Your driving record and vehicle type determine your auto insurance rates. To find out how much an auto insurance policy would cost you, you can request free quotes from an insurer. Most online quotes are instant if you shop for auto insurance with a smaller provider. All that is required is to provide some basic information about yourself, your vehicle, and anyone who drives it.
Please provide accurate information when you request a quote. Insurance companies can cancel your policy within 30 to 90 days (depending on the state) if you fail to disclose something significant, such as a teen driver living in your household.
If you cannot find a better plan, you may continue shopping until you do. A quote is usually valid for 30 days to shop around.
Types of car insurance coverage
Quotes may distinguish between different types of coverage to choose between a minimum coverage policy and a full coverage policy. Car insurance policies typically cover the following items:
| Liability coverage | You are responsible for bodily injury to other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident. In an accident where you are at fault, property damage liability will cover other vehicles. |
| Collision insurance | Your vehicle is covered by this insurance regardless of who is at fault. |
| Comprehensive insurance | As a result, your vehicle is completely protected against environmental factors such as floods, fires, fallen tree branches, theft, and vandalism. |
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | Regardless of fault, you and your passengers are covered for medical expenses, lost wages, and death benefits. |
| Medical payments (MedPay) | You and your passengers are covered for medical expenses under this insurance policy. |
| Underinsured/uninsured motorist insurance | If you are involved in an accident with a driver who has no or insufficient insurance, this coverage will protect you. |
Further, you may be able to select additional insurance options, such as roadside assistance and mechanical breakdown coverage, depending on your provider.
How to shop for car insurance quotes
Let’s take a look at a few steps in shopping for auto insurance quotes.
Step 1: Gather your information
Whatever method you choose to obtain insurance quotes, you will need to provide a few pieces of information. Make sure you have the following information available before shopping for insurance:
- The names and dates of birth of each driver in your household, as well as their occupations
- Information about the vehicle, including its make, model, mileage, and vehicle identification number (VIN)
- The average number of miles driven per year
- Driving records
- Information about current insurance coverage
Step 2: Choose what level of coverage you require
You may find the cheapest option is to purchase a policy that meets your state’s minimum liability limits, but this may not provide adequate coverage in case of a severe accident. In addition, it does not cover your automobile if you cause an accident or cause environmental damage.
The best way to obtain full coverage is to add comprehensive and collision coverage. Comprehensive and collision coverage may be limited in amount, just as liability coverage may. Higher limits provide more protection but will also cost more. With an auto loan, most lenders require that you maintain full vehicle coverage.
Step 3: Request car insurance quotes
You can start shopping for insurance quotes once you have your information ready and know what you are looking for. You may use a quote comparison tool; request quotes online from companies, contact companies by telephone, physically visit a branch or work through an insurance broker. The following is a description of each option:
- Quote comparison tool: By using a comparison tool, you can enter your information once and compare quotes from car insurance providers in your local area. According to a survey of 1,000 respondents in our 2022 car insurance survey, 30% report using a quote comparison tool, making it the most preferred method of shopping for car insurance coverage.
- Direct online quote: Numerous providers offer free, instant quotes on their websites, but you will have to visit the websites of each company individually. Approximately 24% of respondents reported requesting quotes directly online from providers.
- Quote by phone: By calling an auto insurance company, you can receive more personalized service and learn how the company treats its customers. Agents assist you in choosing a policy and ensure you are getting all of the discounts for auto insurance that you are entitled to. A survey we conducted revealed that 20% of 1,000 respondents preferred to call companies directly.
- In-person quote: You can obtain a quote by contacting your local insurance agency. Make sure to bring the necessary documents with you. When shopping for auto insurance, nearly 16% of respondents prefer to speak with an insurance agency or use a broker.
- Car insurance broker: Brokers act as middlemen between insurers and customers to secure the best possible deal for clients. This is a hands-off approach to shopping. While brokers may sometimes charge a fee and may be paid on commission, they have an incentive to recommend policies with full coverage.
Step 4: Purchase a policy
If you are satisfied with the coverage and pricing you have found, you can purchase the policy online, by telephone, or in person. After making your first payment, you can obtain same-day insurance or schedule it to begin at a later time. To avoid lapses in coverage, make sure you overlap your new auto insurance policy with your current coverage by one day.
