How long has it been since the last time you looked for more affordable Nissan Maxima insurance in Chicago? Nobody looks forward to paying for insurance, especially when the cost is way too high.
Amazlingly, a recent NerdWallet.com study showed that almost 70% of insureds in Illinois kept buying from the same company for four years or more, and nearly half have never even compared quotes to find cheaper rates. Most drivers in America could save nearly $860 a year by just shopping around, but they underestimate how much they could save if they changed companies. Due to the large number of different company options, it is very difficult to pick the best insurer.
You should make it a habit to price shop coverage before your policy renews because insurance prices change frequently. Even if you think you had the best deal on Nissan Maxima insurance in Chicago a year ago there is a good chance you can find better premium rates now. Forget all the misinformation about insurance because it’s time to teach you how to use the internet to find better rates and still maintain coverage.
Choosing the most cost-effective auto insurance policy in Chicago is quite easy. If you have a policy now, you will be able to lower your rates using the following tips. You only need to know the proper way to compare prices from many different companies.
Nissan Maxima insurance discounts in Chicago
Companies that sell car insurance don’t necessarily list all their discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so the list below contains both well-publicized as well as some of the hidden credits that you can use to lower your rates.
- Chicago Homeowners Pay Less – Owning your own home or condo can help you save on car insurance because it demonstrates responsibility.
- Auto/Life Discount – If the company offers life insurance, you could get lower prices if you buy some life insurance too.
- Multi-policy Discount – If you have multiple policies and place coverage with the same company you could earn a discount of up to 20% off your total Maxima insurance premium.
- Student Discount for Driver Training – Have your child complete a driver education course if it’s offered in school.
- Theft Deterrent Discount – Cars, trucks, and SUVs equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems help deter theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
- Military Discounts – Being deployed with a military unit may lower your car insurance rates slightly.
- Student Discounts – Getting good grades could provide a savings of up to 20% or more. Earning this discount can benefit you well after school through age 25.
- Drive Less and Save – Driving less could earn cheaper car insurance rates.
- Seat Belt Discounts – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to buckle up before driving can save a little off PIP or medical payments premium.
- Multiple Vehicles – Buying insurance for primary and secondary vehicles on one policy can reduce the rates for all insured vehicles.
A little disclaimer on discounts, some credits don’t apply to your bottom line cost. Most only apply to individual premiums such as collision or personal injury protection. So even though you would think you would end up receiving a 100% discount, it doesn’t quite work that way.
Some of the larger companies who might offer these discounts include:
Before buying, ask each company or agent how many discounts you can get. All car insurance discounts might not be available to policyholders in Chicago. If you would like to choose from a list of car insurance companies that offer multiple discounts in Illinois, follow this link.
Most companies give insurance quotes from their websites. Doing online quotes for Nissan Maxima insurance in Chicago is easy for anyone because you just enter your required coverages into the form. After the form is submitted, their quoting system automatically orders credit information and your driving record and generates pricing information based on the data you entered. Getting online price quotes for Nissan Maxima insurance in Chicago streamlines rate comparisons, and it’s necessary to perform this step if you want to get a better rate.
To save time and find out if lower rates are available, compare quotes from the companies shown below. If you have coverage now, it’s recommended you complete the form with the coverage information as shown on your current policy. This guarantees you’re receiving comparison quotes based on identical coverages.
The providers in the list below provide quotes in Illinois. If multiple providers are shown, it’s a good idea that you get rates from several of them to get the lowest price.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maxima 3.5 S | $248 | $460 | $316 | $18 | $94 | $1,136 | $95 |
| Maxima 3.5 SV | $160 | $316 | $250 | $14 | $76 | $816 | $68 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Prices based on married male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and Illinois minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, claim-free, safe-driver, homeowner, and multi-policy. Premium costs do not factor in specific Chicago garaging location which can decrease or increase premiums substantially.
Driving violations and accidents
The chart below demonstrates how speeding tickets and at-fault collisions can drive up Nissan Maxima insurance prices for different age groups of insureds. The premiums assume a single male driver, full coverage, $500 deductibles, and no other discounts are factored in.
Cost comparison with and without full coverage
The illustration below visualizes the comparison of Nissan Maxima insurance premiums with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying the minimum liability limits required in Illinois. The information is based on a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, married female driver, and no discounts are applied.
When to stop buying physical damage coverage
There is no specific rule to stop buying physical damage insurance, but there is a guideline you can consider. If the yearly cost of comp and collision coverage is more than 10% of the replacement cost of your vehicle minus the policy deductible, then you might want to think about dropping full coverage.
For example, let’s assume your Nissan Maxima book value is $6,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is destroyed, the most you would get paid by your company is $5,000 after the deductible is paid. If premiums are more than $500 annually to have full coverage, then it may be the right time to buy liability only.
There are some conditions where buying only liability insurance is not a good plan. 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 you cannot afford to purchase a different vehicle in case of an accident, you should keep full coverage on your policy.
Should you raise deductibles?
One of the most common auto insurance questions is which comprehensive and collision deductibles to buy. The rates shown below can help you visualize how much more you’ll pay of buying low and high deductibles. The first rate estimation uses a $100 deductible for physical damage and the second rate chart uses a $1,000 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maxima 3.5 S | $282 | $478 | $262 | $16 | $78 | $1,141 | $95 |
| Maxima 3.5 SV | $282 | $550 | $262 | $16 | $78 | $1,213 | $101 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maxima 3.5 S | $156 | $252 | $262 | $16 | $78 | $764 | $64 |
| Maxima 3.5 SV | $156 | $290 | $262 | $16 | $78 | $802 | $67 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Prices above based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Illinois minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, multi-policy, claim-free, homeowner, and multi-vehicle. Prices do not factor in specific garaging location which can influence coverage prices substantially.
Based on these figures, using a $100 deductible would cost the average driver about $32 more each month or $384 a year than choosing the higher $1,000 deductible. Because you would pay $900 more out-of-pocket with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you go at least 28 months between claim filings, you would probably be better off by selecting a higher deductible.
Why Informed Drivers Pay Less for Nissan Maxima Insurance
It’s important that you understand some of the factors that help calculate the rates you pay for auto insurance. If you understand what controls the rates you pay, this allows you to make educated decisions that could help you find lower premium levels.
Shown below are some of the items used by insurance companies to determine your premiums.
- Premiums increase with policy add-ons – There are a ton of extra bells and whistles you can purchase on your auto insurance policy. Things like replacement cost coverage, towing coverage, and extra life insurance coverage may not be needed and are just wasting money. These coverages may sound good at first, but now you might not need them so consider taking them off your policy.
- Do males or females drive better? – Over time, data shows that females tend to be a little less risky than males. The data does not necessarily mean that females are better drivers. Women and men have accidents in similar percentages, but the men get into accidents with more damage. Not only that, but men also get cited for more serious violations like DUI and reckless driving.
- Why do you need liability? – Your policy’s liability coverage is the protection if you are found liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. Liability provides for a legal defense which can be incredibly expensive. Liability insurance is quite affordable compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so do not skimp.
- How your age affects rates – Teenage drivers in Illinois have a tendency to be easily distracted when driving with friends so they pay higher auto insurance rates. If you’ve ever had to add a beginning driver onto your auto insurance can cause a big jump in price. Older drivers are proven to be safer behind the wheel, cost insurance companies less in claims, and usually have better credit.
- Lower performance equals lower insurance prices – The performance of the car, truck or SUV you need insurance for makes a big difference in your car insurance bill. The cheapest rates are generally reserved for the lowest performance passenger models, but your final cost has many other factors. Due to the fact that the Nissan Maxima is a sedan, rates will be about the same than the average rate where you live in Chicago.
- Your occupation can affect prices – Occupations like real estate brokers, social workers and stock brokers have higher average rates attributed to intense work requirements and lots of time spent away from family. Other careers such as farmers, students and the unemployed get better rates.
- Safer vehicles cost less to insure – Safer cars tend to have better insurance rates. These vehicles reduce injuries and lower rates of occupant injuries translates into savings for insurance companies which can mean better rates for you.
- Don’t get traffic citations – How you drive has a huge affect on how much you pay. Good drivers receive lower rates as compared to careless drivers. Even one moving violation may increase your cost forty percent or more. Drivers who have received multiple tickets such as reckless driving or DUI may be required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state motor vehicle department in order to legally drive.
Do I just need basic coverages?
When choosing adequate coverage, there really is not a single plan that fits everyone. Your situation is unique and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. Here are some questions about coverages that may help you determine if your situation will benefit from professional help.
- If my pet gets injured in an accident are they covered?
- Do I need replacement cost coverage on my Nissan Maxima?
- How do I insure my teen driver?
- Are my company tools covered if they get stolen?
- Do I need medical payments coverage since I have good health insurance?
- Why do I need rental car insurance?
If you can’t answer these questions then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It’s fast, free and may give you better protection.
When to talk to an insurance agency
Some people still like to sit down with an agent and doing so can bring peace of mind Professional insurance agents are highly skilled in risk management and give you someone to call. A nice benefit of comparing car insurance online is you may find lower rates and still buy from a local agent.
After filling out this short form, the quote information is transmitted to insurance agents in Chicago that can provide free Chicago auto insurance quotes for your business. It makes it easy because there is no need to leave your house because prices are sent to the email address you provide. If you wish to compare rates from a specific insurance company, just visit that company’s website and fill out their quote form.
Deciding on a provider is decision based upon more than just the quoted price. Any agent in Chicago should have no problem answering these questions:
- When do they do a full risk review?
- If you are a high risk driver, do they have special markets for your coverage?
- Do the companies they represent have a solid financial rating?
- Do they receive special compensation for putting your coverage with one company over another?
- Does the agency have a positive business rating?
- Can they help ensure a fair claim settlement?
When looking for a reliable insurance agency, it’s helpful to know the different agency structures and how they can write your policy. Agencies in Chicago may be either exclusive or independent. Both types can write policy coverage, but it is important to understand the difference in how they write coverage because it can influence which type of agent you select.
Exclusive Car Insurance Agents
Exclusive agents can usually just insure with one company such as AAA, Allstate, State Farm, or Farmers Insurance. Exclusive agents cannot compare other company’s rates so they have to upsell other benefits. Exclusive agents are very knowledgeable in insurance sales which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums.
Below is a list of exclusive agencies in Chicago who may provide you with price quote information.
Grace Murray – State Farm Insurance Agent
7035 W Grand Ave – Chicago, IL 60707 – (708) 453-1771 – View Map
Dave Rundle – State Farm Insurance Agent
4316 W 63rd St – Chicago, IL 60629 – (773) 735-0135 – View Map
Greg King – State Farm Insurance Agent
5508 S Lake Park Ave – Chicago, IL 60637 – (773) 643-6200 – View Map
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
These type of agents are not restricted to one company so they can insure your vehicles with lots of companies and find the cheapest car insurance rates. To move your coverage to a new company, they simply move the coverage in-house which requires no work on your part.
When comparison shopping, you will want to get insurance quotes from independent agents to get the best comparison.
Listed below is a short list of independent insurance agencies in Chicago that are able to give price quotes.
Northwest Insurance Network Inc
4450 N Western Ave – Chicago, IL 60625 – (773) 433-3300 – View Map
AArdvark Insurance Agency
1228 W Wilson Ave – Chicago, IL 60640 – (773) 961-8781 – View Map
Zeiler Insurance Services, Inc.
3660 E 106th St – Chicago, IL 60617 – (773) 375-3600 – View Map
Three reasons auto insurance is important
Even though it’s not necessarily cheap to insure a Nissan in Chicago, maintaining insurance serves an important purpose.
- The majority of states have minimum liability requirements which means state laws require a minimum amount of liability insurance in order to be legal. In Illinois these limits are 20/40/15 which means you must have $20,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $40,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $15,000 of property damage coverage.
- If you have a loan on your vehicle, it’s most likely the lender will make it a condition of the loan that you buy insurance to protect their interest in the vehicle. If you default on your policy, the bank will be required to insure your Nissan at a much higher premium rate and force you to reimburse them for the much more expensive policy.
- Auto insurance preserves not only your Nissan but also your financial assets. It will also provide coverage for hospital and medical expenses for you, any passengers, and anyone injured in an accident. Liability insurance will also pay attorney fees if you are sued as the result of an accident. If your car is damaged in a storm or accident, comprehensive (other-than-collision) and collision coverage will pay all costs to repair after the deductible has been paid.
The benefits of buying enough insurance definitely exceed the cost, especially for larger claims. But the average American driver is overpaying more than $865 each year so it’s important to compare rates at least once a year to help ensure money is not being wasted.
Quote. Compare. Save.
Lower-priced Nissan Maxima insurance in Chicago can be bought from both online companies in addition to many Chicago insurance agents, and you should be comparing both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some insurance companies may not provide online rate quotes and most of the time these regional insurance providers only sell coverage through independent agents.
When getting Chicago auto insurance quotes online, don’t be tempted to buy less coverage just to save a little money. There have been many situations where consumers will sacrifice physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your goal should be to find the BEST coverage at the lowest possible cost, not the least amount of coverage.
We covered a lot of information how to compare Nissan Maxima insurance rates in Chicago. The key concept to understand is the more rate quotes you have, the better likelihood of getting low cost Chicago auto insurance quotes. You may even discover the lowest priced auto insurance comes from some of the smallest insurance companies. Some small companies may often insure only within specific states and give better rates as compared to the big name companies such as Allstate or State Farm.
Other learning opportunities
- Liability Insurance Coverage (Nationwide)
- Child Safety FAQ (iihs.org)
- Five Tips to Save on Auto Insurance (Insurance Information Institute)
- What is Covered by GAP Insurance? (Allstate)
- Tread Depth and Tire Safety (State Farm)