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Should I rent a car in San Francisco?
I am planning a trip to San Francisco. This will be my first time visiting the city. Is renting a car in San Francisco a good idea?
Matt Nightingale · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
It sounds like you’re planning a great trip!
San Franciso
is a great city to see—but not so much to drive. Driving there can be very stressful, so you may not want to rent a car in San Francisco. Steep hills, confusing parking rules, and a hectic network of one-way streets can leave even the best drivers traumatized.Also, talk about expensive—overnight parking will cost you $30 to $50 per night, and parking near tourist spots will set you back $12 to $15 per hour.
The good news is that there are several transportation alternatives in San Francisco that you can take advantage of, such as:
- Public transit: The MUNI is a great transit system including buses, light rail trains, and the historic San Francisco streetcars.
- Cycling: San Francisco is very cyclist-friendly. You can rent a bicycle and not have to worry about being ticketed or towed.
- Hop-on hop-off tours: Hop-on hop-off tours allow you to jump on and off double-decker buses at your leisure as they wind their way through San Francisco’s tourist areas.
- Rideshares: San Francisco is the birthplace of the rideshare companies. Grab an Uber or a Lyft and leave the driving to someone else.
If you do decide to rent a car in San Francisco, you’ll want to make sure you have the best possible
car insurance
. The car rental company will offer you insurance, but you may already be covered by your policy. To get the best available rate on car insurance, use the
Jerry
app. Jerry compares quotes from over 50 top insurance providers and shows you the best ones. When you’re ready to switch, Jerry can help you cancel your old policy and finalize your new one—all within the app. View full answer
- Gregory R.
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