Compare Auto Insurance Rates to find the Best Policy

Auto insurance comes in many forms, levels of coverage and even coverage requirements depending on what state the car is registered in and possibly details in the car’s financing. Because of this variety it’s good to find a resource that allows you to compare auto insurance quotes to find the best deal for the coverage you want.

Your car insurance rates will vary depending on the exact mix of coverage, and it’s important to take the time to compare auto insurance. Automobile insurance can be roughly broken down into six categories: bodily injury liability; property damage liability; medical payments, or personal injury protection; collision, comprehensive physical damage; and uninsured or underinsured motorist.

The two types of auto insurance all states require car owners to carry are bodily injury and property damage. These requirements help ensure all drivers can pay for damages or injury caused by the vehicle they are driving. Each state does have it’s own specific requirements for minimum auto insurance, so do be certain you understand the requirements in your state.

Beyond required car insurance, collision is a popular option to look at when getting a car insurance quote to compare different plans. Collision pays for damages to your car in case of an accident – either with another vehicle, an object or just loss of control that leads to damages. Collision insurance comes with a deductible that must be paid before insurance kicks in, and a typical deductible will range from $250 to $1000. The higher the premium paid on the auto insurance, the lower the deductible. If you are not at fault in the accident, you might even get your deductible covered by the driver who was found at fault.

Comprehensive coverage adds anther layer of protection beyond required liability and collision. Comprehensive auto insurance covers damages or loss caused by something beyond an accident with another car or an object. This type of loss can come from a number of sources such as fire, falling objects, hail, flood, vandalism, missiles, explosion, riot, striking an animal, earthquake or windstorm. Comprehensive also covers glass breakage such as a cracked windshield. Comprehensive auto insurance is typically sold with a deductible, similar to collision.

According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, 72 percent of insured drivers opt for collision coverage and of those drivers 77 percent add comprehensive coverage to their collision and liability coverage.

The key to buying automobile insurance is to become informed on what type of coverage you are required to carry and then what additional coverage you’d like to add to your policy. Be sure to take the time and compare auto insurance quotes because the cost of similar plans can vary between different insurance companies, and when you do decide on a policy make sure it contains the coverage you want.

Remember car insurance is more expensive in urban areas when compared to rural areas because of more traffic, increased possibility for vandalism or theft and the fact urban areas have a higher incidence of insurance fraud.

The most expensive five states/areas for automobile insurance are Washington D.C., New Jersey, Louisiana, New York and Florida. The five least expensive are North Dakota, Iowa, South Dakota, Idaho and Kansas.