An auto insurance quote will tell you approximately how much money it will cost to insure your vehicle. The overall value of your car, your age, your driving history and many other factors determine how much you will pay each month for coverage. Different insurance companies offer different insurance rates and a wide variety of coverage plans, so it’s best to collect many different quotes from several different auto insurance providers before you decide on an insurer.

How long does it take to get auto insurance quotes?

The quickest way to get an auto insurance quote is to do it online. Some companies will calculate your approximate insurance cost instantly, but others prefer to send quote information via email. It usually takes about 15 minutes to generate a quote and even buy insurance online. In general, the more information you provide on the form, the more accurate your quote will be.

Another way to get auto insurance quotes is to call up an insurance company and speak to an agent. The insurance agent will ask you a few questions and calculate a quote for you. Over-the-phone interviews are usually more extensive compared to online auto insurance questionnaires. After the interview, the insurance agent will call you back within an hour or so with your quote information. It takes a little bit longer to obtain a quote from an insurance agent, but the benefit is that you can ask questions and get clarification if there is something that you don’t understand.

How many auto insurance quotes should I get before I decide?

It’s a good idea to collect at least five auto insurance quotes before you decide on an insurance provider. Of course, be sure to read the fine print. Look for hidden costs and be aware of the types of accidents that your insurance company will not cover before you sign on the dotted line. Also, beware of suspiciously low prices. In the auto insurance world, you tend to get what you pay for.

What is an independent insurance agent?

An independent insurance agent is an insurance professional who knows the ins and outs of the auto insurance business and can help you locate the best insurance company for you. The downside of using an independent insurance agent is that you have to pay extra for the convenience of not doing the research yourself.

If you know enough about insurance terminology to make a decision without outside professional help, there are a few websites out there that will query multiple insurance companies for you and generate a handful of auto insurance quotes automatically. Using a software algorithm to get the job done will save you money, but only if you are willing to do a little homework. If you don’t know what you’re doing you might end up purchasing too much or too little insurance.