.
Car insurance agents near San Francisco, CA
We found 81 insurance offices within about 5 miles of central San Francisco, from open map data. Hover over a listing to show it on the map, click it to open the address in Google Maps, or tap it on a phone to start navigation. We don't sell insurance, rate these offices or receive anything from them.
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David Velez - Farmers Insurance
391 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94108 -
Jake Stewart - State Farm
490 Post Street, Suite 1606, San Francisco, CA 94102 -
Nancy Xiu Zhen Hu - Farmers Insurance
870 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102 -
AAA Insurance
CA -
Henry De Guzman Cruz - Allstate
369 Pine St, Ste 618, San Francisco, CA 94104 -
Eric Paul Gee - Farmers Insurance
1160 Battery St, San Francisco, CA 94111 -
Tat Wai Tam - Farmers Insurance
555 Montgomery St, San Francisco, CA 94111 -
Metromile
CA -
Farmers Insurance
821 Folsom Street, #101, , CA -
Jaime Maldonado Maldonado - Farmers Insurance
250 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133 -
State Farm
188 South Park, #4, , CA -
Darlene Chow - State Farm
206 Spear Street, San Francisco, CA 94105 -
Alan Chan - State Farm
1820 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94109 -
Katherine Lyn Beckheyer - Farmers Insurance
1390 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102 -
Clarence Emil Castillo - Farmers Insurance
601 4th St, San Francisco, CA 94107 -
Alexander Matthew Castillo - Farmers Insurance
350 Townsend St, San Francisco, CA 94107 -
Jong Kyu Lee - Farmers Insurance
1610 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94115 -
Wayne Jian Rong Wu - Farmers Insurance
2655 Van Ness Ave, #1, San Francisco, CA 94109 -
State Farm
CA -
Allstate
3030 Larkin Street, #A, , CA -
Lilly Wong - State Farm
2184 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94115 -
State Farm
1734 Divisadero Street, , CA -
Alexis Felix Quintero - Allstate
655 14th St, San Francisco, CA 94114 -
Victor Bull - State Farm
3288 Steiner Street, Suite 200A, San Francisco, CA 94123 -
Fred Loya Insurance
CA -
Tucker Williams - State Farm
1536 20th street, San Francisco, CA 94107 -
Kristopher McArdle - State Farm
2446 Lombard St., San Francisco, CA 94123 -
Deborah Mc Ardle - State Farm
2444 Lombard St., San Francisco, CA 94123 -
Janet Lin - State Farm
2190 3rd St, San Francisco, CA 94107 -
Ben Carr - State Farm
3361 20th Street, San Francisco, CA 94110 -
Nelson Giovanny Soto Cobos - Farmers Insurance
3186 21st St, San Francisco, CA 94110 -
Toby Hing Lee - Farmers Insurance
2886 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94118 -
State Farm
556 Castro Street, , CA 94114 -
Primera Insurance Agency
3339 23rd Street, , CA -
State Farm
3425 25th Street, , CA -
Tiffany Won - State Farm
1250 Missouri Street, Unit 305, San Francisco, CA 94107 -
Phil Bertetta - State Farm
3524 Geary Boulevard, San Francisco, CA 94118 -
Curtis Lee
648 Stanyan Street, , CA -
Ed Hidalgo - State Farm
4201 California St, San Francisco, CA 94118 -
State Farm
1501 Church Street, San Francisco, CA
Map © Google. Office list: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0) - https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright; All The Places (alltheplaces.xyz), data released under the CC-0 waiver; run 2026-09-19-13-32-18. OSM license. Listings are informational and may be out of date.
Insurance cost of popular cars in San Francisco
| Model | Segment | Est. full coverage / yr | vs. average car |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honda CR-V | Small SUV | $1,315 | −25% |
| Subaru Outback | Wagon | $1,290 | −27% |
| Tesla Model 3 | Midsize car | $1,915 | +9% |
| Subaru Forester | Small SUV | $1,265 | −28% |
| Honda Civic | Compact car | $2,040 | +16% |
| Toyota Corolla | Compact car | $1,885 | +7% |
| Jeep Wrangler | Midsize SUV | $1,460 | −17% |
| Mazda CX-5 | Small SUV | $1,495 | −15% |
| MINI Cooper | Subcompact car | $1,335 | −24% |
| Tesla Model Y | Midsize SUV | $1,720 | −2% |
More car insurance topics in San Francisco
Car insurance in nearby California cities
- Berkeley $1,685/yr · 8 mi
- Oakland $1,680/yr · 10 mi
- Richmond $1,675/yr · 12 mi
- San Mateo $1,630/yr · 17 mi
- Hayward $1,640/yr · 20 mi
- Vallejo $1,680/yr · 23 mi
- Concord $1,660/yr · 26 mi
- Fremont $1,600/yr · 33 mi
- Sunnyvale $1,570/yr · 35 mi
- Antioch $1,795/yr · 36 mi
- Santa Clara $1,565/yr · 38 mi
- Fairfield $1,600/yr · 39 mi
All California cities and state rules · Homeowners insurance in San Francisco
Frequently asked questions
How much is car insurance in San Francisco, CA?
We estimate full coverage in San Francisco at about $1,760 a year ($147 a month) for a driver in their 30s with a clean record, and about $650 for California's minimum liability coverage. Real quotes vary by insurer, driver and vehicle.
Why is car insurance in San Francisco more expensive than the California average?
Our San Francisco estimate is 13% higher than the statewide figure. The model reflects a population density of 17,726 people per square mile (the typical California resident lives at about 2,278) and an average commute of 30.4 minutes versus 28.7 statewide. Denser traffic and longer drives mean more claims, which insurers price into local rates.
What car insurance is required in San Francisco?
Drivers in San Francisco follow California law: at least 30/60/15 liability coverage.
Which ZIP code in San Francisco has the cheapest car insurance?
Among San Francisco's 27 ZIP codes, 94129 has the lowest estimate (about $1,495 a year for full coverage) and 94109 the highest (about $1,835), mainly because of differences in density and commute times.
How much is car insurance for a teenager in San Francisco?
An 18-year-old with their own full-coverage policy would pay around $4,840 a year in San Francisco by our estimate ($1,790 for minimum coverage). Adding a teen to a parent's policy is usually cheaper.
Does weather affect car insurance in San Francisco?
Yes. FEMA's National Risk Index rates San Francisco County for inland (river) flooding (relatively high) risk. Weather mainly affects the comprehensive part of a policy, which pays for hail, flood and wind damage.
Are there car insurance agents near me in San Francisco?
We list 81 insurance offices in and around San Francisco, with addresses, phone numbers where published, and directions. We don't sell insurance or rank these offices.
How we estimate this
We start from the state's average liability, collision and comprehensive premiums published by the NAIC, then apply a location factor (population density and commute time from the Census ACS, weather hazard scores from FEMA's National Risk Index), a vehicle factor (HLDI insurance-loss data where available, otherwise vehicle segment), and a driver-profile multiplier. Results are rounded ranges for comparison, not quotes. Read the full methodology.
- California DMV: Auto Insurance Requirements
- California Department of Insurance: Automobile Insurance guide
- California DMV: Financial Responsibility (Insurance)
- California Department of Insurance: Compare Insurance Premiums
- California Department of Insurance: File a Complaint
- NAIC 2022/2023 Auto Insurance Database Report
- NAIC Homeowners Insurance Report: Data for 2023
- Insurance Research Council uninsured motorist estimates (via Triple-I)
- IIHS Fatality Facts: state by state
- FBI Crime Data Explorer: Crime in the United States 2025 (Table 4)
- NICB 2022 Vehicle Theft Data: top 10 stolen vehicles by state
- FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, Table DL-1C (licensed drivers)
- FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, Table MV-1 (registrations)
- FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, Table VM-2 (vehicle-miles traveled)
- U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2024 population estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (San Francisco and ZIP code tabulation areas)
- U.S. Census Bureau population estimates and Gazetteer files
- FEMA National Risk Index (county hazard ratings)
- Insurance office locations: OpenStreetMap contributors and All The Places