How to Find a Cheap Insurance Quote Online

Obtaining an online quotation for car insurance is relatively easy, but there is information that you need to know before getting a quote.

Comparing premiums, companies, and coverage knowledgeably is important. Be sure to use the FREE search tool located at the top of this page to to started!

Know Limits of Liability and Physical Damage Coverage

Much of this information can be obtained from your current insurance policy, and, to begin with, it is a good idea to compare quotations straight across.

Knowledge of the language and type of coverage needed is important. A useful resource for automobile insurance terms is available at RMIIA.

Limits of Liability:

These limits, for your protection, should be the following:

• Bodily injury liability - $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident. This pays for legal responsibility for injury to others. Recognize that this coverage not only pays for injuries, but also for emergency services, legal fees, rehabilitation costs and the other costs involved with an accident.
• Property damage liability-$50,000 per accident – for your legal responsibility for damage to the property of others in an accident. Be aware that this coverage must pay for property damage in the shape of cars, fences, light poles, and even houses damaged.
• Medical payments coverage- $5,000 per accident, which will pay for medical and emergency bills for you and your family. This is in addition to your own health insurance.
• Uninsured and underinsured motorists coverage- $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident. This pays for you and your family's bodily injury if you are struck by someone without insurance or who does not have enough insurance. An average of 15% of drivers do not have insurance in most states.

Most states have minimum required limits of liability and these can be found on your state insurance website. For information on the exact limits of liability required by your state, go to NAIC. They will refer you to the governing body for insurance in your state, which is often difficult to find.

Damage to Your Own Vehicle

Liability coverage does not provide for damage to your own vehicle, so you should ask for a quote including this. The two types of coverage that protect your own vehicle are:

• Comprehensive coverage, which covers damage to your vehicle from fire, theft, vandalism, hail, flood, tornado, and animal damage.
• Collision coverage, which applies to your vehicle whenever you run into something, or something runs into you.

Both comprehensive and collision are sold with deductibles. Check with your lender to verify the deductibles they recommend. Deductibles help reduce the costs of insurance because they reduce the amount paid in losses.

Other types of coverage are available from some insurance companies.

• Loan or lease payoff. If the vehicle is totaled, sometimes the amount paid for reimbursement is not enough to pay off your loan. This assures that if the vehicle is totaled, your obligations are paid.
• Custom parts and accessories are not usually covered, so add these to your policy.
• Rental reimbursement – a surprising amount of individuals assume that the insurance company will provide a rental vehicle if their car is being repaired. This is not necessarily so, but the coverage is available.
• Roadside assistance coverage is available. With this coverage the costs of having someone come out to help is covered within certain limits.

Saving Money on Insurance Costs

There are a number of ways to save money on insurance, some of them are obvious, others are not so well-known:

• Increase deductibles
• Purchase autos with state-of-the-art safety devices such as anti-lock brakes and passive restraints
• Good grade certifications and driver's training for teenagers
• Look for affiliations such as credit unions, employee associations, and even alumni associations that may offer discounts
• Paperless policy communication and delivery – communications with your insurance company would be through e-mail

Statistical Information You Should Have Ready

The insurance company is going to want to know details about you, your drivers, and driving habits, so have the following information readily available:

• Complete names, dates of birth, and drivers license numbers for all drivers
• Garaging location for each vehicle – ordinarily your home address
• Make, model, and VIN number for your automobiles, pickups, and SUVs
• Distance each vehicle is driven daily and the purpose of driving.
• The usual driver for each vehicle
• Social Security Number - It is okay to withhold this until you are ready to get a firm quotation.
• Your phone number and e-mail address are requested

Finally, Getting the Quote

Click on the website and you will be asked where you live and what type of insurance for which you wish to obtain a quote.

Go through the menu, answering the questions as they come along. Obviously, you are prepared with all this information, so it is just a matter of typing in the information and requesting a quote. You may have to do the same thing with a number of websites to obtain a reasonable number of quotes.

Read the quotations carefully and check to be certain that the coverage you desire is included. Lower premiums are great, but not at the expense of badly needed insurance.

Most of the companies that offer online quotes have Customer Service Representatives to answer questions and give help.

Examine the Insurance Company You Choose

Criteria for examining an insurance company:

• Financial standing – this can be determined by going to A.M. Best, and entering the name of the insurance company
• Official complaints – each state collects complaint information about resident insurance companies, which is often available on the state's website. Go to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) for a link to that website.
• Local reputation – go online to your local Better Business Bureau to look for complaints against the insurance companies that exist in your area.

How to Compare

Organize the information you have collected and carefully compare the coverage, limits of liability, and premiums from each company. Develop your own rating system for companies with regard to complaints and financial standing.

This process may save you a substantial amount of money every year. Take the time to compare premiums every year because insurance rates change according to the loss experience of the insurance company involved.

Be sure to use the FREE comparison tool below to be sure you receive the best quotes!