You have many choices when shopping for insurance coverage for your vehicle. You can buy from a local agent or go online to check prices from many different car insurance companies. Finding cheaper car insurance through online rate quotes can be fast and easy, in addition you might just save a little.

If you are a novice to online car insurance shopping, you may be confused by the hoards of online car insurance companies and websites vying for your business. When shopping for car insurance there are multiple ways of comparing rates from car insurance companies in your area. The best method to find competitive is to perform an online rate comparison. This is very easy and can be done by completing this short form.

Criteria which help determine your insurance rates

Auto insurance rates for your 2001 can vary widely depending on several factors. A few of these criteria are:

• Higher performance 2001 vehicles cost more
• Any accidents you may have
• Home/auto policy bundles save money
• Pleasure, commuting or business use can affect rates
• Your birth date
• Having a spouse can save money
• Optional coverages like vehicle replacement
• What you do for a living
• The amount of protection requested
• Owning a home can lower rates

A final factor which can affect is the model year. Models that are a few years old have a much lower replacement value in comparison to older models so the payout to repair may result in lower rates. But newer vehicles may have a trim level with safety features including an advanced theft deterrent system, blind-spot warning system, automatic crash notification, and tire pressure monitors which can give discounted rates.

Auto liability - This coverage can cover injuries or damage you cause to other's property or people that is your fault. Liability coverage pays for claims such as funeral expenses, loss of income, and emergency aid. Coverage is generally pretty cheap so consider buying higher limits if possible.

Collision coverage - This covers damage to your resulting from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You will need to pay your deductible then your collision coverage will kick in. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are older. It's also possible to bump up the deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Comprehensive auto coverage - Comprehensive insurance coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. A deductible will apply and the remainder of the damage will be paid by your comprehensive insurance. The maximum payout a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle's value is low it's probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage - This coverage protects you and your vehicle when the "other guys" either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Since a lot of drivers 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 should not be overlooked.

Medical payments and PIP coverage - Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP pay for bills (i.e. ambulance fees, surgery, and doctor visits). They are utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. Personal Injury Protection is not an option in every state but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage.