Cheapest Insurance for a Nissan Xterra in Oakland

If you want to find the absolute lowest rates, then the best way to find affordable car insurance rates in Oakland is to compare quotes once a year from providers who provide car insurance in California. Price quotes can be compared by following these guidelines.

• Step 1: Try to understand individual coverages and the measures you can control to keep rates in check. Many policy risk factors that result in higher rates like accidents, careless driving, and a poor credit score can be improved by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility.
• Step 2: Compare price quotes from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Exclusive agents and direct companies can give quotes from a single company like GEICO and Allstate, while independent agents can give you price quotes from multiple insurance companies.
• Step 3: Compare the new rate quotes to your existing rates to see if a cheaper rate is available. If you find a better price, make sure coverage is continuous and does not lapse.
• Step 4: Provide proper notification to your current company to cancel your current car insurance policy and submit a down payment and signed policy application to the newly selected company. Be sure to put the proof of insurance certificate with your vehicle’s registration.

An important part of this process is that you’ll want to compare identical coverage information on every quote and and to get prices from as many companies as you can. This enables a fair price comparison and the best price quote selection.

We don’t have to point out that fact that auto insurance companies want to keep your business as long as possible. Insureds who shop around annually are inclined to buy a new policy because they stand a good chance of finding a policy with more affordable rates. A study showed that people who shopped around saved as much as $865 annually compared to drivers who don’t make a habit of comparing rates.

If saving money on Nissan Xterra insurance in Oakland is the reason you’re here, understanding how to find companies and compare coverage rates can make it simple to find affordable coverage.

To find cheaper quotes, there are a couple of ways to compare rate quotes from local Oakland auto insurance companies. By far the easiest way to find the cheapest insurance rates is to use the internet to compare rates.

Keep in mind that obtaining a wide range of quotes helps locate the best price.

The providers in the list below are our best choices to provide free quotes in California. To get the cheapest car insurance in Oakland, CA, it’s a good idea that you visit two to three different companies to find the most competitive car insurance rates.

Car insurance discounts are available to lower rates

Some providers don’t always list the complete list of policy discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we researched a few of the more common as well as the least known credits available to lower your premiums when you buy Oakland car insurance online. If they aren’t giving you every credit you qualify for, you could be paying more than you need to.

• Smart Student Discounts – Excelling in school can get you a discount of up to 25%. Most companies allow this discount up until you turn 25.
• Multiple Vehicles – Buying insurance for more than one vehicle with one company can reduce rates for all insured vehicles.
• No Claims – Good drivers with no accidents get the best car insurance rates when compared with drivers with a long claim history.
• Student Driver Training – Have your child enroll in driver’s education as it will make them better drivers and lower rates.
• Payment Method – By paying your policy upfront rather than paying monthly you can avoid the installment charge.
• Sign Early and Save – Some insurance companies provide a discount for signing up before your current expiration date. Ten percent is about the average savings.
• Paper-free Discount – Certain car insurance companies provide a small discount for completing your application online.
• Discounts for Government Workers – Federal government employees can save as much as 8% but check with your company.
• One Accident Forgiven – Not a discount per se, but companies like Allstate and State Farm will allow you to have one accident before your rates go up if you are claim-free for a particular time prior to the accident.

Just know that most of the big mark downs will not be given to all coverage premiums. The majority will only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. If you do the math and it seems like all those discounts means the company will pay you, you aren’t that lucky.

The diagram below illustrates the comparison of Nissan Xterra auto insurance costs with and without discounts being applied to the rates. The costs are based on a female driver, a clean driving record, no claims, California state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with homeowner, multi-car, claim-free, safe-driver, marriage, and multi-policy discounts applied.

To choose insurers that provide some of the discounts listed above in Oakland, follow this link.

Nissan Xterra insurance rate analysis

The price information displayed below covers estimates of coverage costs for Nissan Xterra models. Being able to understand how insurance policy rates are calculated can help you make smart choices when comparing insurance rates.

Premium data assumes single male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, claim-free, homeowner, safe-driver, and multi-policy. Premium costs do not factor in garaging location in Oakland which can revise premium rates significantly.

Insurance deductibles

One of the hardest decisions when shopping for insurance is which deductibles should you choose. The comparison tables below can help you understand how much more rates are when you choose different comp and collision deductibles. The first set of rates uses a $100 deductible and the second set of prices uses a $1,000 deductible.

Prices above based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-vehicle, homeowner, safe-driver, and multi-policy. Price estimates do not factor in vehicle garaging location which can modify premiums considerably.

Based on this data, using a $100 deductible will cost you roughly $35 more each month or $420 annually than opting for the higher $1,000 deductible. Since you would pay $900 more if you file a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you usually have at a minimum 26 months between claim filings, you would probably save some money going with the higher deductible.

Full coverage versus liability only rates

The illustration below compares Nissan Xterra insurance rates with and without full coverage. The information is based on no violations or claims, $500 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no discounts are applied to the premium.

Deciding between full coverage and liability only

There is no specific rule to drop physical damage coverage, but there is a broad guideline. If the annual cost of coverage is more than around 10% of the replacement cost of your vehicle minus the policy deductible, then you might want to consider buying only liability coverage.

For example, let’s pretend your Nissan Xterra replacement value is $7,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is severely damaged, the most you would receive is $6,000 after the deductible is paid. If premium cost is more than $600 a year to have full coverage, then you might consider buying liability only.

There are some conditions where removing full coverage is not advised. If you still owe money on your vehicle, you have to maintain full coverage as part of the loan requirements. Also, if your savings is not enough to buy a different vehicle in the even your car is totaled, you should not opt for liability only.

Shop online but buy locally

A small number of people still like to buy from a licensed agent. One of the great benefits of price shopping on the web is you can get the lowest rates and still have a local agent. Buying from and supporting local agencies is especially important in Oakland.

Upon completion of this simple form, the coverage information is sent to local insurance agents in Oakland that give free quotes for your insurance coverage. You won’t need to contact any insurance agencies since price quotes are sent to you instantly. It’s the lowest rates and work with a local agent. If you have a need to compare prices from a specific insurance company, feel free to visit that company’s website and complete a quote there.

Oakland car insurance agents are either independent or exclusive

If you are searching for a reliable insurance agency, it helps to know the two different types of agencies and how they differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Insurance agents in Oakland are either exclusive or independent (non-exclusive).

Independent Insurance Agencies

Independent insurance agents are not required to write business for one company and that enables them to quote your coverage with a variety of different insurance companies depending on which coverage is best. To move your coverage to a new company, they simply move your policy to a different company and you won’t have to switch agencies.

When comparing insurance prices, you will want to include multiple independent agents to maximize your price options. Many write coverage with lesser-known insurance companies that may have much lower rates than larger companies.

Listed below is a partial list of independent agents in Oakland who may provide price quote information.

• David E. Quan Agency Insurance Brokers, Inc.
  523 47th St – Oakland, CA 94609 – (510) 653-8880 – View Map
• Fiesta Auto Insurance Center
  4102 International Blvd – Oakland, CA 94601 – (510) 261-1300 – View Map
• Fred Loya Insurance
  1620 High St STE B – Oakland, CA 94601 – (510) 434-1801 – View Map

More insurance agents

Exclusive Agencies

Agents that choose to be exclusive are contracted to one company such as State Farm, Allstate and AAA. They usually cannot compare rates from other companies so you need to shop around if the rates are high. Exclusive insurance agents are usually well trained on the products they sell which helps them compete with independent agents. Drivers often buy from exclusive agents primarily because of high brand loyalty and solid financial strength.

Listed below are exclusive insurance agents in Oakland who can help you get comparison quotes.

• Farmers Insurance – Scott Halbrook
  1433 Leimert Blvd – Oakland, CA 94602 – (510) 531-1432 – View Map
• Farmers Insurance: Patrick Siu
  993 Jackson St – Oakland, CA 94607 – (510) 350-7829 – View Map
• Stephanie Canessa – State Farm Insurance Agent
  6228 Merced Ave – Oakland, CA 94611 – (510) 339-4444 – View Map

More insurance agents

Picking a insurance agency shouldn’t rely on just a low price. You should also get answers to these questions.

• Who are their largest clients?
• How are they compensated?
• Is the agency covered by Errors and Omissions coverage?
• Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in California?
• Does the company have a solid financial rating?
• Are they able to influence company decisions when a claim is filed?
• Can you contact them at any time?

There’s no such thing as the perfect insurance policy

Always keep in mind that when comparing coverage for your vehicles, there really is no best way to insure your cars. Every situation is different.

Here are some questions about coverages that may help you determine if you may require specific advice.

• Do I need medical payments coverage since I have good health insurance?
• What if I total my Nissan Xterra and owe more than it’s worth?
• Should I pay a claim out-of-pocket?
• When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
• Am I missing any policy discounts?
• Am I covered by my spouse’s policy after a separation?
• What are the best liability limits?
• What if I don’t agree with a claim settlement offer?
• Do I need added coverage for expensive stereo equipment?
• Who does medical payments coverage extend to?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but a few of them apply, you might consider talking to an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form.

Insurance Premium Influencing Factors

Lots of things are part of the equation when you quote your car insurance policy. Some of the criteria are obvious like an MVR report, but other criteria are not as apparent such as your marital status or how financially stable you are. One of the most helpful ways to save on car insurance is to to have a grasp of a few of the rating criteria that go into determining your policy premiums. If you know what controls the rates you pay, this allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with big savings.

The factors shown below are some of the major factors used by insurance companies to determine your premiums.

• Your gender affects rates – The statistics show females are less aggressive when driving. This data doesn’t prove that males are worse at driving than females. Males and females cause at-fault accidents at a similar rate, but males get into accidents with more damage. Men also statistically get more serious tickets such as driving while intoxicated (DWI) or driving recklessly. Male teenagers generally have the highest accident percentage and therefore are the most expensive to insure.

  The diagram below compares Nissan Xterra auto insurance rates for male and female drivers. The price estimates are based on no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, comprehensive and collision coverage, $100 deductibles, drivers are single, and no policy discounts are applied.

• Driving citations mean higher rates – Having just one speeding ticket may increase your cost by as much as thirty percent. Careful drivers tend to pay less for car insurance than bad drivers. Drivers who get flagrant violations such as DUI or reckless driving may be required to prove financial responsibility with their state’s licensing department in order to drive a vehicle legally.

  The diagram below highlights how traffic violations and accidents raise Nissan Xterra insurance prices for each different age group. The prices are based on a married female driver, comp and collision included, $250 deductibles, and no discounts are factored in.

• High credit equals lower rates – A driver’s credit rating will be a significant factor in determining what you pay. Insureds with high credit scores tend to be more responsible than those with poor credit scores. If your credit score is lower than you’d like, you could potentially save money when insuring your Nissan Xterra by improving your rating.

• Your age impacts your costs – Beginning drivers in California have a tendency to be less responsible when behind the wheel so car insurance rates are higher. If you’ve ever had to add a beginning driver onto a policy can cause a big jump in price. Older, more experienced drivers are more cautious drivers, cause fewer claims and accidents, and tend to be get fewer driving tickets.

  The following data uses these assumptions: single driver, full coverage with $500 deductibles, and no discounts or violations.

• Being married can save on car insurance – Being married may save some money when shopping for car insurance. Marriage usually means you are less irresponsible it has been statistically shown that married couples file fewer claims.

• Nissan Xterra insurance loss probability – Insurers factor in historical loss data when they set coverage costs for each model. Models that statistically have increased losses will have higher premium rates. The information below illustrates the actual insurance loss data for Nissan Xterra vehicles.

  For each coverage category, the loss probability for all vehicles, without regard to make or model, is represented as 100. Values that are below 100 indicate a favorable loss history, while percentage numbers above 100 indicate more frequent losses or an increased likelihood of larger losses.

  
  

  Car Insurance Loss Data for Nissan Xterra Models

  Specific Nissan Model	Collision	Property Damage	Comp	Personal Injury	Medical Payment	Bodily Injury
  Nissan Xterra 4dr 2WD	57	95	45
  Nissan Xterra 4dr 4WD	62	100	63	59	77	86

  BETTER

  AVERAGE

  WORSE

  Empty fields indicate not enough data collected
  Data Source: iihs.org (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) for 2013-2015 Model Years

Three good reasons to insure your Nissan vehicle

Despite the high insurance cost for a Nissan Xterra in Oakland, buying auto insurance is required in California but also provides important benefits.

• The majority of states have minimum liability requirements which means state laws require a specific minimum amount of liability if you want to drive legally. 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 vehicle has a lienholder, most banks will have a requirement that you have full coverage to guarantee payment of the loan. If you cancel or allow the policy to lapse, the bank may buy a policy for your Nissan at a much higher premium rate and require you to pay the higher price.
• Insurance safeguards both your Nissan Xterra and your personal assets. It will also provide coverage for all forms of medical expenses for both you and anyone you injure as the result of an accident. Liability coverage, the one required by state law, also covers all legal expenses up to the policy limit if anyone sues you for causing an accident. If mother nature or an accident damages your car, collision and comprehensive coverages will cover the damage repairs after a deductible is paid.

The benefits of having insurance outweigh the cost, specifically if you ever have a liability claim. Unknowingly, the average driver overpays as much as $820 a year so smart consumers compare quotes at least once a year to save money.

What is the best car insurance company in California?

Choosing the top company can be challenging considering how many different insurance companies sell coverage in California. The ranking data displayed below can help you decide which car insurance providers you want to consider when comparing rates.

Top 10 Oakland Car Insurance Companies Overall

1. USAA
2. American Family
3. AAA of Southern California
4. State Farm
5. The Hartford
6. AAA Insurance
7. GEICO
8. The General
9. Titan Insurance
10. Progressive

In conclusion

While you’re price shopping online, make sure you don’t reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many situations where consumers will sacrifice collision coverage only to discover later they didn’t purchase enough coverage. Your objective should be to buy enough coverage for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.

Consumers who switch companies do it for a number of reasons such as unfair underwriting practices, high rates after DUI convictions, extreme rates for teen drivers and even delays in responding to claim requests. Whatever your reason, finding a new company is not as difficult as it may seem.

Some insurance providers do not offer price quotes online and most of the time these small, regional companies prefer to sell through independent insurance agencies. Affordable Nissan Xterra insurance in Oakland can be sourced online and from local agencies, so you should compare both to have the best selection.

More information is located below:

• Five Tips to Save on Auto Insurance (Insurance Information Institute)
• Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance for a Chevrolet Silverado in Oakland? (FAQ)
• Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for Veterans in Oakland? (FAQ)
• Think You’re a Safe Driver? (State Farm)
• Vehicle Insurance in the U.S. (Wikipedia)
• Booster Seat Ratings (iihs.org)