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Get Cheap Car Insurance in San Rafael, CA

We monitor insurance prices, helping the average driver in San Rafael save up to 33.7% on car insurance.

 

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The Cheapest Minimum Coverage in San Rafael

The chart below shows the cheapest car insurance company in San Rafael for a driver with a good record seeking minimum coverage on a mid-grade used vehicle. Values are estimated, and premiums may be lower or higher, but should be in an accurate order for a good driver. In general, drivers with good records will get the best prices through Metromile, followed by Geico, Progressive, and Travelers.

 
San Rafael Insurer Monthly Cost
Metromile $53
Geico $59
Progressive $63
Travelers $66

Savings for Every Kind of San Rafael Driver

The table shows how much the average auto insurance customer in San Rafael might save by following our recommendations.

Based on our extensive insurance data, we know the average San Rafael driver will save about 32% on car insurance. This isn’t marketing: this is unbiased data with no financial influence. The best auto insurance company depends on factors such as your driving record, home location, marital status, and age. The average driver will find themselves saving $669 per year by choosing the right vehicle insurance company. Some San Rafael residents are paying out over $2,091 extra every year for auto insurance in San Rafael. That cost may be even higher if you haven’t requested a new quote as your life situation changed.

San Rafael Car Insurance vs. California

People living in San Rafael pay an average of 4.14% more than the typical driver in the state. The average driver in San Rafael can expect to pay about $979 per year, or $2,091 for full coverage.

Based on our analysis, Metromile will be the cheapest provider in San Rafael for most people.

Car Insurance Prices by San Rafael Neighborhood

San Rafael, CA map of insurance costs by zip code and neighborhood

Insurance Prices

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Where is insurance cheapest within San Rafael?

The map shows insurance prices in and around San Rafael, with more expensive areas in red and places with cheaper car insurance in green. Insurance can vary by as much as $546 per year within the city boundaries, with insurance premiums ranging from a high of $2,441 to a low of $1,895. Insurance prices tend to be higher for those living in the Southeast area, and lower for those with homes in the Northeast parts of San Rafael.

Pick the Best Car Insurance Company for You in San Rafael

We have analyzed insurance costs for auto insurance customers based on the major variables that impact pricing. The results of our analysis are below, including US dollar savings. What about when you meet one or more of the criteria? For example, if you have both a DUI and a speeding ticket? Simply start with the San Rafael insurance provider for whom we have posted the highest savings dollar figure.

The best car insurance provider for most drivers in San Rafael

For drivers with clean driving records and no major strikes, Metromile is the best option, with annual savings of $669 over the average San Rafael car insurance company.

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We use the average good driver, paying $119 per month, as our baseline for pricing in San Rafael. Allstate, Metromile, and Esurance are all good choices for quotes if you have a clean record. See also the best providers for married people if you are married, and look for repeated company names.

The best car insurance provider for San Rafael drivers with accidents on their records

In San Rafael getting into an accident will raise premiums an average 44% for a yearly cost of $3,761. That's $1,669 per year more than a driver with no at-fault crashes on their driving record might pay. To avoid paying out more than you need to, Travelers, Metromile, and Mercury Insurance are good choices for drivers with accidents.

In our analysis, Metromile saved the average person who had been in an accident the most, with annual savings averaging $1,225 over the competition.

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The best car insurance company for San Rafael drivers with speeding tickets

>Metromile gave the average person with a speeding ticket the most savings, averaging $969 better than other car insurance companies.

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Depending on the insurance company, a speeding ticket can actually raise insurance premiums more than getting in an accident. In San Rafael, tickets raise premiums on new quotes about $1,061. If you have a speeding ticket, we recommend Geico, Metromile, and Mercury Insurance for savings that beat the average insurance cost of $3,152 per year.

The best auto insurance for San Rafael drivers with a DUI conviction

Getting a DUI can increase the cost of insurance dramatically. The average person with a DUI paid $5,296 per year in auto insurance premiums, which was $3,204 more than a driver with no major issues. Progressive, Travelers, and Mercury Insurance penalized their customers the least for a DUI.

Getting a quote from Mercury Insurance may cost the average person with a DUI about $1,702 less each year.

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The least expensive car insurance company for new and young drivers in San Rafael

In San Rafael, State Farm costs young drivers $874 less each year versus the average auto insurance bill.

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Teen drivers account for more than their share of accidents, and thus end up paying about 62% more for insurance than more mature drivers in San Rafael. With an average cost of $5,549 per year (for young drivers who aren't on a parent's plan), car insurance for inexperienced drivers can’t ever be called "cheap." A few companies like State Farm, Geico, and Mercury Insurance try to attract these younger drivers with lower prices in the hopes that they will stay with the company.

The best marriage discounts for vehicle insurance in San Rafael

Not everything is an excuse for the auto insurance companies to charge you more. Getting married provides an average discount of $207. Geico, Progressive, and Mercury Insurance provided the largest discounts to couples living in San Rafael.

Progressive gave the largest car insurance discounts to married couples, averaging $379 saved each year compared to an average San Rafael couple's premiums.

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The cheapest car insurance in San Rafael for drivers with bad credit

The state of California does not allow companies to use credit score to figure out premiums, so the prices are unchanged regardless of credit score

The best San Rafael car insurance company for customer service

Many car insurance companies over the years have struggled with customer service. In San Rafael, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) ranks Nationwide as the best. Another valuable metric: JD Power ranks American Family Insurance as the best provider in San Rafael.

Nationwide was the best company for customer service in San Rafael according to the NAIC.

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Recent price drops

Due to improvements in our tracking and methodology, we are unable to show price change data for the most recent year. This data will return next year (2023).

In 2020, at the peak of the global pandemic, {{top1_2020pricedrop_company}} changed their average price {{top1_2020pricedrop_company_percentage}}% in San Rafael, which was better than other insurers.

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During the Covid-19 pandemic a few insurance companies realized people were driving less and struggling overall. They proactively lowered their rates for many customers in San Rafael. We think helping communities in a time of need deserves special attention. Many insurance companies have advertisements telling us how much they care: we prefer to look at their actions.

The cheapest large national provider in San Rafael

Many customers have informed us that they prefer to work with large national brands. Maybe they're one of the 47% of San Rafael residents who are renting, and don't plan to be in the city or state for very long. Or maybe national recognition and funds make people feel more secure with a large provider. Regardless, Allstate tends to have the lowest prices for most drivers.

For customers who prefer to work with large national providers, we recommend Allstate for pricing. The average San Rafael driver can expect to pay about $129 per month.

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What About USAA?

JD power consistently ranks USAA as the top car insurance company in the United States. We don’t compare their rates because most people can’t sign up. USAA only allows active military members and their spouses and children to apply. In San Rafael, USAA has the best prices for good drivers, drivers with a DUI conviction, drivers with speeding tickets, young drivers, and drivers with accidents.
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Auto Insurance Prices in and Around San Rafael

What Influences the Cost of Car Insurance in San Rafael?

On average, car insurance in San Rafael is more expensive than the rest of the state. These high prices are no mystery to us. Coverage Watch tracks car insurance costs and uses a complex AI that finds related variables, and has determined car insurance prices in the city are influenced by the following factors:

  • The average commute time in San Rafael is 37 minutes, which is about the national average for a driver in the state.
  • California state insurance regulations may require higher prices.
  • An average of 0 weeks with snow on the ground, which impacts accident rates.
  • Marriage rates in San Rafael are lower than average in the state, and marriage often results in car insurance discounts.
  • Vehicle theft rates in the area are high, with a Vehicle Theft Crime Grade of D- according to CrimeGrade.org.
  • San Rafael is a lightly populated area in the state. The city’s density could result in a price decrease for drivers.

As a result of these and other factors, the average cost of car insurance in San Rafael is $82 per month for minimum coverage and $174 per month for full coverage. Costs vary widely based on your situation, and will likely be lower if you have a clean driving record and follow our insurance company research to find the best car insurance company for you.

Car Insurance in Nearby Cities

Cities with Similar Populations

* Who is the average San Rafael driver? Based on national demographic data provided by BestNeighborhood, we took a single unmarried man living in central San Rafael with good (but not perfect) credit driving a used midsized sedan. Data sources: proprietary data collection and analysis, unique to CoverageWatch.org All content copyright CoverageWatch.org. Journalists and other websites are free to cite any data with attribution.