August 18, 2010

Tips For Getting The Best Auto Insurance Quotes

Finding affordable insurance quotes for your automobile is often easier said than done. Doing a simple web search for "auto insurance" will yield countless websites promising the best prices and lowest rates anywhere. In order to sift through these often misleading offers and deals, you must first figure out what exactly you're looking for with your auto insurance quote.

The easiest way to get the best auto insurance quote is to know what kind of coverage you need and want. Because many states require a certain level of coverage, this should obviously be your starting point. Of course, as with any insurance policy, you can receive a quote that includes a higher dollar amount than the minimum, but knowing the baseline requirement for your state is a necessary first step.

Once you know the minimum amounts of coverage you need, it becomes easier for you to filter out some of the "too good to be true" insurance quotes you'll find. Often insurance companies will advertise a quote that is much cheaper than their competitors. However, upon further inspection into the details of the quote, you realize that it is proposing a level of coverage that does not even meet your minimum requirements. Insurance companies do this just to get your foot in the door, so to speak. Part of being a savvy insurance shopper is being aware of the specifics of any quote you receive.

Another helpful tip when trying to get the best auto insurance quote is to consider a very important specific type of coverage: comprehensive coverage for your vehicle. Minimum comprehensive coverage is usually required by your state, as are other types of coverage on your policy. However, the reason it's important to think about comprehensive coverage specifically is that this type of coverage typically comes into play most often when making auto insurance claims because it deals with damage to or loss of personal items in your car due to theft, vandalism or other sorts of fluke incidents. It is common for insurance companies to advertise a quote that includes a very high deductible, which would mean a cheaper premium for your policy, but also more out-of-pocket costs for you if some unanticipated event happens to your vehicle or your belongings inside it.

Thus, while many quotes may seem like great deals, think about how much you are willing or able to pay if something happens. Inform yourself by looking up the minimum coverage required by your state before sorting through the throngs of insurance companies, websites, and quotes out there. Finally, consider what you're comfortable with based on your financial situation. These tips will help you along the way in finding affordable insurance.