2008 Nissan Sentra Insurance Rates – 7 Tips for Cheaper Quotes

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy an underperforming, overpriced auto insurance policy? Believe me, you are not the only one feeling buyer’s remorse.

Because you have many choices of insurance companies, it’s difficult to choose the most cost effective insurer.

Shopping for cheaper car insurance coverage is easy if you know what you’re doing. Basically, anyone who is required by state law to have car insurance should be able to reduce their rates. But car owners need to have an understanding of how companies price insurance differently and apply this information to your search.

Companies offer discounts so take them!

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but discounts can save money and there are some available to help bring down the price. Some trigger automatically at quote time, but a few need to be inquired about before you get the savings.

  • Sign Early and Save – Some insurance companies reward drivers for switching policies before your current policy expires. It can save you around 10%.
  • Driver Safety – Taking part in a course in driver safety could possibly earn you a 5% discount and easily recoup the cost of the course.
  • Homeowners Discount – Owning a house may trigger a auto insurance policy discount because of the fact that having a home shows financial diligence.
  • College Student – Any of your kids who are attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle can receive lower rates.
  • New Vehicle Savings – Buying coverage on a new vehicle can cost up to 25% less due to better safety requirements for new cars.
  • Anti-lock Brake Discount – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control are safer to drive and will save you 10% or more.
  • Air Bag Discount – Vehicles with factory air bags can qualify for discounts of up to 25% or more.

Keep in mind that most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. Some only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. So when it seems like you could get a free auto insurance policy, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous. But any discount will cut the amount you have to pay.

For a list of insurers with discount auto insurance rates, click here to view.

The most recommended method to compare policy rates utilizes the fact most of the bigger providers allow for online access to give you rate quotes. The only thing you need to do is provide a small amount of information like how many miles driven, whether you drive to work or school, whether you are single or married, and how much coverage you want. The data is then submitted to multiple companies and they return quotes within a short period of time.

Do I just need basic coverages?

When choosing the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a cookie cutter policy. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. For example, these questions might point out whether or not you could use an agent’s help.

  • Can I afford low physical damage deductibles?
  • Does my policy cover me when driving someone else’s vehicle?
  • Can my teen drive my company car?
  • Should I have combined single limit or split liability limits?
  • What is roadside assistance coverage?
  • Is motorclub coverage worth it?
  • Is business property covered if stolen from my car?
  • Is my state a no-fault state?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies.

Car insurance coverages for a Nissan Sentra

Knowing the specifics of a insurance policy can be of help when determining the best coverages and proper limits and deductibles. Policy terminology can be difficult to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring. Listed below are typical coverages found on the average insurance policy.

Auto liability

This coverage can cover injuries or damage you cause to people or other property. Liability coverage has three limits: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. Your policy might show values of 100/300/100 that translate to $100,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $300,000, and $100,000 of coverage for damaged propery. Some companies may use a combined limit which combines the three limits into one amount and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.

Liability coverage pays for claims such as bail bonds, funeral expenses, pain and suffering and medical services. How much liability coverage do you need? That is up to you, but you should buy as high a limit as you can afford.

Medical payments coverage and PIP

Med pay and PIP coverage provide coverage for expenses such as dental work, pain medications and nursing services. They are often used to fill the gap from your health insurance plan or if you do not have health coverage. It covers not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants as well as if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP is not an option in every state and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage

This protects you and your vehicle from other drivers when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. It can pay for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and also any damage incurred to your 2008 Nissan Sentra.

Because many people have only the minimum liability required by law, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is important protection for you and your family. Frequently your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages do not exceed the liability coverage limits.

Comprehensive coverage

Comprehensive insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. A deductible will apply then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive coverage pays for claims such as hitting a deer, theft, damage from getting keyed, damage from a tornado or hurricane and vandalism. The maximum amount a insurance company will pay at claim time is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Collision coverage

Collision insurance pays for damage to your Sentra resulting from a collision with another car or object. You will need to pay your deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision insurance covers things like scraping a guard rail, driving through your garage door, sideswiping another vehicle, sustaining damage from a pot hole and hitting a mailbox. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are older. You can also bump up the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.

Make an honest buck

While you’re price shopping online, it’s a bad idea to buy less coverage just to save a little money. In too many instances, drivers have reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to discover later that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your aim should be to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price while not skimping on critical coverages.

Budget-conscious 2008 Nissan Sentra insurance can be sourced from both online companies as well as from independent agentsinsurance , so compare prices from both to have the best rate selection. Some insurance companies don’t offer you the ability to get quotes online and usually these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

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