Where to Find Liability Auto Insurance Quotes

There’s no question about it. Whether you’re looking to get insurance for the first time, or you’re in search of lower rates, you want the lowest car insurance premiums possible.

One of the best ways to secure the lowest car insurance rates will be in comparing quotes. The good news? You have options.

From searching the web to having a face-to-face with an agent, we’re exploring the top ways in which you can find the best liability insurance rates for your car. You can also begin comparing quotes by entering your zip code into our free car insurance comparison tool now.

Through an Agent

An agent is the public face of an insurance company, selling policies to drivers and facilitating communication between the consumer and the company. Something else to keep in mind? Agents make a commission on the policies they sell.

Even with the rise of the Internet, using an insurance agent is still a good way to purchase auto insurance. In fact, some companies still sell exclusively through agents.

There are two kinds of insurance agents:

• One is a captive agent. This type of agent only sells insurance policies from one company, thus is “captive” to that company.
• The other is an independent agent or broker. A broker can sell policies from several companies.

There are several notable benefits to using an agent. This includes getting one-on-one attention, having an agent who gets to know you, and having someone you can call and ask questions.

No matter what kind of agent you contact, he or she should be able to generate an auto insurance quote for you at no charge and with no obligation. An independent agent might even be able to give you several quotes from the companies he or she is associated with.

Calling the Insurance Company Directly

Most insurance companies have toll-free numbers through which you can get a free quote. Customer service personnel act as phone agents, gathering information from you and reviewing your options. In most circumstances, you’ll end up with a quote in minutes.

An added advantage to contacting a provider by the phone is that if you decide to purchase a policy right then and there, you can begin the process immediately.

Not sure how to contact a prospective provider? Finding a phone number is as simple as searching the web, or visiting your state’s department of insurance website.

Use the Company’s Website

If you’d rather skip the conversation, you can just as easily get quotes from a company’s website. But here’s what you need to know: Whether you’re talking to the provider by phone or getting quotes online, you’ll need to have some basic information handy:

• First, you will need some personal information about all the drivers on the policy. This includes legal names, birth dates, and driver’s license numbers.
• Next, you will need information about the vehicles you own. The year, make and model are necessary, but the VIN is even more helpful. If you do not know your car’s VIN, you can find it on your current insurance policy, your state registration paperwork, or on the driver’s side of the dashboard just under the window.
• You’ll also need to have a working knowledge of the driving record of the driver or drivers on the policy. This will include car accidents or claims made in the last five to seven years.
• You’ll also want to familiarize yourself with the safety and anti-theft devices on your vehicles. Since these can make you eligible for discounts, it pays to know if you have daytime running lights, anti-lock brakes, air bags, and more.

As long as you’re on the web, take a few moments to check out the provider’s social media accounts. After all,

Social media provides another avenue in which potential customers can learn more about an insurance company’s brand, messaging, and offerings.

Take a few moments to scan social media pages to not only learn more about the provider, but to also scope out any new services, discounts, or promotions.

Use an Independent Search Service

Most people know that one of the best ways to save money on anything is to shop around. When it comes to auto insurance, you are going to need to get quotes from several companies.

You can do this by contacting multiple agents, calling several companies or getting quotes from several websites of various companies.

However, there is a faster way to get those quotes – using a car insurance comparison tool like the one on this site.

This tool will allow you to compare several options quickly and easily. You can begin by entering your zip code in the box below:

  

How Much Insurance to Get

As you’re getting quotes for liability auto insurance, one of the things you’ll need to decide is how much coverage to buy. While every state requires that you carry some liability, the required amount is different in each state.

However, you are free to buy higher levels of liability if you need the coverage. The state levels are only minimum requirements.

In other words, just because the state says you only have to buy a certain amount, it does not mean that is the best thing to do. In fact, the Insurance Information Institute recommends having limits of 100/300/50 or higher.

The problem comes when the expenses of an accident exceed the amount of insurance you have. You are still responsible for paying for repairs if the accident was your fault. If your insurance covers all of it, that’s great. If not, you will have to make up the difference out of pocket. This could run tens of thousands of dollars if the people were severely injured.

That is why experts recommend carrying at least 100/300/50 insurance. This will cover nearly any major accident and most people’s net worth. However, if you have more assets than this, you might consider raising your liability levels even more.

Remember, not all insurance rates are created equal — rates vary by state.

Other Coverage besides Liability

While all states require liability auto insurance, some states require even more coverage. One policy type you might need is uninsured/underinsured motorist. This covers your car repairs and medical expenses if an uninsured driver hits you.

This also pays for any gaps that might occur if someone else has chosen to buy only the state-required amount of insurance. If his insurance will only pay up to $10,000 toward repairing or replacing your car, but your car is worth $20,000, who is going to pay the extra $10,000? You can take him to court, but in the meantime, your uninsured/underinsured coverage will cover it.

Some states also require all drivers to have some sort of medical coverage on their policies:

• Medical payment covers a certain amount per person for anyone in your car, no matter who is at fault.
• Personal Injury Protection (PIP) also pays a certain amount per person for everyone in your car, no matter who is at fault. PIP can pay to replace any wages you have lost while you were recovering, and it can also cover funeral expenses.

If your state requires one or both of these, you can get quotes for these at the same time as you get the liability insurance quote. If you desire optional coverage, like comprehensive, collision, rental car coverage or a towing package, you can also ask these to be included in the quote.

Finding auto insurance quotes is easy and FREE when you use our free car insurance comparison tool– just enter your ZIP code to begin.