Every state in the country has some kind of law requiring car insurance – or “proof of financial responsibility” – in order to register and operate a motor vehicle on public streets. While the minimum coverage amounts, and even the type of insurance other than liability, may vary, the point is that you must be insured in order to drive legally.
Unfortunately, the cost of insurance, while regulated to some degree, also varies widely, even within the same state, depending on the reputation of the insurance company you choose, and on many factors from the make and model of your car, to your age, occupation and credit score, and of course your driving record. Knowing this, it makes sense to compare quotes from several insurance companies before making a decision.
There are two ways to go about comparing car insurance quotes. The old school method is to sit down with a telephone and a notepad and call several agents and companies, asking questions, and hoping you remember to ask the same questions every time. For better results, however, you can request quotes through CarInsuranceList.com, and then only call representatives if you have specific questions about credits or discounts that may not have been included.
How to Comparison Shop
Once you’ve received quotes from different companies, you need to make sure you’re comparing policies correctly. Here is a list of specific points of comparison:
- Coverage: What is included (liability, collision, uninsured motorist, comprehensive), and what are the coverage limits? Be certain that you’re comparing like amounts and like coverage.
- Coverage Period: Are you being quoted for six months, or a year? What are the exact starting and ending dates of your coverage period? If you are transferring from one insurance company to another, you’ll need to know when to cancel your old policy.
- Deductible: How much will you be required to pay out-of-pocket when you file a claim? Is it a percentage or a flat amount, or is it scaled depending on the amount of the claim filed?
- Premium: How much are you paying for your insurance? Are you being billed semi-annually, or monthly? Is there a discount for automatic payments, or EFT transactions?
- Discounts: What discounts have been applied? Are there credits or discounts that might apply?
Knowing what to look for, and understanding what questions to ask will help you make accurate comparisons of the car insurance quotes you receive. Remember to ask the agent directly if you have a question not answered in the initial quote.
Comparison shopping can save you money. Comparison shopping online with CarInsuranceList.com can save you time.