Unthinkable but true, the vast majority of car insurance customers kept buying from the same company for more than four years, and just short of a majority have never quoted rates to find cheap coverage. Most drivers in Durham could save roughly 10% every year, but they don’t know how much savings they would realize if they switched to a more affordable policy.
If your goal is the lowest price, then the best way to get cheaper auto insurance rates in Durham is to start comparing rates regularly from insurers who sell insurance in North Carolina.
First, get an understanding of how car insurance works and the things you can change to keep rates low. Many policy risk factors that increase rates like multiple speeding tickets and a low credit score can be amended by making lifestyle changes or driving safer.
Second, quote rates from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Exclusive and direct companies can provide rates from one company like GEICO and Allstate, while independent agents can provide rate quotes for many different companies.
Third, compare the new rate quotes to your existing rates and determine if there is any savings. If you can save money and buy the policy, ensure coverage does not lapse between policies.
The most important part of shopping around is that you’ll want to make sure you compare the same level of coverage on each quote and and to get prices from as many different companies as possible. Doing this enables a fair price comparison and and a good selection of different prices.
Finding affordable insurance coverage in Durham is really not that difficult. Just about each driver who is shopping for insurance will be able to find lower rates. But North Carolina car owners must comprehend the way insurance companies determine premium rates and take advantage of how the system works.
The quickest method we recommend to compare insurance rates from multiple companies is to know the fact car insurance companies actually pay money for the chance to give free rates quotes. To get started, all you need to do is spend a couple of minutes providing details including whether your vehicle is owned or leased, any included safety features, whether you have decent credit, and coverage limits. Your details is instantly sent to insurance carriers in your area and they return rate quotes very quickly.
To find lower affordable Nissan Maxima insurance rates now, click here and complete the quick form.
The auto insurance companies shown below offer free quotes in Durham, NC. To find the best auto insurance in Durham, we recommend you visit several of them to get the cheapest price.
Statistics and details
The information displayed next outlines detailed analysis of insurance prices for Nissan Maxima models. Being able to understand how policy premiums are established can aid in making smart choices when choosing a car insurance company.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maxima 3.5 S | $150 | $240 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $728 | $61 |
| Maxima 3.5 SV | $150 | $276 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $764 | $64 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Above prices assume married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-vehicle, claim-free, safe-driver, and multi-policy. Price information does not factor in your specific Durham location which can raise or lower premiums greatly.
Should you raise deductibles?
One of the hardest decisions when shopping for car insurance is where should you set your physical damage deductibles. The tables below outline the rate difference between low and high policy deductibles. The first rate estimation uses a $250 deductible for comprehensive and collision coverage and the second rate table uses a $500 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maxima 3.5 S | $242 | $382 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $987 | $82 |
| Maxima 3.5 SV | $242 | $440 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $1,045 | $87 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maxima 3.5 S | $196 | $308 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $842 | $70 |
| Maxima 3.5 SV | $196 | $354 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $888 | $74 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Price data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, claim-free, and homeowner. Prices do not factor in vehicle garaging location which can change premiums substantially.
Using the premium rates above, we can conclude that using a $250 deductible costs approximately $13 more each month or $156 every year than requesting the higher $500 deductible. Because you would be required to pay $250 more to settle a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you tend to go at a minimum 19 months between claims, you would save more money by selecting a higher deductible.
Full coverage or liability only
The example below illustrates the difference between Nissan Maxima insurance costs with liability coverage only compared to full coverage. The premiums are based on no claims or driving citations, $250 deductibles, marital status is single, and no discounts are applied.
When to buy liability coverage only
There is no set guideline to delete full coverage on your policy, but there is a general guideline you can use. If the yearly cost for physical damage coverage is 10% or more of the replacement cost of your vehicle minus the policy deductible, then it may be the right time to buy liability only.
For example, let’s pretend your Nissan Maxima book value is $7,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled in an accident, the most your company would pay you is $6,000 after the deductible is paid. If you are currently paying more than $600 annually to have full coverage, then you may need to consider dropping full coverage.
There are some situations where dropping full coverage is not recommended. If you still owe a portion of the original loan, you have to maintain full coverage as part of the loan conditions. Also, if your savings is not enough to buy a different vehicle if your current one is totaled, you should keep full coverage on your policy.
Car insurance discounts help lower rates for Nissan Maxima insurance in Durham
Car insurance is expensive, but you might be missing out on some discounts to help offset the cost. A few discounts will automatically apply at the time of quoting, but some discounts are required to be requested specifically before they will apply.
- Payment Method – If paying your policy premium upfront rather than paying in monthly installments you could save 5% or more.
- Life Insurance – If the company offers life insurance, you could get a discount if you purchase auto and life insurance together.
- Theft Deterrent Discount – Cars equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems help deter theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
- Student Driver Training – Teen drivers should enroll and complete driver’s education if it’s offered in school.
- Save with a New Car – Insuring a new Maxima may earn a small discount due to better safety requirements for newer models.
- Claim-Free Discount – Claim-free drivers can earn big discounts when compared with frequent claim filers.
It’s important to note that most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. Some only reduce specific coverage prices like comp or med pay. Despite the appearance that adding up those discounts means a free policy, that’s just not realistic.
The diagram below compares Nissan Maxima car insurance costs with and without discounts being applied to the rates. The rates are based on a male driver, no claims or driving violations, North Carolina state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $100 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with safe-driver, multi-car, marriage, homeowner, multi-policy, and claim-free discounts applied.
The best car insurance companies and some of their more popular discounts are shown below.
- Progressive includes discounts for online signing, online quote discount, multi-policy, homeowner, multi-vehicle, and good student.
- The Hartford offers discounts for driver training, good student, air bag, anti-theft, defensive driver, vehicle fuel type, and bundle.
- Mercury Insurance may include discounts for location of vehicle, ease of repair, low natural disaster claims, anti-theft, and type of vehicle.
- GEICO offers discounts including five-year accident-free, multi-policy, air bags, federal employee, anti-lock brakes, and driver training.
- AAA may have discounts that include good driver, AAA membership discount, good student, multi-policy, and education and occupation.
- State Farm policyholders can earn discounts including driver’s education, multiple policy, defensive driving training, good student, anti-theft, safe vehicle, and student away at school.
It’s a good idea to ask each company or agent which discounts they offer. All car insurance discounts might not be available to policyholders in your state. To find insurance companies that offer some of these discounts in Durham, click this link.
Auto insurance in North Carolina serves several purposes
Despite the high cost of buying insurance for a Nissan Maxima in Durham, maintaining insurance is required by state law in North Carolina and it also provides benefits you may not be aware of.
- Almost all states have compulsory liability insurance requirements which means you are required to buy specific minimum amounts of liability insurance coverage in order to be legal. In North Carolina these limits are 30/60/25 which means you must have $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $60,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $25,000 of property damage coverage.
- If you have a lien on your Nissan, it’s guaranteed your bank will stipulate that you buy insurance to guarantee loan repayment. If coverage lapses or is canceled, the bank will be required to insure your Nissan at a much higher rate and require you to fork over the higher premium.
- Insurance safeguards both your Nissan and your personal assets. It will also reimburse you for medical expenses that are the result of an accident. One of the most valuable coverages, liability insurance, will also pay attorney fees in the event you are sued. If your vehicle suffers damage from an accident or hail, your auto insurance policy will cover the repair costs.
The benefits of carrying adequate insurance outweigh the cost, especially if you ever need it. Today the average American driver is overpaying more than $820 a year so compare rates at every policy renewal to ensure rates are competitive.
Situations that may require an agent’s advice
When it comes to your policy, there isn’t really a one-size-fits-all type of policy. Each situation is unique.
These are some specific questions might point out if your insurance needs may require specific advice.
- Do I need rental car coverage?
- I have a DUI can I still get coverage?
- Which companies are cheaper for teen drivers?
- Do I need PIP coverage since I have good health insurance?
- What is motorclub and do I need it?
- Are rock-chip repairs free?
- Do I have coverage when using my vehicle for my home business?
- Can I pay claims out-of-pocket if I buy high deductibles?
- Is my teen driver covered when they drive my company car?
If you’re not sure about those questions but you know they apply to you then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, simply complete this short form.
Insurance agent or online?
A small number of people still like to visit with an insurance agent and often times that is recommended The best thing about comparing insurance online is that drivers can save money and get lower rates and still choose a local agent.
To find an agent, once you fill out this simple form, the coverage information gets sent to participating agents in Durham who will give you quotes for your insurance coverage. You don’t have to do any legwork since rate quotes are delivered immediately to your email address. It’s the lowest rates without having to waste a lot of time. If you wish to get a comparison quote from a particular provider, just visit that company’s website and fill out the quote form the provide.
Picking the best provider shouldn’t rely on just the price. Any agent in Durham should have no problem answering these questions:
- What insurance companies do they recommend if they are an independent agent?
- Is the agent CPCU or CIC certified?
- Do they specialize in personal lines auto insurance in Durham?
- Which members of your family are coverage by the policy?
- Will vehicle repairs be made with aftermarket parts or OEM replacement parts?
- What company do they have the most business with?
The different types of auto insurance agents
When researching a local Durham insurance agent, there are a couple of different agency structures and how they function. Insurance agents in Durham are categorized either independent agents or exclusive agents depending on their employer.
Exclusive Insurance Agencies
These agents can usually just insure with one company like Allstate, Farmers Insurance or State Farm. These agents are not able to provide rate quotes from other companies so keep that in mind. Exclusive agents are trained well on their products and sales techniques and that allows them to sell at a higher price point. Consumers frequently use the same exclusive agent primarily because of the prominent brand name rather than low rates.
Listed below are exclusive agencies in Durham willing to provide rate quotes.
- Marty Lindsey – State Farm Insurance Agent
1852 Hillandale Rd – Durham, NC 27705 – (919) 479-9671 – View Map - NC Farm Bureau Insurance
2902 S Miami Blvd Ste A – Durham, NC 27703 – (919) 544-4953 – View Map - Allstate Insurance Agent: Michelle Riley
6015 Fayetteville Rd Ste 115 – Durham, NC 27713 – (919) 544-2155 – View Map
Independent Insurance Agents
Agents of this type are not limited to a single company and that enables them to quote your coverage through lots of different companies and find the cheapest insurance rates. If premiums increase, your policy is moved internally and you don’t have to find a new agent.
When comparing insurance prices, it’s recommended you include price quotes from a few independent agents to get the most accurate price comparison. Most independent agents also contract with smaller companies that can offer cheaper rates than bigger companies.
Listed below is a short list of independent insurance agents in Durham that are able to give price quote information.
- Joshua E. Matthews Insurance Agency, Inc.
2144 Page Rd Suite 106 – Durham, NC 27703 – (919) 598-6800 – View Map - Mike Embree Insurance Agency
3813 University Dr – Durham, NC 27707 – (919) 489-7336 – View Map - George Stevens Insurance Inc
1320 Hill St – Durham, NC 27707 – (919) 403-3611 – View Map
Once you have good feedback for all questions you ask as well as a affordable price, most likely you have located an auto insurance agent that is reliable enough to properly service your insurance policy. Just keep in mind consumers can terminate your policy any time you want so never assume you’re contractually obligated to a specific company indefinitely.