Shopping for your car insurance premiums is always a prudent idea. There are different ways to shop for car insurance and like with everything else some ways are comparatively easier than the others.
Most car insurance companies advertise their products online. Unless you are particularly savvy about how car insurance works, purchasing car insurance online may not work for you. However online car insurance shopping can give you a good idea of what you can expect to pay.
The ideal way to shop for car insurance is to use the services of an independent insurance agent who can access several insurance companies and provide you with the best quote according to your needs.
Before you start to shop for car insurance, you should identify your unique insurance needs. States do have minimum limits of liability required for any person who operates a motor vehicle. These limits are generally small and hence, do not offer much protection. If you have assets, a home, investments, or a steady paycheck, going with the lowest required limit is never your best option. In the unfortunate circumstance of an automobile accident that you are legally liable for, the lack of adequate liability limits will put your assets at stake. Once you have determined the amount of coverage you will need to protect those assets, look at coverage for the vehicle itself. Also, note that a leased vehicle will require liability limits that are higher than the minimum limits.
Physical damage to your vehicle (comprehensive and collision damage) is subject to a deductible that is applicable per claim. If your financial situation allows you to take a higher deductible it will ultimately lower your premium.
To get a correct quote on your car insurance shopping, you will need the names, date of birth, and driver’s license number of all drivers in your household. If you have young children who are about to apply for a driver’s license make sure they take driver education courses and maintain a good educational average. Most likely, you will be asked to produce a school report showing their grades.
Knowing the use of each vehicle will help your agent determine your rate. Let your agent know how you use your car; whether you drive to and from work, or use your car for other personal purposes only pleasure use. If you use your car to drive to and from work let the agent know how many miles you drive one way. You may be asked to present an odometer reading for each vehicle that you insure.
You will also be asked to provide the year, make, model and full vehicle identification (VIN) of each vehicle as well as the value of the car. If you have a lender or a leased vehicle, be prepared to provide such relevant information as would notify them that their interest is satisfied with the purchase of the insurance.
Ask your agent about multiple insurance policy discounts. Also known as bundling you can placeing your homeowners or renters insurance with the same company that has your automobile insurance, thus receiving a credit on your premiums.