You have many choices when attempting to insure your vehicle. You can buy direct from an insurance agent or get quotes online to compare rates from car insurance companies. Buying auto insurance from online rate quotes saves time, is easy to do, in addition you may find lower rates.

Shopping online for auto insurance can be complicated if you are a beginner to quoting online. Don't let that stop you because we're going to show you how. Getting cheaper insurance rates doesn't have to be difficult. The only requirement is to invest a few minutes to compare quotes online from several insurance companies. This can be accomplished by comparing rates here.

Criteria which help determine your insurance rates

Insurance premiums for your 2002 can be significantly different and are calculated by many factors. A few of these criteria are:

• High performance increases premiums
• How many accidents you have had
• Multiple policies can save money
• Pleasure, commuting or business use can affect rates
• Optional coverages like vehicle replacement
• Whether or not you have claims
• Maintaining coverage lowers rates
• Owning a home can lower rates

One important consideration that helps determine your rates is the age of the vehicle. Newer models cost more compared to older models so the costs to repair may end up costing you more. But newer models have more advanced features including forward-collision avoidance, adaptive cruise control, and lane departure warning system that may help lower rates.

Liability insurance

This protects you from injuries or damage you cause to other's property or people in an accident. Liability coverage protects against claims such as funeral expenses, loss of income, and emergency aid. It is cheap coverage so buy as large an amount as possible.

Auto collision coverage

Collision insurance pays for damage to your resulting from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You first must pay a 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 save money on collision insurance.

Comprehensive protection

Comprehensive insurance coverage pays for damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first must pay your deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay. The highest amount a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the cash value of the vehicle, so if it's not worth much more than your deductible consider dropping full coverage.

UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage

This coverage protects you and your vehicle's occupants when the "other guys" do not carry enough liability coverage. Since many drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is very important.

Medical expense coverage

Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for bills like ambulance fees, surgery, and doctor visits. They are often utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. PIP coverage is not available in all states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay.