Auto Insurance Rates for a Nissan Altima in Durham

Sick and tired of robbing Peter to pay Paul to buy auto insurance? Your situation is no different than most other people in North Carolina.

It’s an obvious assumption that car insurance companies don’t want you shop around. Insureds who get comparison quotes at least once a year are very likely to switch companies because there are good odds of finding a lower rate. Surprisingly, a recent survey revealed that people who regularly compared rates saved about $865 annually compared to people who never shopped around for better prices.

If finding the lowest rates on Nissan Altima insurance is why you’re here, knowing the best way to shop and compare insurance coverage can save time and money.

Companies like State Farm, GEICO and Farmers Insurance all claim big savings, bombarding you with catchy ads and it can be hard to ignore the flashy ads and do the work needed to find the best deal.

If you are paying for car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to save money using the concepts you’re about to learn. Choosing the most cost-effective car insurance policy in Durham is actually very simple if you learn how to start. Nevertheless, North Carolina car owners should learn the methods companies use to price online insurance and use it to your advantage.

Car insurance providers offering affordable prices in North Carolina

The providers in the list below are our best choices to provide free rate quotes in North Carolina. If multiple companies are listed, we suggest you visit two to three different companies in order to find the cheapest rates.

Rate information and statistics

The premium information below covers a range of insurance premium costs for Nissan Altima models. Having a good understanding how premiums are calculated is important for drivers to make informed decisions when comparing rates.

Table data assumes married male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, claim-free, multi-policy, safe-driver, and homeowner. Table data does not factor in specific location information which can impact premium rates considerably.

Full coverage versus liability only rates

The diagram below shows the difference between Nissan Altima car insurance rates with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying liability only. The data is based on no claims or driving citations, $250 deductibles, drivers are single, and no discounts are taken into consideration.

Deciding between full coverage and liability only

There is no set guideline to eliminate physical damage coverage on your policy, but there is a general school of thought. If the yearly cost of full coverage is about 10% or more of the vehicle’s replacement cost less your deductible, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.

For example, let’s pretend your Nissan Altima replacement value is $7,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, you would only receive $6,000 after the deductible is paid. If you are currently paying more than $600 a year for full coverage, then you may need to consider dropping full coverage.

There are some scenarios where dropping full coverage is not a good idea. If you still owe a portion of the original loan, you have to carry full coverage as part of the loan requirements. Also, if your finances do not allow you to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is totaled, you should keep full coverage in place.

Why Smart Consumers Pay Less for Nissan Altima Insurance

Many things are considered when pricing auto insurance. Some are obvious such as your driving history, although others are more transparent like where you live or your commute time. The best way to find cheaper insurance is to take a look at the different types of things that play a part in calculating insurance rates. If you know what influences your rates, this empowers consumers to make smart changes that will entitle you to lower premium levels.

The itemized list below are a partial list of the pieces that factor into premiums.

Allowing your policy to lapse raises premiums – Driving any period of time without insurance is illegal and you will pay a penalty because you let your coverage lapse. Not only will rates go up, the inability to provide proof of insurance may earn you a revoked license or a big fine.

Pay more by driving carelessly – Whether or not you get tickets has a big impact on rates. Even one moving violation may increase your cost forty percent or more. Drivers who don’t get tickets have lower premiums than their less careful counterparts. Drivers who have received serious citations such as DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may be required to maintain a SR-22 with their state in order to prevent a license revocation.

The example below demonstrates how speeding tickets and at-fault claims can drive up Nissan Altima auto insurance costs for different ages of insureds. The data is based on a married female driver, full coverage, $250 deductibles, and no other discounts are factored in.

Safer cars means cheaper insurance – Vehicles with good safety scores get lower rates. Vehicles built for safety have better occupant injury protection and any reduction in injury severity means lower claim amounts which can mean better rates for you.

Alarm systems systems cut prices – Purchasing a vehicle with anti-theft technology or alarm system can help lower your premiums. Theft prevention devices such as vehicle immobilizer systems, OnStar, and tracking devices like LoJack can help prevent vehicle theft.

Save money with good credit – An insured’s credit score can be an important factor in calculating your premium rate. If your credit is lower than you’d like, you may save money insuring your Nissan Altima by improving your credit score. Drivers who have very good credit scores tend to be more responsible and file fewer claims as compared to drivers with bad credit.

Rates and occupation – Careers such as doctors, architects, and stock brokers generally have higher rates than average because of intense work-related stress and lots of time spent away from family. On the flip side, professions such as actors, students and performers get better rates.

Drive fewer miles and save – The higher the miles on your Nissan in a year’s time the higher your rate. Most companies calculate prices based on their usage. Autos left parked in the garage cost less to insure than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Make sure your insurance policy properly reflects the correct driver usage. Incorrect rating for your Altima may be costing you higher rates.

Nissan Altima statistical loss data – Insurance companies use past insurance losses when they file their rates in each state. Models that statistically have higher prevalence or dollar amount of losses will cost more to insure. The table shown below demonstrates the compiled insurance loss statistics for Nissan Altima vehicles.

For each type of coverage, the loss probability for all vehicles, regardless of manufacturer or model, is considered to be 100. Numbers below 100 suggest a positive loss record, while percentages above 100 point to more claims or tendency to have larger claims.

Earn discounts on Durham car insurance

Car insurance is not inexpensive, but companies offer discounts that many people don’t even know exist. Most are applied when you get a quote, but a few need to be asked for before you get the savings.

• Own a Home – Owning a house in Durham can help you save on car insurance because maintaining a house is proof that your finances are in order.
• Bundle and Save – If you can bundle your auto and home insurance with one insurance company you may save over 10 percent off each policy depending on the company.
• Driver Safety – Taking a course that instructs on driving safety may get you a small discount and easily recoup the cost of the course.
• Discount for Passive Restraints – Vehicles with factory air bags or motorized seat belts can receive discounts as much as 30%.
• Discount for Life Insurance – Select car insurance companies reward you with a break if you buy a life insurance policy as well.
• Accident Waiver – This isn’t a discount exactly, but companies like State Farm, Progressive and GEICO will let one accident slide before they charge you more for coverage with the catch being you have to be claim-free prior to the accident.

Remember that most discount credits are not given to the overall cost of the policy. Some only reduce specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. So even though you would think all those discounts means the company will pay you, nobody gets a free ride. But all discounts should help reduce the cost of coverage.

The information below illustrates the comparison of Nissan Altima auto insurance rates with and without discounts applied. The information is based on a male driver, no claims or violations, North Carolina state minimum liability limits, full physical damage coverage, and $1,000 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with safe-driver, multi-policy, multi-car, marriage, claim-free, and homeowner discounts applied.

Large car insurance companies and a selection of discounts are:

• State Farm may include discounts for driver’s education, Drive Safe & Save, multiple autos, defensive driving training, good student, good driver, and safe vehicle.
• Liberty Mutual may have discounts that include new vehicle discount, multi-car, multi-policy, exclusive group savings, and teen driver discount.
• American Family has savings for accident-free, good student, multi-vehicle, air bags, bundled insurance, and Steer into Savings.
• Progressive offers discounts for online quote discount, continuous coverage, homeowner, multi-vehicle, good student, online signing, and multi-policy.
• Farmers Insurance offers discounts including alternative fuel, distant student, multi-car, teen driver, homeowner, and bundle discounts.
• Auto-Owners Insurance offers premium reductions for multi-policy, good student, group or association, multiple vehicles, safe vehicle, and paperless.
• SAFECO has discounts for homeowner, safe driver, anti-lock brakes, anti-theft, drive less, multi-car, and accident prevention training.

When quoting, ask all companies you are considering how you can save money. All car insurance discounts might not be available to policyholders everywhere. To choose insurers who offer car insurance discounts in Durham, click this link.

Auto insurance agents near you

Some people still prefer to buy from a local agent and that is recommended in a lot of cases One of the benefits of comparing insurance prices online is you can get better rates and also buy local.

Once you complete this simple form, the quote information is submitted to local insurance agents who can give free rate quotes for your business. It’s much easier because you don’t need to leave your house due to the fact that quote results will go immediately to you. You can find better rates without having to waste a lot of time. If you want to quote rates from one company in particular, you would need to search and find their rate quote page and give them your coverage information.

Choosing the best provider requires more thought than just a low price. You should also get answers to these questions.

• If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?
• Who is covered by the car insurance policy?
• Do they reduce claim amounts on high mileage vehicles?
• Does the agency have a positive business rating?
• If you have an accident, will your rates go up?
• Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
• Do they receive special compensation for putting your coverage with one company over another?

When to get professional advice

Always remember that when buying coverage online or from an agent, there really isn’t a one-size-fits-all type of policy. Your financial needs are unique.

These are some specific questions can help discover whether you would benefit from professional advice.

• Should I have combined single limit or split liability limits?
• Is a driver training discount available?
• What are the financial responsibility laws in my state?
• What are the liability requirements in my state?
• How do I file an SR-22 for a DUI in North Carolina?
• Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver in Durham?
• Does my insurance cover my expensive audio equipment?
• Who is covered when they drive my Nissan Altima?
• What does PIP insurance cover?
• Should I rate my vehicle as business use?

If you can’t answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, complete this form.

Get the best coverage at the lowest price

While you’re price shopping online, don’t be tempted to buy poor coverage just to save money. There have been many cases where an insured dropped physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your objective should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the best cost and still be able to protect your assets.

Throughout this article, we presented a lot of ways to get a better price on Nissan Altima insurance in Durham. The key thing to remember is the more price quotes you have, the better your comparison will be. Consumers may even find the most savings is with a smaller regional carrier.

Cheaper car insurance in Durham can be bought from both online companies as well as from insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance companies may not provide online price quotes and many times these smaller companies only sell coverage through local independent agencies.

How to save money on Nissan Altima insurance in Durham

Truthfully, the best way to find cheaper quotes for Nissan Altima insurance in Durham is to make a habit of comparing prices annually from insurance carriers who sell auto insurance in North Carolina. You can shop around by completing these steps.

• First, take a little time to learn about how insurance companies determine prices and the things you can change to prevent high rates. Many rating factors that result in higher rates like at-fault accidents and a substandard credit score can be improved by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility.
• Second, request price quotes from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Exclusive agents and direct companies can provide rates from one company like GEICO and Allstate, while agents who are independent can provide prices for a wide range of companies.
• Third, compare the price quotes to your existing coverage to determine if switching companies saves money. If you find a lower rate quote and make a switch, ensure there is no coverage lapse between policies.

An essential thing to point out is to use the same level of coverage on every quote and and to get quotes from all possible companies. Doing this guarantees an accurate price comparison and a complete selection of prices.

To learn more, feel free to visit the resources below:

• Avoiding Deer Collisions (Insurance Information Institute)
• How Much are Durham Auto Insurance Quotes for 17 Year Olds? (FAQ)
• Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Rates for Safe Drivers in Durham? (FAQ)
• Parking Tips to Reduce Door Dings (State Farm)
• Auto Crash Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
• Prepare your Teens for Safe Driving (InsureUonline.org)