Then there are options for extra coverage, such as roadside assistance, which includes items like flat tire changes, jump starts, and towing. Also, new vehicle repair coverage which would pay for a replacement if your new car were totaled within one to two years of ownership. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also investigate the auto insurance provisions in your state. However, keep in mind that the state minimums are just a starting point for assessing coverage; they are often insufficient to protect you in the event of a major accident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Assume your state needs at least $15,000 in property damage liability compensation, and you experience a $45,000 damage accident. You’ll have to pay the difference, leaving you with a $30,000 bill that you’ll have to pay out of pocket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consider variables such as how much and where you drive, whether your car could be robbed or broken into, and whether you live in an area where extreme weather could affect your vehicle when deciding on coverage types and levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Apply for Car Insurance Quotes<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

   If you apply for car insurance through an independent broker or perform a complete quote comparison on your own, you’ll need the following information on hand: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

   <\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

   • Names of all household drivers <\/li>
   • Dates of birth for all household drivers <\/li>
   • Driver’s license numbers for all household drivers <\/li>
   • Social Security numbers for all household drivers <\/li>
   • VINs (Vehicle Identification Numbers) or make and model years are required for all vehicles<\/li>
   • The insured’s address (where you live and where the car is garaged, which is usually the same place) <\/li>
   • Your most recent auto insurance policy’s declarations page<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

     When you go through the process, you’ll be asked questions such as if you’ve had any injuries or violations on your record, whether you’re a full-time student, and if your car has certain features such as an anti-theft device.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     1. Receive Car Insurance Quotes<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        Regardless of how you apply for insurance, you can receive quotes very fast. Some carriers will provide you with several quotes, typically one with low coverage limits, one with average coverage limits, and one with very high coverage limits. Working with an independent agency can take longer, but you can receive quotes from several companies rather than only one at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Remember that having high coverage limits for the necessary coverage forms is usually a good idea. However, the higher the limits are, the more you’ll pay. Your quote can also provide coverage that you do not want or need, so carefully consider your choices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Setting the deductible higher results in lower premiums when you plan to pay more out of pocket if you make a claim for your comprehensive or collision insurance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        1. Compare Auto Insurance Quotes<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

           You may be tempted to pick the car insurance provider with the lowest price but do your homework on the different carriers. Carrier A may have quoted you marginally higher rates than Carrier B, but if it has substantially higher claims satisfaction scores, the additional cost may be worthwhile. Also, not all auto insurance companies have the same coverage plans, so if you require anything unique, you should consider which insurer provides that form of coverage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

           Examining an insurance company’s track record and market integrity is just as critical as looking over the quotes they’ve sent you. The most affordable car insurance policy is meaningless if it is not accompanied by adequate customer service. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

           So, how do you know you’ve picked the right company? There are several methods for conducting due diligence:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

           • Examine scores on third-party websites such as Trustpilot, Consumer Reports, and the Better Business Bureau. <\/li>
           • Check with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) to see if any lawsuits have been filed against the insurers, if there are any legal or regulatory issues with their licenses, or if any financial concerns arise. <\/li>
           • Check out auto insurance providers and carrier ratings.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
             1. Pick a Provider and Get Covered<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                After you’ve compared the quotes, researched your possible insurers, and chosen a car insurance provider you trust, it’s time to put the policy into effect and get insured. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                You can sign up for the policy through any route, whether you get quotes directly from an insurer or from an independent insurance broker, and you’ll get the same rate. As an added benefit, both brokers and providers will provide you with preferential rates on other insurance plans issued by the same insurer, such as tenants or homeowners insurance. If you’ve been dealing with an insurance company, they might also be able to sign you up for the policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                1. Cancel Any Previous Auto Insurance Policy <\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                   If you’ve been looking for auto insurance to replace an existing policy, wait until your new plan begins before canceling your old one. You want to be certain that there are no holes in coverage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                   Set the cancellation date of your old policy and the effective date of your new policy on the same day to accomplish this. Insurance plans begin and finish at 12:01 a.m. on a given day, so you won’t have a full day of conflicting insurance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                   Other Items to Consider<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                   What Causes Car Insurance Rates to Increase?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                   Your rates can rise as a result of an accident, a lawsuit, or the addition of a new driver to your policy. Changes in the industry can cause your prices to rise at times. Remember that if you are dissatisfied with the quality of your auto insurance, it never hurts to shop around for new coverage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                   Who Provides the Most Affordable Car Insurance?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                   Since auto insurance rates are personalized, the cheapest car insurance provider can vary for each driver. That is why it is important to shop around and compare quotes from various providers before deciding on a policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                   At What Age Does Car Insurance Become More Affordable? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                   Younger, less seasoned drivers pay more for auto insurance because they are riskier to insure. However, rates for teen drivers decrease over time before they reach the age of 25 if they remain as accident-free as possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                   Can You Get Car Insurance if You Don’t Have a Driver’s License? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                   It might be difficult because you need a driver’s license to qualify for auto insurance. However, under certain circumstances, you may be able to purchase a car insurance policy without a license if you are not the one driving the car. For example: if you own a car but will be driven around by a caregiver or relative.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                   Do You Require Car Insurance? If you own a car, you almost certainly have car insurance. Most states in the U.S. require drivers to have a minimum amount of insurance. Even in the two states where car insurance is not mandatory by law, drivers must…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":1403,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[326],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-559","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-auto"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.policyzoom.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/559","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.policyzoom.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.policyzoom.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.policyzoom.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.policyzoom.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=559"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.policyzoom.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/559\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3134,"href":"https:\/\/www.policyzoom.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/559\/revisions\/3134"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.policyzoom.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1403"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.policyzoom.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=559"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.policyzoom.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=559"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.policyzoom.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=559"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}