Budget Car Insurance

Word to the wise – when searching for the cheapest car insurance, never settle! If you learn just one thing about auto insurance shopping, it should be that it pays to shop around. Now, how exactly do you shop for the cheapest auto insurance? Two ways – talk to a broker and do your own online research.

By using an insurance agent, you will get the personalized assistance you need on your schedule. While many insurance providers have gone online, many of the major players (i.e. Allstate, State Farm), in addition to their phone service and websites, still maintain conveniently located local agents in your neighborhood. It is important to distinguish between the two types of agents out there – the captive agent and the independent agent. The captive agent represents only one insurance agency (major carriers like AAA, Allstate and State Farm sell policies through captive agents), while independent agents, also known as brokers, represent several insurance companies and do not have a vested interest in selling you a policy from one particular company. By having your own agent, you have the benefit of working with one person who gets to know you and your specific needs, and will therefore be able to guide you toward a suitable policy that meets your budget. While independent agents do charge a fee, this is often negotiable. It’s important to talk with an agent, but don’t let this be an end-all-be-all in your quest to find affordable auto insurance.

Shopping online is a must for finding affordable auto insurance. Many insurers offer instant rate quotes online while others go the extra mile and provide their rates along side the estimated rates of their competitors. Definitely take advantage of these features or visit another online quote tool which offers multiple quotes from carriers in your area. Both quick and easy, taking a few minutes to explore these websites is definitely worth your time, especially considering how much money you can save in the end.