Lower Your 1997 Nissan Altima Insurance Cost

Comparison shopping for cheaper Driversauto insurance might be nearly impossible for drivers new to shopping for insurance online. Drivers have so many options available that it can quickly become a real hassle to locate the lowest price.

How do insurance providers determine Nissan Altima insurance premiums?

Many factors are part of the equation when quoting car insurance. Most are fairly basic such as your driving history, although others are not as apparent such as your credit history or your commute time.

The items below are some of the most common factors utilized by car insurance companies to help set rates.

• Deter theft and pay less – Selecting a car model that has an advanced theft prevention system can save you some money. Systems that thwart theives such as vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems can help prevent auto theft and help lower rates.
• Pleasure use or commuting – The more miles you rack up on your Nissan in a year’s time the higher your rate. The majority of insurers calculate rates determined by how the vehicle is used. Vehicles left parked in the garage cost less to insure than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Improper usage on your Altima is just wasting money. Ask your agent if your vehicle rating is showing the correct usage.
• Never let your auto insurance policy lapse – Driving without insurance coverage in place is a big no-no 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 result in fines and jail time. You will then be forced to provide proof of insurance in the form of an SR-22 filing with your state motor vehicle department to get your license reinstated.
• Accidents cost more than a fine – Having a single ticket may cause rates to rise twenty percent or more. Careful drivers tend to pay less for car insurance compared to drivers with tickets. Drivers who have received multiple violations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility to the state department of motor vehicles in order to continue driving.
• Do men or women drive better? – Over time, data shows that women are safer drivers than men. This data doesn’t prove that men are WORSE drivers than women. Females and males are in accidents at a similar rate, but the males cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Not only are claims higher, but men get more serious tickets such as driving while intoxicated (DWI) or driving recklessly.

Discounts for affordable insurance coverage quotes

Insurance coverage is not an enjoyable expense, but there could be available discounts to cut the cost considerably. Some discounts apply automatically at quote time, but less common discounts must be asked about before you will receive the discount.

• Save with a New Car – Insuring a new car can be considerably cheaper because newer vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
• Driver Training Discounts – Completing a driver safety course could possibly earn you a 5% discount and also improve your driving technique.
• 55 and Retired – Mature drivers may receive lower premium rates on Altima coverage.
• Switch and Save Discount – Select insurance coverage companies give a discount for buying a policy before your current expiration date. This discount can save up to 10%.
• Discounts for Multiple Vehicles – Insuring all your vehicles on one policy can reduce rates for all insured vehicles.
• No Charge for an Accident – This one is not really a discount per se, but companies like State Farm and Allstate permit an accident before your rates go up as long as you don’t have any claims prior to being involved in the accident.
• Multi-policy Discount – If you combine your auto and homeowners policies and insure them with the same company you may earn at least 10% off all policies.
• Professional Memberships – Belonging to qualifying clubs or civic groups could earn you a nice discount on your next insurance coverage statement.

As a footnote on discounts, some credits don’t apply to the entire policy premium. Some only reduce individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. Even though the math looks like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, it just doesn’t work that way.

Auto insurance companies that may include most of the discounts above possibly include:

• Farmers Insurance
• Esurance
• State Farm
• Geico
• Allstate

Before you buy a policy, ask each insurance company how you can save money. A few discounts might not be offered everywhere.

Big brands don’t always mean big savings

Popular insurance coverage providers such as Progressive, Allstate and Geico regularly use ads on television and other media. All the ads make an identical promise that drivers will save a bundle if you get a free insurance quote and switch your policy. Is it even possible that every company can give you a better price? You have to listen carefully.

All the different companies quote the lowest rates for the right customer that earns them the most money. One example of a desirable risk could be over the age of 35, owns a home, and has excellent credit. A customer getting a price quote who meets those qualifications will get a cheap rate quote and as a result will probably save some money.

Potential customers who don’t measure up to these standards may be forced to pay higher premium rates which usually ends up with the customer not buying. The ad wording is “customers who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save the amount stated. That is how insurance companies can confidently make claims that they all have the best rates.

Because every company is different, it’s extremely important to compare price quotes frequently. It is just not possible to predict the company that will give you the biggest savings.

You may need specialized insurance coverage

When choosing the best insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no “best” method to buy coverage. Everyone’s needs are different.

For example, these questions may help highlight whether or not you will benefit from professional help.

• Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
• Do I have coverage when using my vehicle for my home business?
• What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
• Are there companies who specialize in insuring high-risk drivers?
• Will filing a claim cost me more?
• Is a fancy paint job covered?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but one or more may apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed agent. If you don’t have a local agent, take a second and complete this form.

Specific coverage details

Learning about specific coverages of a auto insurance policy aids in choosing appropriate coverage for your vehicles. The coverage terms in a policy can be confusing and reading a policy is terribly boring.

Comprehensive insurance

Comprehensive insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first have to pay a deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive can pay for things like a tree branch falling on your vehicle, a broken windshield and hitting a deer. The maximum amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

Liability insurance

Liability insurance provides protection from damage or injury you incur to other’s property or people that is your fault. It protects you against other people’s claims. Liability doesn’t cover damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.

Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You might see liability limits of 50/100/50 which means $50,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, $100,000 for the entire accident, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Alternatively, you may have one number which is a combined single limit which combines the three limits into one amount and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.

Liability coverage pays for things such as funeral expenses, loss of income and court costs. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but consider buying as large an amount as possible.

Collision insurance

This covers damage to your Altima from colliding with an object or car. A deductible applies and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision coverage protects against claims such as rolling your car, driving through your garage door and crashing into a ditch. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. You can also bump up the deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP provide coverage for immediate expenses like funeral costs, EMT expenses, ambulance fees and prosthetic devices. They are utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover all vehicle occupants and will also cover being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is not available in all states and may carry a deductible

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM)

This coverage provides protection when the “other guys” do not carry enough liability coverage. It can pay for hospital bills for your injuries as well as your vehicle’s damage.

Since many drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. So UM/UIM coverage is a good idea. Normally these coverages are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.

One last thing

In this article, we presented a lot of tips how to save on 1997 Nissan Altima insurance. The key concept to understand is the more price quotes you have, the better chance you’ll have of finding cheap insurance. Drivers may discover the best price on insurance is with an unexpected company.

As you quote insurance, don’t be tempted to skimp on coverage in order to save money. In too many instances, drivers have reduced full coverage only to regret at claim time that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your goal should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.

Lower-priced 1997 Nissan Altima insurance can be sourced from both online companies and from local agencies, so you should compare both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some insurance companies do not provide online rate quotes and many times these regional carriers only sell coverage through independent insurance agents.

More resources

• Things to Know Before you Cancel Insurance (Allstate)
• Electronic Stability Control FAQ (iihs.org)
• Credit Impacts Car Insurance Rates (State Farm)
• Coverage Information (Progressive Insurance)