Friday, September 11, 2009

Evaluating Car Insurance Coverage Options

By Evelyn LeGrand

One of the most necessary -- and required -- aspects to owning a car is having car insurance to cover you, your vehicle and in some cases, the other driver should you find yourself in the unfavorable position of being in an accident. Like most insurance, car insurance can be confusing and difficult to understand... especially if you have an insurance agent whose primary focus is selling, selling, selling rather than providing you with the service and coverage you need. And that leads us to another question, how much car insurance do you actually need? And, how much is it going to cost you?

You definitely want to sit down with an insurance agent in order to determine the right amount of coverage necessary for your vehicle since every state has different laws that apply to what is required when it comes to insurance coverage. However, you can receive a car insurance quote -- either online or by phone -- in order to find out the approximate monthly out of pocket cost that is going to apply to you.

It is important, from a basic business point of view, for you to do your homework where the cost of insurance is concerned. This will prevent any unscrupulous insurance agent from taking advantage of you by charging you too much for whatever insurance coverage it is you need. Too, by searching for car insurance quotes, it may also be possible for you to find an insurance company that is reputable, but has much lower prices than their competition. This is probably one of the main reasons people request car insurance quotes in the first place. Once you have narrowed down your search to two or three insurance companies, you can schedule an appointment with each of them in order to determine what type of coverage is required in the state in which you live.

If you are just searching for the minimum coverage you can purchase, you will certainly need to find out exactly what that minimum will not cover in the event of an accident. Fortunately, the minimum required car insurance that is required in one state is often similar to that of other states, though specifics -- such as dollar amounts -- may be higher or lower. Typically, all states require bodily injury and property damage coverage, but some also require you to carry uninsured (or under-insured) motorist coverage as well.

When you are seeking your car insurance quotes, it might be beneficial for you to include this coverage as well, especially if you plan on traveling to a state that requires it. Once you have scheduled your appointments, prepare a list of questions and you will be able to choose your insurance agent, and the coverage you need, with confidence.