How to Reduce Your Nissan LEAF Insurance Costs

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Written by Nick Versaw

Updated June 3rd, 2022

The Nissan LEAF is one of the most popular electric cars on the road. As a hatchback, this compact battery electric vehicle gets great fuel economy and requires little maintenance. But how do Nissan LEAF insurance costs compare to other cars? Do auto insurance companies charge more to insure electric vehicles versus conventional cars or hybrids?

Not necessarily. Although electric cars can be more expensive to insure, other factors help determine your monthly insurance premiums, and there are a few steps you can take to keep your Nissan LEAF insurance costs low.

If you want to get a headstart on estimating your Nissan LEAF insurance costs, simply enter your ZIP code here to compare quotes from multiple providers:

Nissan LEAF Insurance Costs Explained

The Nissan LEAF has a lithium-ion battery pack that can be expensive to replace. So does that mean you need a special type of car insurance to cover it?

No: The battery pack will be covered under warranty if anything goes wrong within the first eight years of ownership. Specifically, you’ll be covered if you lose nine out of 12 bars of battery capacity.

If you get into a car accident, that’s a different story. You’ll need to purchase standard car insurance to cover you, just like you would with any other vehicle.

What Type of Insurance Coverage Do You Need?

Car insurance policies can vary widely depending on what type of coverage you need. At a minimum, you’ll need to carry liability insurance. This will cover the repair costs if you damage someone else’s vehicle in an accident.

Each state has minimum requirements, so check the local laws and regulations that apply where you live.

Another factor that can impact your Nissan LEAF car insurance rates is whether or not you own the vehicle outright. For example, if you drive a used Nissan LEAF, you may decide against comprehensive coverage because the annual cost would be more than the vehicle is worth.

On the other hand, if you lease a Nissan LEAF, you’ll have to maintain higher levels of coverage than you might choose otherwise. Nissan’s financing department requires you to carry collision and comprehensive insurance, property damage liability, and bodily injury liability, with a maximum deductible of $1,000.

Nissan LEAF Insurance Costs vs. Other Vehicles

Is it true that electric cars cost more to insure than other vehicles? That depends on the make and model. The average rate for full coverage is $225 per month — $2,700 per year — for an average car with an internal combustion engine.

For electric cars? It’s $307 per month, for an annual rate of $3,685. Of course, this is the national average. Your actual auto insurance rate will vary from state to state and from one car insurance company to another.

Not every EV is equally expensive to insure. The average cost to insure a Nissan LEAF model is $238 per month, just a little more than a gas-powered car. A Tesla, on the other hand, costs an average of $328 per month to insure — $100 more per month than the LEAF.

Factors That Determine Nissan LEAF Car Insurance Costs

Estimating your Nissan LEAF insurance costs can be tricky because there are many factors that insurance companies use to determine your rates.

If you want to know what your insurance provider will look at when giving you a quote, here are a few of the most important factors to consider:

Model Year

The age of your vehicle plays a big role in your insurance costs. Electric cars depreciate quickly, so a used Nissan LEAF will be worth a lot less than the newest model, and as a result, it will cost a lot less to insure.

On the other hand, older cars may have fewer safety features than newer models, and your insurance provider may consider this when calculating your rates.

The 2020 Nissan LEAF has a 5-star safety rating from the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration, but older models don’t score quite as highly.

Location

Where you live significantly impacts the average annual cost of car insurance. Drivers in New York can expect to pay higher insurance prices than drivers in California.

You may not want to relocate to a new state to get the best car insurance rates. But if you happen to be moving, enter your ZIP code to see if you get better rates in your new neighborhood:

Driving History

Your insurance company will also look at your age and driving record to determine your rates. If you’re a young driver without much driving experience, or if you have multiple speeding tickets on your record, you can expect to pay more for car insurance.

On the other hand, companies like Nationwide and Liberty Mutual offer safe-driver discounts for motorists without a history of at-fault accidents.

How to Reduce Your Nissan LEAF Insurance Costs

Some factors that impact your insurance costs are easier to change than others. It takes time to gain experience behind the wheel and improve your driving record. But you can do a few things to reduce your Nissan LEAF insurance costs right away.

Choose a Higher Deductible

One option is to increase your deductible. These can be as low as $250 or as high as $1,000 while still meeting the minimum coverage requirements for a lease.

Although a higher deductible will increase the amount you’ll have to pay out of pocket when you file a claim, it will reduce your monthly premium.

Some insurance providers offer “disappearing deductibles” that decrease if you go a certain length of time without filing a claim.

Ask for a Discount

Car insurance discounts are easy to come by because there are dozens of ways to qualify. Safe-driver discounts and student discounts are both pretty common, as are discounts for paying in full or holding multiple policies with the same provider.

The Nissan LEAF is also eligible for the electric car tax credit, which won’t reduce your insurance costs but could put some money back into your wallet.

Compare Multiple Car Insurance Quotes

The best way to lower your insurance costs is to shop around even before purchasing a vehicle. That way, you’ll know what each model year is likely to cost in insurance, and you can factor that into your monthly budget.

The Nissan LEAF is one of the most affordable EVs to insure, but other hatchbacks like the Chevrolet Bolt may be worth a look too.

Find the Best Insurance for Your Nissan LEAF

Nissan LEAF insurance costs are lower than many other EVs, but your rates may be higher or lower than the national average, depending on where you live. To make the most informed decision about which car to buy or lease, request a free quote from multiple providers using the handy comparison tool at Compare.com.

If you’re still not sure whether a Nissan LEAF is right for you, browse our electric car guides to learn more about the pros and cons of buying an electric vehicle.

Then, enter your ZIP code here to find a used EV in your area:

Nick Versaw Managing Editor

Nick Versaw leads Compare.com's editorial department, where he and his team specialize in creating educational content about insurance and other related topics. As an award-winning writer, Nick has seen his work published in countless renowned publications, such as the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and U.S. News & World Report. He graduated with Latin honors from Virginia Commonwealth University, where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Digital Journalism.