Drivers have lots of options when buying insurance for your vehicle. You can either buy through a local agent or get quotes online to check prices from lots of different providers. Comparing auto insurance through online providers saves time, is easy to do, plus you might just save a little.

Using the web to shop for auto insurance direct can be difficult if you are a beginner to online quotes. But relax because comparing prices is actually very simple. Finding lower is surprisingly easy. You just have to spend a little time to get quotes online from several insurance companies. This can be done by completing this short form.

Rates are determined by these things

Auto insurance rates paid to insure a 2009 can vary widely and are calculated by many factors. Including but not limited to:

  • High performance increases premiums
  • Any accidents you may have
  • Home and auto can earn discounts
  • How you use your vehicle
  • Mature drivers pay less
  • Having a spouse can save money
  • Add-on coverages such as rental reimbursement
  • Claims drive up premiums
  • Maintaining coverage lowers rates
  • Home ownership saves money

A final factor that can impact is the model year. New vehicles have a higher value in comparison to later models so the costs to repair can inflate annual premiums. But new models may have a trim level with safety features including active head restraints, an advanced theft deterrent system, and lane departure warning system which can give discounted rates.

Liability auto insurance - This provides protection from damage or injury you incur to a person or their property. Liability coverage pays for claims like pain and suffering, repair costs for stationary objects, and legal defense fees. It is cheap coverage so consider buying higher limits if possible.

Collision coverage - This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. You will need to pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company. This coverage can be expensive, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are older. It's also possible to bump up the deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Comprehensive (Other than Collision) - This pays to fix your vehicle from damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first must pay your deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by your comprehensive insurance. The maximum payout your auto insurance company will pay is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle's value is low consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage - Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle when the "other guys" either have no liability insurance or not enough. Because many people have only the minimum liability required by law, it doesn't take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is a good idea.

Medical expense insurance - Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance kick in for immediate expenses (i.e. EMT expenses, pain medications, and nursing services). They are used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. PIP coverage is not universally available but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage.