You have lots of choices when shopping for insurance coverage for your vehicle. You can either buy through an agent or price shop online to compare rates from multiple companies. Shopping for auto insurance online is simple to do and at the same time you can save money.

Comparing auto insurance rates direct online is challenging if you have never used online quotes. Don't let that stop you because it's actually quite easy. Getting better is not rocket science. Just take time getting comparison quotes online with multiple companies. This is very easy and can be done by comparing rates here.

What influences your insurance rates?

Car insurance premiums for your 2009 can vary widely subject to many criteria. Taken into consideration are:

• More performance equals higher cost
• Any accidents you may have
• Whether you insure your home with the same company
• Pleasure, commuting or business use can affect rates
• Special coverage such as replacement cost
• Your claim history
• No coverage lapses saves money
• Whether you rent or own your home

An additional factor that will help determine is the year of the vehicle. Newer models have a higher replacement value than older models so the payout to repair can inflate annual premiums. Conversely, more recent vehicles may have safety features such as adaptive headlights, sideview assist mirrors, automatic crash notification, and pedestrian detection which can lower rates.

Liability coverage - 2009 liability coverage will cover damages or injuries you inflict on other's property or people by causing an accident. Liability coverage pays for things such as emergency aid, pain and suffering, and medical services. This coverage is usually fairly inexpensive so you should buy higher limits if possible.

Collision coverage - Collision coverage will pay to fix damage to your resulting from colliding with an object or car. You will need to pay your deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider removing coverage from older vehicles. You can also raise the deductible to bring the cost down.

Comprehensive coverage - Comprehensive insurance coverage pays for damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You need to pay your deductible first and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if it's not worth much more than your deductible it's not worth carrying full coverage.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage - This protects you and your vehicle's occupants from other drivers when they are uninsured or don't have enough coverage. Due to the fact that many drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, it doesn't take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. So UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family.

Medical payments coverage and PIP - Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage reimburse you for expenses such as doctor visits, EMT expenses, and X-ray expenses. They are often utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. Personal injury protection coverage is only offered in select states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay.