It’s an obvious statement that insurance companies don’t want you quoting rates from other companies. Drivers who shop around for better prices are highly likely to switch companies because there are good odds of finding more affordable rates. A recent insurance study discovered that people who routinely shopped around saved an average of $70 a month compared to drivers who never shopped around for lower prices.
If finding the most affordable auto insurance in Lincoln is your ultimate objective, then having some knowledge of the best ways to shop for coverages can save time and money.
If saving the most money is your goal, then the best way to save money on car insurance rates in Lincoln is to make a habit of comparing prices annually from insurance carriers in Nebraska. You can compare prices by following these guidelines.
- Spend some time learning about auto insurance and the steps you can take to prevent high rates. Many factors that increase rates like tickets, at-fault accidents, and a negative credit history can be rectified by making minor changes in your lifestyle.
- Compare prices from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Exclusive agents and direct companies can only provide price estimates from one company like GEICO or Allstate, while independent agents can quote prices from multiple companies.
- Compare the price quotes to your existing policy and see if you can save money. If you find a better price and switch companies, verify that coverage does not lapse between policies.
- Notify your agent or company of your decision to cancel your existing policy and submit payment and a signed application to the new company. When you receive it, safely store the proof of insurance certificate in your vehicle.
One key aspect when comparing rates is to use similar deductibles and liability limits on every quote request and to quote with as many companies as feasibly possible. This enables an apples-to-apples comparison and the best price selection.
The goal of this article is to familiarize you with the best ways to compare prices and some tricks to saving. If you have a current auto insurance policy, you will surely be able to save money using the techniques presented in this article. Although Nebraska car owners benefit from understanding how insurance companies market on the web and use it to your advantage.
Car insurance data for a Nissan Xterra
The rate information shown below outlines different prices for Nissan Xterra models. Understanding more about how rate quotes are figured is important for making decisions on which coverage to buy.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Xterra X 2WD | $128 | $172 | $288 | $18 | $86 | $692 | $58 |
Xterra S 2WD | $128 | $172 | $288 | $18 | $86 | $692 | $58 |
Xterra S 4WD | $128 | $172 | $288 | $18 | $86 | $692 | $58 |
Xterra X 4WD | $128 | $172 | $288 | $18 | $86 | $692 | $58 |
Xterra Off Road 4WD | $146 | $220 | $288 | $18 | $86 | $758 | $63 |
Xterra SE 2WD | $146 | $220 | $288 | $18 | $86 | $758 | $63 |
Xterra SE 4WD | $146 | $220 | $288 | $18 | $86 | $758 | $63 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Prices above based on married male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and Nebraska minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, safe-driver, claim-free, multi-policy, and multi-vehicle. Rate information does not factor in vehicle garaging location which can impact coverage rates significantly.
Analysis of deductible levels
One of the most common car insurance questions is how high should the deductibles for physical damage be. The comparisons below illustrate the costs and benefits when you select higher and lower physical damage deductibles. The first data table uses a $100 deductible for comp and collision and the second data table uses a $500 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Xterra X 2WD | $224 | $300 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $957 | $80 |
Xterra S 2WD | $224 | $300 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $957 | $80 |
Xterra S 4WD | $224 | $300 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $957 | $80 |
Xterra X 4WD | $224 | $300 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $957 | $80 |
Xterra Off Road 4WD | $258 | $382 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $1,073 | $89 |
Xterra SE 2WD | $258 | $382 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $1,073 | $89 |
Xterra SE 4WD | $258 | $382 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $1,073 | $89 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Xterra X 2WD | $164 | $202 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $774 | $65 |
Xterra S 2WD | $164 | $202 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $774 | $65 |
Xterra S 4WD | $164 | $202 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $774 | $65 |
Xterra X 4WD | $164 | $202 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $774 | $65 |
Xterra Off Road 4WD | $188 | $258 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $854 | $71 |
Xterra SE 2WD | $188 | $258 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $854 | $71 |
Xterra SE 4WD | $188 | $258 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $854 | $71 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Table data represents married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Nebraska minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, safe-driver, multi-vehicle, claim-free, and homeowner. Premium costs do not factor in specific garaging location which can lower or raise insurance rates noticeably.
Based on this data, we can arrive at the conclusion that using a $100 deductible could cost the average driver approximately $16 more each month or $192 each year than requesting the higher $500 deductible. Due to the fact that you would have to pay $400 more out-of-pocket with a $500 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you have at a minimum 25 months between claims, you would probably be better off going with the higher deductible.
How to determine when to raise deductibles
Average monthly premium for $100 deductibles: | $84 |
Average monthly premium for $500 deductibles (subtract): | – $68 |
Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $16 |
Difference between deductibles ($500 – $100): | $400 |
Divide difference by monthly savings: | $400 / $16 |
Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 25 months |
One big caveat is that raising deductibles results in more money out-of-pocket when you have a claim. You must have enough extra savings in the event you need to pay the higher deductible.
Comparison of full coverage and liability-only policies
The example below shows the difference between Nissan Xterra annual premium costs with liability coverage only compared to full coverage. The prices are based on no claims or violations, $500 deductibles, marital status is single, and no discounts are factored in.
Should you pay for full coverage?
There is no exact formula for dropping comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, but there is a general convention. If the yearly cost of full coverage is 10% or more of replacement cost minus your deductible, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.
For example, let’s say your Nissan Xterra replacement value is $7,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, you would only receive $6,000 after the deductible is paid. If you are paying in excess of $600 a year for your policy with full coverage, then it might be time to buy liability only.
There are some scenarios where dropping physical damage coverage is not recommended. If you still have a lienholder on your title, you must maintain physical damage coverage in order to keep the loan. Also, if you don’t have enough money to buy a different vehicle in the even your car is totaled, you should not opt for liability only.
Learn How to Buy Car Insurance Cheaper
Part of the car insurance buying process is learning some of the factors that aid in calculating your policy premiums. If you understand what positively or negatively impacts your premiums, this empowers consumers to make smart changes that can earn you lower car insurance prices. Many things are part of the calculation when you quote your car insurance policy. Some factors are common sense such as your driving history, but some are not as apparent like your continuous coverage or your vehicle rating.
Listed below are a partial list of the pieces that factor into rates.
- Lower physical damage deductibles cost more – Physical damage insurance, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, is used to repair damage to your Nissan. Examples of some claims that would be covered are collision with another vehicle, damage from fire, and windstorm damage. Deductibles for physical damage state the amount of money you are required to spend in the event of a claim. The more of the claim the insured has to pay upfront, the less your car insurance will be.
- Fewer miles means better prices – The higher the mileage driven each year the higher your rates will be. Most companies rate vehicles based on their usage. Cars that do not get driven very much get more affordable rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. It’s always a good idea to double check that your policy is rated on the correct usage, because it can save money. An incorrectly rated Xterra may be wasting your money.
- Save money by having high credit – Having a bad credit history factor in your rate calculation. So if your credit rating is lower than you’d like, you could pay less to insure your Nissan Xterra by improving your rating. Drivers with very high credit ratings tend to be more responsible and file fewer claims as compared to drivers with poor credit scores.
- Your employer may affect premiums – Careers like doctors, executives, and financial analysts generally pay higher average rates in part from job stress and lots of time spent away from family. On the flip side, jobs such as actors, engineers and retirees pay the least.
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Drive a fast vehicle and pay more – The type of car you need insurance for makes a substantial difference in your premium level. Smaller low performance passenger vehicles usually have the lowest premiums, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.
The following chart assumes a single female driver age 20, full coverage with $250 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. It compares Nissan Xterra car insurance rates compared to other makes and models that have different performance risks.
- Choose high IIHS safety ratings and save – Vehicles with good safety scores tend to be cheaper to insure. Vehicles engineered for safety result in less severe injuries and lower rates of occupant injuries means your insurance company pays less and cheaper rates on your policy. If your Nissan Xterra has at least an “acceptable” rating on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website you may pay a lower rate.
- Married drivers get better premiums – Having a wife or husband may cut your premiums on your car insurance policy. Having a significant other means you’re more financially stable and insurance companies like that drivers who are married are more cautious.
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Insurance losses for a Nissan Xterra – Insurers take into consideration historical loss data for every vehicle to help calculate premium prices. Models that the data shows to have higher claim amounts or frequency will cost more for specific coverages. The data below shows the loss history for Nissan Xterra vehicles.
For each coverage type, the loss probability for all vehicles, as a total average, is considered to be 100. Values below 100 indicate a favorable loss history, while values that are 100 or greater show a trend for more claims or tendency to have higher losses.
Insurance Loss Ratings for Nissan Xterra Vehicles Vehicle Make and 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 BETTERAVERAGEWORSEEmpty fields indicate not enough data collected
Data Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2013-2015 Model Years
Cheap insurance rates are available
When shopping online for insurance, do not buy poor coverage just to save money. There are too many instances where an insured cut collision coverage to discover at claim time they didn’t purchase enough coverage. The goal is to buy the best coverage you can find at the best price, but do not skimp to save money.
We covered some good ideas how you can shop for Nissan Xterra insurance online. It’s most important to understand that the more providers you compare, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Drivers may even discover the most savings is with the least-expected company. Some small companies often have lower rates on specific markets than the large multi-state companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Nationwide.
Other articles
- Dangers of fake or stolen airbags (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- How Much are Auto Insurance Quotes for a Nissan Versa in Lincoln? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Rates for a Kia Optima in Lincoln? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance Rates for Infrequent Drivers in Lincoln? (FAQ)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for 18 Year Olds in Lincoln? (FAQ)
- Teen Driving Statistics (GEICO)
- Self-driving cars won’t replace humans (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- All About Airbag Safety (State Farm)