Finding Cheap Auto Insurance

No matter what state you live in, the key to finding cheap auto insurance is comparison shopping. When you are shopping around for the most competitive car insurance premiums, you should take your time to request apples to apples quotes with the same coverage options and same limits initially.

Only after you have compared the premiums of policies that are identical to one another should you modify coverage to add special coverage options or to raise your limits. Getting the most affordable policy does not have to be difficult when you know what to look for.

While price is important, it is very important look beyond price to find the best plan that does not leave you vulnerable on the road.

Use an Advanced Online Rate Comparison Tool

There are a number of ways that you can shop around for auto insurance. You have the option to drive to all of the local agencies in your area and sit with a sales agent who will use high-pressure tactics. You can call several different toll-free numbers to speak with a customer service agent who will quote you by phone exclusively for the company you are calling.

You can visit a brokerage and receive several different quotes from several insurers for a fee. You can retrieve quotes online directly through the company's website by entering your information multiple times.

While all of the options above are practical, they can be time-consuming. The most effective way to price shop without wasting your time is to use an advanced online quoting system that will give you access to quotes from several top-rated insurers in your state by only requiring you to enter your information one time.

The FREE comparison tool at the top and bottom of this page is just what is needed to find and compare quotes quickly. Enter your ZIP code to get started!

This is the most effective way to identify which company will charge you the lowest premiums based on your risk factors without dedicating all of your free time to shopping for insurance coverage. Here are the steps that your should take to ensure you get the best deal as you use an intuitive tool:

Gather the Information That You Will Need to Get Accurate Quotes

Be sure that you are ready to provide all of the information that is requested before you sit down and start your comparison shopping session. Having the most accurate information is imperative if you want to receive quotes that show the actual premiums you will pay.

A quote, even when it is bound, is only an estimation based on the information that you provide and your rate is only final after the application has be underwritten. If you do not disclose a ticket or you put the wrong date licensed, your premiums can go up during the underwriting period and you will receive a higher invoice than expected when the policy is issued.

Some of the information that you must provide is common knowledge and other bits of information will be located on your documents, title, or registration. If you have never retrieved a quote online, here is a list of most of the information that you must provide in the fields online as you use a rate comparison tool:

• Name of all drivers
• Date of birth of all drivers
• Social security number of primary insured
• License Numbers and previous license numbers if licensed in another state
• Date or age licensed
• Violations or accidents for each driver dating back 7 years or less
• Occupation for all drivers
• Year, make, model and VIN of each vehicle
• Vehicle usage and annual mileage
• Lessors or lenders of the vehicles
• Odometer readings
• After market additions to the vehicles
• Coverage limits and deductible amounts
• Address garaged if different than mailing address
• Prior insurance information

Select the Appropriate Coverage Limits Based on Your Needs

Once you enter all of the information in the rating tool, you will be directed to a final page that will recommend coverage limits based on the most popular choices. You can modify these limits and options to match what you are currently carrying or what you would like to carry.

Every company has their own premium rating system and every state has their own unique set of required coverage limits and options.

While vehicle owners are only required to maintain state minimum limits, you may have a need for higher limits or addition coverage to protect your family and your vehicle. You can purchase Bodily Injury, Medical Payments, Property Damage, Collision, Comprehensive, and Uninsured Motorist cover.

Make sure you know the difference between each and how much coverage is considered adequate based on your assets and your own personal needs. There is a difference between cheap insurance and affordable insurance. The best policies offer comprehensive cover while still being affordable. This is important to keep in mind.

Consider the Financial Reputation of All of the Insurers

After you have multiple rate quotes, it is time to identify which companies are reputable and which should be avoided. No matter how important it is to find a company that offers cheap rates, it is more important to find a financially strong insurer in the long run.

Any company can offer high-risk drivers cheap rates, but most cannot offer cheap rates fir risky drivers and stay financially stable. If the company that your do business with does not charge rates based on risk, it only affects you if you need to file a claim.

By using information from a rating company like AM Best, you can trust that companies with an A rating or higher are financially strong and charge the appropriate rates to stay in business.

If any company has a poor letter grade, you should cross them off of your list of possibilities so that you do not end up selecting a company who cannot meet its ongoing insurance obligations.

Learn About All of the Discounts You May Be Eligible For

Now that you know how to use an advance rate comparison tool, move on to learning about the discounts that you should request.

Typically, the best tools will use your answers to the important questions to assign you the discounts that you qualify for, but knowing which types of discounts exist can be helpful for you in the future as you review your car insurance policy annually. After all, the best way to maintain cheap car insurance is to review your renewals each year to ensure it is accurate and competitive.

Here are some of the most popular discounts that you may be eligible for:

Multi-Car

If you have more than one vehicle, you will receive a multi-car discount for insuring more than one car with the same insurer. Some offer a discount off of each vehicle and others will give you a very low extra vehicle premium when you have more cars than drivers in the home.

Multi-policy

If a company sells multiple lines of insurance, they will offer you a multi-line discount off of your auto policy and your property policy.

This is an incentive to combine all of the policies with one insurer to save money and for added convenience. This discount is not available when the insurer only offers auto cover.

Vehicle Usage and Mileage

How you drive your vehicle and how often you drive can qualify you for discounts. If you drive for pleasure, you will pay lower rates than commuters. If you drive less than 5000 miles per year, you will pay less than those who drive the national average.

Seniors who only drive during the daytime to go to doctor visits will pay less than those who drive more frequently. Look for these discounts if you work from home, are a stay at home mom, you carpool, you are retired, or you ride your bike to work.

Claims-free and Accident-free Discounts

Your driving record can significantly affect your rates, especially when you have moving violations or serious traffic tickets for reckless driving or DUI.

If you have a clean record and you do not have any accidents in the last 3 to 7 years, you may be eligible for a Good Driver discount. This discount has a different name in every state, but typically you qualify for the discount once you have 3 years of accident and claims-free driving.

Good Student and Student Away From Home

If you have a student in your household, encourage them to get good grades. You will receive a Good Student Discount for full-time students 25 and under who earn a 3.0 or higher.

If you have a student that is off to college, you may be able to get a student away from home rating to save money as long as they are more than 100 miles away.

Vehicle Safety Features

If you have low-jack or other types of vehicle security systems, let the system know. This can save you money off of your comprehensive cover if you have full coverage. Other added safety features should also be included if they do not appear in the system.

Finding cheap car insurance can be easy if you know what you are looking for and you take advantage of savings tools that can help. Choose a reputable insurer, compare coverage options, select the best limits, and take advantage of the discounts you qualify for. By doing this, you can find a cheap policy that protects you.

Make sure to always compare quotes before making a decision. Use the FREE search tool below to get started!