You have lots of choices when buying insurance for your vehicle. You can buy direct from an agent or go online to compare rates from multiple companies. Buying car insurance online can be fast and easy and at the same time you can save money.

If you're new to shopping for car insurance online, it's easy to be confused by the hoards of online companies offering insurance. There are several ways to compare rate quotes from car insurance companies in your area. The recommended way to compare is to get quotes online. It is quite easy and can be accomplished by comparing rates here.

Which factors influence car insurance premiums?

Car insurance premiums paid to insure a 2009 can be significantly different depending on several factors. Taken into consideration are:

• Higher performance 2009 vehicles cost more
• How many accidents you have had
• Multiple policies can save money
• How you use your vehicle
• Special coverage such as replacement cost
• Your occupation
• The amount of protection requested
• Whether you rent or own your home

An additional factor that helps determine is the year of the vehicle. Older models have a reduced actual cash value than newer models so the costs to repair may result in lower rates. But new models may have safety features including adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning system, autonomous braking, and anti-lock brakes that may help lower rates.

Liability coverage - This coverage provides protection from damages or injuries you inflict on a person or their property in an accident. Liability coverage protects against things such as emergency aid, pain and suffering, and medical services. Coverage is generally pretty cheap so you should buy as large an amount as possible.

Collision coverage - Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage from colliding with an object or car. You first must pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in. This coverage can be expensive, so you might think about dropping it from older vehicles. You can also raise the deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Comprehensive coverage - This pays for damage that is not covered by collision coverage. A deductible will apply and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage. The highest amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if it's not worth much more than your deductible consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage - This protects you and your vehicle's occupants when the "other guys" either have no liability insurance or not enough. Since many drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is very important.

Medical payments coverage and PIP - Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance pay for expenses such as doctor visits, EMT expenses, and X-ray expenses. They are often used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. Personal Injury Protection is not universally available and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay.