Cheapest Insurance for a Nissan Altima in Oakland

Want to save money and find low-cost Nissan Altima insurance in Oakland? If price shopping Oakland auto insurance quotes online is new to you, it’s easy to get bewildered due to the large selection of local and online companies competing for business in Oakland.

How to find low-cost rates for Nissan Altima insurance in Oakland

The most effective way to save on Nissan Altima insurance in Oakland is to make a habit of regularly comparing prices from different companies in California. Rate comparisons can be done by following these steps.

1. Get an understanding of how insurance works and the modifications you can make to prevent expensive coverage. Many risk factors that result in higher prices like at-fault accidents, careless driving, and a less-than-favorable credit rating can be amended by making small lifestyle or driving habit changes. Keep reading for instructions to find cheap prices and find discounts that you may qualify for.
2. Get rate quotes from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can give quotes from a single company like GEICO and Allstate, while independent agents can give you price quotes for a wide range of companies.
3. Compare the quotes to your existing rates and see if you can save money. If you find a lower rate quote and change companies, ensure coverage does not lapse between policies.
4. Give proper notification to your current agent or company of your decision to cancel your existing policy and submit a down payment and signed policy application for your new coverage. As soon as you have the new policy, put the certificate verifying coverage in your glove compartment.

A crucial key to this process is to compare identical deductibles and limits on each price quote and and to look at as many companies as possible. This ensures a level playing field and a thorough price selection.

A recent NerdWallet.com study revealed that over 70% of consumers have remained with the same car insurance company for more than four years, and just under half have never compared car insurance rates at all. California drivers could pocket up to $469 a year, but they think it’s difficult to compare other rate quotes.

You need to take a look at other company’s rates occasionally since prices fluctuate regularly. If you had the lowest rates on Nissan Altima insurance in Oakland two years ago the chances are good that you can find a lower premium rate today. Ignore everything you know about car insurance because you’re about to learn one of the best ways to lower your rates without sacrificing coverage.

If you have auto insurance now, you will definitely be able to cut your premiums using the techniques covered below. This article’s intent is to help educate you on the most effective way to quote insurance and how to save the most money. Nevertheless, California drivers benefit from understanding how companies market insurance on the web.

The easiest way to compare insurance rates from multiple companies is to know car insurance companies provide online access to provide you with free rate quotes. To begin a comparison, all you need to do is give the companies some data such as how your vehicles are used, driver details, what you do for a living, and types of safety features. The data is sent automatically to many highly-rated insurers and you will receive price estimates instantly to find the best rate.

To check Nissan Altima insurance prices now, click here and see if a lower rate is available in Oakland.

The companies in the list below provide free quotes in Oakland, CA. If multiple companies are listed, we recommend you click on several of them in order to get a fair rate comparison.

Insurance data for a Nissan Altima

The premium information shown below highlights estimates of prices for Nissan Altima models. Learning how policy premiums are calculated can benefit drivers when making informed purchases.

Prices above based on single male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, safe-driver, homeowner, multi-vehicle, and claim-free. Price information does not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can raise or lower auto insurance rates noticeably.

Policy deductibles

When shopping for insurance, a common question is the level to set your comp and collision deductibles. The following tables may help to illustrate how much more rates are when you choose different physical damage deductibles. The first table uses a $250 comprehensive and collision deductible and the second rate table uses a $1,000 deductible.

Table data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, claim-free, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, and homeowner. Price information does not factor in specific zip code location which can impact auto insurance rates considerably.

We can estimate from the data above that using a $250 deductible costs approximately $35 more each month or $420 a year across all Nissan Altima models than selecting the higher $1,000 deductible. Because you would be required to pay $750 more if you turn in a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you normally go at a minimum 21 months between claims, you would most likely save money by going with a higher deductible. The numbers below show how this decision is made.

One thing to note is that raising deductibles results in more money out-of-pocket when you do file a claim. It will be required that you have enough money in the bank in the event you need to pay more to get your vehicle repaired.

Full coverage versus liability only rates

The diagram below shows the comparison of Nissan Altima insurance premiums with full coverage compared to only the California minimum liability coverage. The premiums assume no accidents, no driving violations, $500 deductibles, single status, and no discounts are factored in.

When to drop comprehensive and collision

There is no written rule to eliminate physical damage coverage on your policy, but there is a broad guideline. If the annual cost of coverage is 10% or more of any settlement you would receive from your insurance company, then you may need to consider dropping full coverage.

For example, let’s pretend your Nissan Altima claim settlement value is $8,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, the most your company will settle for is $7,000 after the deductible is paid. If premiums are more than $700 a year for full coverage, then you may need to consider dropping full coverage.

There are some circumstances where removing full coverage is not advised. If you still have a lienholder on your title, you must maintain physical damage coverage to protect the lienholder’s interest in the vehicle. Also, if your emergency fund is not enough to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is damaged, you should not consider dropping full coverage.

Auto insurance is not optional but you don’t have to overpay

Even though it can be expensive, maintaining insurance may be required for several reasons.

• The majority of states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means state laws require a specific level of liability in order to get the vehicle licensed. In California these limits are 15/30/5 which means you must have $15,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $5,000 of property damage coverage.
• If your Nissan has a lienholder, almost all lenders will stipulate that you buy full coverage to ensure they get paid if you total the vehicle. If you do not pay your insurance premiums, the lender may insure your Nissan for a lot more money and require you to fork over for it.
• Auto insurance preserves not only your Nissan Altima but also your assets. It also can pay for most medical and hospital costs for not only you but also any passengers injured in an accident. One of the most valuable coverages, liability insurance, will also pay for a defense attorney if someone files suit against you as the result of an accident. If your Nissan gets damaged, comprehensive (other-than-collision) and collision coverage will pay to restore your vehicle to like-new condition.

The benefits of carrying adequate insurance definitely exceed the cost, especially with large liability claims. As of last year, the average driver in California is overpaying more than $800 each year so compare rates once a year at a minimum to save money.

Cheaper Oakland car insurance rates with discounts

Car insurance companies do not list their entire list of discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so the list below contains some of the best known and also the lesser-known discounts that may be available. If you aren’t receiving every discount you deserve, you are just wasting money.

• Drive Safe and Save – Drivers who don’t get into accidents can save up to 40% or more on their Oakland auto insurance quote than less cautious drivers.
• Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Factory options such as air bags or automatic seat belts may get savings as much as 30%.
• Own a Home and Save – Being a homeowner can earn you a little savings due to the fact that maintaining a home shows financial diligence.
• ABS Brakes – Cars and trucks that have anti-lock braking systems are much safer to drive so companies give up to a 10% discount.
• Paperwork-free – Many companies will give you a small discount get Oakland auto insurance over the internet.
• Driver’s Ed – Cut your cost by having your teen driver successfully take a driver’s education course as it will make them better drivers and lower rates.
• Discounts for Seat Belt Usage – Drivers who always wear seat belts and also require passengers to buckle up can save up to 15% on the premium charged for medical payments and/or PIP.

Don’t be surprised that most credits do not apply to the whole policy. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. So even though they make it sound like you can get free auto insurance, companies wouldn’t make money that way. But all discounts will help lower the cost of your policy.

The example below shows the comparison of Nissan Altima auto insurance costs with and without discounts applied to the policy premium. The premiums assume a male driver, a clean driving record, no claims, California state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $100 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with marriage, safe-driver, multi-car, homeowner, multi-policy, and claim-free discounts applied.

To view providers that offer some of these discounts in California, follow this link.

Insurance agent or online?

Some people just want to visit with an insurance agent and that can be a great decision A nice benefit of getting free rate quotes online is the fact that drivers can get cheaper premium rates but still work with a licensed agent. Buying from and supporting small agencies is especially important in Oakland.

To help locate an agent, after submitting this simple form, your insurance coverage information is immediately sent to local insurance agents in Oakland that provide free Oakland auto insurance quotes for your business. It simplifies rate comparisons since you won’t have to search for any insurance agencies since price quotes are sent to you directly. It’s the lowest rates without the usual hassles of price shopping. If you want to compare prices from a specific company, you can always visit that company’s website to submit a rate quote request.

If you want to use a local Oakland insurance agency, you should know the different agency structures that you can choose from. Agents in Oakland can be categorized as either independent (non-exclusive) or exclusive.

Independent Car Insurance Agencies or Brokers

These agents are not limited to a single company and that is an advantage because they can write policies through many companies and get the cheapest rates. To transfer your coverage to a different company, they simply move the coverage in-house and you don’t have to find a new agent.

When comparing rate quotes, you need to get quotes from a few independent agents so that you have a good selection of quotes to compare. Many can place coverage with companies you’ve never heard of that can offer cheaper rates than bigger companies.

The following is a partial list of independent insurance agents in Oakland who may provide free rate quotes.

• Greater Metrowest Insurance Agency
  Oakland, CA 94612 – Oakland, CA 94612 – (510) 444-1404 – View Map
• Fiesta Auto Insurance Center
  4102 International Blvd – Oakland, CA 94601 – (510) 261-1300 – View Map
• Travel Insurance Agency
  610 16th St #508 – Oakland, CA 94612 – (510) 452-3366 – View Map

More insurance agents

Exclusive Insurance Agents

Exclusive agents can only provide pricing for a single company such as Farmers Insurance and State Farm. They usually cannot give you multiple price quotes so you need to shop around if the rates are high. Exclusive agencies are very knowledgeable on sales techniques which helps overcome the inability to quote other rates. Some consumers prefer to buy from exclusive agents mainly due to high brand loyalty rather than low price.

The following are Oakland exclusive agents who can help you get price quotes.

• Farmers Insurance – Mike Clauson
  859 Clay St – Oakland, CA 94607 – (510) 839-3276 – View Map
• Farmers Insurance – Lorraine Yip Yung
  1168 Franklin St – Oakland, CA 94607 – (510) 832-5113 – View Map
• Farmers Insurance – Anthony Sue
  3333 Grand Ave #203 – Oakland, CA 94610 – (510) 465-1544 – View Map

More insurance agents

Deciding on an insurance agent should include more criteria than just a cheap price quote. Before buying a policy in Oakland, get answers to these questions.

• Are you getting all the discounts the company offers?
• If you are a high risk driver, do they have special markets for your coverage?
• Can they provide you with a list of referrals?
• Do you work with a CSR or direct with the agent?
• Do they offer accident forgiveness?
• Which company do they place the most coverage with?

Situations that may require an agent’s advice

When selecting the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no one-size-fits-all type of policy. You are unique and your car insurance should be unique as well.
These are some specific questions can aid in determining whether or not you would benefit from an agent’s advice.

• Should I carry comprehensive and collision coverage?
• If I drive on a suspended license am I covered?
• Can my teen driver be rated on a liability-only vehicle?
• Which companies are cheaper for teen drivers?
• Is my teen driver covered when they drive my company car?
• Is other people’s property covered if stolen from my vehicle?
• Am I covered if my car is in a flood?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. If you don’t have a local agent, fill out this quick form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area.

Insurance coverage considerations

Understanding the coverages of a insurance policy can be of help when determining the right coverages and proper limits and deductibles. The coverage terms in a policy can be impossible to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring. Shown next are typical coverages available from insurance companies.

Comprehensive auto coverage – Comprehensive insurance coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. A deductible will apply and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.

Comprehensive coverage pays for claims such as falling objects, hitting a deer, hail damage and damage from a tornado or hurricane. The most a insurance company will pay at claim time is the market value of your vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

Medical payments and PIP coverage – Med pay and PIP coverage pay for expenses such as X-ray expenses, rehabilitation expenses and surgery. The coverages can be utilized in addition to your health insurance program or if you lack health insurance entirely. It covers you and your occupants in addition to if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal injury protection coverage is not universally available but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage

Collision coverage – Collision insurance covers damage to your Altima resulting from colliding with an object or car. You first must pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision insurance covers claims like sideswiping another vehicle, crashing into a building, colliding with a tree, sustaining damage from a pot hole and scraping a guard rail. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are older. It’s also possible to increase the deductible on your Altima to bring the cost down.

Liability auto insurance – This coverage can cover injuries or damage you cause to other’s property or people that is your fault. This insurance protects YOU from legal claims by others. It does not cover damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.

It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You commonly see limits of 15/30/5 which stand for a $15,000 limit per person for injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $30,000, and property damage coverage for $5,000. Occasionally you may see a combined single limit or CSL that pays claims from the same limit and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.

Liability insurance covers claims like repair costs for stationary objects, structural damage and court costs. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but buy as large an amount as possible. California requires drivers to carry at least 15/30/5 but drivers should carry higher limits.

The chart below shows why buying the state minimum limits may not provide you with enough coverage.

UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage – This protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when the “other guys” do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered losses include injuries to you and your family and damage to your Nissan Altima.

Because many people only carry the minimum required liability limits (California limits are 15/30/5), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is a good idea. Most of the time your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are similar to your liability insurance amounts.

Smart consumers save more

When searching for cheaper Oakland auto insurance quotes, it’s not a good idea to buy less coverage just to save a little money. In many instances, an insured dropped comprehensive coverage or liability limits and found out when filing a claim they didn’t have enough coverage. Your objective should be to buy the best coverage you can find at the best price, but don’t skip important coverages to save money.

You just learned a lot of ways to compare Nissan Altima insurance auto insurance rates in Oakland. It’s most important to understand that the more you quote Oakland auto insurance, the better likelihood of getting inexpensive Oakland auto insurance quotes. You may even discover the best price on car insurance is with some of the lesser-known companies. They may have significantly lower premium rates on certain market segments compared to the large companies like State Farm or Progressive.

Steps to finding discount Nissan Altima insurance in Oakland

The best way we recommend to find more affordable Nissan Altima insurance in Oakland is to compare quotes annually from companies in California.

1. Read about how car insurance works and the measures you can take to lower rates. Many things that cause rate increases like traffic violations, accidents, and an unacceptable credit history can be controlled by making small lifestyle or driving habit changes.
2. Quote rates from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Exclusive agents and direct companies can provide rates from one company like Progressive or Farmers Insurance, while independent agencies can quote rates from multiple companies.
3. Compare the new rate quotes to the price on your current policy to see if a cheaper rate is available. If you find a lower rate and switch companies, make sure there is no lapse in coverage.
4. Give proper notification to your current agent or company to cancel your existing policy. Submit a down payment and signed policy application to the new company. Once the paperwork is finalized, place the new proof of insurance paperwork with the vehicle registration.

The most important part of shopping around is to make sure you’re comparing similar limits and deductibles on each price quote and and to get prices from as many carriers as you can. Doing this enables an apples-to-apples comparison and the most accurate and complete price analysis.

For more information, feel free to browse the resources below:

• Reducing Your Risks in a Car Crash Video (iihs.org)
• Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Quotes for Low Income Drivers in Oakland? (FAQ)
• Who Has Cheap Oakland Car Insurance for Single Moms? (FAQ)
• How Much is Car Insurance for a Learners Permit in Oakland? (FAQ)
• Who Has Cheap Oakland Car Insurance Quotes for Lyft Drivers? (FAQ)
• Who Has Affordable Car Insurance for Drivers with a Bad Driving Record in Oakland? (FAQ)
• Your Car has been Stolen: Now What? (Allstate)
• Insurance Losses by Make and Model (iihs.org)
• What Does No-Fault Insurance Cover? (Allstate)