We will be taking a 3 week trip through western California, starting in San Diego and ending in San Francisco with a rental car (large SUV). I’m concerned about everything I’m reading about car break-ins in the Bay Area. We’re staying outside SF in Daly City, but visiting SF each day to see and do various things. We know not to leave anything in the car and won’t be out late, but I’m hoping to get any other suggestions about where to park and how to avoid the rental car from getting broken into.

There are parking garages and surface lots around SF. Park in one of those, and leave the car for the day. SF isn't the kind of city where you drive from point to point and park again.

Other than the shock, what is your real concern if the rental car gets broken into? If it's property damage, make sure you have the appropriate insurance whether it's through your own auto insurance, your credit card, or through the rental car agency....If it's losing things, then do as you say you will and don't leave anything in the car.

Unfortunately I sort of agree with J62. Not a lot you ca do except have comprehensive insurance (be sure it fully covers glass) and don't leave anything in the car. A parking garage is your best bet.

However -- You say the trip ends in San Francisco. Are you sure you want to stay in Daly City and drive in/park every day? You honestly do not need a car to visit SF - turning in the rental and staying in in city might be a better option.

OR - a few of the nice Motels along/near Lombard Street include free secure parking

I know nothing about using BART, but aren't there multiple lines that run between Daly City and downtown SF?

I don't either but I think that turning the large SUV in ASAP and riding public transport into SF and within SF is the best option. BART has frequent trips from downtown San Francisco out to SFO.

I now avoid BART like the plague. Just not worth the hassles on either the trains nor in the stations.

. . . and it isn't just me. Even accounting for WfH etc, ridership is still less than half of pre-pandemic levels (or at least paid ridership is - fare skippers almost out number legit riders on some trains)

I’ve heard a lot of negative things about BART, and public transportation is difficult for us because I’m disabled with severe arthritis. I’m not able to walk long distances, especially on hills and not more than a few low stairs. We plan to see a lot of the sights driving around, and actually visit both MLB ballparks, Berkeley, the Ferry Building, the Sutro Baths, the Japanese Garden and Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park, Japantown and some of the scenic viewpoints. I also often will drop my older kids off to see something or go into some stores if I’m unable to, and I’ll just drive around or wait in the car. I do have a disabled parking placard that I’ll be using. I’m not sure how easy those spots are to find though.

I would not count on being able to find handicap spots near any places you'll want to drive around to. I recommend you park in one location - eg the a parking garage near the Ferry Building, or Pier39, or elsewhere, and take uber/lyft around town. It's what I do when I'm in the City for business that is scattered all over town. Mornings I'll walk the 0.5 to 1.0 mile to the convention center, but after evening dinners I'll take an uber/lyft back to hotel.

Places such as academy in GG park will (should) have parknig, and anythining outside the city such as Berkeley. Oracle Park (Say Hey) will likely have handicap spots as well.

J62 is right (again ) I wouldn't try to drive around for sightseeing and hope to find parking where/when you need it. Park in a secure garage and use uber/lyft/taxis to get around any of the central bits. Driving around to 'kill time' while the kids are shopping isn't rally a viable option in the City. You should be OK parking in Golden Gate Park and out at Lands End/Point Lobos/Sutro Baths

When we’ve gone to places like NYC and Boston we haven’t had a car and relied heavily on Uber/Lyft. I wasn’t sure if that was a good option in SF. It’s good to know that it is. We’ll definitely take advantage of that. Do the parking structures usually just have hourly rates, or daily rates as well?

Yes, most all of he garages have hourly/daily/early bird rates. Here is the Union Square Garage just as an example:

https://www.sfmta.com/garages-lots/union-square-garage

What hassles? The trains are not even full during rush hour. Most of the BART safety issues, with the exception of one shooting recently downtown, occur in the East Bay. We regularly take BART to go to the theater in Berkeley, i.e. in the evening, and have not had any problems.

https://www.google.com/search?sa=X&s...&bih=586&dpr=1

And using the Powell Street, Civic Center and Montgomery Street stations one needs to really be careful. Some stations are better than others of course.

Our rental SUV back window was smashed and some items stolen, when we parked at a parking lot across from the ferry.
There was a 'guard' at the parking lot,. Our car was parked two spaces down from him.
We figure he was involved, as it would have been impossible for the window to be shattered and he didn't hear or see it.
We were dumb tourists who left backpacks in the car. The parking lot attendant insisted we tell him when we'd be back. Big red flag that we did not recognize.
So be super careful and don't be dumb like we were!

Were just in SF for a wedding, after which a few people found their cars were towed away. Read the parking signs carefully. At a certain time, the tow trucks literally line up and haul away cars. The parents of the bride had their car towed! They are SF natives.

MoBro, don't assume the guard had anything to do with the smash/grab (he could have of course). But unfortunately security guards and employees are usually not allowed to intervene. Can even lose their jobs if they do.

What made us suspicious of him afterwards, was the fact that when we parked he kept pressing us to know when we’d be back. There was no reason for him to need to know that. We were dumb to tell him 7pm. It was a rental car, so we were obviously tourists. Not sure why our brains don’t always function in tourist mode!