Lower Your 2011 Nissan Altima Insurance Quotes

Purchasing affordable auto insurance on the internet might seem impossible for people that are relatively new to comparing and buying auto insurance online. When there are so many insurers to choose from, how can people possibly compare them all to find the best price?

It’s smart to quote other rates at least once a year since prices change quite often. Despite the fact that you may have had the best quotes for Altima insurance six months ago you will most likely find a better rate today. Ignore everything you know about auto insurance because you’re about to find out how to use online quotes to lower your rates without sacrificing coverage.

Components of your Nissan Altima insurance costs

An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that are used to determine the rates you pay for car insurance. If you know what positively or negatively impacts your premiums, this enables informed choices that can help you get lower car insurance prices. Many factors are part of the calculation when pricing auto insurance. Some of the criteria are obvious like your driving record, but some are more transparent like your vehicle usage or your commute time.

• Annual miles is a factor – Driving more miles in a year’s time the higher the price you pay to insure it. A lot of companies calculate prices based upon how much you drive. Cars that sit idle most of the time qualify for better rates compared to those used for work or business. Make sure your declarations sheet reflects how each vehicle is driven, because improper ratings can cost you money. An improperly rated Altima is throwing money out the window.
• Drivers with excellent credit save on car insurance – A driver’s credit history is a large factor in your rate calculation. Drivers with very high credit ratings tend to be better risks to insure than drivers who have poor credit scores. Therefore, if your credit history can use some improvement, you could potentially save money when insuring your 2011 Nissan Altima by taking the time to improve your credit score.
• Optional features can affect premiums – Driving a car with a theft deterrent system can save you some money. Theft deterrent systems such as OnStar found on GM vehicles, advanced tracking like LoJack, and vehicle immobilization systems can thwart your car from being stolen.
• Rental and towing coverage may not be needed – There are a ton of additional coverages that can waste your money if you aren’t careful. Things like vanishing deductibles, better glass coverage, and additional equipment coverage are examples of these. You may think they are a good idea when discussing your needs, but if you have no use for them get rid of them and save.
• Traffic violations can be expensive – Careful drivers receive lower rates compared to drivers with tickets. Getting just one speeding ticket or other violation can increase rates by as much as twenty percent. Drivers unfortunate enough to have flagrant violations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may find they need to complete a SR-22 with their state motor vehicle department in order to prevent a license revocation.
• Multi-policy discounts can save money – The majority of companies apply lower prices to customers that have more than one policy. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. Even with this discount applied, you may still want to check prices from other companies to ensure the best deal. It’s possible to still save money by buying from different companies

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Free insurance quotes

The are a couple different ways to compare rate quotes from lots of insurance companies. The easiest way to comparison shop is to use the internet to compare rates. This is quite simple and can be completed by using one of the methods below.

• The simplest way to find low rates is to use a rate comparison form like this one (opens in new window). This type of form keeps you from doing separate quotation requests for every prospective company. Filling out one form will get you price quotes from several companies. It’s definitely the quickest method.
• A less efficient way to shop for insurance online is going to each company’s website and fill out their own quote form. For example, let’s say you are doing a rate comparison from USAA, Geico and American Family. You would have to spend time going to each site individually and type in your information over and over, and that explains why we recommend the first method.

  To view a list of companies in your area, click here.

The method you choose is up to you, but compare nearly identical coverage limits and deductibles for every quote you compare. If you have unequal deductibles or liability limits it’s impossible to decipher which rate is best. Just a small difference in insurance coverages could mean much higher rates. And when quoting insurance, remember that comparing a large number of companies increases the change that you will find a lower rate than you’re paying now. Not every company allows you to get online price quotes, so you also need to get rates from those companies as well.

Is there truth in advertising?

Well-known insurance companies like Progressive, Allstate and Geico constantly bombard you with ads on TV and radio. They all seem to try to convey promises that you can save just by switching your insurance coverage to their company. But how can every company sell you cheaper insurance coverage? It’s all in the numbers.

Insurance companies quote the lowest rates for the type of driver that will most likely be profitable. For instance, a profitable customer may be married and over the age of 30, has never had a claim, and drives a safe vehicle. Any customer that hits that “sweet spot” receive the lowest rate quotes and have a good chance to save quite a bit of money when switching.

Potential insureds who are not a match for these standards will probably have to pay a more expensive rate which results in business not being written. If you pay close attention to the ads, they say “customers who switch” not “all people who quote” save that kind of money. That’s the way insurance companies can confidently make claims like that. Because every company is different, drivers must get a wide range of price quotes. It’s impossible to know with any certainty which company will give you the biggest savings.

Earn discounts on car insurance

Companies don’t always list all possible discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so the following is a list of a few of the more well known as well as the least known car insurance savings.

• Discount for Swiching Early – Select larger companies give a discount for switching policies prior to the expiration date on your current policy. It could save around 10% when you buy auto insurance online.
• Active Service Discounts – Being deployed with a military unit can result in better premium rates.
• Data Collection Discounts – Drivers who elect to allow companies to scrutinize when and where they use their vehicle by installing a telematics device like In-Drive from State Farm and Progressive’s Snapshot might get better premium rates as long as the data is positive.
• Discounts for Responsible Drivers – Insureds who avoid accidents can pay as much as 50% less for Altima insurance compared to accident prone drivers.
• Auto/Life Discount – Larger insurance companies have a discounted premium rate on car insurance if you buy auto and life insurance together.
• Senior Citizen Rates – If you’re over the age of 55, you could receive a discount up to 10% for Altima insurance.
• Payment Method – By making one initial payment rather than spreading payments over time you can actually save on your bill.
• Discounts for Multiple Vehicles – Drivers who insure primary and secondary vehicles with the same car insurance company can reduce rates for all insured vehicles.

Discounts save money, but please remember that most of the big mark downs will not be given to your bottom line cost. Most only cut the price of certain insurance coverages like comp or med pay. If you do the math and it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, car insurance companies aren’t that generous.

Companies and a selection of discounts can be found below.

• Geico discounts include anti-theft, federal employee, daytime running lights, five-year accident-free, multi-policy, and emergency military deployment.
• Travelers offers premium reductions for payment discounts, multi-car, hybrid/electric vehicle, continuous insurance, good student, new car, and student away at school.
• Nationwide may have discounts that include good student, easy pay, business or organization, defensive driving, multi-policy, family plan, and anti-theft.
• Farmers Insurance has savings for pay in full, homeowner, early shopping, youthful driver, alternative fuel, teen driver, and good student.
• Esurance offers discounts including claim free, defensive driver, DriveSense, paid-in-full, and renters.
• State Farm offers discounts for good student, good driver, defensive driving training, student away at school, Drive Safe & Save, multiple autos, and accident-free.
• Progressive includes discounts for online signing, homeowner, multi-policy, online quote discount, continuous coverage, and multi-vehicle.
• Mercury Insurance has discounts for accident-free, low natural disaster claims, professional/association, type of vehicle, multi-policy, good student, and age of vehicle.

If you need lower rates, check with each insurance company which credits you are entitled to. Depending on the company, some discounts may not be available in your area. If you would like to view car insurance companies that provide some of the discounts listed above, click here.

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Tailor your auto insurance coverage to you

When buying proper insurance coverage, there is no “perfect” insurance plan. Everyone’s situation is unique.

Here are some questions about coverages that could help you determine whether your personal situation would benefit from an agent’s advice.

• Where can I find high-risk insurance?
• Am I covered if hit by an uninsured driver?
• Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
• When can I cancel my policy?
• Will filing a claim cost me more?
• Does my insurance cover damage caused when ticketed for reckless driving?
• Am I insured when driving a different vehicle?
• Do I need higher collision deductibles?
• Can my babysitter drive my car?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but you think they might apply to your situation then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form.

Specific coverages for a 2011 Nissan Altima

Having a good grasp of your policy aids in choosing which coverages you need for your vehicles. The coverage terms in a policy can be confusing and reading a policy is terribly boring.

Protection from uninsured/underinsured drivers

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

Because many people carry very low liability coverage limits, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is a good idea.

Auto liability

Liability insurance will cover injuries or damage you cause to a person or their property. This insurance protects YOU against other people’s claims. Liability doesn’t cover damage to your own property or vehicle.

Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. Your policy might show limits of 25/50/25 that translate to a $25,000 limit per person for injuries, a limit of $50,000 in injury protection per accident, and $25,000 of coverage for damaged propery.

Liability can pay for things like medical expenses, medical services, emergency aid and structural damage. How much coverage you buy is your choice, but buy as high a limit as you can afford.

Collision coverage protection

Collision coverage will pay to fix damage to your Altima from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. A deductible applies and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision coverage pays for claims such as colliding with a tree, sideswiping another vehicle, hitting a mailbox, crashing into a building and driving through your garage door. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. It’s also possible to raise the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Comprehensive (Other than Collision)

This covers damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first must pay your deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage protects against things such as falling objects, damage from getting keyed, a broken windshield, hail damage and hitting a deer. The maximum amount you’ll receive from a claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Medical expense insurance

Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP reimburse you for bills for things like rehabilitation expenses, pain medications, EMT expenses, funeral costs and dental work. They are utilized in addition to your health insurance plan or if you do not have health coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover both the driver and occupants in addition to any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP is only offered in select states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Make an honest buck

In this article, we presented a lot of tips how to lower your 2011 Nissan Altima insurance premium rates. It’s most important to understand that the more companies you get prices for, the better your chances of lowering your prices. You may even find the best premium rates are with a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising.

Some insurance providers do not provide rate quotes online and usually these smaller providers only sell coverage through independent agencies. Low-cost 2011 Nissan Altima insurance can be sourced both online as well as from independent agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to get a complete price analysis.

As you shop your coverage around, never reduce needed coverages to save money. There are a lot of situations where an accident victim reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to discover later that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The aim is to purchase plenty of coverage at the best cost, but do not sacrifice coverage to save money.

More resources

• What are my Rights when Filing a Claim? (Insurance Information Insitute)
• What Car Insurance is Cheapest for a Nissan Altima in Indianapolis? (IndyAutoGuard.com)
• Choosing an Insurance Company (Insurance Information Insitute)
• Coverage Information (Progressive Insurance)
• Safety Tips for Teen Drivers (Insurance Information Insitute)
• Top Signs Your Brakes are Giving Out (State Farm)

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