How To Find the Best Auto Insurance
You can get car insurance directly from an insurance company, by talking to an agent, or through an independent online insurance marketplace like BlueVest.
No matter how you choose to get car insurance, start by gathering information you’ll need, including the social security numbers of all the drivers in your household, your driver’s license number, and details about your car. After that:
How to get car insurance in 5 easy steps:
- Figure out how much auto coverage you’ll need.
- Fill out an insurance application
- Compare different auto insurance quotes
- Pick an insurance company and get insured
- Cancel your old car insurance policy
While there are a few ways to get car insurance, the best and most efficient way to get covered in 2023 is by comparing quotes from multiple companies online. That way you can quickly find the most affordable rates in your area for the coverage you need.
1. Figure out how much auto coverage you’ll need:
Figuring out how much coverage you need is one of the most important parts of buying auto insurance.
Generally, it's a good idea for drivers to get as much liability coverage as they can afford. Adding comprehensive and collision coverage is a good idea, but the amount of insurance you should get depends on your car's value, too. A typical full-coverage policy includes:
Liability coverage: Covers the costs if you cause an accident, including when you damage someone else’s property with your car. Liability insurance is required in most states, and it’s divided into two parts: Bodily injury liability (BIL) and property damage liability (PDL)
Personal injury protection: Covers medical and rehabilitation expenses if you or your passengers are injured in a car accident. Also covers other related expenses, like lost wages
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Covers the costs if you’re in an accident caused by a driver who either doesn’t have insurance or whose insurance can’t pay for the full extent of the damage
Collision coverage: Covers damage to your own vehicle after an accident, regardless of who was at fault
Comprehensive coverage: Covers any damage to your car that can happen when it isn’t being driven, including damage from extreme weather, falling objects, flood, fire, vandalism, and theft
Gap insurance: If your car is totaled, this pays out the difference between the car’s actual cash value (ACV), which includes depreciation, and the amount you still owe on a car loan or lease so you aren’t stuck making payments on a car you no longer have
Most insurers offer additional coverage options, like roadside assistance or new car replacement coverage that you can add to your policy (just remember that more coverage means higher rates).
Each state has minimum car insurance coverage requirements. Your state’s minimums are a starting point for determining coverage, but they’re too low to sufficiently cover you in the event of a major accident.
2. Fill out an insurance application:
Whether you’re buying car insurance for the first or renewing your coverage with the same insurer, you’ll need the following information on hand:
- Names, birthdays and driver’s license numbers for all drivers in the household
- Social Security numbers for all drivers in the household
- VINs (Vehicle Information Numbers) or make and model years for all vehicles
- An address for the insured (where you live and where the car is garaged, which is usually the same place)
- Your declarations page from your most recent prior car insurance policy, if you have it
As you go through the application process, your answers to certain questions may earn you discounts on your coverage, like whether you have any accidents or violations on your record, whether you’re a full time student, and if your car is equipped with features like an anti-theft device or GPS tracker.
You’ll also set your coverage amounts — called limits — when you apply for insurance. It’s generally a good idea to have higher coverage limits, even though adding more coverage will affect how much you pay for car insurance. You’ll also have to choose deductible amounts for your comprehensive and collision coverage.
When you get a quote online or use a car insurance calculator, some optional types of coverage may automatically be included that you don’t actually want or need. For example, if you're a member of AAA and you already have roadside assistance, you don't need to pay extra to add it to your car insurance policy.
As you shop for insurance, be sure to look carefully at whether there are any add-ons you can remove.
3. Compare different auto insurance quotes:
It's a good idea to get quotes from a few different insurance companies before you choose a policy. You should also have an idea of how much you can afford to pay for coverage before you start shopping.
You should look for the insurance company that offers you the most protection and the best customer service at the lowest rates.
4. Choose an insurance company and get insured
Once you’ve compared your quotes and picked an insurance company that you feel good about, it’s time to get covered.
When you buy a car insurance policy, you’ll set a start date for when your policy will start, and you’ll pay your first premium.
You’ll typically receive proof of coverage and some sort of welcome package from your insurer, with information about how to access your account and where to see your ID cards or declarations page.
5. Cancel your old insurance policy:
If you’ve been shopping for car insurance to replace a current policy, wait until after your new coverage is in place before you cancel your old policy. You want to make sure you don’t leave any gaps in your coverage.
To do this, set the cancellation date of your old policy and the effective date of your new policy on the same day. Insurance policies begin and end at 12:01 AM on a given date, so you don’t have to worry about having a full day of overlapping insurance.