Because most states require every driver to have car insurance, you don’t really have a choice of whether or not you want to get car insurance. However, you do have many choices of where you want to get it, what types you want to get, how much you want to get and how much time and effort you want to spend researching to get the best deal.
Shopping around takes time, but you can find ways to shop a little more efficiently. Many companies will offer you several free auto insurance quotes when you submit one application, so you can already start comparing quotes with minimal effort. Auto insurance companies know that shopping for auto quotes differs from pleasure shopping – they don’t expect you to make any impulse buys at the register. But like gum and magazines, car insurance comes in many varieties and a wide range of prices. Many are cheap scams, while others offer great deals. You just have to know how to look.
So in addition to looking for free insurance quotes, look for free information on auto insurance, as well. Many Web sites that provide quotes will also have good information explaining auto insurance, as well as tips on how to save money. After learning about the basics of this complicated procedure, you will still probably have personal questions about the best type of auto insurance for your needs.
Many companies offer personal assistance in addition to general insurance information. For example, you can try Most Choice (at www.mostchoice.com) to talk with a real person and get advice on your insurance plan. Most Choice tries to simplify the insurance process by having you start your search online, and later encouraging you to talk with a live independent agent in your area before you close the sale. Many people enjoy this combination, which provides the convenience of working online and the security of talking with a real person.
You always want to look at more than one company that offers free auto insurance quotes, though, even though you may get half a dozen on your first try. If you had the time, you could literally seek out hundreds of quotes, so at least widen your scope with another handful. You might also want to try Comparison Market (at www.comparisonmarket.com), where you can get more free insurance quotes that may better accommodate your needs. At Comparison Market, you can also save money by buying directly over the phone or online, as long as you know exactly what you want.
Also, you could go to NetQuote (at www.netquote.com), a company that also works with hundreds of insurance companies. NetQuote will provide you with five quotes over e-mail within minutes of your filling out an application. The company also offers other types of insurance. Here’s another good tip: always ask about multi-line discounts when buying car insurance if you already have, for example, home insurance or life insurance with the same company.
If you really want to find other ways to save money, you probably will. Be persistent. To start off, you should always take the highest deductible that you can afford so that you pay a lower premium every month. For example, raising your deductible from $200 to $500 can save you 30% on your premium. Other discounts in addition to the multi-line discount you should ask about include low-mileage discounts, anti-lock brakes discounts and anti-theft device discounts. Many times, the Web sites offering free car insurance quotes won’t include all the possible discounts for which you already qualify.
By Lisa Zyga