Help! I Need Car Insurance!

by Steve Johnson

Selecting the correct car insurance can seem like a daunting task. If you take your time and do some research your can be nearly assured of making the right decision regarding how much auto coverage, medical coverage and the amount of a deductible that you can afford.

Knowing the factors to keep in mind, where do you start? The best idea is to ask trusted friends and family members who they use and why and then contact their local insurance agent. You should give particular weight to the opinions of friends or family that have had to file a claim with their insurance company (or possibly a former insurance company). The local agent will be able to explain to you face-to-face what types of policies are available and make recommendations. He or she should also supply you with a written quote that you can take with you when you continue your shopping expedition.

With written quote in hand, continue your search online. Go to a favorite search engine and find a car insurance company that offers to give you multiple quotes from different companies. Most of the larger companies for which you are given quotes should have an agent in your area but if you live in a small town, the agent may be located in a nearby town.

Some key points to remember when you are comparison shopping is that not all quotes are created equal. Different companies will quote your car as being worth a different value, will quote different medical coverage amount and may even quote different deductible amounts. The purpose of car insurance is to protect you and your family in the event of an accident and to assist you in the event of a lawsuit.

A lawsuit can be brought directly against you if you do not have insurance or do not have the proper insurance if you have an accident in which you are at fault. One significant accident can be financially devastating, so a little time now will prevent this from occurring in the future.

The amount the insurance company will pay if your car is stolen is also something to consider. No one wants to believe their car will be stolen but it is a fact that it occurs every few minutes. A stolen car can go from stolen to disassembled to parts sold and the car gone within a matter of hours. If you make modifications to your car after you buy it, the insurance company will only usually pay for the value of the car without your added modifications, so choose your modifications wisely.

If your car is not stolen (which will probably be the case), you still need to consider various types of damage which can occur to the car during the normal course of driving. An animal could run out in front of you. A rock could hit your windshield and crack it, forcing you to replace it. If you have a $500 deductible and it costs $350 to replace your windshield, you will be paying the entire replacement cost out-of-pocket. Make sure you can afford the expenses associated with car ownership underneath your deductible amounts.

In summary it is critical to know how to find the right car insurance. Whether you do your research on line, using the phone or by visiting agents, the key is to comparison shop and know what you are buying. Not only are you protecting yourself, but if you have a family, you are protecting them as well. Remember, the customer service you receive when finding the insurance is the same customer service you will receive when you are in need.

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