Finding cheaper car insurance through online providers saves time, is easy to do, plus you may find lower rates. The key to finding lower rates is to take the time to get rates from as many companies as possible in order to have all your choices.

Finding the best direct price on car insurance can be difficult if you are a beginner to online quotes. Don't let that stop you because we're going to show you how. The are a couple different ways to get quotes from local car insurance companies. The fastest way to compare is to perform an online rate comparison. This can be done by comparing rates here.

Premiums are calculated by...

Insurance premiums for your 2004 can vary widely and are calculated by many factors. Including but not limited to:

  • Tickets increase premiums
  • Credit rating
  • The size of your community
  • High miles vs. low miles
  • Men typically pay more than women
  • Deductible amount directly impacts your rate
  • Crash test rating for your 2004
  • Your job
  • Your coverage level
  • Home ownership saves money

One important consideration which can affect your rates is the age of the vehicle. Models that are a few years old have a lower value compared to new models so the payout to repair may end up costing you less. On the flip side, more recent vehicles have more advanced features like active head restraints, automatic crash notification, blind-spot warning system, and adaptive cruise control which can lower rates.

Liability auto insurance

This will cover damage or injury you incur to other's property or people that is your fault. Liability coverage pays for claims like pain and suffering, repair costs for stationary objects, and legal defense fees. It is cheap coverage so buy higher limits if possible.

Auto collision coverage

This will pay to fix damage to your resulting 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. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from lower value vehicles. You can also increase the deductible to get cheaper .

Comprehensive (Other than Collision)

Comprehensive insurance coverage pays for damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first must pay your deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay. The maximum payout your car insurance company will pay is the cash value of the vehicle, so if it's not worth much more than your deductible it's not worth carrying full coverage.

UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle's occupants when other motorists are uninsured or don't have enough coverage. Since a lot of drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, it doesn't take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. That's why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage should not be overlooked.

Medical expense insurance

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage kick in for immediate expenses like EMT expenses, pain medications, and nursing services. They are often utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. PIP coverage is only offered in select states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay.