10 Ways to Get Cheap Car Insurance Quotes

The first step toward an affordable car insurance policy is finding cheap car insurance quotes. Shopping for auto insurance quotes the smart way will pay off for years, potentially allowing you to save hundreds of dollars annually on your coverage. Blindly searching for a cheap auto insurance quote is not the answer, though—you need a strategy going into the process. To help guide you, we’ve listed ten ways to make sure you get the cheapest quotes possible.

1. Choose the highest deductible. A cheap car insurance quote is much easier to get if you’re willing to agree to fairly high deductibles. Even changing from a $500 to a $1,000 deductible can make a significant difference in price.
2. Adjust your liability coverage. You should always carry at least the legal minimum for liability insurance (more if you have valuable assets), but keeping these coverage levels to a minimum will help control your car insurance costs.
3. Choose a year-long policy. Usually, you’re more likely to get cheap auto insurance quotes on 12-month policies than on six-month coverage because you’re committing to remain with the insurer for longer.
4. Estimate your mileage accurately. In most cases, car insurers will overestimate the number of miles you drive per year, which will in turn raise your premiums. If you basically only drive to work and back every day, you may fall into the cheap low-mileage category.
5. Get at least four quotes. You have a much better chance of finding a cheap online car insurance quote if you solicit offers from at least four or five insurance companies. The more quotes you obtain, the more options you’ll have.
6. Don’t include unnecessary coverages. The quote you receive may be artificially inflated if the policy it refers to contains coverages that you don’t need. For example, if you drive an older vehicle, collision and comprehensive are probably unnecessary. Similarly, if you have an excellent health insurance policy, don’t worry about medical payments coverage.
7. Optimize your payment method. Depending on the insurer, you may be able to reduce your auto insurance rates by choosing a certain payment method. For instance, an insurer may offer you a cheap car insurance quote if you sign up for automatic payments or agree to pay the premium in full instead of on a monthly basis.
8. Research discounts. Don’t start evaluating auto insurance quotes until you’re sure all the discounts you qualify for have been applied to the policy. Most drivers will qualify for at least two or three valuable discounts.
9. Look into multiple policies. If you’re willing to buy more than one type of policy from the same insurer, a cheap car insurance quote is much easier to come by. For example, you might try choosing the same insurer for home and auto insurance.
10. Equip your vehicle. You can get cheaper quotes on auto insurance if you have safety devices, such as a car alarm or LoJack system, installed in your vehicle.