Type of policy
When you compare car insurance, consider the type of policy you're looking for. Are you going to want comprehensive coverage, collision, or just liability? In general, if your car is more than 10 years old and you have it paid off, you should only opt for liability coverage. Liability coverage is mandatory in most states regardless of the car you drive. You must have this type of insurance in the event you're involved in an accident and are found at fault. Liability insurance covers both personal injury and property damage for the other party, as in up to $50,000 in property damage and $25,000 per person for personal injury. The amount of coverage you need varies by state. Check to see how much you need where you live.
Two other types of insurance coverage are collision and comprehensive. Liability coverage does not cover anything about you personally, or your car. That type of insurance is only to cover the other party for personal injury or property damage if you are at fault. This is where collision and comprehensive coverage may be needed. Both collision and comprehensive insurance protect your car in the event of an accident or other damage, regardless of who may be at fault. Collision insurance covers car accident damage specifically, while comprehensive insurance pays for damage to your car that may have happened because of vandalism or theft, for example. Again, you generally only need either of these types of coverage if your car is under 10 years old or hasn't been fully paid off. You will pay more for this type of car insurance than you will for just liability, though, if you need it.
Your driving record and credit score
When you compare car insurance, of course your driving record is going to come to mind. If you've had a lot of speeding tickets or several accidents, it's going to be tougher to get inexpensive insurance and you probably know this. However, you may be surprised to know that your credit score matters, too. This is because insurance companies look at your level of responsibility in a holistic manner, in that they look at your "whole life" as much as they can. Your credit score tells them whether or not you're responsible in general; if your credit score is poor, it's going to affect the amount of insurance premiums you'll have to pay, and you'll likely have to pay more for the same coverage than someone who is more responsible than you are. Some insurance companies may not cover you at all. If your credit score is poor, spend some time to get it cleaned up as much as possible before you start getting car insurance rate quotes.
Having more than one policy with the same company
When you compare car insurance, a good place to start is with the same company that carries your homeowners or renters insurance. This is because the same company will often give you a break on automobile insurance if you carry more than one type of insurance with them. However, you shouldn't stop there.
Shop online
The best way to compare car insurance quotes between insurance companies is to shop online. Again, although you're going to want to start with the same company that provides your homeowners or renters insurance, you shouldn't stop there. You may still get a better deal from someone else. The Internet has made it very easy these days to comparison shop between companies, and you can often get an instant quote online based upon information you provide to a specific company. This should help you find the best car insurance rate possible.
