There are many options when buying insurance for your vehicle. You can either buy through a local agent or get quotes online to compare rates from insurance carriers. Finding cheaper car insurance by getting online quotes saves time, is easy to do and there is a good chance you might just save a little.

Finding the best direct price on car insurance can be a challenge if you are a beginner to online quoting. But don't be discouraged because comparing prices is actually very simple. When shopping for car insurance there are multiple ways of comparing rates from local car insurance companies. The recommended way to compare is to perform an online rate comparison. This can be accomplished by comparing rates here.

Auto insurance rates on a 2004 can fluctuate considerably and are calculated by many factors. Some of these factors include:

  • High performance increases premiums
  • Accidents raise premiums
  • Home/auto policy bundles save money
  • Pleasure use vs. commuting use
  • Extra coverages like towing and rental
  • What you do for a living
  • Your coverage level
  • Whether you own your home

A final factor which can affect is the model year. Models that are a few years old cost less in comparison to older models so the cost to replace them may end up costing you less. On the flip side, newer vehicles may have a trim level with safety features like anti-lock brakes, adaptive headlights, and adaptive cruise control which may lower rates.

Liability - This can cover damage that occurs to people or other property that is your fault. Liability can pay for things like legal defense fees, bail bonds, and repair bills for other people's vehicles. It is cheap coverage so consider buying as high a limit as you can afford.

Collision coverage - This covers damage to your resulting from a collision with another car or object. A deductible applies then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company. Collision coverage for your 2004 can be pricey, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are older. You can also bump up the deductible to get cheaper .

Comprehensive or Other Than Collision - This coverage pays for damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first must pay your deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by your comprehensive insurance. The most you'll receive from a claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if it's not worth much more than your deductible it's probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage - Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle's occupants when other motorists either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Since a lot of drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, their limits can quickly be used up. That's why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage should not be overlooked.

Medical costs insurance - Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP kick in for short-term medical expenses (i.e. nursing services, prosthetic devices, and dental work). They are often used in conjunction with a health insurance program or if you lack health insurance entirely. PIP coverage is not an option in every state and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay.