Shopping For Car Insurance

Shopping for car insurance can be broken down into these five simple steps, which we go into more detail about below:

1. Gather the necessary information
2. Determine your coverage needs
3. Request car insurance quotes
4. Compare rates
5. Purchase a policy

1. Gather Information

The first step in shopping for car insurance is to gather the information you’ll need to get a quote. Besides the standard information like your name, address, and date of birth, you should have the following handy:

• Vehicle information including year, make, model, mileage, and vehicle identification number (VIN)
• Your driver’s license information
• Information for any other drivers who will be on the insurance policy
• Your education and profession
• Your auto insurance history
• Your accident history
• Current coverage information

2. Determine Your Coverage Needs

The next step to shopping for car insurance is deciding the type and amount of insurance coverage you’ll need. Except for Virginia and New Hampshire, all states require drivers to have bodily injury and property damage liability coverage. However, most people purchase more than the minimum coverage required by law to protect themselves financially in case of an accident.

Here’s a breakdown of the standard types of coverage you’ll come across when shopping for car insurance:

In addition to standard insurance, you may see add-on coverage options from insurers for things such as:

• Roadside assistance plans
• Accident forgiveness
• Gap insurance
• Mechanical breakdown insurance
• Rental car reimbursement

Note that no reputable insurance company will sell you a policy that doesn’t meet your state’s minimum insurance requirements.

3. Request Car Insurance Quotes

You should begin reaching out to car insurance companies for quotes once you have your information ready and know what coverage you want. There are several ways to request a quote when shopping for car insurance, including:

• Using an online comparison tool: This allows you to compare car insurance quotes from providers in your area. It’s generally a quick process if you have all the necessary information handy.
• Getting a direct quote online: Most insurance providers allow you to receive instant car insurance quotes online. The only downside is that you will have to visit each provider’s website and input your information multiple times, which can be time-consuming.
• Receiving a quote by phone: Calling an insurance company to get quotes from providers allows you to get any questions answered and gauge the company’s customer service.
• Reaching out to a car insurance agent: This can be a good idea if you still have questions about coverage options or need assistance. Local agents can help you find the cheapest coverage for your situation and ensure you get all the discounts you qualify for. An agent may work for one company or work as a broker and connect you with several insurance providers.

4. Compare Rates

Before you begin comparing rates from providers, it’s important to understand how prices are calculated. Providers calculate car insurance rates using a range of factors based on your driver profile and the vehicle being insured.

Here are some common factors that car insurance companies consider when calculating rates:

• Age: Young drivers typically pay the most for auto insurance. Drivers will see rates begin to decrease after the age of 25.
• Credit score: If you have a good credit score, you will pay less for coverage. However, some states, including California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Washington, have banned using credit scores to calculate car insurance rates.
• Driving history: Drivers without accidents or violations on their driving records typically receive the lowest rates.
• Gender: In some states, car insurance companies charge men more for car insurance while others charge women more than men. California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Montana, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania have banned using gender to set car insurance rates.
• Marital status: Married drivers will typically pay less for car insurance than single drivers.
• Location: Each state has its own car insurance requirements, so you may pay more depending on the state you live in. Rates can also be influenced by the city you live in, especially if there is a high number of accidents or a high theft rate.
• Vehicle: If you own an expensive car, you will pay more for car insurance coverage since it costs more to replace and repair.

Cheapest Car Insurance Rates By State

To provide you with a better picture of how location can impact insurance costs, our experts have compiled the cheapest car insurance estimates by state for a full coverage policy. The table below shows average annual cost estimates for a 35-year-old driver with a clean driving record and good credit history.

5. Purchase A Policy

Once you’ve decided on an insurance provider, all that’s left to do is purchase your car insurance policy. You can buy insurance online or by calling your local agent, and you’ll receive your insurance card in the mail after you make your initial payment.

According to our rate estimates, good drivers pay an average of $1,732 per year (or $144 per month) for full coverage car insurance. What you pay can vary greatly depending on a variety of factors. Below, we’ve ranked car insurance companies by cost for different types of drivers.

You can shop around for car insurance any time you want. However, we recommend reaching out to companies for car insurance quotes each time your policy is up for renewal or if you experience a significant life event.

Significant life events will typically impact your insurance rate. You should shop for car insurance if any of the following events occur:

• You move to a new location
• You get married or divorced
• You raise your credit score
• You combine policies with other family members
• Three years have passed since your last traffic violation or at-fault accident

There’s never any obligation to switch insurance providers. Your current insurer may still be the best option for you, but shopping around helps guarantee you are getting the cheapest coverage possible.

We surveyed 1,000 car insurance customers on their experiences. About 27 percent of respondents said they shop for car insurance every six months, while 25 percent said they shop once a year. Another 28 percent said they shop less frequently than once a year.

While you can’t control every factor that affects your car insurance rates, there are a few ways to get a better price as you shop for car insurance.

• Shop around for coverage: You should get as many car insurance quotes from companies as possible when you shop around for coverage. This will allow you to compare options and get a realistic idea of what you should be paying for coverage.
• Improve your driving: Auto insurance companies take your driving record into account when determining your insurance rate. You are likely to be offered a lower rate if you prove you are a responsible driver and have little to no at-fault claims or speeding tickets.
• Build your credit score up: Most states, excluding California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Washington, factor your credit score in when offering you an insurance rate. If you have a good credit score, you will likely receive a cheaper rate.
• Increase your deductible: To lower the cost of car insurance, choose an insurance policy with a higher deductible. However, make sure you can afford the deductible before signing on the dotted line.
• Look for car insurance discounts: All the best car insurance companies offer discounts. You can typically save money by insuring multiple vehicles on the same plan or bundling your auto insurance and homeowners or renters policies with most providers. You may also qualify for savings if you are a new driver, complete a defensive driving course, have a student on your plan, or have a clean driving record.

When you’re ready to shop for car insurance, the best way to find the right coverage and price for your situation is to request auto insurance quotes from companies. To help you get started, we recommend reaching out to Geico and USAA for quotes.

Geico: Best Overall Provider

As the second-largest auto insurer in the U.S., Geico offers affordable pricing and a wide range of coverage options for drivers. The company provides six types of standard insurance as well as mechanical breakdown insurance, rental reimbursement, and emergency road service.

Our cost estimate research shows that the average 35-year-old driver pays $1,352 per year for full coverage car insurance with Geico, which is far below the national average of $1,732. Geico offers low average costs for teen drivers and those with poor credit, but it may not offer the best rates for drivers with a DUI.

The insurer ranked high in overall customer satisfaction in the J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study℠. Geico also received an A++ financial strength rating from AM Best, highlighting its financial stability and ability to pay out claims to drivers on time.

You can learn more about the provider in our Geico insurance review.

USAA: Best For Military Members

USAA car insurance coverage is only available to military members, veterans, and their families. The organization offers some of the lowest auto insurance premiums in the industry and provides a great customer experience.

The insurer offers standard car insurance in addition to roadside assistance and rental reimbursement coverage. USAA also provides a wide range of discount opportunities that help drive the cost of auto insurance policies down even further.

USAA has an A++ rating from AM Best, which highlights the insurer’s financial stability. While the company does not meet the criteria to rank in J.D. Power studies, it consistently scores high in overall customer satisfaction across the U.S.

You can read more about the insurance company in our USAA insurance review.

Our review process aims to deliver consistent and unbiased assessments of car insurance providers. While there are multiple qualities that make a car insurance company successful, our review team focuses on those we believe are the most important for consumers:

• Cost: Cost can be difficult to compare between insurers because so many factors impact annual premiums. The cheapest insurer for one driver may not be the cheapest for another. To determine our cost score, we look at insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services, discount opportunities, and consumer reports.

• Coverage: To determine our coverage score, we look at the number of coverage options available as well as coverage limits and deductible options. Our ratings also take into account additional services and benefits like roadside assistance.

• Reliability: It’s important that an auto insurer is able to meet its claims obligations. Companies with a strong financial strength rating from AM Best score best in this category. Established insurers with a long history of reliable service also receive positive marks.

• Service: We comb through customer reviews on sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to learn about customer experiences. Insurers with a low volume of complaints score well in this area. We also consider the claims process, giving higher ratings to car insurance providers that offer easy-to-use claims apps.

 *Data accurate at time of publication.