Obtaining car insurance is a fairly easy process. Follow these seven steps and you will be on the road in no time.
1. Start by selecting a car
Generally speaking, you need to own a car to purchase a car insurance policy. Some insurance carriers may not require car ownership. However, most do want the named insured also be on the title of the vehicle being insured. If you are purchasing a new vehicle, many times you need to purchase car insurance before you actually drive off of the dealer's lot. In any case, you will want to have determined for certain what vehicle you want to insure before actually purchasing a car insurance policy. It is okay to get quotes on different vehicles, but do not go through with the final purchase of a car insurance policy without being certain of the vehicle.
2. Decide where you want to get insurance
Insurance is sold in three different places. Flexibility is of course very popular, so all insurance companies have begun to make an online presence for themselves. It really does not matter where you go nowadays, online accessibility is a part of every insurance carriers success.
- Captive Agents
A lot of the preferred insurance carriers use captive agents to sell their product. The agent works directly for the insurance carrier and does not have access to multiple carriers.
- Independent Agents
Independent agents work for themselves. They have the ability to sell insurance through multiple carriers. Independent insurance agents have more options available to their customers making them a great resource.
- Online Direct Insurance
Forgo an agent altogether and purchase your insurance online. It is becoming more popular and there is potential for saving money. Just make certain you know exactly what each coverage means and whether or not you need it.
3. Determine what coverage is required
Car insurance laws are handled on a state level which means each state sets its own guidelines. Knowing what your state's minimum coverage is, will give you a starting point when it comes to deciding what coverage to purchase. It is not recommended to purchase the bare minimum because in most cases, it is not enough to fully protect you.You have a lot of decisions to make when it comes to purchasing car insurance. Insurance carriers offer all kinds of bells and whistles nowadays. Investigate what the insurance carrier offers and determine what you actually need.
It is not a bad idea to check with each source of insurance for quotes including captive agents, independent agents, and online insurance. You hear it all the time, shopping for insurance is important. Compare insurance companies to determine which is the right choice for you and your family.
The car insurance payment plan you select, is more important than you might think. Insurance carriers often offer discounts on various payment plans. The companies have a better retention rate when you pay in full for your insurance and when you sign up for electronic funds transfer. Therefore, those are the two best payment plan options pretty much everywhere.
So you just spent a lot of time and money purchasing the perfect car insurance policy, now what do you get for it. On day one, all you get is a proof of insurance. Your proof of insurance tells the Department of Motor Vehicles and the police you are following the rules and have car insurance on your vehicle. Make sure you get a proof of insurance for each of your vehicles. Also verify your name, address, vehicle identification number, and policy effective dates are all accurate.
