{"id":2298,"title":"How to Get Car Insurance","slug":"how-to-get-car-insurance","lang":null,"description":"You can get car insurance by shopping online, contacting companies directly or working with an agent or broker.","content":"

There’s no shortage of ways to purchase car insurance. You can buy it online, call, or even find a local agent and apply in person. The way you choose to get car insurance depends on your specific insurance needs and the time you want to spend shopping for coverage. No matter which method you pick, the process of getting car insurance comes down to these five steps:

Gather information.
Determine your coverage needs.
Choose how to shop for car insurance.
Compare companies.
Buy your new policy (and cancel your old one).

See what you could save on car insurance

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1. Gather information

Before you start shopping for car insurance, gather the following details about yourself, your vehicle and any additional drivers you’d like included on the policy:

Basic details, such as the name, address and birthdate of all licensed drivers.
Driver’s license information for all drivers.
Facts about the car, including the make, model, vehicle identification number, safety features, current odometer reading and annual mileage.
Driving history for all drivers, including accidents, tickets and any other violations.
Your current insurer, if you have one, and your current coverage limits.

Having this information on hand will speed up the time it takes to shop. Because it affects your final policy premium, every agent or broker will require this information before you can get a quote.

2. Determine your coverage needs

When getting quotes from multiple insurers, try to ensure the quotes are based on the same amount of coverage so that you’re able to make an apples-to-apples comparison.

Each state has its own minimum car insurance requirements, but you may want broader coverage for your vehicle. Minimum requirements are often very low. If you were at fault for a serious accident, a policy with your state’s minimum insurance requirements could easily leave you on the hook for thousands of dollars of expenses.

The table below includes some of the most common types of coverage:

Coverage type	What it pays for
Bodily injury and property damage liability	Other peoples’ injuries, deaths or property damage costs stemming from an accident you caused
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage	Medical and property damage costs after an accident with a driver who doesn’t have insurance, or doesn’t have enough insurance to cover the damage they caused
Collision coverage	Repair expenses for damage to your vehicle caused by traffic-related accidents, regardless of who's at fault
Comprehensive coverage	Repair costs for damage to your vehicle caused by events outside your control — including weather events, hitting an animal while driving, theft and vandalism
Medical payments coverage	Medical expenses for you and your passengers after an accident, regardless of fault
Personal injury protection insurance	Medical expenses, as well as lost wages, child care, funeral costs and other losses due to an accident, regardless of fault

» MORE: How much car insurance do you really need?

3. Choose how to shop for car insurance

You can shop for insurance through a single company or through an agent or broker who offers policies from several different insurers. While you may find it’s faster to apply directly through a specific insurer, an agent or broker may be better if timing isn’t a concern and you’re interested in finding a better deal, or if your coverage needs are more complicated.

Here are the most common ways to buy car insurance:

Directly from the insurer
From a captive agent
From an independent agent or broker
From a specialty agency

4. Compare companies

We recommend getting quotes from at least three different companies before you buy a policy. Doing this can help you find the coverage you need at the best value. Be sure the quotes you’re comparing are for the same amount of coverage and deductible amounts.

While you may be tempted to choose the cheapest option, this isn’t always the best idea. For example, the insurance company with the absolute cheapest rates may have shaky financials or might be notorious for offering poor customer service. A higher premium might be worth it if you need to make an insurance claim later on.

Check the website of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to see how many consumer complaints have been filed against a company you’re considering, or read NerdWallet’s auto insurance reviews.

How to choose an insurance company

Choosing the best insurance company is about finding an insurer that offers the coverage you need at an affordable price. Before you start shopping, have a budget in mind. Then, after you compare quotes, do some basic research on the insurers that fit within your budget. Make sure that the insurer you choose has solid financials and doesn’t receive a ton of complaints from its policyholders.

5. Buy your new policy (and cancel your old one)

Once you choose a company and policy, you can usually elect to pay all at once or on a regular schedule, such as monthly. (You may get a discount on your policy by paying in full upfront.) If you’re buying a new car, make sure you have insurance coverage in place before you drive the car off the lot.

If you’re simply changing policies on an existing vehicle, reach out to your former company to cancel the old policy once the new one is in place and avoid a lapse in coverage. You should receive a refund of any unused premium you paid your former insurer, minus any applicable cancellation fees.

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