Save Money on Nissan Altima Insurance in San Diego

How many years has it been since you compared the cheapest Nissan Altima insurance in San Diego? Finding low-cost insurance for a new or used Nissan Altima in California can turn out to be difficult, but you can use the following methods and make it easy. There is a better way to shop for car insurance and we’ll show you the proper way to compare rates on a Nissan and locate the cheapest rates from San Diego insurance agents and online providers.

Buying the cheapest car insurance in San Diego can be easy if you know a few tricks. If you are insured now or just want cheaper coverage, you can follow these tips to shop for the lowest rates without reducing coverage. Vehicle owners only need an understanding of the most time-saving way to compare prices instantly.

All major car insurance companies make it easy to get price estimates on the web. Getting Nissan Altima insurance prices online doesn’t take a lot of time as you just enter the amount of coverage you want into a form. After the form is submitted, their system requests reports for credit and driving violations and returns a price.

The ability to get online price quotes for Nissan Altima insurance in San Diego simplifies rate comparisons, and it is important to have as many quotes as possible if you want to get the lowest car insurance rates.

In order to find out how much you’re overpaying now, take a look at the companies shown below. If you have coverage now, it’s recommended that you enter coverages and limits exactly as they are listed on your policy. Using the same limits helps guarantee you will receive rate comparison quotes based on identical coverages.

The following companies offer free quotes in California. If several companies are displayed, we suggest you click on several of them in order to find the most affordable rates.

Prices based on single male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, claim-free, and homeowner. Premium costs do not factor in specific location which can impact premiums noticeably.

An analysis of deductible level

When shopping for auto insurance, a common question is what deductibles to buy. The following tables lay out the cost difference between high and low physical damage deductibles. The first price estimate table uses a $250 deductible for physical damage and the second set of rates uses a $1,000 deductible.

Prices based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, safe-driver, claim-free, homeowner, and multi-policy. Price estimates do not factor in vehicle garaging location which can increase or decrease price quotes noticeably.

Based on this data, using a $250 deductible would cost the average driver about $35 more each month or $420 every year than buying the higher $1,000 deductible. Because you would pay $750 more to file a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you average at a minimum 21 months between claim filings, you would come out ahead if you elect the higher deductible.

Save money with these five premium slashing discounts

Car insurance can be pricey, but you may be missing some discounts that could drop your premiums quite a bit. A few discounts will automatically apply when you complete an application, but less common discounts must be asked for in order for you to get them.

• Theft Deterrent System – Vehicles optioned with advanced anti-theft systems are stolen with less frequency and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
• Paperwork-free – A few insurance companies provide a small discount for buying a policy and signing up on their website.
• Student in College – Youth drivers living away from San Diego attending college and don’t have a car may be able to be covered for less.
• Driver Education Discount – Have your child enroll and complete driver’s education in school.
• Discounts for Good Drivers – Drivers who avoid accidents could pay up to 40% less as compared to drivers with claims.

Don’t be surprised that some of the credits will not apply to all coverage premiums. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. So even though they make it sound like adding up those discounts means a free policy, it doesn’t quite work that way.

A few of the larger companies and the discounts they provide are:

• Esurance has discounts for safety device, online shopper, multi-car, paid-in-full, renters, and Pac-12 alumni.
• The Hartford has savings for air bag, anti-theft, bundle, good student, defensive driver, driver training, and vehicle fuel type.
• AAA discounts include good driver, multi-policy, education and occupation, AAA membership discount, and multi-car.
• GEICO policyholders can earn discounts including driver training, multi-policy, emergency military deployment, defensive driver, anti-lock brakes, and air bags.
• State Farm offers premium reductions for defensive driving training, multiple autos, safe vehicle, accident-free, and student away at school.

When quoting, ask all companies you are considering which discounts they offer. Discounts may not apply to policyholders in every state.

Insuring your Altima just makes sense

Despite the high cost of buying insurance for a Nissan Altima in San Diego, paying for auto insurance may be mandatory for several reasons.

• Just about all states have mandatory liability insurance requirements which means state laws require a specific minimum amount of liability protection in order to license the vehicle. In California these limits are 15/30/5 which means you must have $15,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $5,000 of property damage coverage.
• If your Nissan Altima has a loan, almost all lenders will make it mandatory that you carry insurance to guarantee payment of the loan. If coverage lapses or is canceled, the lender may insure your Nissan for a lot more money and require you to reimburse them for the much more expensive policy.
• Auto insurance protects both your car and your assets. Insurance will also pay for medical bills for yourself as well as anyone injured by you. Liability insurance also pays expenses related to your legal defense if you are sued as the result of an accident. If mother nature or an accident damages your car, comprehensive (other-than-collision) and collision coverage will pay to repair the damage minus the deductible amount.

The benefits of having insurance are without a doubt worth the cost, particularly for liability claims. In a recent study of 1,000 drivers, the average customer is overpaying more than $700 annually so you should quote and compare rates each time the policy renews to make sure the price is not too high.

Tailor your car insurance coverage to you

Always keep in mind that when comparing proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no cookie cutter policy. You are unique.

These are some specific questions could help you determine if your insurance needs will benefit from professional help.

• Can I get a multi-policy discount?
• Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
• Is my Nissan Altima covered if I use it for business?
• Does coverage extend to a rental car in a foreign country?
• Are there companies who specialize in insuring high-risk drivers?
• What does PIP insurance cover?
• Do I benefit by insuring my home with the same company?
• Should I rate my Nissan Altima as pleasure use or commute?
• Why am I be forced to buy a membership to get insurance from some companies?
• Does my insurance cover damage caused when ticketed for reckless driving?

If you can’t answer these questions but one or more may apply to you then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form. It only takes a few minutes and can provide invaluable advice.

Compare rates but buy from a local San Diego insurance agent

Some consumers would rather talk to a local agent and that is a personal choice. Most agents can point out coverage gaps and give you someone to call. A nice benefit of comparing rates online is that drivers can save money and get lower premium rates and still choose a local agent.

To find an agent, once you fill out this form (opens in new window), your information is instantly submitted to participating agents in San Diego who can give free rate quotes for your business. There is no need to visit any agencies due to the fact that quote results will go directly to your email. In the event you want to get a rate quote from a specific insurance provider, don’t hesitate to visit that company’s website to submit a rate quote request.

Choosing a company should depend on more than just a cheap quote. The answers to these questions are important, too.

• Does the agency have a current Errors and Omissions policy?
• Do they see any coverage gaps in your plan?
• Can glass claims be handled at your home?
• Will vehicle repairs be made with aftermarket parts or OEM replacement parts?
• Do they offer accident forgiveness?
• Which members of your family are coverage by the policy?
• Does the agency have a positive business rating?
• How many years have they been established?

San Diego car insurance agents come in two flavors

If you prefer to buy insurance from a local San Diego insurance agency, there are a couple of different agency structures and how they work. Agents in San Diego can either be independent or exclusive. Both provide insurance policies, but it’s good to learn the subtle differences because it may have an impact on the selection process.

Exclusive Insurance Agents

Exclusive agents write business for a single company and examples are Farmers Insurance, American Family, State Farm and Allstate. Exclusive agencies are unable to provide other company’s prices so they really need to provide good service. These agents receive a lot of sales training on sales techniques which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums. Consumers frequently buy from exclusive agents mainly due to the brand name and the convenience of having a single billing for all their coverages.

The following is a list of exclusive agencies in San Diego who may provide you with rate quotes.

• Lazaro Neto – State Farm Insurance Agent
  4444 El Cajon Blvd #13 – San Diego, CA 92115 – (619) 229-6799 – View Map
• Allstate Insurance: Jing Zeng Financial and Insurance Service
  7323 Convoy Ct # B111 – San Diego, CA 92111 – (858) 268-7010 – View Map
• John Tran – State Farm Insurance Agent
  2820 Camino del Rio S Ste 310 – San Diego, CA 92108 – (619) 291-1787 – View Map

View more San Diego agents

Independent Agencies or Brokers

These agents are not locked into one company and that gives them the ability to insure with a variety of different insurance companies and find the cheapest rate. If your premiums go up, they simply switch companies in-house and the insured can keep the same agent.

When comparing insurance rates, you definitely need to get some free quotes from at least one independent agent to ensure the widest selection of prices. Many independent agencies also insure through additional companies that you may not be familiar with which can be an advantage.

Listed below are San Diego independent agents willing to provide comparison quotes.

• Nationwide Insurance: Keith Jackson Insurance Agency Inc
  1081 Camino del Rio S Ste 210 – San Diego, CA 92108 – (916) 742-6995 – View Map
• Alcott Insurance
  3945 Idaho St – San Diego, CA 92104 – (619) 293-3800 – View Map
• Stanley Wong Insurance
  4619 Convoy St # C – San Diego, CA 92111 – (858) 569-0383 – View Map

View more San Diego agents

Car insurance coverages 101

Learning about specific coverages of your policy helps when choosing which coverages you need and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be impossible to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.

Comprehensive coverages – This pays for damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You need to pay your deductible first then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive insurance covers claims like hitting a bird, fire damage, damage from getting keyed, damage from a tornado or hurricane and vandalism. The highest amount your car insurance company will pay is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

Liability coverages – This coverage can cover damages or injuries you inflict on other people or property that is your fault. Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. As an example, you may have values of 15/30/5 which means $15,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, $30,000 for the entire accident, and $5,000 of coverage for damaged property.

Liability can pay for claims such as bail bonds, medical expenses, court costs and repair costs for stationary objects. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a decision to put some thought into, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as high a limit as you can afford. California state law requires minimum liability limits of 15/30/5 but it’s recommended drivers buy higher limits.

Uninsured and underinsured coverage – Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle from other motorists when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. This coverage pays for medical payments for you and your occupants and also any damage incurred to your Nissan Altima.

Since many California drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (which is 15/30/5), their limits can quickly be used up. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is very important.

Coverage for medical payments – Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance reimburse you for immediate expenses such as X-ray expenses, surgery and prosthetic devices. They can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and also covers if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP is not universally available and may carry a deductible

Collision coverages – Collision coverage pays for damage to your Altima from colliding with an object or car. A deductible applies then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision coverage protects against things such as backing into a parked car, damaging your car on a curb and hitting a mailbox. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from older vehicles. You can also raise the deductible on your Altima to save money on collision insurance.