You have lots of choices when shopping for insurance coverage for your vehicle. You can buy direct from a local agent or get quotes online to compare rates from multiple companies. Shopping for auto insurance online saves time, is easy to do and at the same time you might just save a little.

Comparing auto insurance rates direct online is challenging if you are a beginner to online rate quotes. But relax because comparing prices is actually very simple. Getting better is not rocket science. Just take time to get quotes online from several insurance companies. This is very easy and can be done by comparing rates here.

What factors determine the rate you pay?

Auto insurance rates paid to insure a 2012 will vary greatly and are calculated by many factors. Taken into consideration are:

• High performance increases premiums
• Your accident history
• Whether you insure your home with the same company
• How you use your vehicle
• Special coverage such as replacement cost
• Claims drive up premiums
• No coverage lapses saves money
• Whether you rent or own your home

A final factor that will help determine is the model year. Newer models have a higher replacement value in comparison to later models so the costs to repair will push premiums up. Conversely, newer models may have a trim level with safety features such as adaptive headlights, sideview assist mirrors, automatic crash notification, and pedestrian detection so those may lower rates.

Liability coverage - This protects you from damages or injuries you inflict on a person or their property by causing an accident. Liability insurance covers things such as emergency aid, pain and suffering, and medical services. It is cheap coverage so consider buying as much as you can afford.

Collision coverage - Collision coverage pays for damage to your from colliding with an object or car. You have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company. This coverage can be expensive, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are older. You can also bump up the deductible to bring the cost down.

Comprehensive coverage - This pays for damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first must pay your deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by your comprehensive insurance. The maximum amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if it's not worth much more than your deductible consider dropping full coverage.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage - This protects you and your vehicle's occupants from other drivers when they do not carry enough liability coverage. Due to the fact that many drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. So UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family.

Medical payments coverage and PIP - Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for expenses (i.e. doctor visits, EMT expenses, and X-ray expenses). They are often used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance plan or if you do not have health coverage. PIP coverage is not available in all states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay.