Car Insurance Shopping Tips to Help You Save Money

Shop Car Insurance Rates First

Useful car insurance shopping tips to help you find the best available rates online.

One of the biggest mistakes a car buyer can make is shopping for auto insurance after buying a car. This could come as a huge surprise and financial burden if you didn’t budget enough money for car insurance.

Car insurance should be a forethought, not an afterthought. Find the car you are deciding on and get a few free insurance quotes to ensure you can afford the insurance premium and your monthly car payment.

Find the dealer near you with the lowest new car price.

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Car Insurance Buyer’s Guide

Most car buyers end up shopping for car insurance after they’ve already bought a car. This is one of the biggest mistakes car buyers make, costing them more money than they budgeted up front. Once you have a general idea of the car you would like to buy, you should shop for insurance rates.

The law requires complete coverage of car insurance if you’re financing a new or used car through a bank, lender, or financial institution. If you don’t check first, you could end up paying a higher monthly payment for insurance than you’re paying for your vehicle.

Benefits of Shopping for Car Insurance Online

Depending on your past driving record and the car you want to buy, the short answer is, “car insurance can be costly,” especially when it comes to buying a brand-new vehicle.

The internet makes it easy for you to shop and compare car insurance rates so you can choose the absolute best coverage for you and receive it at the lowest possible price.

Benefits of shopping for auto insurance coverage online:

  • Budget – Auto insurance is part of your monthly car ownership cost. Knowing how much your insurance coverage will cost you before buying a car will help you budget the amount with your monthly car loan payment. Depending on where you live, the vehicle, and your current driving record. Your insurance costs could be $1,500 or more a year. That’s $125 on top of your monthly car payment. If you let a car dealer close you on the higher side of your payment budget, this extra $125 will push you over the top.
  • Low pressure – not having to deal with pushy or overly aggressive agents just looking to make a sale. Car insurance agents, like any salesperson, may tend to lean on you or direct you in a specific direction. This direction may not be the right direction for you.
  • Free price quotes – Online insurance companies provide you with free, no-obligation quotes. This allows you to research, price, compare and choose a policy without ever being hassled or pressured into buying anything from anyone.
  • Convenience – some of us do our best online shopping from home in our underwear at 2 a.m.
  • Same coverage – a common misconception is that online insurance companies provide less reliable coverage than brick-and-mortar companies. This is not true; same company = same reliable coverage. Regardless of the coverage, I recommend reading the fine print on any auto insurance policy.
  • Comparison shopping – Shopping several companies and comparing them side by side to see which insurance coverage is the best value for your money.
  • Discounts – The same insurance discounts are available online as the discounts available in brick-and-mortar offices.
  • Customize – If you’re like me, you like to run through multiple scenarios, explore all your options or want to change your mind at the last minute. Online insurance shoppers don’t have to worry about spending hours in an agent’s office running through different scenarios looking for the best deal. Online customization features allow consumers to create different scenarios to choose which insurance coverage is best for them.
  • Savings – Last but certainly not least, the best reason to shop for car insurance online is the price. The insurance company online doesn’t have to staff offices, pay insurance agents, or pay utilities. These online companies will then pass these savings on to the consumer; this makes them often cheaper than their competition.

If You Don’t Have Insurance Coverage or let it Lapse

You do not want to be caught driving without auto insurance, it is illegal, and most states have very hefty penalties. Many insurance companies will not provide you with insurance coverage if you’re not currently insured.

Be cautious of fly-by-night companies offering cheap policies from unrated insurance carriers. These companies may not be in business if you ever need to file a claim. It’s well worth paying a little more to go with a well-known carrier and the peace of mind if something ever happens, you’ll be covered.

Only a few well-known companies will provide you with a free, no-obligation rate quote and consider providing you insurance coverage if you’re not currently insured.

Does Credit History Affect Auto Insurance Rates?

Not only does your credit history affect the interest rate you will pay for a car loan, but it will also affect the price you pay for auto insurance.

Every day more and more car insurance companies are taking into consideration your personal credit history and score when you purchase, renew or change your auto insurance policy.

Insurance companies have found a direct correlation that people with bad credit tend to also carry a higher insurance risk by filing more claims on their insurance policies.

This can also be an excellent reason to shop for car insurance rates to find a better deal. If you have some bumps in your credit history when you last purchased car insurance, and your credit history has since improved, it’s time to explore your options. An insurance company will not call and offer you a discount once your credit history improves. Knowing and maintaining what’s on your credit reports is a positive thing and will help you throughout your life.

Get a Free Online Car Insurance Quote Online

Liberty Mutual is a leader in the online auto insurance industry. They’ll provide you with a free car insurance quote so you can review and compare prices and make a good buying decision.

Ensure you provide accurate information; the goal is to get an idea of the monthly insurance premium for the car you want to buy.

You also want to be honest, don’t think you can “forget” about a speeding ticket you received a few months ago.

They will find out and possibly raise your rate or cancel you altogether once you’ve already bought the vehicle.

Please read my Liberty Mutual Auto Insurance Review to learn why I believe they are a trustworthy company to provide free online quotes.

Additional Car Insurance Buying Tips

Further tips and advice about shopping for car insurance:

If you have bought a vehicle before or are in the first-time car-buying stage, it’s important to consider car insurance as part of your total vehicle cost. Avoid surprises by planning with these smart insurance tips:

  • Check insurance rates before buying a new or used car—not after committing to the vehicle. Rates can vary widely by model.
  • Shop for coverage regularly or whenever your circumstances change—such as adding a teen driver, getting married, reducing your commute, or adding another vehicle.
  • Insurance premiums vary significantly based on a car’s make and model. Choose wisely, especially when buying a car for the first time.
  • Your credit score and driving record will impact your premium. Aim for at least three years of clean driving history to get the best rates.
  • Ask your agent about assigning the right driver to the right vehicle. Pairing a teen with the oldest car in the household or matching drivers based on commute distance and car value can lead to significant savings.

About the author
Carlton Wolf is the author and founder of Auto Cheat Sheet.My name is Carlton Wolf, and I’ve been in the car business since 1994, both retail and wholesale. I created the Auto Cheat Sheet to better educate buyers about the deceptive sales practices many dealerships use nationwide. Please understand that not all car dealers are dishonest. However, you never know who you’ll be dealing with. I’m willing to share my knowledge and experience with anyone who listens. Keep in mind that I’m a car guy, not a writer.

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