How to shop smart for auto insurance

Coverages

• How much liability coverage should I get?
• Do I need other coverages?
  • Collision and comprehensive
  • Uninsured or underinsured motorist
  • Medical payments or personal injury protection
  • Rental reimbursement
• Does the policy cover how I use my car or are there any exclusions?

Costs

• What should my deductible be? What discounts do I qualify for?
• Can I get a policy with a cheaper premium if I don’t drive much?
• Is the price different if I pay in advance?

Discounts

What discounts do you have to lower my premium?

• Safe driver.
• Low mileage.
• Defensive driving class.
• Good student.
• Automatic payments and going paperless.

Shopping tips

• Get price quotes from several companies using HelpInsure.
• Contact your top choices to get price quotes. Use our worksheet to compare company’s policies.
• Look at a company's complaint record.
• Make sure the company is licensed.
• Don’t cancel your current policy until you get your new policy or a written statement that proves you have coverage.

Need more help?

Call our Help Line at 800-252-3439 to see if a company is licensed, check their complaint history, or ask questions.

Use our Automobile insurance guide to learn more about how auto insurance works, including coverages, deductibles, and limits.

Resources

• How to save on car insurance (video)
• Shopping for auto insurance: What to know before you buy a policy
• Ask for discounts to lower your auto insurance premium amount
• Lower your car insurance rates: Tips for saving money
• What is uninsured motorist coverage, and do I really need it?
• Do you need gap insurance for your car? How does it work?

Glossary

Liability coverage pays to repair the other driver’s car if you caused the accident.

Collision coverage pays to repair or replace your car after an accident.

Comprehensive (other than collision) coverage pays if your car is stolen or damaged by fire, flood, vandalism, or something other than a collision.

Medical payments coverage pays your and your passengers’ medical bills. It also pays if you’re hurt while riding in someone else’s car or while walking or biking.

Rental reimbursement coverage pays for you to rent a car if yours is stolen or being repaired after an accident. Some policies also pay for taxis or ride-hailing services.

Deductibles are the amount of a claim that you must pay yourself.

Exclusions are provisions in your policy that deny coverage for certain reasons.