Start a free online quote. Learn how to get an auto insurance quote, what they are, and how to save.
Key takeaways
- Car insurance quotes can be used to get an idea of how much you might pay for coverage if you purchase an auto policy.
- How much auto insurance you need depends on factors such as your car’s make, model, and year, your age, driving history, and location.
- Get an online car insurance quote for free using a comparison tool, an independent agent, or by visiting an insurer’s website.
One of the best ways to find cheap car insurance online is to shop around. You can use different tools online as car insurance comparison tool to compare quotes from multiple companies in minutes.
The best place to learn about car insurance is from someone who’s been in your shoes. If you have questions, get answers before you start shopping. This can help guide your decision-making process and save time by not wasting time on expensive or poor options. Here are some key elements of auto insurance to know about as you shop for a policy.
What are auto insurance quotes for car insurance?
The car insurance quote is an estimate of what you’ll pay for coverage. Insurance companies each use their own unique formula to calculate a car insurance quote, so even if you give the same information to Geico, Progressive, or any other company, no two quotes will be identical. The more auto insurance quotes you get, the more chances you’ll have of finding the cheapest company for your needs.
What goes into a car insurance quote?
Auto insurance rates vary from company to company, which is where the difficulty comes in. For example, one insurance company might raise your rates by 10% for living in a high-crime area while another insurance company might charge only 5% more. Both companies are looking at the amount of crime in your neighborhood, but they calculate your insurance risk differently.
Factors that affect car insurance vary, but here are some of the more common variables:
- Age, gender, marital status, and education level are personal characteristics that insurers use to predict how likely someone is to crash. For instance, teen drivers usually have higher rates because they’re more accident-prone than almost anyone else.
- Insuring a car costs more the less coverage you need. However, this doesn’t mean that you should skimp on the insurance policy that you need and end up spending too much. The rates actually differ based on your coverage level. For example, according to research, full coverage car insurance is about twice what minimum coverage would cost you.
- Here’s the thing, anyone who has a driving history that includes traffic violations would need to put up with higher car insurance rates — often much higher than someone without any hard-fought points against their name. So is there a way around this expensive predicament? Yes! You could get quotes without any traffic violations or other information on your driving record by only including age, gender, and location.
- Car insurance is based on information pertaining to your vehicle and automobile features, making it a complex topic. Among these different factors, the make and model of your car, whether it includes expensive add-ons such as GPS or safety equipment, can all affect your car insurance quotes — because the cars with these expensive features cost more to repair after an accident and are also more likely to be stolen.
- Your insurance cost is certainly dependent on your geographic location. We can help you figure out how much coverage you’ll need to have, including the additional costs associated with it. Other factors also weigh into your insurance costs, such as crime rates in your neighborhood, population density, and car crashes.
- Your credit score — or more accurately, your credit-based insurance score — can affect the cost of your injury car insurance. According to the Insurance Information Institute, drivers with low insurance scores are more likely to file claims and it could mean costly for an insurer. Further, some companies may assume there is a connection between how well you manage your finances and how well you drive and maintain a vehicle. If you live in California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, or Michigan though, you’re in luck: insurers there aren’t allowed to factor in your credit scores when calculating the cost of your car insurance quotes.
For an insurance quote, your car insurance history plays a key factor besides the make and model of your car. Some things that contribute to the quote include:
- If you don’t have auto coverage, even if you don’t own a car, they might classify you as a high-risk customer. While an insurance lapse may be okay for someone who doesn’t own a car (or have one on the road), not having coverage afforded by an insurance carrier is not allowed and could leave you with a gap in coverage.
- Some car insurance policies raise rates for car owners who’ve recently had an at-fault accident. Keep your policy’s rate by finding one with the accident forgiveness option.
- How long a company’s customer has been with the company is often considered when determining loyalty. Sticking with your company without shopping around also has its drawbacks. Companies that use data algorithms may raise rates if they don’t think you’ll shop around to other companies, as it is called price optimization.
- The best way for you to get the most accurate and reliable information about car insurance is to ask your friends or family members. Their reviews will help guide your decision if you have a new insurer, as this study from the Consumer Federation of America shows.
- If you’ve made a request to your insurance agent, but haven’t filed an actual claim, don’t worry. It’s illegal in some states for an insurance company to raise a policyholder’s rates just because they submitted an inquiry.
How to get car insurance quotes
Rather than getting auto insurance quotes, there are many different ways you can get an estimate for your current coverage. These include:
- Phone, online, or over the phone.
- People who make unique and powerful websites.
- Insurance agents and brokers who wish to take control of their own business.
- How To Browse Comparison Websites
- Agencies that specialize in particular areas
Before you make all those phone calls, keep these pro tips in mind:
- It’s important to know how other people are feeling about your insurance company. When you shop around for coverage, make sure to consider customer ratings and reviews.
- The best deal for your needs can be found easily when you compare multiple quotes. Get at least three car insurance quotes from a reliable insurance provider and evaluate them.
- You should always compare quotes on liability coverage limits as well as deductible amounts before making a purchasing decision.
Direct quotes online or over the phone
It’s easy to get free car insurance quotes online, and many companies will even ask you to complete a simple form over the web so that you’ll receive your quote as soon as possible.
When purchasing a policy online (or over the phone), it’s often referred to as buying car insurance “direct” from the insurer.
Buying insurance without the help of a human agent means you have more freedom to see what coverages are best for you and make changes. There may be some drawbacks such as follow-up calls and emails. Though it can be tough, websites often provide less information than an agent, who can answer your questions in person.
Captive insurance agents
If you’re looking for your next car policy, then contacting a captive agent is a great option. These folks work for one specific insurance company and you’ll get a quote from them without having to talk to an agent from outside the company.
As an agent, your job is to research the best insurance options and provide a quote when needed. You’ll earn the commission or percentage of the premium you sell in return. With other agents, however, the company you work for may be paying them as well.
If you have a number of assets or need several types of policies, a captive agent may be the best choice for you. But keep in mind that they’re going to be motivated to upsell you with those high-commission products.
Independent insurance agents and brokers
If you’re looking for insurance coverage, but want to do your research instead of limiting yourself to one company, talking with an independent broker or agent is a great option.
It’s important to shop around for insurance when you’re looking for a policy for your small business. Big-name insurance companies and smaller companies alike offer policies through independent agents with their own special expertise. Agents have the ability to shop around, which allows them to find the best coverage without any hassle.
Independent brokers differ from independent agents in that they charge a broker’s fee, but they must also disclose commission rates to customers. This transparency allows you to know exactly how much the broker is making from your business.
Comparison websites
If you want to compare quotes from multiple companies online, consider using a comparison site. Different companies have comparison tools that can help you match with several insurers to easily compare prices and find the cheapest option. If you know the kind of coverage you want and are looking for an easy way to shop around, this method could work for you.
Specialty agencies
If you have a history of DUIs, speeding tickets, and other accidents, you may need to find an insurance company that specializes in high-risk drivers. Many agencies exist just to serve drivers like you. They can connect you with car insurance providers who offer competitive rates for people with poor driving records.
What information do you need to get a free car insurance quote?
We believe everyone deserves to know the important information when it comes to shopping for auto insurance. With all the tools on hand, we’ll make sure that you know all the factors that go into determining your final premium. You’ll know exactly what things cost and how they might impact your rate.
- Basic information such as your name, address, occupation, and age.
- You will find your current auto insurance company
- It includes your driver’s license information and that of anyone on the policy.
- Measuring your car’s annual and current mileage, along with the frequency and reasons why you drive each time.
- Personal vehicle information, like an identification number and safety features.
- The policy includes driving history for the past five years, so you can see every ticket and violation on record. It also allows you to choose a company that has your driving records. Be upfront with an insurance company and select one that will have an accurate car insurance quote before issuing a policy.
- Your policy choice will depend on the coverage you need. You can use the declarations page to see everything that’s included in your current policy or compare it to a new one.
How much should my car insurance be?
We can’t predict the exact auto insurance quote you’ll get, but our analyses determine what the average rates are for one car, location, and driving record.
Why you can trust us:
When comparing rates for different coverage amounts, ages, and backgrounds, we change only one variable at a time to allow you to easily see how each factor affects the price. Read our methodology and know that you can trust our prices.
Rates are shown below (a) include what’s called liability coverage, which provides protection against third-party claims, and coverage that’s commonly referred to as uninsured motorist protection.
How to get the cheapest car insurance quote possible
If you want to find the best policy for you, it’s important to shop around regularly. Even if you are happy with your current insurance company, other prices might be cheaper. The only way to know is to compare car insurance rates.
If you want to keep your premium low, there are other strategies you can try that may work:
- Our analysis of rates found that a driver with poor credit and a good driving record pays almost as much for car insurance as somebody with good credit, but an accident is caused by drinking.
- The best way to save at the car dealership is to shop for insurance before you buy your car. With the right policy, you could be saving as much as $600 each year. This is significant because when it comes down to buying a new car, a lot of us don’t know what the insurance rates will be.
- Drive cautiously and get insurance! Car insurance is almost always expensive if you have a history of car accidents, speeding tickets, DUIs, or other violations in the past three to five years.
- Looking for discounts? Whether you own a home, take a driver’s safety course, or belong to certain organizations, we can save you some money on your car insurance.
- Boost your deductibles. Opting to pay more out of pocket for a collision or comprehensive claim will help reduce your monthly premium.
Frequently asked questions
Want to know the average car insurance rates?
We conducted a study of 30,000 drivers across America and found that the average annual car insurance cost for good drivers with good credit is $1,630. However, the cost will vary depending on the individual.
Why should you use Richdash to get the best car insurance quotes?
There are a lot of risks that you don’t see. That’s why shopping around for your car insurance is the best option. By comparing rates, insurers will notice even small differences in their offerings, so you can get exactly what you need at the best price possible.
When it comes to auto insurance, we make it easy for you to compare multiple companies at once and find the best match for your budget.
How do you get free car insurance quotes?
Car insurance can seem confusing, especially when you’re shopping with multiple companies. Luckily, most insurance companies offer free rates through their website, on the phone, or in person. However, you can also use an online car insurance comparison tool to get rates from more than one provider all in one place.
Is it possible to get an auto insurance quote before purchasing a car?
Before buying a vehicle, get a free insurance quote. Compare the different policies and go with the one you’re most comfortable with. Auto insurance is an important aspect to consider when budgeting for a new or used car.
Does getting a car insurance quote to affect credit?
Car insurance is tricky, with different states having different rules. The best way to determine if an increased quote is justified is to find the best car insurance deal for you now. Make sure you shop around before buying and compare policies side-by-side to ensure that your credit score doesn’t get dinged.
Why is car insurance so expensive?
There are many factors that can contribute to how much you pay for your vehicle insurance. Take, for instance, poor credit or high-risk driving history. But these are only just a few of the possible reasons why your rates have soared. Read our article, Reasons Why Your Car Insurance Is So High to learn more about the different reasons and what you can do to lower them.
