How to Select Car Insurance

Car insurance can protect you if you are sued for injuring someone or damaging their property, or if your vehicle is damaged. And in most states, it's required by law.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Calculators
• Yellow Pages
• Telephones
• Spiral Notebooks
• Pencils

1. Call at least three agents to ask for pricing.

2. Ask for proposals in writing.

3. Make sure you plan on sufficient liability coverage to protect your assets.

4. Consider whether you need secondary coverage, like emergency road service and rental reimbursement.

5. Tell the agent if your car is mortgaged or leased.

6. Make certain the agent inspects your car and verifies the odometer reading and vehicle identification number.

7. Know the value of your car.

8. Consider dropping collision and comprehensive coverage if your car has lost most of its value.

9. Choose the highest possible deductibles, if such coverage is necessary.

10. Ask about discounts for age, good driving history or insuring multiple vehicles with the same company.

Tips & Warnings

• Nearly all states have compulsory auto insurance laws requiring drivers to carry public liability insurance.
• Only add coverage you do not already have through another source, such as an auto club.
• Carry sufficient liability to protect your personal assets.
• Do not misrepresent your driving record, or your insurer can declare the contract invalid and refuse to pay a loss.

[ahoier]

on 12/21/2008 With soooo many online insurance quote sites, progressivedirect, esurance.com, geico.com, all offering quotes online, it can be easy to get a quote :)

It probably wouldn't hurt to call up an agent too, personally. They may or may not get you a better quote than you found online....

[aaatexas]

on 7/6/2008 A great way to save on your car insurance is to switch to a member-owned company which will allow you to get lower rates. Once a member of AAA Texas you are eligible for their insurance products.

If you contact me for a new membership, I will:

-waive $20 admission fee on AAA membership
-include a FREE spouse/associate member (an additional $26 savings!)
-provide a FREE, no obligation, comprehensive insurance review (average AAA member saves over $350 a year on their car insurance!)

My contact information is below:

Paula Harold
AAA Texas
[e-mail]
1-800-222-8586 ext.5078

I'd love to answer any questions about the membership or insurance in general. Just send me an email!

[k1esfl]

on 5/16/2008 Good information on what to look for in an auto insurance policy. Another resource might be http://www.mydecisionhelper.com/decision/show/choose_an_automobile_insurance_policy. It lists all the components of a policy and allows you to do some comparisons between policies. The landing page is pretty poignant too!