How to Save on Insurance for your Nissan Xterra
If finding cheaper car insurance was fun, we'd make the time to do it regularly. But it's actually not a real enjoyable process for the majority of people and we always seem to end up paying too much. Finding affordable insurance for your Nissan Xterra is probably the same story.
Step One: Compare Apples-to-Apples Quotes
Up until about ten years ago, the only way to shop for car insurance was in the office of a local insurance agent where you'd get a hard sell into a policy. Welcome to the 21st century!
Almost every car insurance company now offers online quotes, and you can actually get insurance quotes for a Nissan Xterra without even visiting their websites!
To find affordable coverage for your Nissan Xterra, the first step is to click the link below and complete the short form.
Important! If you already have liability and physical damage coverage on your Xterra, it's important to keep the same limits and deductibles throughout the quote process. This allows you to fairly compare rates for many companies. If you use different limits and coverages for each quote, you won't be able to judge if the final rate is better or worse than other quotes.
Step Two: Best Ways to Lower your Xterra Insurance Cost
There are many factors that actually determine what you will pay for insurance, and some are completely within your control.
- Higher deductibles save money. If you can afford to pay a larger portion of a comprehensive or collision claim, you will pay substantially less for those coverages if you increase your deductibles to $500 or even $1,000.
- How is your credit rating? The better credit you have, the less insurance will cost for your Xterra. If you have bad credit, work on improving your credit score and repair past credit problems.
- An SUV allows you to drive in snow and mud better than your average passenger car, and with that comes a higher risk of having an accident. So expect to pay a little more on car insurance.
- Teen drivers have a tendancy to learn the hard way when driving, and that means having a few fender-benders. Rating them on a high profile newer vehicle can be very expensive so you might consider buying an older model vehicle for them to drive and only insure it with liability coverage.
- The time it takes to complete a driver's safety training course could be time well spent. It could save you up to 10% off your car insurance rates.
- A lead foot will result in higher insurance rates. Slow down, don't get tickets and you'll pay less.
- Allowing your insurance to lapse for any length of time will increase the cost of a new policy. Always keep coverage in force.
- Equipping your Nissan with available safety features such as air bags and passive restraints allows you to take advantage of additional discounts.
- If you rent rather than own a home, you may be paying more for car insurance. Homeowners often get lower rates.
- If you have tended to file small claims with your car insurance company in the past, you're most likely going to pay higher premiums in the future. Consider paying minor claims out-of-pocket instead of blemishing your claim history.
- Car insurance disounts for senior citizens are often offered by companies as well as discounts for belonging to a professional organization.
- Vehicles that tend to get stolen or have high repair costs will cost you more to insure. If your Xterra falls into either category, it could cost you.
Step Three: Finalize your Car Insurance Policy
Purchasing an insurance policy is more than just clicking a button. You need to have funds available to make payment and you need to be sure that the coverages are adequate for your personal situation.
An important thing to keep in mind when buying a new policy is you want the effective date of the new policy to be the exact same as the date you are cancelling your old policy.
If you don't currently have a car insurance policy, make sure you have coverage in force before driving your Nissan off the lot. But if you already have a policy, you will have coverage extended to your new car from your existing policy. When driving off the lot, you may have coverage that extends from your current policy. But it will only be equal to the most coverage you have on any vehicle. So if you only carry liability coverage, you won't be covered for full coverage until you specify it on your policy.
Your insurance company will provide you with proof-of-insurance forms to keep in your vehicle. It's required by state law to carry at least the state minimum liability limits. High risk drivers may be required to submit an SR-22 with their state DMV's. If you have been convicted of reckless driving, DUI or had an uninsured accident, you may qualify. Make sure your new policy reflects the need for the SR-22 filing.
More Resources for Insurance Buying
For more information on car insurance, please visit the Insurance Information Institute's auto insurance informational page.
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