Finding cheaper auto insurance for a Nissan Sentra in California is fairly easy, but it relies on a very complex rating algorithm that uses multiple factors such as how safe your vehicle is, your credit status, and physical damage deductibles. California drivers pay approximately $1,445 annually for Sentra insurance, but that figure is an approximation using a 40-year-old married male driver with full physical damage coverage and $100 deductibles.
This brings up the issue that more than likely you are not 40 years old and maybe not even male, you might be single instead of married, and you may just want the cheapest liability coverage you can find. Having the smallest difference in the criteria used to calculate rates could end up in a significant change in the amount insurance costs for a Nissan Sentra.
This illustrates why the only real way to find the most affordable coverage for your Nissan is to just compare rates yourself.
The trim level of your Nissan will likely have an effect on the insurance rate, so the price you will pay to insure a Sentra 2 will cost $268 less than the price to insure the high end Sentra SE-R SPEC V model, as shown in the table below.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sentra 2 | $302 | $632 | $456 | $26 | $136 | $1,552 | $129 |
| Sentra 2.0 S | $302 | $744 | $456 | $26 | $136 | $1,664 | $139 |
| Sentra 2.0 SR | $302 | $744 | $456 | $26 | $136 | $1,664 | $139 |
| Sentra 2.0 SL | $346 | $744 | $456 | $26 | $136 | $1,708 | $142 |
| Sentra SE-R | $346 | $744 | $456 | $26 | $136 | $1,708 | $142 |
| Sentra SE-R SPEC V | $346 | $856 | $456 | $26 | $136 | $1,820 | $152 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Price data assumes married male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, multi-vehicle, homeowner, claim-free, and safe-driver. Rates do not factor in your specific Los Angeles location which can affect premiums substantially.
Best car insurance company in Los Angeles
Selecting the top car insurance company can be difficult considering how many different companies there are to choose from in Los Angeles. The company ratings shown next can help you choose which auto insurance companies to look at purchasing coverage from. The ratings below are for the largest auto insurers in America, so companies with more of a regional focus are not factored into these rankings.
| Company | Value | Customer Service | Claims | Customer Satisfaction | A.M Best Rating | Overall Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USAA | 98 | 100 | 100 | 94% | A++ | 98.6 |
| American Family | 98 | 89 | 100 | 86% | A | 95.4 |
| AAA of Southern California | 91 | 94 | 97 | 92% | A+ | 94.1 |
| State Farm | 88 | 93 | 96 | 90% | A++ | 92.4 |
| The Hartford | 94 | 92 | 90 | 89% | A+ | 91.7 |
| AAA Insurance | 88 | 89 | 95 | 91% | A | 91.2 |
| GEICO | 84 | 93 | 93 | 89% | A++ | 90.3 |
| The General | 89 | 91 | 89 | 88% | A- | 90 |
| Titan Insurance | 90 | 87 | 91 | 95% | A+ | 89.6 |
| Progressive | 84 | 91 | 93 | 87% | A+ | 89.5 |
| Mercury Insurance | 88 | 91 | 90 | 85% | A+ | 89.4 |
| Allstate | 85 | 90 | 92 | 88% | A+ | 89.3 |
| Nationwide | 87 | 88 | 84 | 90% | A+ | 88.7 |
| Liberty Mutual | 84 | 87 | 93 | 88% | A | 88.5 |
| 21st Century | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88% | A | 86.7 |
| Compare Rates Now Go | ||||||
Data Source: Insure.com Best Car Insurance Companies
How much more does full coverage cost?
Reducing premiums for car insurance should be important to most vehicle owners, and a great way to buy cheaper insurance for a Nissan Sentra is to buy only liability coverage. The chart below compares annual premium costs with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying the minimum liability limits required in California. The rates are based on no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, drivers are single, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
If averaged out across all ages, full coverage on your policy costs $2,933 per year over liability only. That may make you wonder when is the right time to remove full coverage. There is no set guideline of when to exclude full coverage on your policy, but there is a guideline you can use. If the annual cost of having full 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 pretend your vehicle’s book value is $5,500 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, the most you would receive is $4,500 after paying your deductible. If it’s costing you more than $450 a year for physical damage coverage, then you might consider buying liability only.
There are some scenarios where removing full coverage is not recommended. If you still have a loan on your vehicle, you are required to maintain full coverage to protect the lienholder’s interest. Also, if your finances do not allow you to purchase a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should not drop full coverage.
The importance of shopping around for Sentra insurance
California car insurance rates are influenced by many factors that may substantially change the price of coverage. Simply improving your credit, buying a different vehicle, or getting into an accident may prompt premium changes that can make some companies cheaper than others.
In addition, car insurance companies change their prices as often as every three months to adjust for gains or losses. Higher than normal claim frequency or severity may cause more expensive prices, while profitable underwriting may cause more affordable Sentra insurance rates.
For example, the data below shows the cheapest car insurance in Los Angeles, CA for a 45-year-old female driver with a clear driving record, no claims, and a good credit history. If we compare prices based on her current rating profile, USAA might offer the most affordable car insurance rates in Los Angeles at $1,920 a year. This is $269 more than the average rate paid by California drivers of $1,651. Wawanesa, Century National, CSAA, and Nationwide also make the list of the cheapest Los Angeles, CA auto insurance companies.
Let’s now give the driver from above a couple of claims, a lower credit score, and a speeding citation. Since each company has a different process to set premium rates, getting updated rate quotes may result in a slightly different list of the cheapest car insurance companies in Los Angeles as shown below.
Grange now has the cheapest insurance rate in Los Angeles with Allstate, Progressive, Mercury, and Allied now rounding out the top five. This example proves why it is so important to perform an extensive rate comparison when trying to get affordable auto insurance rates for a Nissan Sentra. Insurance rates are influenced by many risk factors and change substantially, so the most economical option two years ago may now be wasting a lot of money.
How to find cheaper auto insurance for a Nissan Sentra
The list below summarizes a few thrifty solutions that can help Los Angeles drivers locate cheaper auto insurance.
- Being accident-free can lower rates significantly
- Higher comprehensive and collision coverage deductibles will save money
- Remove physical damage coverage on older vehicles
- Drive safe vehicles
- Ensure your driving record is clean
- Better credit scores save money
- Compare rates and switch if you can find a better deal
The last idea is certainly critical, as was discussed in this piece. Prices charged by auto insurers change constantly, so drivers shouldn’t hesitate to buy a different policy if you find a better deal.
Many drivers prefer to stick with one company, but we do not recommend it if that loyalty results in overpaying a small fortune. Now is a great time to compare prices and find cheaper car insurance for a Nissan Sentra in Los Angeles.