The good news is that comparison shopping for auto insurance can save hundreds of dollars on your annual car insurance premiums. The bad news is shopping for insurance is often confusing, time consuming and tedious. By following these quick tips you can save money and still have time to go for a Sunday afternoon drive in your favorite car.

Comparison shopping for insurance used to require a phone book and the better part of a day off work.  Thankfully, modern technology has put an end to that! Instead of spending your time off calling insurance providers, being put on hold and then waiting for a call back, use one of the numerous online insurance comparison websites. Most insurance websites provide a quote almost immediately. Simply fill out a form to compare several insurance companies at a time when using an independent website like www.carinsurance.com or other commercial quote services. When using these tools, keep in mind they earn commissions and referral fees from those companies willing to pay for the referral. The lowest rate shown might not be the lowest rate available to you – just the lowest rate among the carriers they represent!

When comparison shopping for auto insurance, remember to look at more than just price: Service matters too! Nothing is worse than actually having to file a claim only to find your insurance company has a long list of complaints, irregularities or other problems. Before making your final selection, take some time to visit the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) website at www.naic.org/state_web_map.htm. This great tool will link to the insurance department for every state in the nation; use it to find your state to research agents, companies, new laws and other important information related to your insurance rights and responsibilities.

What You Will Need:

• Drivers License Number
• Contact Information
• Social Security Number
• Current policy information including type of insurance and coverage
• Vehicle Identification Number or VIN