It’s well known that auto insurance companies don’t want you to look for a cheaper policy. Insureds who get comparison quotes once a year are highly likely to move their business because there is a good chance of finding a more affordable policy premium. A recent survey revealed that people who routinely compared rates saved about $3,450 over four years compared to people who never shopped around.
If finding the most affordable insurance is your ultimate objective, understanding the best ways to shop for coverages can make the process more efficient.
The most effective way to find affordable auto insurance rates in Oklahoma City is to compare prices regularly from different companies in Oklahoma. Price quotes can be compared by following these guidelines.
- It will benefit you to learn about car insurance and the steps you can take to lower rates. Many policy risk factors that drive up the price like distracted driving and a less-than-favorable credit score can be controlled by making minor driving habit or lifestyle changes.
- Quote rates from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Exclusive and direct companies can only give rate quotes from one company like GEICO and State Farm, while agents who are independent can quote rates from many different companies.
- Compare the price quotes to your current policy premium to see if you can save by switching companies. If you find better rates, ensure there is no coverage lapse between policies.
- Provide written notification to your current company to cancel your existing policy and submit the completed application along with a down payment for the new policy. As soon as you have the new policy, place the new certificate verifying coverage in an easily accessible location.
The critical component of shopping around is to use identical coverage information on every price quote and and to get rate quotes from as many carriers as you can. Doing this ensures a fair price comparison and the best price selection.
The car insurance companies shown below can provide quotes in Oklahoma. If multiple companies are shown, it’s a good idea that you visit two to three different companies to get the most competitive price.
Auto insurance data for a Nissan Maxima
The table displayed next highlights estimates of insurance premium costs for Nissan Maxima models. Having a good understanding how car insurance premiums are determined is important to be able to make decisions on which insurance to purchase.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Maxima 3.5 S | $262 | $424 | $458 | $28 | $136 | $1,308 | $109 |
Maxima 3.5 SV | $262 | $488 | $458 | $28 | $136 | $1,372 | $114 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Data based on married female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and Oklahoma minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-policy, claim-free, multi-vehicle, and safe-driver. Premium amounts do not factor in specific location which can modify coverage rates significantly.
Deductible analysis
When shopping for auto insurance, a common question is what deductibles to buy. The premium rates below may help you to understand the rate differences when you choose different insurance deductibles. The first rate estimation uses a $100 deductible and the second set of prices uses a $1,000 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Maxima 3.5 S | $486 | $822 | $448 | $26 | $134 | $1,941 | $162 |
Maxima 3.5 SV | $486 | $946 | $448 | $26 | $134 | $2,065 | $172 |
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Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Maxima 3.5 S | $270 | $432 | $448 | $26 | $134 | $1,310 | $109 |
Maxima 3.5 SV | $270 | $498 | $448 | $26 | $134 | $1,376 | $115 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Prices above based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Oklahoma minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, homeowner, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, and claim-free. Rate quotes do not factor in zip code location which can decrease or increase auto insurance rates noticeably.
Based on these figures, using a $100 deductible will cost you approximately $55 more each month or $660 for a full year than selecting the higher $1,000 deductible. Since you would have to pay $900 more out-of-pocket with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you normally average more than 16 months between claims, you would most likely save money if you elect the higher deductible.
How accidents and tickets impact rates
The illustration below shows how speeding tickets and accidents influence Nissan Maxima insurance rates for each age group. Data assumes a single female driver, comp and collision included, $500 deductibles, and no additional discounts are factored in.
Male drivers versus female drivers
The illustration below illustrates the difference between Nissan Maxima insurance premiums for male and female drivers. The information is based on no claims or driving citations, full physical damage coverage, $250 deductibles, single status, and no policy discounts are applied.
Should you buy full coverage?
The illustration below visualizes the comparison of Nissan Maxima insurance rates with and without physical damage coverage, medical payments, and uninsured/under-insured motorist coverage. The data assumes no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no other discounts are factored in.
When to stop buying comprehensive and collision coverage
There is no definitive rule of when to exclude full coverage, but there is a general convention. If the annual cost of having full coverage is more than 10% of the settlement you would receive from your company, then it may be the right time to buy liability only.
For example, let’s say your Nissan Maxima replacement value is $4,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled in an accident, the most your company would pay you is $3,000 after paying your deductible. If you are paying in excess of $300 a year for full coverage, then you may need to consider dropping full coverage.
There are some situations where only buying liability is not a good idea. If you still have a loan on your vehicle, you are required to maintain full coverage as part of the loan conditions. Also, if your emergency fund is not enough to purchase a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should keep full coverage.
Why you need Nissan Maxima insurance in Oklahoma
Despite the high cost, insuring your vehicle is required in Oklahoma but also provides important benefits.
- The majority of states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means the state requires specific limits of liability protection if you drive a vehicle. In Oklahoma these limits are 25/50/25 which means you must have $25,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $25,000 of property damage coverage.
- If you have a loan on your vehicle, more than likely the lender will have a requirement that you have comprehensive coverage to guarantee loan repayment. If you do not keep the policy in force, the lender may insure your Nissan at a much higher premium rate and require you to pay much more than you were paying before.
- Insurance protects both your vehicle and your personal assets. It will also reimburse you for medical bills that are the result of an accident. Liability insurance, one of your policy coverages, will also pay for a defense attorney if you are sued as the result of your driving. If mother nature or an accident damages your car, your policy will pay to have it repaired.
The benefits of having insurance are definitely more than the cost, especially if you ever need it. Despite what companies tell you, the average driver is overpaying over $869 every year so it’s very important to do a rate comparison at every renewal to be sure current rates are still competitive.
You Can Change Your Insurance Rates
Multiple criteria are taken into consideration when premium rates are determined. A few of the factors are predictable like your driving record, but some are more transparent such as your marital status or how safe your car is.
The following are some of the factors used by companies to determine rates.
Your employer can affect prices – Occupations such as military generals, architects, and accountants are shown to have the highest rates in part from stressful work requirements and incredibly demanding work hours. Other professions such as scientists, historians and performers get better rates.
Uninterrupted coverage saves money – Driving your car without having proper coverage can get your license suspended and you may have a hard time finding new coverage because you let your coverage cancel without a new policy in place. Not only will you pay more, getting caught without coverage might get you a revoked license or a big fine.
Pay less with a high IIHS safety rating – Cars with high safety ratings tend to be cheaper to insure. Highly rated vehicles reduce occupant injuries and reduced instances of injuries translates directly to fewer claims and thus lower rates. If your Nissan Maxima has ratings of a minimum four stars on Safercar.gov it may cost less to insure.
Rural vs Urban Areas – Choosing to live in a small town has definite advantages if you are looking for the lowest rates. Less people living in that area corresponds to lower accident rates. People in densely populated areas have to deal with much more traffic and much longer commute distances. Spending more time driving means a statistically higher chance of an accident.
Annual mileage impacts prices – The more miles you rack up on your Nissan in a year the more it will cost to insure it. Many insurance companies rate vehicles based upon how the vehicle is primarily used. Cars and trucks used primarily for pleasure use qualify for better rates than cars that get driven a lot. Make sure your auto insurance declarations sheet properly reflects the proper vehicle usage. Having an incorrect usage rating on your Maxima can cost quite a bit.
Reserve auto insurance claims for larger damages – Companies in Oklahoma award better rates to policyholders who only file infrequent claims. If you are a frequent claim filer, you can look forward to higher premiums or even policy non-renewal. Insurance coverage is designed for larger claims.
Raise your deductibles for better rates – Physical damage deductibles represent how much money you are required to spend out-of-pocket before your auto insurance pays a claim. Insurance for physical damage, aka comp and collision, protects your car from damage. Some coverage claims would be rear-ending another vehicle, damage caused by hail, or theft of your vehicle. The more money you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the bigger discount you will receive.
Incidental coverages you don’t use – There are many extra bells and whistles that sound like a good idea at the time if you don’t pay attention. Insurance for roadside assistance, death and dismemberment, and extra equipment coverage are probably not needed. They may seem like a good idea when discussing your needs, but your money might be better spent on other coverage so get rid of them and save.
When to get professional advice
When choosing coverage online or from an agent for your vehicles, there is no best way to insure your cars. Every situation is different so your insurance needs to address that.
For example, these questions may help highlight whether your personal situation will benefit from professional help.
- Is motorclub coverage worth it?
- Will filing a claim cost me more?
- Who does medical payments coverage extend to?
- Can I pay claims out-of-pocket if I buy high deductibles?
- Am I covered if my car is in a flood?
- Will my insurance pay for OEM parts?
- Why do I need rental car insurance?
- Is my state a no-fault state?
- What is the ISO rating for a Nissan Maxima?
- Should I have combined single limit or split liability limits?
If you can’t answer these questions but you know they apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, take a second and complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It only takes a few minutes and may give you better protection.
What is the best auto insurance company in Oklahoma?
Finding a good quality insurance provider can be challenging considering how many choices there are in Oklahoma City. The company information shown below can help you pick which insurers to look at purchasing from.
Top 10 Oklahoma City Car Insurance Companies Overall
- Travelers
- USAA
- Mercury Insurance
- AAA Insurance
- Nationwide
- Allstate
- State Farm
- The Hartford
- Safeco Insurance
- Progressive
Top 10 Oklahoma City Car Insurance Companies by A.M. Best Rank
- Travelers – A++
- USAA – A++
- GEICO – A++
- State Farm – A++
- Titan Insurance – A+
- Esurance – A+
- Progressive – A+
- The Hartford – A+
- Allstate – A+
- Nationwide – A+
Don’t give up on affordable rates
Low-cost Nissan Maxima insurance in Oklahoma City can be purchased on the web as well as from insurance agents, so get free Oklahoma City car insurance quotes from both of them to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some auto insurance companies don’t offer rate quotes online and most of the time these regional insurance providers work with local independent agencies.
When buying insurance coverage, it’s very important that you do not reduce needed coverages to save money. There have been many situations where consumers will sacrifice liability limits or collision coverage to discover at claim time that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The aim is to purchase plenty of coverage for the lowest price, but do not skimp to save money.
More detailed auto insurance information can be read at these sites:
- No-Fault Auto Insurance Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
- How Much are Car Insurance Rates for Seniors in Oklahoma City? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Car Insurance for High Mileage Drivers in Oklahoma City? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance Quotes for Real Estate Agents in Oklahoma City? (FAQ)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for a Subaru Forester in Oklahoma City? (FAQ)
- How Much are Oklahoma City Car Insurance Quotes for Inexperienced Drivers? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance for Uninsured Drivers in Oklahoma City? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Oklahoma City Auto Insurance for Drivers Requiring a SR22? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Rates for Business Use in Oklahoma City? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Oklahoma City Auto Insurance for 16 Year Olds? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes for 19 Year Olds in Oklahoma City? (FAQ)
- What is a Telematics Device? (Allstate)
- Understanding Car Crashes Video (iihs.org)