It should be fairly obvious that cheap car insurance quotes are one of the best ways for insurance companies to gain new customers. But getting cheap full coverage car insurance quotes may not be as easy as it sounds. That’s because full coverage represents a higher risk to car insurance companies who then turn around and charge more. The only way to know for sure is to begin looking for quotes and comparing the cost.

Your cost comparison for cheap car insurance rates can start right now if you enter your zip code into our search tool below.

The first place to begin is with an online search tool that gives you access to multiple companies. The search tool on this website is a great one to use. You enter your zip code plus pertinent information about your car, where you live, and how often you drive, and then sit back and allow the tool to return quotes from several carriers. Some of the names you’ll recognize, while others you won’t. But from there you can narrow down your choices for further comparison.

What if all my quotes seem too expensive?

If you’re looking for full car insurance coverage you may not find the quoted prices to be what you’re expecting. Understand that full car coverage is designed to protect you regardless of what happens to you and your car. These policies include not only state-mandated minimums for liability, property damage, and bodily injury, but also full protection for collision, fire and theft, roadside assistance, and more. With this much coverage, be prepared for the fact that these policies don’t come as cheaply as basic coverage.

Nonetheless, if your online quotes seem more expensive than you expected, you’re always free to contact individual companies or local agents. Perhaps they will have access to additional information or special discounts that might get you a better price. Local agents are especially adept at this because they are aware of local and state conditions that affect car insurance premiums. They also have access to multiple insurance companies and their policies.

Why do insurance companies define full coverage differently?

Classifying a car insurance policy as “full coverage” is not uniform across the industry. That’s because there are far too many options to choose from. As a general rule however, full coverage will include state minimums, glass replacement, collision coverage, and basic fire and theft. Beyond that, the different insurance companies have other types of coverage they may include in a full coverage policy. Only by investigating what each one offers can you be sure.

When you make a choice regarding a full coverage policy you need to be sure you know exactly what you’re getting. For example, if you restored a Chevy Nova from the 1970s, complete with a package of customized parts you’ll want to make sure your insurance will pay for the cost of replacing your car at its current value. That current value includes the customized parts that you’ve invested so heavily in. To that end, you must choose between replacement value and full value.

A replacement value policy covers your vehicle according to its current street value as listed in the Kelly Blue Book or NADA guidelines. A full value policy, on the other hand, pays an amount equal to what it would cost you to replace your car with an identical copy -customized parts and all. If your vehicle is extremely valuable a full coverage policy should probably be based on full value rather than replacement value.

Do I need a full coverage policy?

Whether or not you need a full coverage policy depends on the math. Unfortunately, many people driving older cars with severely depreciated value continue to pay inflated prices for full coverage despite the fact that they’ll never receive the return on their investment if something happens that causes them to have to file a claim.

For example, the difference between basic coverage and full coverage may be $600-$700 per year. If you’re driving a car with Blue Book value reduced to just a couple thousand dollars over four or five years, you’ll be paying more for insurance than it would cost you to replace the car yourself.

On the other hand, extremely valuable cars will realize the opposite scenario. If you’re driving a $50,000 Jaguar and it depreciates by $2,000 annually, you’ll still pay less for full coverage insurance over a six- to ten-year period then it would cost to replace the vehicle. In that case, full coverage makes absolute sense. This is also true of the previously mentioned classic car that’s been restored and customized. In order to know for sure however, you’ll have to do some research and crunch the numbers.

Whether you need a full coverage policy or just basic coverage, you can see car insurance rates online by entering you zip code in the box below.