How to Find a Car Insurance Quote
Nearly every driver in the U.S. is required by law to buy auto insurance. With so many options available on the market, hopping around for the best car insurance quotes can be a confusing business if you’re not sure where to start. To make things easier, we’ve put together a guide on types of coverage and how to source a quote, so that you have an affordable and reliable policy as back-up in case you need it.
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What Is a Car Insurance Quote?
By definition, car insurance quotes are free estimates of how much you might expect to pay on an insurance policy for your vehicle based on a number of factors. These include driving history, the type of car you have, location, age and driving history in addition to former car insurance claims. Individual insurance companies have their own methods for calculating car insurance rates. For this reason, it’s always wise to contrast quotes offered by a range of companies.
Checklist of Information
To make your quote enquiries easier to process, it’s a good idea to have the following information at the ready:
- The VIN, or vehicle identification number, is usually located on the driver’s side dashboard. Alternatively, there may be a sticker on the door jamb or situated in the side door on the driver side. If you have yet to purchase your vehicle but know in advance which model of vehicle you want, you can request the VIN from the seller. Alternatively, if you are looking to buy a car (but haven’t yet decided on a car), it’s possible to obtain a quote using the vehicle make or model name.
- Driver’s License: You will also need the licenses of other people in your household, if you share your home with other drivers.
- The odometer reading from your existing car (if you have one) to show mileage.
- Type and desired amount of coverage
What Does Car Insurance Cover?
If you’re not sure about which type of coverage is right for you, there are a number of resources online, or you can ask your advisor. The most common types of coverage you’ll see in auto insurance policies include:
- Liability: Protection against bodily and property damage – although this doesn’t cover vehicle repairs or medical bills.
- Medical payments and personal injury protection
- Gap insurance: Covering the difference between your vehicle value and owing’s in the event of a total loss claim.
- Rental reimbursement: Covering some of the costs on a rental if your car is being repaired (this type may limit the number of days you can use the coverage for).
- Roadside assistance
- Comprehensive: This type covers a range of vehicle damage, provided it isn’t the result of a collision. Most comprehensive policies cover damage from floods, hail, tornadoes, fire, animal collision, theft, damage by falling objects and vandalism, and windshield damage in some cases.
- Uninsured motorist coverage: This helps to cover medical costs and damage to your vehicle if the other party was at fault but without insurance themselves.
- Collision coverage: This helps to pay for damage to your car if you were at fault in an accident. Collisions happen when a vehicle is moving and hits an inanimate object such as a guardrail (this may also apply if you roll your vehicle or hit a pothole).
How Do I Find Free Car Insurance Quotes?
Free quotes can be found either online via company websites, by phone or in person from an insurance agent. Typically, there are two types of insurance agent: an independent agent selling policies from a number of different companies, and a captive agent who can only give you a quote from the insurer they’re based with.
There are benefits to both approaches, and if you want to broaden your net you can even try contacting both to find one who can help you work out your insurance needs and find a policy that’s tailored to them.
