6 Great Places to Find Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes

Many drivers today know that auto insurance rates will vary from insurance company to insurance company. In order to find the lowest rates available, you will have to shop around and get auto insurance quotes from different companies. While there are many different ways you may be able to find cheap auto insurance quotes, some ways may be more effective for you than others. Consider some of these great places to find cheap auto insurance quotes.

1. Your Current Homeowner’s, Renter’s or Life Insurance Company

Before you start contacting different auto insurance companies for rate quotes, consider first contacting the companies that you already have an established relationship with. Many insurance companies offer a multiple policies discount. So you may find great savings by moving your auto insurance policy to the same company that you have your homeowner’s, renter’s or life insurance with. Some companies simply require you to have one other type of policy with them in order to take advantage of a money-saving multiple policies discount. Others, however, may want you to have a combination of insurance policies with them in order to qualify. This savings option can be significant, so this should be a step in any auto insurance shopping effort.

2. Auto Insurance Broker

When you get car insurance quotes, you have two options. You can either get rate quotes yourself, or you can have someone else get quotes for you. There are multiple car insurance brokers you may work with, and some have an easy-to-use online rate request form that make it fast and easy to request quotes. The services of an auto insurance broker are free to you in most cases. While this is a great way to get multiple quotes with ease, an auto insurance broker may not conduct an exhaustive search of auto insurance companies as you might conduct on your own. This leaves the possibility that you may find greater savings if you search for rates yourself.

3. Rate Comparison Websites

There are benefits associated with getting rate quotes on your own, such as ensuring that you get quotes from the auto insurance companies that may have the lowest rates, thus providing affordable auto insurance. It can be difficult to determine which of the many insurers may provide you with the lowest rates, though. Rather than shopping around directly to each and every insurance company, you can use a rate comparison site to get estimated rates first. When you use a rate comparison website, you can get numerous rate estimates with minimal time and effort required. These estimates are not full quotes, but they can guide your shopping efforts. You can easily review the rate estimates to find the lowest rates, then visit those specific auto insurance companies for full quotes.

4. Direct Rate Quotes Online

Whether you use a rate comparison website to compare rate estimates first or you start getting rate quotes right away, you may find it easier and more convenient to get quotes online. Most of the larger and smaller auto insurance companies alike feature a rate quote request form online. Some of these rate quote forms are more complicated and time-consuming than others. With the more detailed forms, you are providing the insurance company with everything they need to provide you with a full quote.

With the less detailed forms, you are simply providing the insurance company with your contact information.

An agent will then contact you to gather details about you, your driving history and your car over the phone.

5. Quotes Over the Phone

While you can get quotes online, you may consider shopping for rates over the phone as well. Shopping for rate quotes online is convenient, as the online quote request forms can be filled out any time of day from the comfort of your home. However, there are benefits associated with getting a quote over the phone. When you speak with a live insurance agent, you can get any insurance-related questions you have answered. Some of these questions may help you to discover ways you can save on your premium. For instance, you may get personalized advice regarding how much coverage you need to buy, or you may learn more about how adjusting your deductible can lower your auto insurance premium.

6. Specialty Car Insurance Companies

Another way to find cheap car insurance quotes is to visit specialty car insurance companies. Some companies provide great rates to certain groups of drivers or to drivers who own a specialty vehicle.

These insurance companies may offer lower rates to these drivers than other insurance companies may offer.

This includes drivers in high risk groups such as those with multiple accidents or citations on their driving history, males who are under the age of 25, senior citizen drivers and others. Specialty vehicles may include motorcycles, vintage cars and other similar types of cars.

Ways to Make Cheap Quotes Even More Affordable

These are all great ways to find cheap rate quotes. Each of these options can help you to identify ways you may save money on your auto insurance. However, there are a few key steps you can take to identify even more ways to save money on the quotes you receive. Consider these options for further savings:

• Ask the insurance company about discounts you may qualify for
• Inquire how much money you may save by paying your insurance premium in full rather than with a monthly payment plan
• Purchase only coverage you really need, and eliminate optional coverages that do not provide real benefits to you
• Increase your deductible for premium savings

A Final Consideration Before Buying Insurance

Before making a final decision about which rate quote to move forward with, consider if the insurance company offers you the possibility for future savings. Some insurance companies reward their policy holders with special discounts

and savings on the deductible, premium or both after they establish a history with the company. In some cases, this may be done by maintaining a clean driving history, by renewing a policy each year or both. It may be more cost advantageous for the long term to choose a company that offers equivalent or slightly higher rates today if these savings opportunities are available to you in the future.

If you are shopping for cheap auto insurance rates, you have many different places to turn. By shopping for rate quotes and making a rate comparison, you may be able to save money on your auto insurance premium.