Auto Insurance Quotes: Compare Rates and Save on Coverage
Finding the right auto insurance at an affordable rate doesn’t have to be a complicated or time-consuming process. At SelectQuote, we make it easy to compare auto insurance quotes from top providers, helping you find the coverage that best fits your needs and budget. Whether you're buying a new car or simply looking to reassess your current policy, we’re here to help you save on premiums without compromising on protection.
Our process is simple: enter your details, and we'll provide you with free quotes from trusted insurance companies so you can easily compare rates. Plus, we'll explain how factors like deductibles, discounts, and coverage types impact your rates, ensuring you have a clear understanding of what you're getting. Whether it's finding free car insurance quotes or understanding how discounts and deductibles affect your premium, we’ll guide you through the process of shopping for car insurance.
Learn About Car Insurance Quotes
A car insurance quote provides you with detailed information about what you’ll pay for auto insurance coverage, but it doesn’t just include the price. A good auto insurance quote will also offer detailed information about what’s covered under your policy, any exclusions to that policy, available discounts, your insurance coverage deductible, and more.
Here is an example of a car insurance quote:
Insurance Proposal Prepared Exclusively For:
Sarah Jones
11111 W. Example Street
San Antonio, TX 78227
Personal Auto Policy
Vehicle
2019 Mitsubishi Outlander
$100,000 Bodily Injury Per Person | $300,000 Bodily Injury Per Incident | $500 Comprehensive Deductible | $500 Collision Deductible |
1-Year Premium: $2,317.00
Monthly Premium: $193.08
Before you purchase auto insurance from any company, be sure to ask key questions that will help you get not only the best coverage for your needs but the best possible rates, too.
Why Quotes Vary Between Companies
Auto insurance quotes can vary significantly between companies due to several factors that influence how insurers assess risk and determine pricing. Each insurance company has its own underwriting process, which means they weigh various factors differently, resulting in different rates for similar coverage.
For example, companies may prioritize certain driving habits, like accident history or mileage, while others might place more weight on your credit score or the type of car you drive. Insurance providers also have different discount structures—some may offer savings for bundling policies, maintaining a clean driving record, or even being a good student. These differences in underwriting guidelines, risk assessments, and available discounts are key reasons why quotes can differ.
How Auto Insurance Quotes are Calculated
When you request an auto insurance quote, insurance companies use a variety of factors to assess your risk and determine your premium. These factors help insurers decide how likely you are to file a claim and how much that claim might cost. Here’s a breakdown of the most common elements that affect your quote.
Factors that Affect Your Quote
Here are some of the key factors that can impact your auto insurance quote:
Driving History: Your past driving record plays a significant role in your quote. Insurers will look at whether you’ve had accidents, tickets, or DUIs. A clean driving record typically leads to lower premiums.
Vehicle Type: The make, model, and year of your car can impact your rate. Expensive or high-performance cars usually come with higher premiums due to the cost of repairs and increased risk of theft.
Location: Where you live can affect your rate. If you’re in an area with high traffic or a higher risk of theft or accidents, your premium may be higher.
Coverage Levels: The amount and type of coverage you choose will directly influence your quote. Higher coverage limits and additional coverage options, like comprehensive or collision insurance, will increase your premium.
Age and Gender: Younger drivers, especially those under 25, often face higher rates due to their inexperience. Gender can also play a role, as some statistics suggest that male drivers may be at a higher risk for accidents.
Credit Score: In some states, your credit score can impact your premium, as insurers use it as an indicator of financial responsibility.
Where to Get Car Insurance Quotes
To get an accurate car insurance quote, you can visit websites like SelectQuote, where you can compare rates from multiple insurers. Review these terms to have a better understanding of rates while you’re comparing your options:
High Deductible vs. Low Deductible: A higher deductible typically results in lower monthly premiums, but you’ll pay more out of pocket if you file a claim.
Liability Only vs. Full Coverage: Liability insurance covers damages to other vehicles and people in the event of an accident where you’re at fault. Alternatively, full coverage includes liability insurance and protection for your own vehicle. While full coverage is typically more expensive, it offers more comprehensive protection.
Questions to Ask When Buying Car Insurance
Before you sit down and purchase an auto insurance policy, there are answers you need to have in hand to important questions about your coverage needs and how different factors can impact what you pay for insurance.
1. How much auto insurance coverage do I need?
The state you live in determines the minimum legal amount of liability insurance you’re required to carry for your vehicle, but there are other factors that determine how much coverage you need. If you’ve financed or leased a brand-new vehicle, for example, you may be required to carry full coverage. After sorting out what kind of insurance you need to carry, we can recommend additional coverage to suit your specific needs.
Working with SelectQuote gives you the chance to explain your situation, discuss everything that needs to be covered, and help you figure out any potential gaps in your auto coverage.
2. What deductible do you recommend?
Choosing an insurance policy often involves picking the right balance between your monthly premiums and your deductible. Lower monthly payments often lead to higher deductibles and vice versa. SelectQuote helps you weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each option as you make your decision.
3. What discounts are available to me?
Most insurance companies offer plenty of ways for you to cut your insurance costs in the form of substantial discounts. You may be eligible for a discount for bundled auto and home insurance policies or for customer loyalty. Other discounts for safe driving, telemetrics and even safety equipment exist, too.
4. What exclusions are part of the policy?
It’s important to clarify what is and isn’t included as part of your auto insurance policy. Some car insurance policies may not cover theft, for example. If you’ve purchased the minimum legal liability coverage, you won’t be covered if you hit a deer with your car. SelectQuote can simplify the process and ensure your policy has the coverage you need without coverage gaps.
Tips to Get the Best Quotes for Auto Insurance
Finding the lowest auto insurance quote can take time. If you’re willing to do the legwork, you can sometimes get substantial discounts. But how do you shop for coverage if you’re busy? Luckily, we’ve got tips for getting several quotes from multiple insurance companies at once.
Compare quotes from several insurance companies at once. The easiest way to do this is to partner with someone and share your information with them once. Shopping with SelectQuote is one of the best ways to get car insurance quotes, because we handle the hard work of sourcing prices from several different insurance companies that we represent at once.
Don’t be afraid to raise your deductible. If you’re a safe driver with a limited claims history, you could save big money on your auto insurance by raising your deductible to lower your monthly premiums.
Don’t buy more coverage than you need. It may be tempting to buy full coverage for your vehicle, you may not need it. Pay attention to what your car is currently worth. If your monthly premiums or your deductible exceed the car’s value, you may not want to pay for too much extra coverage.
Don’t forget to ask about discounts. No matter how off-the-wall it sounds, there are plenty of auto insurance discounts out there for people at all stages of life. Common discounts available for new (and existing) auto customers include:
Safe driving discounts
Customer loyalty discounts
Student discounts
Military discounts
Bundled insurance discounts
Consider bundling your coverage. Consider bundling your coverage to save even more on your auto insurance. By combining your auto insurance with other policies, like home or renters insurance, you can take advantage of multi-policy discounts, which many insurance companies offer.
Your discount eligibility will likely differ based on your state, age, and insurance company. Some companies offer more competitive discounts than others. SelectQuote can help you compare all policy options and find affordable coverage.
Mistakes to Avoid When Getting Quotes
When shopping for auto insurance, it's important to avoid common mistakes that can lead to higher premiums or inadequate coverage. Here are some key pitfalls to watch out for:
Providing Inaccurate Information: Ensure that the details you provide about your driving history, vehicle, and coverage needs are accurate. Giving incorrect or incomplete information could result in a quote that’s not reflective of your actual rates, or worse—it could lead to denied claims later.
Overlooking Coverage Needs: While it’s tempting to choose the cheapest option, it’s important to ensure the coverage fits your needs. Opting for minimal coverage might save money upfront, but it could leave you financially vulnerable in case of an accident.
Focusing Only on Price: While saving money is a priority, solely focusing on the lowest price could lead to choosing a policy that offers inadequate protection. Consider the balance between cost and coverage, and prioritize a policy that meets your needs while staying within budget.
Best Way to Get Car Insurance Quotes: Let SelectQuote Help
Getting a great car insurance quote (or several at once) shouldn’t be stressful. SelectQuote simplifies the process of buying car insurance by shopping for rates and discounts from several insurance companies at one time. Whether you have questions about the best way to get car insurance quotes or feel like you need a little help finding affordable rates, we can help. Trust SelectQuote to shop for coverage and help save you time and money.
Example rates of $193.08/month ($2,317/year) are from an insurance company SelectQuote represents in March 2022 for a Personal Auto Policy including $100,000 in bodily injury coverage per person, $300,000 in bodily injury coverage per incident, $500 in a comprehensive deductible, and $500 in a collision deductible for a 52-year-old female with an active license status, good credit rating, 0 incidents, and primary purpose of driving is pleasure. Final rates will be based on the insurance company’s underwriting and a more complete review of the consumer’s application. Rates may also vary by term, policy amount, and state.
