A recent survey discovered that the vast majority of insurance customers have bought insurance from the same company for four years or more, and nearly the majority have never taken the time to shop around. Florida drivers could save roughly 55% a year, but they just don’t understand how much savings they would realize if they changed companies.
If saving money is your primary concern, then the best way to get low-cost car insurance rates is to compare prices annually from companies who can sell car insurance in Tampa. You can shop around by following these guidelines.
Step 1: Read and learn about how your policy works and the modifications you can make to prevent expensive coverage. Many factors that result in higher prices like inattentive driving and a less-than-favorable credit score can be rectified by making lifestyle changes or driving safer. Continue reading for information to find cheap rates and find hidden discounts.
Step 2: Get rate quotes from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Exclusive and direct companies can give quotes from one company like GEICO and State Farm, while agents who are independent can quote rates for a wide range of companies. Begin your rate comparison
Step 3: Compare the new rate quotes to the price on your current policy and determine if cheaper Sentra coverage is available. If you can save money and switch companies, verify that coverage does not lapse between policies.
The critical component of shopping around is to use identical coverage information on each quote and and to get price estimates from all possible companies. Doing this enables a fair price comparison and plenty of rates choose from.
Locating the best rates in Tampa can be easy if you know a few tricks. If you are insured now, you will surely be able to reduce premiums using the following tips. But Florida vehicle owners need to learn the methods companies use to sell online and use it to find better rates.
Most major insurance companies like State Farm and Allstate provide coverage prices directly from their websites. Getting quotes for Nissan Sentra insurance in Tampa is pretty easy because you just enter your coverage preferences into the quote form. Once entered, the system makes automated requests for your credit score and driving record and returns pricing information based on these and other factors. Getting online rates for Nissan Sentra insurance in Tampa makes it simple to compare prices and it’s very important to perform this step if you want to get lower-cost rates.
To fill out one form to compare multiple rates now, visit the companies below or click here to submit a quote request to multiple companies at once. If you have coverage now, it’s recommended you type in the limits and deductibles as shown on your current policy. This way, you will be getting rate comparison quotes for similar insurance coverage.
The car insurance companies shown below are ready to provide comparison quotes in Florida. In order to find the cheapest car insurance in Tampa, FL, we suggest you get rate quotes from several of them to get the best price comparison.
Insurance rate breakdown
The rate table shown below covers different insurance rates for Nissan Sentra models. Having insight into how car insurance premiums are formulated can help drivers make decisions on the best policy coverages.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sentra 2 | $242 | $532 | $438 | $26 | $132 | $1,370 | $114 |
| Sentra 2.0 S | $242 | $628 | $438 | $26 | $132 | $1,466 | $122 |
| Sentra 2.0 SR | $242 | $628 | $438 | $26 | $132 | $1,466 | $122 |
| Sentra 2.0 SL | $278 | $628 | $438 | $26 | $132 | $1,502 | $125 |
| Sentra SE-R | $278 | $628 | $438 | $26 | $132 | $1,502 | $125 |
| Sentra SE-R SPEC V | $278 | $722 | $438 | $26 | $132 | $1,596 | $133 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Price data assumes married female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and Florida minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, claim-free, homeowner, multi-policy, and multi-vehicle. Prices do not factor in specific garaging location which can revise coverage prices considerably.
The illustration below illustrates how your deductible choice and can raise or lower Nissan Sentra insurance costs for each age group. The information is based on a married female driver, full coverage, and no discounts are applied.
Tickets and at-fault accidents raise rates
The chart below shows how violations and fender-benders can affect Nissan Sentra yearly insurance costs for each age group. The data is based on a single female driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $100 deductibles, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
Insurance does more than just protect your car
Despite the high insurance cost for a Nissan Sentra in Tampa, insuring your vehicle may be required for several reasons.
- The majority of states have mandatory liability insurance requirements which means you are required to carry a specific minimum amount of liability coverage in order to drive the car legally. In Florida these limits are 10/20/10 which means you must have $10,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $20,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $10,000 of property damage coverage.
- If you have a lien on your vehicle, it’s most likely the lender will require that you have insurance to guarantee loan repayment. If the policy lapses, the lender may insure your Nissan at a much higher premium rate and require you to pay the higher price.
- Insurance protects not only your Nissan but also your assets. It will also reimburse you for medical transport and hospital expenses for not only you but also any passengers injured in an accident. One policy coverage, liability insurance, will also pay to defend you if you are sued as the result of an accident. If damage is caused by hail or an accident, comprehensive and/or collision insurance will pay to restore your vehicle to like-new condition.
The benefits of carrying adequate insurance more than cancel out the cost, especially if you ever need it. In a recent study of 1,000 drivers, the average customer is overpaying more than $850 per year so you should quote rates at every renewal to save money.
Get cheaper Nissan Sentra insurance rates in Tampa
Some companies don’t always publicize the entire discount list very well, so the list below contains both the well known as well as the least known ways to save on auto insurance. If you do not double check each discount available, you’re paying more than you need to.
- Senior Citizens – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you can get a slight reduction on a Tampa auto insurance quote.
- Student Discounts – This discount can earn a discount of 20% or more. You can use this discount normally until age 25.
- Seat Belt Usage – Drivers who require all occupants to buckle up before driving can save up to 15% on the premium charged for medical payments and/or PIP.
- E-sign Discounts – A few larger online companies will give a small break for buying your policy on your computer.
- Pay Upfront and Save – If you can afford to pay the entire bill rather than paying monthly you could save up to 5%.
- Passive Restraints – Factory air bags can qualify for discounts as much as 30%.
- Anti-theft Discount – Vehicles with anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and will qualify for a discount on a Tampa auto insurance quote.
It’s important to note that most discounts do not apply to the entire policy premium. Some only apply to individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. So when it seems like it’s possible to get free car insurance, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous. But all discounts should definitely cut your premiums.
The chart below illustrates the difference between Nissan Sentra insurance premiums with and without discounts applied to the policy rates. The price estimates are based on a male driver, no violations or accidents, Florida state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with homeowner, marriage, claim-free, multi-car, multi-policy, and safe-driver discounts applied.
If you would like to see a list of auto insurance companies that can offer you the previously mentioned discounts in Tampa, click this link.
Are auto insurance agents obsolete?
Many people prefer to get professional advice from a licensed agent and that is OK! One of the benefits of getting online price quotes is that you can obtain cheap car insurance quotes and still have an agent to talk to.
To help locate an agent, after submitting this short form, your coverage information is transmitted to local insurance agents in Tampa who will give competitive quotes for your insurance coverage. It simplifies rate comparisons since you won’t have to visit any agencies because quoted prices will be sent immediately to you. It’s the lowest rates and an insurance agent to talk to. If you wish to get a rate quote for a specific company, you just need to navigate to their website and fill out their quote form.
Picking a insurance company needs to be determined by more than just a cheap quote. Any agent in Tampa should have no problem answering these questions:
- How long has their agency been in business in Tampa?
- Is vehicle mileage a factor when determining depreciation for repairs?
- Does the agent help file claims?
- Where would glass claims be handled in Tampa?
- In the event of vehicle damage, can you pick the collision repair facility?
- What kind of financial rating does the company have?
- Can they help ensure a fair claim settlement?
- Is the agency active in community causes in Tampa?
If you would like to find a local Tampa insurance agency, it helps to know the two different types of agents to choose from. Insurance agencies in Tampa are considered either exclusive agents or independent agents.
Exclusive Insurance Agents
These agents are contracted to one company like American Family, State Farm, and AAA. These agents are not able to place coverage with different providers so you might not find the best rates. These agents receive extensive training on their products and sales techniques and that enables them to sell even at higher rates.
Shown below is a short list of exclusive insurance agencies in Tampa that can give you comparison quotes.
John Lang – State Farm Insurance Agent
4023 W Waters Ave #5 – Tampa, FL 33614 – (813) 885-2748 – View Map
Adi Khorsandian – State Farm Insurance Agent
20752 Center Oak Dr – Tampa, FL 33647 – (813) 991-4111 – View Map
Mike Foley – State Farm Insurance Agent
3704 W Swann Ave – Tampa, FL 33609 – (813) 289-7888 – View Map
Independent Car Insurance Agents
Independent agents are not required to write business for one company so they can write business through many different car insurance companies and find the cheapest rate. If premiums increase, your agent can switch companies and you don’t have to find a new agent.
If you are comparing rate quotes, it’s recommended you compare quotes from a few independent agents to have the most options to choose from.
The following are Tampa independent insurance agencies willing to provide comparison quotes.
Global FIS – A Full Service Independant Insurance Agency
8710 W Hillsborough Ave #201 – Tampa, FL 33615 – (813) 343-0844 – View Map
Buhl Insurance Agency
2935 W Hillsborough Ave – Tampa, FL 33614 – (813) 876-0057 – View Map
Mynatt Insurance Agency
1316 W Busch Blvd – Tampa, FL 33612 – (813) 932-5511 – View Map
Auto insurance coverage information
Knowing the specifics of a car insurance policy helps when choosing the right coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. Policy terminology can be impossible to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Below you’ll find the usual coverages available from car insurance companies.
Liability coverages
This can cover injuries or damage you cause to a person or their property in an accident. It protects you against other people’s claims, and does not provide coverage for damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.
It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You commonly see liability limits of 10/20/10 which stand for a $10,000 limit per person for injuries, a limit of $20,000 in injury protection per accident, and property damage coverage for $10,000.
Liability can pay for things such as emergency aid, repair costs for stationary objects and pain and suffering. How much coverage you buy is a decision to put some thought into, but you should buy as much as you can afford. Florida requires drivers to carry at least 10/20/10 but you should consider buying higher limits.
The chart below demonstrates why the minimum limit may not be high enough to cover claims.
Medical costs insurance
Med pay and PIP coverage provide coverage for short-term medical expenses for things like nursing services, chiropractic care, doctor visits, surgery and EMT expenses. They are used to fill the gap from your health insurance plan or if there is no health insurance coverage. Coverage applies to all vehicle occupants and will also cover getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP is only offered in select states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Comprehensive or Other Than Collision
Comprehensive insurance will pay to fix damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. A deductible will apply then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against things like hitting a deer, damage from a tornado or hurricane and theft. The maximum payout a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
UM/UIM Coverage
This coverage protects you and your vehicle from other motorists when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. This coverage pays for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and also any damage incurred to your Nissan Sentra.
Because many people carry very low liability coverage limits (10/20/10), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is very important.
Collision protection
This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. A deductible applies and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision insurance covers claims like colliding with another moving vehicle, driving through your garage door, sideswiping another vehicle and colliding with a tree. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. It’s also possible to increase the deductible on your Sentra to save money on collision insurance.
Shop smart and save
We just showed you quite a bit of information on how to find affordable Nissan Sentra insurance in Tampa. It’s most important to understand that the more quotes you get, the better likelihood of getting affordable Tampa auto insurance quotes. You may even discover the lowest auto insurance rates come from a small local company. These smaller insurers may cover specific market segments cheaper than the large multi-state companies such as State Farm or Progressive.
As you shop your coverage around, never buy poor coverage just to save money. There are many occasions where consumers will sacrifice comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to regret at claim time that they should have had better coverage. Your goal should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage for the lowest cost, but do not sacrifice coverage to save money.
Additional information is available at these links:
- Warning systems don’t curb driver distraction (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for Veterans in Tampa? (FAQ)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for Drivers with Accidents in Tampa? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance for a Learners Permit in Tampa? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Tampa Auto Insurance for College Graduates? (FAQ)
- How Much are Auto Insurance Rates for Drivers Under 21 in Tampa? (FAQ)
- Can I Drive Legally without Insurance? (Insurance Information Institute)
- Airbag FAQ (iihs.org)
- Eight Auto Insurance Myths (Insurance Information Institute)