Nissan Maxima Insurance Rates in Santa Ana

It's safe to assume that insurance companies don't want you to look for cheaper rates. People who shop rates annually are very likely to switch insurance companies because of the high probability of getting low-cost coverage. A recent survey discovered that drivers who shopped around annually saved as much as $3,500 over four years compared to those who never compared prices.

If finding budget-friendly insurance in Santa Ana is your objective, then having a good understanding how to quote and compare cheaper coverage can help you succeed in saving money.

It takes a few minutes, but the best way to get low-cost Nissan Maxima insurance is to make a habit of regularly comparing prices from companies that sell auto insurance in Santa Ana.

• First, try to understand auto insurance and the factors you can control to lower rates. Many things that result in higher prices such as accidents, careless driving, and a not-so-good credit rating can be amended by making lifestyle changes or driving safer.
• Second, request price quotes from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only quote rates from one company like Progressive and State Farm, while independent agents can provide prices for many different companies.
• Third, compare the price quotes to your existing policy to see if cheaper Maxima coverage is available. If you find a better price and change companies, make sure there is no coverage gap between policies.
• Fourth, tell your current agent or company of your intention to cancel your current coverage. Submit payment and a completed application to the newly selected company. Immediately place the new certificate verifying coverage along with the vehicle's registration papers.

One important bit of advice is to use the same amount of coverage on each quote and and to analyze as many carriers as you can. Doing this ensures an apples-to-apples comparison and the best rate selection.

If you are insured now or just want cheaper coverage, use these techniques to cut your premiums without having to cut coverage. Finding the cheapest auto insurance coverage in Santa Ana can be made easier if you know where to look. Smart shoppers only have to learn the fastest way to get comparison quotes over the internet.

The companies in the list below are ready to provide price quotes in California. If the list has multiple companies, we suggest you click on several of them to get a more complete price comparison.

Don't overlook these Nissan Maxima insurance discounts

Companies that sell car insurance do not advertise their entire list of discounts very well, so the following is a list of a few of the more common and also the more inconspicuous savings tricks you should be using when you buy Santa Ana auto insurance online.

• Driving Data Discount - Insureds that choose to allow companies to track where and when they drive by using a telematic data system such as Drivewise from Allstate or Snapshot from Progressive may see discounts if they show good driving skills.
• Accident-Free Discounts - Claim-free drivers pay less as opposed to frequent claim filers.
• One Accident Forgiven - Not necessarily a discount, but certain companies will allow you to have one accident before they charge you more for coverage so long as you are claim-free prior to the accident.
• Driver Safety - Taking time to complete a course teaching defensive driving skills could save 5% or more and make you a better driver.
• Military Rewards - Having a family member in the military could trigger a small discount.

One thing to note about discounts is that many deductions do not apply to the entire policy premium. Some only reduce individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. Despite the appearance that you would end up receiving a 100% discount, it's just not the way it works. Any amount of discount will help reduce your overall premium however.

The diagram below illustrates the comparison of Nissan Maxima insurance rates with and without discounts applied to the rates. The rates are based on a female driver, no accidents, no driving violations, California state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $100 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-car, multi-policy, safe-driver, claim-free, marriage, and homeowner discounts applied.

To choose insurers that offer many of these discounts in California, click here.

Nissan Maxima insurance charts and tables

The table displayed next highlights detailed analysis of prices for Nissan Maxima models. Learning more about how insurance quotes are calculated is important to be able to make informed decisions when comparing rates.

Table data represents single male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-policy, homeowner, safe-driver, and multi-vehicle. Premium costs do not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can raise or lower rates substantially.

The example below illustrates how choosing a deductible and can raise or lower Nissan Maxima insurance premiums for each different age category. The premiums are based on a single female driver, full coverage, and no additional discounts are factored in.

Nissan Maxima insurance premiums by gender and age

The example below compares Nissan Maxima insurance premiums for male and female drivers. Data assumes a clean driving record, no claims, full coverage, $100 deductibles, single marital status, and no discounts are applied to the premium.

Full coverage rates vs. liability-only

The illustration below visualizes the comparison of Nissan Maxima auto insurance rates with and without physical damage coverage, medical payments, and uninsured/under-insured motorist coverage. The rates are based on no claims or violations, $500 deductibles, marital status is single, and no discounts are applied to the premium.

When to drop comprehensive and collision

There is no specific rule to drop physical damage coverage on your policy, but there is a general school of thought. If the annual cost of comprehensive and collision coverage is about 10% or more of the replacement cost minus the deductible, the it may be a good time to stop paying for full coverage.

For example, let's say your Nissan Maxima claim settlement value is $3,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, you would only receive $2,000 after paying the physical damage deductible. If premium cost is more than $200 annually for comprehensive and collision coverage, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.

There are some situations where dropping full coverage is not advised. If you have an outstanding loan on your vehicle, you are required to maintain full coverage as part of the loan requirements. Also, if your savings is not enough to buy a different vehicle if your current one is totaled, you should not eliminate full coverage.

Do I need an insurance agency?

Some consumers would prefer to talk to a local agent and often times that is recommended Insurance agents are trained risk managers and help submit paperwork. An additional benefit of price shopping on the web is you can get the best rates and still have a local agent. Buying from local agents is still important in Santa Ana.

To help locate an agent, after submitting this form (opens in new window), your insurance coverage information is immediately sent to insurance agents in Santa Ana who will give you bids for your car insurance coverage. It makes it easy because there is no need to contact any agents since rate quotes are delivered directly to you. If for some reason you want to get a price quote from one company in particular, don't hesitate to navigate to their website and complete a quote there.

If you are wanting to purchase car insurance from a reliable insurance agency, it's important to understand the different agency structures and how they differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agents in Santa Ana can be classified as either exclusive agents or independent agents. Either type can sell car insurance policies, but it is a good idea to know the differences since it could factor into your selection of an agent.

Independent Agencies or Brokers

Agents in the independent channel are not employed by one company and that gives them the ability to insure amongst many companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. To transfer your coverage to a different company, your policy is moved internally without you having to go to a different agency. When searching for an agent, you will definitely want to include rate quotes from at least one independent agent in order to compare the most rates.

Below are Santa Ana independent agents that may be able to give price quotes.

View more Santa Ana agents

Exclusive Insurance Agencies

Agents of this type can only place business with one company and some examples include State Farm, AAA, and Liberty Mutual. They usually cannot compare rates from other companies so if the price isn't competitive there isn't much they can do. Exclusive insurance agents are well trained on sales techniques which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums.

Listed below is a list of exclusive insurance agencies in Santa Ana that are able to give rate quotes.

View more Santa Ana agents

Picking the best insurance agency needs to be determined by more than just a cheap price. Here are some questions you should ask.

• Where would glass claims be handled in Santa Ana?
• If they are an independent agency in Santa Ana, which companies do they recommend?
• Will they make sure you get an adequate claim settlement?
• Do they regularly work with personal auto policies in Santa Ana?
• Is assistance available after office hours?
• What is the agency's Better Business Bureau rating?
• Do they offer rental car reimbursement?

How to know if you need help

Always remember that when buying coverage online or from an agent, there really is no best way to insure your cars. Everyone's situation is unique.

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

• Can I insure my car for more than it's worth?
• Is coverage enough to protect my assets?
• When should I not file a claim?
• What does UM/UIM cover?
• Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?
• Am I covered if I hit someone who is not insured?
• Should I buy more coverage than the required California minimum liability coverage?
• What is an umbrella policy?
• Is my Nissan Maxima covered if I use it for business?
• Is my custom stereo system covered?

If you don't know the answers to these questions, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form. It only takes a few minutes and can provide invaluable advice.

How do Insurers Determine Nissan Maxima Insurance Rates?

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the factors that go into determining your auto insurance rates. If you know what controls the rates you pay, this enables you to make decisions that may result in cheaper rates.

The following are a few of the things companies use to determine your prices.

Discounts for married drivers - Having a significant other may save some money on your policy. It may mean you are more mature and responsible and insurance companies reward insureds because married drivers tend to have fewer serious accidents.

Prevent theft and reduce premiums - Choosing to buy a car with a theft deterrent system can help lower your rates. Advanced theft deterrents such as OnStar, LoJack tracking, and tamper alarms all aid in stopping auto theft.

Traffic violations can be expensive - Your driving citation history impacts premiums far more than you think. Having just one moving violation can increase rates to the point where it's not affordable. Careful drivers pay lower auto insurance prices compared to bad drivers. Drivers who get serious tickets like DUI or reckless driving may face state-mandated requirements to prove financial responsibility with their state DMV in order to continue driving.

The diagram below highlights how traffic violations and at-fault accidents can drive up Nissan Maxima insurance costs for different age categories. The costs are based on a married female driver, full coverage, $500 deductibles, and no policy discounts are applied.

Liability protection limits are a factor - The liability coverage on your policy is the protection if ever you are found to be at fault for damages caused by your negligence. Liability insurance provides legal defense coverage which can cost thousands of dollars. This coverage is very inexpensive compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so do not skimp.

Insurance is not optional

Despite the high cost, buying insurance may not be optional for several reasons.

First, almost all states have mandatory liability insurance requirements which means state laws require a minimum amount of liability insurance in order to drive the car 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.

Second, if you have a lien on your vehicle, more than likely the lender will force you to have insurance to ensure they get paid if you total the vehicle. If you do not keep the policy in force, the lender may have to buy a policy to insure your Nissan for a lot more money and force you to pay for it.

Third, insurance safeguards both your Nissan Maxima and your personal assets. It will also reimburse you for hospital and medical expenses incurred in an accident. Liability insurance, one of your policy coverages, will also pay to defend you if you cause an accident and are sued. If you have damage to your Nissan as the result of the weather or an accident, your policy will pay to repair the damage minus the deductible amount.

The benefits of having insurance more than offset the price you pay, particularly for liability claims. As of last year, the average driver in California is currently overpaying as much as $810 a year so you should quote rates at least once a year to make sure the price is not too high.

Santa Ana auto insurance companies

Choosing the right auto insurance provider can be challenging considering how many companies provide coverage in Santa Ana. The ranking information displayed below may help you pick which coverage providers to look at shopping prices with.

Top 10 Santa Ana Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Customer Service

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

Top 10 Santa Ana Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Customer Satisfaction

1. Titan Insurance - 95%
2. USAA - 94%
3. AAA of Southern California - 92%
4. AAA Insurance - 91%
5. Nationwide - 90%
6. State Farm - 90%
7. The Hartford - 89%
8. GEICO - 89%
9. The General - 88%
10. 21st Century - 88%

A conclusion for your insurance search

As you quote Santa Ana auto insurance, it's a bad idea to buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. Too many times, drivers have reduced liability limits or collision coverage and discovered at claim time that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your strategy should be to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price but still have enough coverage for asset protection.

We just presented a lot of techniques to shop for Nissan Maxima insurance online. It's most important to understand that the more price quotes you have, the higher your chance of finding low cost Santa Ana auto insurance quotes. You may even find the lowest prices come from the smaller companies.

Cheaper Nissan Maxima insurance in Santa Ana can be bought from both online companies as well as from independent agents in Santa Ana, so you need to quote Santa Ana auto insurance with both to get a complete price analysis. Some companies do not provide online rate quotes and usually these smaller companies work with independent agents.

More resources

• Cellphones, Texting and Driving (iihs.org)
• Who Has Affordable Santa Ana Car Insurance Rates for a GMC Acadia? (FAQ)
• Who Has Affordable Santa Ana Auto Insurance for a Nissan Sentra? (FAQ)
• Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance Rates for Drivers with a DUI in Santa Ana? (FAQ)
• How Much is Car Insurance for a Chevrolet Silverado in Santa Ana? (FAQ)
• Safety Tips for Teen Drivers (Insurance Information Institute)
• Distracted Driving Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
• Understanding your Policy (NAIC.org)
• Information for Teen Drivers (GEICO)