Best Auto Insurance

Getting the best auto insurance quote can often be as stressful and daunting as purchasing a car itself. Since the price you pay depends on a host of factors, you're never quite sure about the deal you'll get from each provider. How much coverage should you go for? How much deductible for collision or for comprehensive? All these are important criteria for making your decision. Here are 5 tips to help you get the insurance that you want and the coverage that you need.

Before even considering the different insurance companies, decide beforehand how much damage coverage you want. Although you can reduce your monthly insurance payment by reducing coverage, in general this isn't advisable because you want to have the appropriate amount to protect your assets. If you own a house and/or other significant assets, this is one aspect you might not want to go on the cheap with.

It can be easy to make your insurance decisions based on what's the most well-known company. Infectious slogans can pique your attention, and most insurance providers, such as Progressive or Geico, will claim to have the lowest rates in their commercials. But often, there are lesser-known companies that provide great service as well. Amica Mutual Insurance Company, for example, is a top-rated pick by Consumer Reports for insurance, but is one that receives little exposure.

There's no limit to how many quotes you can get, and no penalties for casting the net widely. Hence, it's better to take the time and collect all the insurance quotes you can from potential candidates. Sure the phone calls or Internet quotes can be a hassle, but the invested time will pay off in the long run.

Although coverage is typically something you want to nail down beforehand, there are other ways to lower your rate. Increasing or decreasing the deductible and opting to include car rentals are just some of the ways you can impact the coverage cost. Be sure to mention details that can help lower your rate, such as having a car security system, immobilizer, garage or gated car port, or Lojack system. Also, if you have other forms of insurance, such as homeowner's insurance, using the same provider for auto insurance can often save you money.

Choosing to go with liability-only insurance can be a tempting solution. After all, who plans on wrecking their car and being at fault? Unless your car is a beater that carries little monetary value, you'll usually want to have full coverage in case of a worst-case scenario. Nothing can be more disheartening than totaling a $25,000 car, only to have to continue to make payments for a wrecked ride.