You have many choices when shopping for car insurance for your vehicle. You can either buy through a local agent or get quotes online to compare insurance costs of insurance carriers. Shopping for auto insurance by getting online quotes saves time, is easy to do, in addition you might just save a little.

Comparing auto insurance rates direct online can be complicated if you are a beginner to online quotes. But don't be discouraged because comparing prices is actually very simple. Lowering your can be relatively painless. You just need to take a few minutes to get quotes online from several insurance companies. This is very easy and can be done by getting a quick quote here.

Criteria which help determine insurance rates

Auto insurance rates on a 2009 can vary widely and are calculated by many factors. A few of these criteria are:

• High performance increases premiums
• Any accidents you may have
• Whether you insure your home with the same company
• Pleasure use vs. commuting use
• Optional coverages like vehicle replacement
• Claims drive up premiums
• No coverage lapses saves money
• Owning a home can lower rates

A final factor that will help determine is the model year. Models that are new have a higher replacement value in comparison to later models so the costs to repair can inflate annual premiums. Conversely, more recent vehicles may have a trim level with safety features such as adaptive headlights, blind-spot warning system, and a rollover prevention system which can help offset higher rates.

Liability

This will cover injuries or damage you cause to people or other property by causing an accident. Liability coverage pays for claims such as funeral expenses, loss of income, and emergency aid. It is cheap coverage so consider buying higher limits if possible.

Collision insurance

Collision coverage will pay to fix damage to your resulting from a collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You will need to pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company. Collision coverage for your 2009 can be pricey, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are older. Drivers also have the option to bump up the deductible to bring the cost down.

Comprehensive or Other Than Collision

This coverage covers damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first must pay your deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by your comprehensive insurance. The maximum payout a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the cash value of the vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle's value it's not worth carrying full coverage.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM)

This coverage provides protection from other drivers when they are uninsured or don't have enough coverage. Due to the fact that many drivers carry very low liability coverage limits, it doesn't take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. So UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family.

Medical costs insurance

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage kick in for bills (i.e. ambulance fees, surgery, and doctor visits). They can be used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. PIP coverage is only offered in select states and may carry a deductible.