Car Insurance Quotes: Compare Cheap Auto Insurance

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How to Compare Car Insurance Quotes and Get Cheap Auto Insurance Online

So your old auto insurance policy is expiring, or you just bought a new car (mazel tov!) and now it’s time to compare car insurance quotes from the best car insurance companies and get yourself the best, cheapest car insurance policy with sufficient coverage. 

Auto insurance comparison can become frustrating to deal with, time consuming and expensive. And yet, it is a must, for you to follow national and state-mandatory laws and regulations that pass legislation to protect drivers from unexpected financial losses that involves driving.

Through this guide, you can compare car insurance quotes, companies, coverages and plans with ease, read our comprehensive guide, our reviews and customer reviews and make the best decision for your needs eventually. 

We cover auto insurance from the bottom up - from definitions, facts and statistics, explanation of terms and types of auto insurance, company reviews, to guidance on the best ways in which you can compare cheap auto insurance quotes online for free, through fast car insurance comparison of quotes, plans, companies, customer reviews and professional reviews.  

What Are Car Insurance Quotes? 

Car insurance quotes are estimates for what your auto insurance policy would actually cost and cover for you by the specific carriers. These quotes can be estimated by the carrier itself, by car insurance agencies, agents, brokers and comparison sites (licensed producers).

Auto insurance quotes are determined by the information available to the quoter, be it a company, agency, agent or broker. Mostly, your quotes are personalized and tailored to your own specific needs as per your driver history, background, vehicle information and other information. The more information the companies have, the more accurate your quotes are going to be.

Read more:

• Average car insurance cost per month 
• Car insurance near me

• BMW insurance cost
• Honda Civic insurance
• Ford Mustang insurance
• Dodge Charger insurance

• SR22 insurance cost
• Cheapest car to insure

What is Car Insurance? 

Car insurance is a contract between you and an auto insurance company by which, in exchange for a premium, the company covers the potential cost of possible damages and financial loss that are a result of driving. 

We’ve all been there, accidentally bumping in to a car while trying to back into a parking spot, stopping short and getting rear-ended…the list of car accident possibilities is seemingly endless. But one thing is for sure, getting the damaged fixed can be incredibly costly! 

That's were auto insurance comes in to play. There are many different types of auto policies. Some cover typical accidents. Others consider theft, weather risks, bumping in to animals and depreciating car values. Confused by what all of this means? Let's take a deeper look…

Auto Insurance Types and Coverage Options

• Full coverage car insurance
• Collision insurance
• Comprehensive insurance
• Gap insurance 
• Liability car insurance
• Personal injury protection (PIP) insurance, also known as no-fault insurance coverage
• Property damage liability insurance 
• Bodily injury liability insurance 
• Uninsured motorist coverage

Car Insurance Quotes: The Ultimate Shopping Guide

When it comes to getting the best deal on your car insurance rates, there are a number of paths you can follow. You can use car insurance comparison sites, contact a broker or agency, or simply go direct to the insurer. Each approach has its advantages and disadvantages, but given the huge choice of options, it can be hard to work out which one works best for you.

That’s why we’ve put together “The ultimate shopping guide for auto insurance quotes.” We’ve looked at 12 key parameters that you need to consider when you’re looking for low cost auto insurance, namely:

• Time: how much time and effort is needed to source the car insurance quotes?

• Online: can you search for auto insurance quotes online and buy car insurance online?

• Phone: can you use your phone to call and get car insurance quotes?

• Face to face: can you source affordable car insurance via a face to face meeting?

• Rates: can you get cheap car insurance rates using this method? 

• Coverage: how good is the policy coverage offered and how much it fits your needs rather than providing you with insufficient coverage or a coverage that is beyond what you need?

• Choice: can you compare car insurance rates from a range of companies?

• Speed: how fast it is to get car insurance quotes? once you get the quotes, how long does it take to implement a new policy?

• Saving: are there cheap car insurance quotes that offer worthwhile discounts and savings?

• All States: do these free car insurance quotes can be applied in all states?

• High Risk: is cheap insurance for young drivers, learners and other high risk drivers available?

• Ease: how easy is the process when you compare car insurance quotes?

We’ll consider the main pros and cons of each approach to sourcing auto insurance quotes, and then we’ll use the same metrics to compare auto insurance from specific companies, brokers and car insurance comparison sites. We’ve used 1 to 5 scale ratings on our review: 

• 5: Excellent
• 4: Good
• 3: Fair
• 2: Bad
• 1: Very bad

Car Insurance Quotes via Car Insurance Comparison Sites: 4.2/5

For convenience, speed, and ease of use, it’s hard to beat auto insurance quotes comparison sites that offer free, instant car insurance quotes online. Simply enter your details once, press a button and hey presto - you have a detailed comparison of what’s on offer, making it easy to compare and contrast rates from a range of different companies. What’s not to like?

Well, actually, there are a number of potential downsides to using an online comparison site. First, it may be giving undue prominence to sponsored deals which aren’t necessarily the best solution for you. Second, the market coverage may be limited, meaning you could be missing out on certain deals that are only available direct. And probably most important of all, it may not be comparing like with like. Those cheap auto insurance quotes might look good on paper, but they may be hiding conditions like high deductibles, or no accidental damage.

Having pointed out some of the shortcomings of online comparison sites, it’s important to stress that for the most part, they’re a really useful and welcome tool. These sites make it easy to compare auto insurance quotes, and if your time is limited, they’re a great choice. You could spend a week phoning round all the different insurance companies, but if you end up saving yourself $25, was it really worth it? Plus, the other side of the equation is that there are some really great online deals that can save you serious amounts of cash.

PROS 

- Just so quick and easy to use

- Rates from a range of companies

- Instant coverage is available

CONS

- You may be missing out on certain deals, plus some companies may not be listed online on certain sites

We’ve used 1 to 5 scale ratings: 

• 5: Excellent
• 4: Good
• 3: Fair
• 2: Bad
• 1: Very bad

Worst and Best Car Insurance Comparison Sites Online Review

With so many car insurance quotes comparison sites to choose from, we sometimes wonder whether there’s a need for a comparison site for all the online comparison sites out there!

That said, going online is the best option for auto insurance quote comparisons, and if you want to buy cheap auto insurance online, they’re definitely the way to go. What you want to do is find the site that is most relevant to your online auto insurance needs. 

Comparison sites fall into three categories: actual insurance companies or agencies, websites which genuinely compare rates, and lead generator sites that collect your details and then send it to their partners, typically insurance companies or agents, in this instance. 

In our experience, the leading sites are generally similar in terms of end results and services they offer. The most important thing you should check is how many insurance companies the website covers: some sites are better than others in this respect, and many select their network of agents more carefully than others. 

For comparison purposes, we’ve considered the following:

• Type: insurance company or agency (ICA), comparison site (CS) and lead generator (LG)

• Online quotes: are your car insurance quotes provided directly or do you have to visit another site?

• Scope: the number of companies compared (excellent, good, fair or poor)

• Accuracy: how the initial auto insurance quote compares to your final auto insurance premium payment

• Speed: how long the auto insurance quoting process takes

• Ease: how easy to use the website is.

We’ve then given an overall score, plus our assessment of the pros and cons of each site. So here’s our rating of the worst and best car insurance comparison sites:

Insuranks.com: 4/5

- Superb coverage and choice of companies

- Wonderfully simple

- User friendly interface

- Very customer-centric and educational

- Customer reviews and ratings

CarInsurance.com: 2/5

- Easy to use interface

Compare.com: 4.6/5

- Compares auto insurance rates from over 50 companies

- Auto insurance focused

- Trusted brand

CoverHound: 4.8/5

- Excellent user experience

- Technologically advanced

- Provides many different coverage options from multiple companies

- Allows you to edit your required coverage details, customize it and add coverage as you wish to receive quotes for your exact auto insurance needs

- Automatically calculate discounts

- Real final rates due to direct relationship with 26 auto insurance carriers

Esurance: 3.6/5

- Trusted brand

- Great interface, really useful online tools and powerful apps

EverQuote: 0.6/5

- Can't think of any

Insure.com: 0.8/5

- User friendly interface

Insurify: 4.4/5

- Fills in your vehicle information based on a photo of your license plate!

- Provides an intelligent chatbot throughout the quoting process and customer support

- Utilizes its great technology to match you based on your individual risk profile to carriers its AI thinks is best for you

- Has direct partnerships with leading insurers (provided results from over 10 insurers)

NetQuote: 2.6/5

- Covers other insurance types

- Complete one user friendly form for multiple quotes

PolicyGenius: 4.6/5

- Fresh, innovative approach

- Easy to use

Quote.com: 2/5

- Intuitive and easy to use form

QuoteWizard: 2/5

- Friendly interface

The Zebra Car Insurance Quotes Review: 3.2/5

- Simple to use, friendly interface

Auto Insurance Quotes via Agents and Brokers: 3.9/5

One of the greatest disadvantages of the Internet is that it’s made us forget the value, pleasure, and security of doing business face to face. You can use your computer to find cheap car insurance quotes, or make a call on your phone. But, sometimes, nothing beats the experience of a good old-fashioned personal business relationship.

Using a broker or an agency to get free car insurance quotes offers many advantages over buying your car insurance online. Yes, the process usually takes a little longer, particularly in the beginning, but over time, you may find that using a broker or agent will actually save you time.

Before going any further, it’s important to explain the difference between an insurance broker and an insurance agent. A broker is fully independent, and can recommend solutions from any insurance company that allows brokers to sell their policies. In that respect, the broker is working for you, the buyer. They make their money through commissions or fees on the products they sell.

An agent, on the other hand, is an extension of the insurer. A captive agent typically represents one or two companies, whereas an independent agent works on behalf of multiple insurers. Some captive agents are salaried, but for the most part, agents also make their money through commissions or fees on the products they sell. By the way, both brokers and agents should provide you with details of their commission structures on any products they sell.

But regardless of commissions and fees, both brokers and agencies are insurance experts. It’s their business to know about all the policy options, latest offers and new product developments. They know the auto insurance market inside out, and you can benefit directly from their experience. They’ll take the time to talk to you so they fully understand your exact needs and can then recommend affordable auto insurance that suits you down to the ground.

There’s more. The advice they offer is impartial, and because of their wide knowledge and experience, they’ll often recommend companies or deals that you didn’t even know existed. Brokers and agents also offer proactive advice, and are on hand to provide expert assistance in the event of a claim. If you’re a people person who wants a quality auto quote, an agent or broker is the way to go.

Having listed all the advantages of using an agent or broker, are there any downsides? The answer is a coded yes. The most obvious drawback is that using a broker typically takes up more of your time. 

Go online on the other hand through sites like the one you're visiting, and you can compare cheap full coverage car insurance quotes online at the click of a mouse. Using an agent or broker is a more drawn out process, although for many people that’s not necessarily a problem.

But there’s also another potential issue. When you’re choosing an agent or broker, you want to make sure that you get a good one! As with any line of work, there are highly professional insurance brokers and agents out there, but there are some who are not so good. You can make your own judgements, but in our experience, the best idea is to ask people you know for a personal recommendation.

We’ve used 1 to 5 scale ratings: 

• 5: Excellent
• 4: Good
• 3: Fair
• 2: Bad
• 1: Very bad

Direct Car Insurance Quotes via Insurers: 3.7/5

When you’re looking for free auto insurance quotes, one of the best ideas is to contact insurance providers directly. Although you could use one of the price comparison sites to look for cheap car insurance online, there are some disadvantages to doing so. Firstly, some insurers don’t feature on such sites, and secondly, certain deals are only available if you go direct.

Of course, the biggest downside to contacting companies direct is that it takes a lot of time and effort on your part. The attraction of finding a great deal by going direct rather loses its appeal when you have to repeat all your details for the 15th time!

That said, you can be smart and short circuit the process. How so? By asking your friends, family and colleagues who they use for their auto insurance. Their advice will be based on real-life experience, and is guaranteed to be impartial. Armed with their recommendations, it’s much easier to draw up a more focused target list of companies to contact.

PROS
- Often you can get the best deals by going direct
- You’re not paying commission to a broker or online site
- Greater choice and flexibility on policy options

CONS
- Takes a lot of effort on your part to contact every single company

We’ve used 1 to 5 scale ratings: 

• 5: Excellent
• 4: Good
• 3: Fair
• 2: Bad
• 1: Very bad

Direct Car Insurance Companies Comparison

We’ve selected some of the best car insurance companies and providers in America, and compared them on our range of metrics. Here's our review of getting direct car insurance quotes from the best, cheap auto insurance companies.

AAA Auto Insurance Quotes: 4/5

PROS

- Great personal service

- Some useful additional benefits

- Very competitive rates for AAA members

CONS

- Insurance is provided via a third party

We’ve used 1 to 5 scale ratings: 

• 5: Excellent
• 4: Good
• 3: Fair
• 2: Bad
• 1: Very bad

Allstate Auto Insurance Quotes: 4.1/5

PROS

- Super local service via agents

- Great range of auto insurance policies

- Covers all your insurance needs

CONS

- Quality comes at a price

We’ve used 1 to 5 scale ratings: 

• 5: Excellent
• 4: Good
• 3: Fair
• 2: Bad
• 1: Very bad

Amica Auto Insurance Quotes: 4.4/5

PROS

- Fantastic customer service

- Excellent choice of auto insurance policies and coverage options

- Still a mutual

CONS

- Not available in all states

We’ve used 1 to 5 scale ratings: 

• 5: Excellent
• 4: Good
• 3: Fair
• 2: Bad
• 1: Very bad

ClearCover Car Insurance Quotes: 3.8/5

PROS

- Great for techies!

- Really competitive car insurance rates

- Innovative approach

CONS

- Not available in all states

We’ve used 1 to 5 scale ratings: 

• 5: Excellent
• 4: Good
• 3: Fair
• 2: Bad
• 1: Very bad

Costco Ameriprise Car Insurance Quotes: 3.7/5

PROS

- Excellent rates and savings

- Standard coverage is generous

- Additional benefits for members

CONS

- Online experience on both website and app could be better

We’ve used 1 to 5 scale ratings: 

• 5: Excellent
• 4: Good
• 3: Fair
• 2: Bad
• 1: Very bad

Farmers Car Insurance Quotes: 3.8/5

PROS

- Wide range of customizable products

- Excellent local presence

- Good one stop shop

CONS

- Quality of customer service can depend on how good your agent is

We’ve used 1 to 5 scale ratings: 

• 5: Excellent
• 4: Good
• 3: Fair
• 2: Bad
• 1: Very bad

Freeway Car Insurance Quotes: 3.7/5

PROS

- Wonderfully easy to use website

- Low rates

- Good for high risk drivers

CONS

- Charge a fee for their services, plus coverage is via a third party

We’ve used 1 to 5 scale ratings: 

• 5: Excellent
• 4: Good
• 3: Fair
• 2: Bad
• 1: Very bad

GEICO Car Insurance Quotes: 4.5/5

PROS

- Trusted brand

- Excellent customer service

- User friendly website and app

- Great rates

CONS

- Only available direct

BEST FOR: Cheap car insurance rates. (Root can get cheaper though)

We’ve used 1 to 5 scale ratings: 

• 5: Excellent
• 4: Good
• 3: Fair
• 2: Bad
• 1: Very bad

Liberty Mutual Car Insurance Quotes: 3.5/5

PROS

- Really good online experience via website and apps

- Will consider high risk drivers

CONS

- Not the best rates we found

- Only available direct

- Denies too many claims 

- Customers complain about bad customer service

BEST FOR: Teen drivers.

We’ve used 1 to 5 scale ratings: 

• 5: Excellent
• 4: Good
• 3: Fair
• 2: Bad
• 1: Very bad

Mercury Car Insurance Quotes: 3.9/5

PROS

- Affordable rates

- Good for military families

- Wide range of discounts

CONS

- Coverage is fairly basic compared to some competitors

- Only available in a limited number of states

BEST FOR: Low-maintenance drivers who seek cheap car insurance rates on a very basic coverage.

We’ve used 1 to 5 scale ratings: 

• 5: Excellent
• 4: Good
• 3: Fair
• 2: Bad
• 1: Very bad

MetLife Car Insurance Quotes: 4.5/5

PROS

- Good rates via workplace affiliations

- Great range of policies and options

- Trusted brand

CONS

- Customer service can be patchy at times

BEST FOR: New auto owners.

We’ve used 1 to 5 scale ratings: 

• 5: Excellent
• 4: Good
• 3: Fair
• 2: Bad
• 1: Very bad

Nationwide Car Insurance Quotes: 4.5/5

PROS

- Online quote tool is really good

- Some nice add-ons, perks and additional resources

- Easy to do business with

CONS

- Some policies lack flexibility

BEST FOR: Drivers with poor credit.

We’ve used 1 to 5 scale ratings: 

• 5: Excellent
• 4: Good
• 3: Fair
• 2: Bad
• 1: Very bad

Progressive Car Insurance Quotes: 4.8/5

PROS

- Excellent coverage as standard

- Unbelievable choice of options

- Brilliant range of online resources, including the quote tool

CONS

- Not the best for high risk drivers

BEST FOR: Setting fantastic standards for any coverage.

We’ve used 1 to 5 scale ratings: 

• 5: Excellent
• 4: Good
• 3: Fair
• 2: Bad
• 1: Very bad

Root Car Insurance Quotes: 4/5

PROS

- Low rates - the cheapest?

- Rewards safe drivers

- Some nice benefits included, like roadside assistance

CONS

- Quote process is slow and requires a test drive for several weeks where the Root app's AI measures your driving habits initially

- Doesn't accept bad or high risk drivers to maintain a high quality 

BEST FOR: Cheapest car insurance rates and Millennial drivers who are looking to become better drivers and get rewarded for it with even better rates!

We’ve used 1 to 5 scale ratings: 

• 5: Excellent
• 4: Good
• 3: Fair
• 2: Bad
• 1: Very bad

Safe Auto Insurance Quotes: 3.75/5

PROS

- Flexible coverage available

- Competitive rates

- Good for high risk drivers

CONS

- Customer service is not always the best

BEST FOR: High Risk Drivers.

We’ve used 1 to 5 scale ratings: 

• 5: Excellent
• 4: Good
• 3: Fair
• 2: Bad
• 1: Very bad

State Farm Car Insurance Quotes: 4.3/5

PROS

- Top brand

- Personalized service

- Great coverage

- Mutual

CONS

- Policies aren’t always the cheapest

BEST FOR: Drivers who wants to be on the safe side and seek peace of mind that there is a reliable company behind them, that they are well covered and get good service

We’ve used 1 to 5 scale ratings: 

• 5: Excellent
• 4: Good
• 3: Fair
• 2: Bad
• 1: Very bad

Travelers Car Insurance Quotes: 4.5/5

PROS

- Excellent multi-policy discounts

- Easy to tailor your policy

- Trusted brand

CONS

- Certain features not available in some states

BEST FOR: Drivers who require an affordable car insurance policy that's tailored to their specific needs from a trusted company.

We’ve used 1 to 5 scale ratings: 

• 5: Excellent
• 4: Good
• 3: Fair
• 2: Bad
• 1: Very bad

USAA Car Insurance Quotes: 4.75/5

PROS

- Great deals for military personnel and their families

- Excellent reputation for customer service

- Useful additional benefits

- Among the cheapest car insurance quotes

CONS

- Not open to non-military customers

BEST FOR: Military members, veterans and their families.

We’ve used 1 to 5 scale ratings: 

• 5: Excellent
• 4: Good
• 3: Fair
• 2: Bad
• 1: Very bad

Direct Car Insurance Quotes Comparison: Wrapping it up

Comparing Auto Insurance Quotes and Perks

Comparing auto insurance quotes will give you a more comprehensive view of your options. Well, a wide variety of choices will easily overwhelm you at first. Your decision-making may get clouded, but you have to decide on an insurance product and company that fits you. 

Some insurance companies would bombard you with attractive options, even discounts or freebies. However, you must dismiss that “halo effect” and decide on what car insurance coverage matches your actual needs, budget and profile. 

Rates would also differ because it depends mainly on certain factors such as credit history, age, gender, car type and value, driving record, location or ZIP code, number of miles per year, state and a whole lot of other factors. 

With that in mind, it would be impossible to compare the quotes of a 20-year-old male from Hawaii with the auto insurance prices a 60-year-old female driver from Michigan would receive. A lot of variables would be counted in to determine the auto insurance rates for a specific client or individual. 

When comparing rates, after making sure you have all your needs covered, check the company's average score, as well as car insurance promos or discounts that you may qualify for. Once you have shortlisted some of the best car insurance companies that have the right auto insurance coverage, products, rates and ratings, you should do a background check and read some reviews and ratings that other customers have left on their company page.

This will help you gain a more refined or realistic perspective of what the company can offer and how they treat their clients and policyholders. While the advertising mumbo jumbo can reel you into a company’s offers, feedback from real users would give you a fresh and real-time perspective on the credibility, performance, service, coverage and trustworthiness of an auto insurance company. 

When shopping for car insurance, you are most likely to choose a titan in the industry or a reputable, large, well known auto insurer. Well, this makes sense, after all, you would want to invest in a company that has earned its stripes in the industry. The staying power of a company has a lot to say about its resilience, financial strength and relevance in the market. It is assumed that large-scale auto insurance companies are sometimes more resilient and more likely to be able to afford paying your claims. But this is not always true and this is why you should check a company's online reputation and reviews by their customers ahead of choosing it.

On the other hand, there are also perks that follow through by signing up with a smaller car insurance company. Well, these startups are able to offer a fresh, modern, digital and customized service to their clients because the young blood in the industry tends to bring in innovation and personalization first in their roster of services. Along with other things. One of these companies is Root Car Insurance, which you can read about in further detail on our ultimate car insurance quotes shopping guide below.

Car Insurance Quotes Comparison Tips

• Dig up more information on this website about car insurance companies and understand their online reputation. Read customer reviews, ratings and testimonials online and observe how their customers have experienced them. This reveals a lot about the company's overall experience and reliability. 

• Check on your state’s insurance department to determine the car insurance type mandated by law. In general, most states would require liability insurance and with minimum coverage for property damage and bodily injury.

• Ask for recommendations and referrals from family and friends regarding auto insurance companies and agents. Word-of-mouth remains a very strong determining factor when deciding on what car insurance company to trust.

• Get maximum auto insurance quotes from as many different companies as possible: Request product brochures and quotes from different insurance companies through this website or through a local agent/agency and then compare them one by one. You want all of the options on your table before making such important decision. What's the rate? what it covers? how reputed is the company? Pay a bit more attention to the little details such as payment options, deductibles, exclusions, discounts, and hidden fees. 

• Make a shortlist of your preferred car insurance providers, quotes and offers and then verify their legitimacy and licensure with your state’s insurance department.

• Take note of some questions you might have about the car insurance coverage and other details. Ask car insurance company representatives and/or agents if your credit history would affect rates in different companies, if the coverage would cover rental cars when traveling, or if speeding ticket/driving history would affect the premium.

• Prioritize paying your premiums on time. Non-payment of premiums could result in a lapse in your vehicle insurance coverage. There are auto insurance carriers who would offer direct withdrawal from your checking account to prevent lost coverage.

How to Get the Cheapest Car Insurance Quotes

There are factors that determine your car insurance quotes like your gender and age that are out of your control. However, there are a couple of factors that you have total control of, like your credit score, driving record, mileage, type or brand of car, and the amount of car insurance coverage. 

Basically, your car insurance cost would depend on the risk factors auto insurance providers take in to account. So, basically, they would want to weigh in on the probability that you’ll be filing claims on your car insurance. 

In order to qualify or get the cheapest car insurance rates, you have to research and compare the rates of different car insurance companies. You have to look into the car insurance providers that have that good match of affordability plus excellent customer service. 

You also have to check on your own credit report and driving record to make sure it’s clean and in good standing. Basically, a car insurance company would assess your likelihood of getting into an accident and filing claims. So, if you have citations for DUI, incurred accidents, or have other driving violations, then you will be considered a high-risk client and would have higher insurance rates than someone who has a clean driving record and high credit score. 

In fact, if you’re a safe driver, there are several car insurance companies that would give you discounts for that plus also get lower rates over time. An app is used to monitor and assess your driving behavior, which will be the basis for discounts.

Also, if you happen to have a car that is costly in terms of car repair and mechanical breakdown, then your car insurance rates would also increase. However, with older cars, your car insurance company could give you discounts or a reduction in prices. 

Choosing the lowest amount of auto insurance coverage also helps you save on your car insurance fees. Additionally, you may also opt to choose a higher deductible, which translates to less risk for your auto insurance company and minimal costs for you. 

Another option to get cheap auto insurance quotes is to take advantage of the auto insurance discounts that your company has. Discounts such as paperless billing, good student discounts, multi-policy discounts, and multi-car discounts will give you more savings on your auto insurance fees.

Car Insurance Quotes Comparison Guide: Wrapping it up

Whether you buy your car insurance direct, online, or via a broker, there are advantages and disadvantages to each approach. Which route works best for you depends on your specific needs, technical skills and time constraints, plus whether you value service and personal touch over cheap car insurance rates and discounts. We hope the insights here help you make the best choice for yourself in regards to comparing auto insurance quotes to get you on the road fast, protect you well and fit your budget. You are, of course, invited to use our car insurance quotes comparison tool to get connected with great auto insurers, find information about them, read customer reviews and get the best car insurance coverage for you.

We’ve used 1 to 5 scale ratings: 

• 5: Excellent
• 4: Good
• 3: Fair
• 2: Poor
• 1: Very poor

Do I Need Car Insurance?

Definitely. Unless you live in New Hampshire. That’s right. 49 out of the 50 states require that you have an active car insurance policy. In New Hampshire, you must be able to prove that you are able to afford any damage done to your car, which can cost thousands upon thousands of dollars... so, don't live in New Hampshire! (Just kidding!) 

Does Credit Affect Car Insurance Rates?

92% of insurers now take credit into account when determining auto insurance quotes. Why? Taking your credit in to account helps them predict their losses and the risk they are carrying by covering you. 

So now you might be wondering what other factors can play a role in determining your auto insurance rates. Here are a few:

• Age: Are you a young driver? A teenager? Over 60?
• Experience level: How many years have you been driving? experienced drivers are often more skilled and have a better ability to overcome obstacles and different driving situations
• Driving history: Did you have accidents in the past? Were they your fault?
• Location: The driving statistics in your location as well as other geographic factors
• Type of vehicle: Some vehicles are more safe to insure and some are more "vulnerable"
• Vehicle use: Do you use your car to commute to work? school? pleasure? travel? all of them? some other use maybe? 

We suggest you take a minute to think about your risk as a driver to the car insurance company. 

• Are you a new driver? 
• Living in a place with lots of potholes? 
• Driving an old car? 
• Or maybe just a bad driver? 

All of this impacts your auto premiums. This shouldn’t deter you, however. The cost of a car accident is still much higher!!

Car accidents cost the United States about $231 billion every year. Yes, you read that right. And accidents usually cost in the thousands. That's why being covered is so important and mandatory in most states. 

Your policy will have liability coverage limits. In auto insurance, this limit is usually broken down in to three components:

• The maximum amount of money the insurance company will spend on your injuries

• The maximum amount of money the insurance company will spend on people you injure

• The maximum amount of money the insurance company will spend on property damage

Be sure to know what the liability limits are on your auto insurance plan.

In fact, it is important that we spend some time looking at the average car insurance cost per month. We know that finding a cheap auto insurance price is probably extremely important to you, but it is more important to make sure that you are well covered as well in case the unexpected happens... so sometimes it is better not to take the cheapest quote you get, but the cheapest one you get for the policy that covers you best. 

Your premiums will likely be paid either every month, every six months or annually. It is very important to stay up to date on your payments.

What's Next?

• Make a list of your needs. What are you looking for? What is not important to you? Which of the auto insurance plan types best suits your needs?

• Determine your risk based on the factors we discussed. 

• Compare a maximum amount of quotes, companies and plans, to ensure that you have all of the options on your table and that you only find the best, most affordable and reliable car insurance near you that is the most suitable for you and your needs.

• Don’t hesitate to reread this page and go through other car insurance related resources that are linked below. Education is key when it comes to auto insurance!

To sum up, driving and vehicle ownership can be fun and exciting. For many, a vehicle can reduce the time spent commuting to work, or can allow individuals to travel more flexibly around a town, city, state and even a country. 

Vehicle ownership is liberating - let’s keep it this way by driving safely, avoiding car accidents and having the best coverage for any unexpected financial expenses.

And now that you're well aware of the bigger picture it's time for you to purchase the best car insurance online through a proper comparison.