Trying to find better auto insurance rates for your Nissan Altima? Expensive auto insurance can drain your bank account and force you to make sacrifices. Comparison shopping is free and is an excellent way to help make ends meet.
Because there are so many companies and agents to choose from, it can be diffult for consumers to choose the most affordable car insurance company.
It’s a good habit to do rate comparisons once or twice a year since insurance rates trend upward over time. Just because you found the best rates for Altima insurance two years ago you can probably find a lower rate today. So just block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because you’re about to learn the fastest way to lower your annual insurance bill.
An important part of buying insurance is that you know the different types of things that play a part in calculating your insurance coverage rates. Having a good understanding of what determines base rates helps enable you to make changes that could result in lower insurance coverage prices.
Shown below are some of the items that factor into premiums.
There are several ways to shop for Nissan Altima auto insurance, but some are easier and takes less work. You can waste a few hours (or days) driving to local insurance agents in your area, or you could save time and use the internet to accomplish the same thing much quicker.
Many companies enroll in a system that allows shoppers to complete one form, and every company then returns a price quote determined by their information. This eliminates the need for form submissions for every auto insurance company.
To use this form to compare 1999 Nissan Altima insurance rates click to open in new window.
The one downside to comparing rates this way is you don’t know exactly the insurers to get pricing from. So if you prefer to pick individual companies to compare prices, we put together a list of the cheapest auto insurance companies in your area. Click to view list.
It’s up to you how you get prices quotes, just ensure you are comparing exactly the same coverage limits for every company. If each company quotes different deductibles it will be impossible to determine which rate is truly the best. Quoting even small variations in coverage limits may result in large price differences. And when quoting auto insurance, remember that getting more free quotes provides better odds of finding the best offered rates.
The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but you may find discounts that you may not even be aware of. Most are applied when you purchase, but a few must be specifically requested before you will receive the discount.
As a disclaimer on discounts, most discount credits are not given to the entire cost. Most only reduce specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. Even though it may seem like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, companies wouldn’t make money that way. Any qualifying discounts will bring down your overall premium however.
To see a list of insurers who offer insurance coverage discounts, click here to view.
When buying adequate coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no one size fits all plan. Everyone’s situation is unique so your insurance should reflect that For example, these questions may help highlight if you may require specific advice.
If you’re not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.
Understanding the coverages of insurance can help you determine which coverages you need and proper limits and deductibles. The coverage terms in a policy can be confusing and coverage can change by endorsement. Below you’ll find the normal coverages offered by insurance companies.
Collision insurance
Collision insurance covers damage to your Altima resulting from colliding with an object or car. A deductible applies then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision coverage protects against claims such as rolling your car, damaging your car on a curb, backing into a parked car and sustaining damage from a pot hole. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider dropping it from older vehicles. Drivers also have the option to increase the deductible to bring the cost down.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage
This coverage gives you protection from other motorists when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. It can pay for medical payments for you and your occupants and also any damage incurred to your Nissan Altima.
Since many drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, their limits can quickly be used up. So UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked. Normally these coverages do not exceed the liability coverage limits.
Liability car insurance
This provides protection from damage that occurs to other’s property or people in an accident. This coverage protects you from legal claims by others. Liability doesn’t cover damage to your own property or vehicle.
It consists of three limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You commonly see liability limits of 25/50/25 that translate to a limit of $25,000 per injured person, a limit of $50,000 in injury protection per accident, and a total limit of $25,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Occasionally you may see a combined single limit or CSL which provides one coverage limit without having the split limit caps.
Liability can pay for things like emergency aid, loss of income, repair bills for other people’s vehicles, court costs and attorney fees. How much liability should you purchase? That is a decision to put some thought into, but consider buying as large an amount as possible.
Medical payments coverage and PIP
Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance provide coverage for bills such as prosthetic devices, ambulance fees, rehabilitation expenses and chiropractic care. They can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. It covers you and your occupants as well as any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP is only offered in select states and may carry a deductible
Comprehensive coverage
Comprehensive insurance coverage covers damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. A deductible will apply then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against things like hitting a deer, damage from flooding, rock chips in glass, fire damage and damage from getting keyed. The highest amount your insurance company will pay is the cash value of the vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, make sure you don’t buy poor coverage just to save money. There are too many instances where drivers have reduced physical damage coverage and found out when filing a claim that they should have had better coverage. The proper strategy is to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.
Lower-priced 1999 Nissan Altima insurance can be sourced from both online companies and also from your neighborhood agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best rate selection. There are still a few companies who may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and these small insurance companies work with independent agents.
More detailed auto insurance information is available at these sites: