Buying car insurance through online companies saves time, is easy to do and at the same time you might just save a little. The key to finding lower rates is to compare rates from all providers so you can compare every company's rates.

Shopping online for car insurance is challenging if you are a beginner to online rate quotes. But relax because comparing prices is actually very simple. When shopping for car insurance there are multiple ways to compare rate quotes from different insurance companies. The simplest method to find the lowest is to get quotes online. It is quite easy and can be accomplished by visiting this page.

What factors determine the rate you pay?

Auto insurance rates paid to insure a 2002 will vary greatly and are calculated by many factors. Taken into consideration are:

• Tickets increase premiums
• Your credit history
• Where you live
• Annual mileage can affect rates
• Male drivers pay higher rates
• Higher deductibles save money
• Your vehicle's safety rating
• What you do for a living
• The level of coverage
• Whether you rent or own your home

A final factor that helps determine is the model year. Older models have a reduced actual cash value in comparison to older models so the costs to repair may end up costing you less. Conversely, new models may have a trim level with safety features such as adaptive cruise control, autonomous braking, and lane departure warning system so those may provide discounts that lower premiums.

Coverage for liability

This provides protection from damages or injuries you inflict on a person or their property in 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.

Coverage for collisions

Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage 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. Another option is to bump up the deductible to bring the cost down.

Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision)

This will pay to fix 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 the vehicle is not worth much consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Protection from uninsured/underinsured drivers

This gives you protection from other drivers when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. Since many drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. So UM/UIM coverage is very important.

Insurance for medical payments

Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance kick in for expenses (i.e. doctor visits, EMT expenses, and X-ray expenses). The coverages can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance plan or if you do not have health coverage. PIP coverage is not universally available but can be used in place of medical payments coverage.