Auto Insurance Basics

Introduction
Auto insurance is a must for virtually all drivers, but the amount of coverage you need and the company you choose are important factors in your insurance costs. What types of vehicles do you own? Do they require special coverage or safety features? Do they have high mileage? Are they used primarily for pleasure or commuting to work? Your answers to these questions will help you find an auto insurance policy that offers just the right amount of protection without breaking your budget.
The Basics of Auto Insurance
Auto insurance is a type of insurance that covers damage or injuries caused by automobiles. It also covers medical expenses for the insured, their passengers and third parties who are injured in an accident involving the insured automobile. Auto insurance can be divided into three types: liability, collision and comprehensive.
The first type is liability, which covers the costs incurred by an insured party to repair or replace property damaged or destroyed by an insured vehicle. This includes any bodily injuries caused by the same vehicle up to liability limits set forth by law in your state of residence. The second type is collision coverage, which pays for repairs to your car when it collides with another object or vehicle - including pets! The third and final type is comprehensive coverage, which pays for damages unrelated to accidents such as vandalism and weather-related incidents like hailstorms (not counting hurricanes).
Shopping for a New Policy
When you're shopping for a new policy, focus on what your needs are. If you own a home and have young children, for example, you'll want to get the most affordable coverage that will still protect your family in case of an accident.
You should also look into how much money you can afford. Set up a budget that allows room for insurance payments and other monthly expenses like utilities and groceries—these things aren't cheap! Try to make sure that the amount of money spent on auto insurance doesn't take away from any other areas of your budget; this way, if something unexpected happens (like a major car repair), it won't be as stressful financially as it would be otherwise.
Finally—and this is important! —be aware of all the discounts offered by different companies when choosing an insurer or agency. Discounts include things like having clean driving records over time; being part of certain organizations such as AAA; living in safe neighborhoods with low crime rates; driving less than 20 miles per day or owning more than one vehicle (or both). These discounts can help lower premiums while still providing adequate protection against accidents and bodily injury claims brought upon by others on the roadways around us every day.
Choosing the Right Car Insurance Company
The most important step in finding the right car insurance company is to get multiple quotes. You should talk to an independent agent that works with multiple companies and allow them to shop around to find you the best coverage and rates. You should also ask about any discounts available based on factors such as marital status and credit score—these could help save you hundreds of dollars each year!
How to Lower Your Auto Insurance Rates
Enlist and independent agent to shop around for the best auto insurance rates.
Check your credit score and ask about discounts. If you have a good credit score (below 590), most insurance companies will give you a discount on your policy—sometimes as much as 20%. And if you've never been in an accident, some insurers may offer additional savings on top of this.
Get a safe driver discount—and ask about it again. Some states require all insurers to offer a safe driver discount to customers who maintain good driving records without any accidents or moving violations within three years of applying for coverage; other states don't enforce this requirement but still require insurers to offer some type of reward if they're available in that state. To find out what types of rewards are available where you live, check with each individual company before shopping around: often times there'll be one or two carriers that won't offer any safe driver discounts at all because they aren't legally required to do so (and therefore don't want to get into trouble).
Does Credit Matter With Insurance?
Yes, your credit score is a factor in determining your auto insurance rates. However, it's not the only factor, and there are ways to improve your credit score if it's not currently on par with what you want.
The best way to save money on auto insurance? Read on!
Conclusion
This is a great time to shop around for car insurance. It’s important to find the best deal for your needs, and if you’re not sure where to start, we can help! Our friendly agents are ready to answer any questions you have about auto insurance coverage.