Buying car insurance by comparing rates online can be fast and easy, in addition you might just save a little. The most important part is to get rates from all providers so you can compare all your choices.

If you're new to shopping for car insurance online, you may be confused by the hoards of online companies vying for your business. When shopping for car insurance there are multiple ways to compare quotes from different insurance companies. The fastest way to find the lowest is to get quotes online. This is very easy and can be done by visiting this page.

Criteria which help determine car insurance premiums

Auto insurance rates paid to insure a 2012 can fluctuate considerably depending on several factors. A few of these criteria are:

• A clean driving record keeps rates low
• Credit rating impacts rates
• Where you live
• Annual mileage can affect rates
• Your gender can raise or lower rates
• Higher deductibles save money
• NTSB crash rating for your vehicle
• What you do for a living
• The level of coverage
• Owning a home can lower rates

A final factor that helps determine is the model year. Older models have a much lower replacement value in comparison to older models so the costs to repair may result in lower rates. Conversely, newer models may have a trim level with safety features such as a backup camera, dual-stage airbags, and an advanced theft deterrent system which may provide discounts that lower premiums.

Auto liability insurance

This coverage protects you from injuries or damage you cause to a person or their property in an accident. Liability can pay for claims such as funeral expenses, loss of income, and emergency aid. Coverage is generally pretty cheap so consider buying as high a limit as you can afford.

Auto collision coverage

Collision insurance pays for damage to your from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. A deductible applies then your collision coverage will kick in. This coverage can be expensive, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are older. Another option is to bump up the deductible to bring the cost down.

Comprehensive insurance

This will pay to fix damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. A deductible will apply and the remainder of the damage will be paid by your comprehensive insurance. The most a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider dropping full coverage.

UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage

This coverage gives you protection from other drivers when they do not carry enough liability coverage. Since many drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, their limits can quickly be used up. So UM/UIM coverage is very important.

Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

Med pay and PIP coverage pay for bills (i.e. ambulance fees, surgery, and doctor visits). The coverages can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance program or if you do not have health coverage. Personal Injury Protection is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage.