Almost no states in the U.S. don’t require drivers to carry insurance, but car insurance quotes can vary widely from company to company. Various companies offer car insurance to compare rates and see which one provides the coverage you need.
You may be able to find lower rates somewhere else, even if one provider quotes you at a high price. Each company has its formula to determine its risk level. The Onhaxpk reviews team will explain how you can shop for car insurance and find the most affordable coverage options in this article.
What is a car insurance quote?
Your driving record and vehicle type determine your auto insurance rates. To find out how much an auto insurance policy would cost you, you can request free quotes from an insurer. Most online quotes are instant if you shop for auto insurance with a smaller provider. All that is required is to provide some basic information about yourself, your vehicle, and anyone who drives it.
Please provide accurate information when you request a quote. Insurance companies can cancel your policy within 30 to 90 days (depending on the state) if you fail to disclose something significant, such as a teen driver living in your household.
If you cannot find a better plan, you may continue shopping until you do. A quote is usually valid for 30 days to shop around.
Types of car insurance coverage
Quotes may distinguish between different types of coverage to choose between a minimum coverage policy and a full coverage policy. Car insurance policies typically cover the following items:
| Liability coverage | You are responsible for bodily injury to other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident. In an accident where you are at fault, property damage liability will cover other vehicles. |
| Collision insurance | Your vehicle is covered by this insurance regardless of who is at fault. |
| Comprehensive insurance | As a result, your vehicle is completely protected against environmental factors such as floods, fires, fallen tree branches, theft, and vandalism. |
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | Regardless of fault, you and your passengers are covered for medical expenses, lost wages, and death benefits. |
| Medical payments (MedPay) | You and your passengers are covered for medical expenses under this insurance policy. |
| Underinsured/uninsured motorist insurance | If you are involved in an accident with a driver who has no or insufficient insurance, this coverage will protect you. |
Further, you may be able to select additional insurance options, such as roadside assistance and mechanical breakdown coverage, depending on your provider.
How to shop for car insurance quotes
Let’s take a look at a few steps in shopping for auto insurance quotes.
Step 1: Gather your information
Whatever method you choose to obtain insurance quotes, you will need to provide a few pieces of information. Make sure you have the following information available before shopping for insurance:
- The names and dates of birth of each driver in your household, as well as their occupations
- Information about the vehicle, including its make, model, mileage, and vehicle identification number (VIN)
- The average number of miles driven per year
- Driving records
- Information about current insurance coverage
Step 2: Choose what level of coverage you require
The next step is to determine the level of coverage you require. Your state requires you, except New Hampshire, to carry liability insurance coverage for bodily injury and property damage. Liability insurance covers the damage you may cause to others while driving. You may also need medical coverage or uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, depending on your state.
You may find the cheapest option is to purchase a policy that meets your state’s minimum liability limits, but this may not provide adequate coverage in case of a severe accident. In addition, it does not cover your automobile if you cause an accident or cause environmental damage.
The best way to obtain full coverage is to add comprehensive and collision coverage. Comprehensive and collision coverage may be limited in amount, just as liability coverage may. Higher limits provide more protection but will also cost more. With an auto loan, most lenders require that you maintain full vehicle coverage.
Step 3: Request car insurance quotes
You can start shopping for insurance quotes once you have your information ready and know what you are looking for. You may use a quote comparison tool; request quotes online from companies, contact companies by telephone, physically visit a branch or work through an insurance broker. The following is a description of each option:
- Quote comparison tool: By using a comparison tool, you can enter your information once and compare quotes from car insurance providers in your local area. According to a survey of 1,000 respondents in our 2022 car insurance survey, 30% report using a quote comparison tool, making it the most preferred method of shopping for car insurance coverage.
- Direct online quote: Numerous providers offer free, instant quotes on their websites, but you will have to visit the websites of each company individually. Approximately 24% of respondents reported requesting quotes directly online from providers.
- Quote by phone: By calling an auto insurance company, you can receive more personalized service and learn how the company treats its customers. Agents assist you in choosing a policy and ensure you are getting all of the discounts for auto insurance that you are entitled to. A survey we conducted revealed that 20% of 1,000 respondents preferred to call companies directly.
- In-person quote: You can obtain a quote by contacting your local insurance agency. Make sure to bring the necessary documents with you. When shopping for auto insurance, nearly 16% of respondents prefer to speak with an insurance agency or use a broker.
- Car insurance broker: Brokers act as middlemen between insurers and customers to secure the best possible deal for clients. This is a hands-off approach to shopping. While brokers may sometimes charge a fee and may be paid on commission, they have an incentive to recommend policies with full coverage.
Step 4: Purchase a policy
If you are satisfied with the coverage and pricing you have found, you can purchase the policy online, by telephone, or in person. After making your first payment, you can obtain same-day insurance or schedule it to begin at a later time. To avoid lapses in coverage, make sure you overlap your new auto insurance policy with your current coverage by one day.
When is the best time to shop for car insurance?
Car insurance quotes can be obtained at any time. When your auto insurance policy is due for renewal or if you experience a significant life event such as moving or getting married, we recommend obtaining car insurance quotes. Your current provider may be able to offer a better rate than the one you currently have.
If any of the following circumstances occur, shop for car insurance to compare new rates:
- An individual moves to a new zip code
- when you get married
- as you move in with family and can combine your policies
- as you turn a year older
- your credit score increases
- as you begin a new job and drive less
- you have not been involved in an accident or committed a moving violation in three years
28% of our 2022 car insurance survey respondents indicated that they shopped less frequently than once a year, whereas over 26% stated they shopped every six months.
Price comparison tool
Using a free price comparison tool such as the one below, you can compare quotes from major insurers such as Geico, Progressive, and State Farm. You will be required to enter certain information regarding your vehicle and situation.
Factors that increase and decrease insurance rates
Insurers base their rates on the likelihood that they will have to pay out claims on your behalf. You will have to pay more for insurance if you represent more risk to the company and vice versa.
The following factors are considered when determining auto insurance quotes:
- Age, gender, and marital status: Teenagers and men under the age of 25 pay the highest rates for car insurance. Married drivers usually pay less for their insurance than single drivers.
- Vehicle: Your insurance rates are affected by your vehicle’s make, model, and age. Your insurance rate may increase if your car has higher repair costs or lower safety ratings. Stolen cars are more common than others. According to Insurify, full-size pickups, Honda Civics, and Honda Accords all have high theft rates.
- Driving history: Clean driving records can lower auto insurance rates, whereas at-fault accidents, moving violations, and DUI convictions can increase your rates. The higher your points, the higher your rates.
- How much you drive: You can qualify for low-mileage discounts from some insurance companies if you drive fewer than a few thousand miles per year.
- Credit history: When setting your car insurance rates, most insurance companies consider your credit history. Lower credit scores can result in higher rates.
- Zipcode: There is a higher incidence of theft, vandalism, and automobile accidents.
- State requirements: Every state requires drivers to have a minimum amount of coverage, which varies from state to state.
- Coverage levels and deductible: A higher deductible will lower your insurance premiums if you choose higher coverage limits.
Average car insurance quotes
A 35-year-old driver with good credit and a good driving record pay approximately $1,732 annually for full coverage (liability, comprehensive, and collision insurance). Because your location affects your rates, the cost of car insurance can vary widely from state to state.
Average rate estimates by the company
Auto insurance costs vary widely among providers, so it is essential to obtain quotes from multiple companies and compare them. Below are 11 popular insurance companies with their estimated average annual rates. According to these estimates, 35-year-old drivers with good credit and driving records are eligible for full coverage insurance.
| Car Insurance Provider | Average Monthly Rate Estimate | Average Annual Rate Estimate |
| USAA | $84 | $1,013 |
| Erie Insurance | $93 | $1,113 |
| Auto-Owners Insurance | $102 | $1,229 |
| State Farm | $111 | $1,339 |
| Geico | $113 | $1,352 |
| Progressive | $116 | $1,397 |
| Nationwide | $128 | $1,533 |
| Travelers | $135 | $1,617 |
| Farmers | $169 | $2,032 |
| The Hartford | $180 | $2,166 |
| Allstate | $202 | $2,430 |
How to keep car insurance rates low
Even though you cannot control every factor that affects your car insurance quotes, there are a few things you can do to lower your rates. To keep your car insurance premiums low, you can improve your driving habits and credit score, look for discounts, and consider usage-based insurance.
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- Improve your driving habits. Over time, avoiding speeding tickets and at-fault accidents will prove beneficial. Most leading insurance companies offer a usage-based safe driving program. Those confident in their driving abilities should enroll in Progressive’s Snapshot® or State Farm’s Drive Safe & SaveTM. Telematics insurance programs may increase your premium if you demonstrate poor driving behavior, so be careful.
- Improve your credit score. You will be able to obtain cheaper auto insurance quotes if you demonstrate your financial responsibility.
- Look for car insurance discounts. You are likely to save money if you insure more than one vehicle or combine your homeowners and auto policies. In addition to offering discounts for things such as being a new driver or having an excellent academic record, many companies offer discounts for taking a defensive driving course and having a clean driving record.
- Try pay-per-mile car insurance. In the event that you do not drive very often, pay-per-mile insurance, such as Metromile, maybe the best option for you. Your car insurance rates are based on your mileage. Pay-per-mile insurance typically consists of a monthly base rate plus a charge per mile driven.
When you receive auto insurance quotes from only one provider, even if you use all of these tips, you may still pay too much for coverage. Comparison of options is the only way to determine if a company offers you the best rate.
Recommendations for car insurance quotes
To find the right coverage and price, you should shop for auto insurance quotes from several companies. As soon as you know what you are looking for, you can determine which company offers the coverage type and additional benefits you require.
| Top 10 Car Insurance Companies | Overall Rating | Cost Rating |
| #1 USAA | 9.5 | 10.0 |
| #2 Geico | 9.2 | 9.4 |
| #3 State Farm | 9.2 | 9.0 |
| #4 Progressive | 9.2 | 9.3 |
| #5 Travelers | 9.1 | 8.8 |
| #6 Erie Insurance | 9.0 | 9.9 |
| #7 Liberty Mutual | 8.8 | 8.0 |
| #8 Farmers | 8.7 | 7.9 |
| #9 Auto-Owners Insurance | 8.8 | 9.7 |
| #10 Nationwide | 8.6 | 8.6 |
USAA and Geico are among our top picks for car insurance.
USAA: Low Rates for Military
USAA offers some of the lowest rates for automobile insurance in the industry. Unfortunately, coverage is limited to military members, veterans, and their dependents.
Geico: Editor’s Choice
Geico ranked second in our evaluation of the top car insurance companies based on its excellent industry reputation, low rates, and high level of customer satisfaction.
