Really, the only way to get more affordable Nissan Xterra insurance in Bakersfield is to do an annual price comparison from insurance carriers in California.
First, take a little time to learn about how car insurance works and the measures you can control to drop your rates. Many things that are responsible for high rates such as distracted driving and a not-so-good credit score can be amended by making lifestyle changes or driving safer. Later in this article we will cover more information to help reduce premium rates and find overlooked discounts.
Second, compare rates from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Exclusive and direct companies can give quotes from one company like GEICO and State Farm, while agents who are independent can provide rate quotes from multiple companies.
Third, compare the price quotes to your existing coverage to determine if you can save on Xterra insurance. If you find better rates and buy the policy, make sure coverage does not lapse between policies.
Fourth, notify your agent or company of your decision to cancel your current car insurance policy. Submit payment along with a signed and completed policy application to your new carrier. As soon as you can, keep your new proof of insurance certificate above your visor, in the console, or in the glove compartment.
The most important part of shopping around is to make sure you’re comparing the same physical damage deductibles and liability limits on each price quote and and to get rates from as many companies as possible. Doing this guarantees a level playing field and the best price selection.
Inconceivable but true, almost 70% of drivers renewed their policy with the same company for at least four years, and about 40% of consumers have never shopped around. Consumers in Bakersfield could save $500 a year just by getting comparison quotes, but they just don’t want to find cheaper insurance rates.
Cheap companies for Nissan Xterra insurance in California
The car insurance companies shown below have been selected to offer free quotes in Bakersfield, CA. If multiple providers are shown, we suggest you visit two to three different companies to find the most affordable car insurance rates.
Coverage analysis
The coverage information displayed below covers a range of prices for Nissan Xterra models. Being more informed about how car insurance premiums are figured helps drivers make decisions when choosing a new policy provider.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xterra X 2WD | $168 | $214 | $456 | $26 | $136 | $1,000 | $83 |
| Xterra S 2WD | $168 | $214 | $456 | $26 | $136 | $1,000 | $83 |
| Xterra S 4WD | $168 | $214 | $456 | $26 | $136 | $1,000 | $83 |
| Xterra X 4WD | $168 | $214 | $456 | $26 | $136 | $1,000 | $83 |
| Xterra Off Road 4WD | $192 | $274 | $456 | $26 | $136 | $1,084 | $90 |
| Xterra SE 2WD | $192 | $274 | $456 | $26 | $136 | $1,084 | $90 |
| Xterra SE 4WD | $192 | $274 | $456 | $26 | $136 | $1,084 | $90 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Prices above based on married male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, homeowner, multi-policy, safe-driver, and multi-vehicle. Premium costs do not factor in zip code location which can impact premium rates significantly.
Liability only or full coverage
The example below illustrates the comparison of Nissan Xterra insurance prices with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying the minimum liability limits required in California. The premiums are based on no violations or accidents, $250 deductibles, single marital status, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
Should you pay for full coverage or liability only?
There isn’t a steadfast formula of when to phase out comp and collision coverage, but there is a guideline you can use. If the annual cost of having full coverage is more than about 10% of the replacement cost of your vehicle minus the policy deductible, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.
For example, let’s assume your Nissan Xterra replacement cost is $8,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, the most your company will settle for is $7,000 after the deductible is paid. If you are paying over $700 a year for full coverage, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.
There are a few cases where dropping full coverage is not financially feasible. If you still owe money on your vehicle, you are required to maintain full coverage to protect the lienholder’s interest in the vehicle. Also, if your savings is not enough to buy a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should not buy liability only.
Learn How to Lower Your Insurance Costs
A large part of saving on auto insurance is knowing some of the factors that go into determining your policy premiums. If you understand what influences your rates, this allows you to make educated decisions that could result in lower premium levels. Many different elements are part of the equation when you get a price on insurance. Most are fairly basic such as traffic violations, but other criteria are more obscure like your continuous coverage or your financial responsibility.
The itemized list below are a few of the things used by companies to determine your rate level.
Insurance rates for married couples – Your spouse may save some money when buying auto insurance. Marriage is viewed as being more stable financially and insurance companies reward insureds because drivers who are married are more cautious.
Lower rates by increasing coverage deductibles – Physical damage deductibles are the amount of money you are willing to pay if the claim is covered. Protection for physical damage, also called comprehensive and collision insurance, is used to repair damage to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply could be rear-ending another vehicle, fire damage, and damage caused by road hazards. The larger the amount you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
Deter car thieves – Choosing a vehicle with a theft deterrent system can save you a little every year. Systems that thwart thieves like OnStar found on GM vehicles, advanced tracking like LoJack, and vehicle immobilization systems all help stop car theft.
Liability insurance safeguards assets – The liability section of your policy will protect you when you are ruled to be at fault for an accident. Your liability coverage provides legal defense which can be incredibly expensive. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap when compared to the cost of physical damage coverage, so drivers should buy more than the minimum limits required by law.
Loss statistics for a Nissan Xterra – Auto insurance companies include the past claim history for a vehicle when setting rates for each model. Vehicles that have higher prevalence or dollar amount of losses will have a higher premium rate.
The table below shows the insurance loss data for Nissan Xterra vehicles. For each policy coverage, the claim probability for all vehicles, as a total average, is considered to be 100. Values below 100 represent a good loss history, while percentages above 100 point to more claims or an increased chance of a larger loss.
| 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 |
Empty fields indicate not enough data collected
Data Source: iihs.org (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) for 2013-2015 Model Years
These discounts can lower your car insurance rates
Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, but you can get discounts that may help make it more affordable. Certain credits will be shown when you complete an application, but some must be asked about before you will receive the discount.
- Discount for Swiching Early – Some larger companies give discounts for switching companies prior to your current Xterra insurance policy expiration. Ten percent is about the average savings.
- No Claim Discounts – Drivers with accident-free driving histories pay less when compared to bad drivers.
- Drivers Education – It’s a good idea to have your young drivers enroll and complete driver’s education if it’s offered in school.
- Accident Forgiveness – Not necessarily a discount, but a handful of insurance companies will forgive one accident without getting socked with a rate hike as long as you don’t have any claims for a certain period of time.
- Save with a New Car – Buying a new car model is cheaper since newer vehicles are generally safer.
- Defensive Driver – Taking time to complete a defensive driver course could save 5% or more and easily recoup the cost of the course.
As a sidenote, some credits don’t apply to the entire cost. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. Despite the fact that it seems like you could get a free car insurance policy, it just doesn’t work that way. But any discount will cut your overall premium however.
The example below shows the difference between Nissan Xterra insurance premiums with and without discounts being applied to the rates. The information is based on a male driver, a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, 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 safe-driver, homeowner, multi-car, multi-policy, marriage, and claim-free discounts applied.
A list of car insurance companies and some of their more popular discounts can be read below.
- Farmers Insurance discounts include pay in full, distant student, homeowner, electronic funds transfer, business and professional, and switch companies.
- Esurance has savings for online quote, safety device, multi-policy, emergency road assistance, and defensive driver.
- State Farm offers discounts for defensive driving training, accident-free, driver’s education, multiple policy, and Drive Safe & Save.
- GEICO may include discounts for membership and employees, five-year accident-free, air bags, anti-theft, multi-policy, good student, and anti-lock brakes.
- Allstate may have discounts that include EZ pay plan discount, auto/life discount, eSmart discount, safe driver, and anti-lock brakes.
If you want cheaper Bakersfield auto insurance quotes, ask all companies you are considering which discounts can lower your rates. Depending on the company, some discounts may not apply to policyholders in Bakersfield.
When to talk to an insurance agency
A small number of people just prefer to sit down with an agent and that is a personal choice. Experienced insurance agents can make sure you are properly covered and will help you if you have claims. One of the best bonuses of comparing car insurance online is that you can obtain cheaper rates and still buy from a local agent.
To find an agent, once you fill out this simple form, your information gets sent to agents in your area who will gladly provide quotes for your coverage. It’s much easier because you don’t need to drive around since price quotes are sent directly to you. In the event you want to get a rate quote from a specific car insurance provider, don’t hesitate to jump over to their website and fill out their quote form.
Finding a good insurer is decision based upon more than just the quoted price. You should also get answers to these questions.
- Is insurance their full-time profession?
- Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?
- Is auto insurance their primary focus in Bakersfield?
- Who are their largest clients?
- How are claims handled?
If you prefer to buy car insurance from a reliable insurance agency, it’s helpful to know the types of insurance agents and how they work. Car insurance agents in Bakersfield are considered either exclusive or independent (non-exclusive). Either can do a good job, but it’s worth mentioning the difference in the companies they write for because it may have an impact on your selection of an agent.
Exclusive Agencies
These agents normally can only provide a single company’s rates like AAA, State Farm, Farmers Insurance, and Allstate. Exclusive agencies are unable to provide prices from multiple companies so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. They are trained well on sales techniques which helps them compete with independent agents.
The following is a list of exclusive insurance agencies in Bakersfield who can help you get rate quotes.
Allstate Insurance: Megan Waite
4200 Easton Dr #1 – Bakersfield, CA 93309 – (661) 327-3486 – View Map
Farmers Insurance – Scott Brown
6501 Schirra Ct #100 – Bakersfield, CA 93313 – (661) 837-4100 – View Map
Farmers Insurance: Grant Fortt
2623 F St – Bakersfield, CA 93301 – (661) 829-4499 – View Map
Independent Agencies or Brokers
Agents of this type are not locked into one company so they can insure your vehicles through many different car insurance companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If premiums increase, your policy is moved internally which makes it simple for you. When comparing rate quotes, it’s a good idea to get quotes from a couple of independent agencies so that you have a good selection of quotes to compare.
Listed below is a list of independent agents in Bakersfield who can help you get price quotes.
Miroslava Hernandez Insurance Agency
6433 E Brundage Ln # 2 – Bakersfield, CA 93307 – (661) 326-7200 – View Map
Nationwide Insurance – Michaud Insurance Agency Inc
3795 Niles St – Bakersfield, CA 93306 – (661) 633-9900 – View Map
Fallgatter Rhodes Insurance
1701 G St – Bakersfield, CA 93301 – (661) 324-2424 – View Map
Do I just need basic coverages?
When buying proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a “best” method to buy coverage. Every situation is different.
For instance, these questions might point out if your situation would benefit from professional advice.
- What if a claim settlement is too low?
- What states are considered no-fault?
- Is my nanny covered when driving my vehicle?
- I don’t drive much so do I pay less?
- Should I have a commercial auto policy?
- Am I covered if I hit a deer?
- Am I covered when pulling a rental trailer?
- Does coverage extend to Mexico or Canada?
- Does my policy cover me if I wreck while driving under the influence?
- What happens if I owe more than my Nissan Xterra is worth?
If you can’t answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation then you might want to talk to an insurance 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.
Find cheap rates by being thorough
We just covered many ideas to get a better price on Nissan Xterra insurance in Bakersfield. The key concept to understand is the more companies you get premium rates for, the better likelihood of getting affordable Bakersfield auto insurance quotes. Consumers may even find the best price on car insurance is with some of the lesser-known companies.
People who switch companies do it for a variety of reasons including policy cancellation, being labeled a high risk driver, high rates after DUI convictions and even questionable increases in premium. No matter why you want to switch, finding a new company can be easier than you think.
Cheaper Nissan Xterra insurance in Bakersfield is definitely available on the web as well as from independent agents in Bakersfield, and you need to comparison shop both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. There are still a few companies who do not provide online price quotes and usually these smaller companies only sell coverage through independent insurance agents.
Other learning opportunities
- Auto Crash Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
- How Much are Bakersfield Car Insurance Quotes for 18 Year Olds? (FAQ)
- What Auto Insurance is Cheapest for Drivers Over Age 50 in Bakersfield? (FAQ)
- What Auto Insurance is Cheapest for Drivers with a DUI in Bakersfield? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Bakersfield Car Insurance for College Graduates? (FAQ)
- What is Full Coverage? (Allstate)
- Avoiding Deer Collisions (Insurance Information Institute)