How do I get my own car insurance?
Get your own car insurance by shopping online or with a car insurance agent. You can shop for your own car insurance online by comparing rates with our free tool. The minimum rate for new driver insurance is $100/mo.
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Joel Ohman
Founder & CFP®
Joel Ohman is the CEO of a private equity backed digital media company. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, author, angel investor, and serial entrepreneur who loves creating new things, whether books or businesses. He has also previously served as the founder and resident CFP® of a national insurance agency, Real Time Health Quotes. He has an MBA from the University of South Florida. Jo...
Founder & CFP®
UPDATED: Oct 20, 2022
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from top car companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Oct 20, 2022
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from top car companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- Auto insurance is a legal requirement in most states
- Severe consequences can occur if you do not have coverage
- You can save money on your auto insurance premiums by shopping around and comparing policies
- It is important to understand the different types of coverage available on an auto insurance policy
Do I need car insurance?
Laws vary state by state in regards to car insurance requirements.However, the vast majority of states require a minimum amount of car insurance from their drivers.In the few states that do not legally mandate car insurance, you must prove financial responsibility.This means you must have the minimum required amounts of cash or assets that can cover costs in the event of an accident or damage to someone else’s property.
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Why is car insurance important?
It may be more difficult for newer or younger drivers to comprehend the importance of auto insurance.In addition to meeting legal requirements, car accidents or other events, such as theft or weather, can cause millions of dollars in damages that need to be paid out.Expenses related to car accidents or car losses include:
- Replacing or repairing cars
- Replacing or repairing other damaged property
- Medical expenses
- Funeral expenses
- Hired help due to and injury caused by an accident
- Car seat replacement
How do I get car insurance?
There are several important points to know and remember when shopping for and obtaining your own auto insurance coverage. First, do shop around.Using a price comparison calculator can be an easy way to quickly find the right price for your premium.When you are comparison shopping, be sure you are comparing the right policy types and amounts.
Second, educate yourself beforehand on the types of policies available.
You should know what policies and coverage amounts are mandatory in your state and your needs in car insurance.The insurance company or agent can also help you understand the insurance laws and requirements in your state.Next, be sure you have all of the necessary information you will need to shop and sign up for a policy.These pieces of information can include:
- Make, model, and year of your car
- You Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
- What you will use your car for
- How many miles you drive per year or per week
- Any history of tickets or auto insurance claims
- Social Security Number
Once you have selected the policy that is right for you, call the insurance company or follow their instructions online to purchase the policy you need.
You may be required to pay for a six-month or 12-month premium up front or you may be eligible to make monthly payments.
Finally, be sure to review the policy you are purchasing before signing on the dotted line. Educate yourself about what situations you are covered for and how much coverage you are purchasing.Keep in mind that some people prefer to work with an insurance agent to receive personalized service, especially in the event of a claim being filed.However, other drivers simply want easy access and affordable insurance coverage, with or without an agent.
Consequences of Driving Without Insurance
You may think one drive without insurance won’t hurt. However, one drive is all it takes to face some pretty serious consequences. Driving without insurance can negatively impact you, your passengers, and other drivers on the road.The consequences will vary by state, but in general, you can expect the following if you are caught driving without insurance coverage on your vehicle:
- Suspension of your driver’s license
- Suspension of your car registration
- Arrest and jail time
- Paying tickets and fines, sometimes up to and over $1,000
- Required SR 22 insurance
- Community service
- Vehicle impoundment
Keep in mind that financial consequences could be enormous. If you were to get into an accident without insurance, you may be liable for thousands or even millions of dollars in damages when all is said and done. Driving without insurance isn’t worth the risk.
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Types of Auto Insurance Coverage
It is important to know the types of auto insurance policies available to you and what situations they cover.The following are the most common coverage types people purchase on their auto insurance policy:
- Bodily Injury Liability – Pays for bodily injury to other parties.
- Property Liability – Pays for the repair replacement of other people’s property. Both types of liability coverage are required in most states as a minimum amount of coverage.
- Collision – Pays for damages to your vehicle as a result of an accident. This coverage is usually required if you have a lease or a loan on your vehicle.
- Comprehensive – Pays for other types of damages or losses to your car such as hail or other weather damage, theft, vandalism or hitting an object or an animal. This type of coverage is also generally required if your vehicle has a lease or a loan.
- Med Pay – Also known as personal injury protection, PIP, or medical payments, this type of coverage pays for medical bills and funeral expenses from an accident.
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist – This type of coverage is also legally required in some states. If you are in an accident with another driver who does not have car insurance or does not have enough to cover the damages in your accident, this type of coverage comes into play.
- Gap Insurance – Gap insurance coverage applies to people who have a loan on their vehicle or who lease their vehicle. Gap coverage covers the difference between what your vehicle is worth and what you owe on it.
While researching and paying for auto insurance may not be the most pleasant task, it surely is an important one. You can be assured you are getting the best price when you utilize an online auto insurance price comparison tool.Enter your zip code in our FREE tool below to instantly compare car insurance rates!
Free Car Insurance Comparison
Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap car insurance rates.
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Joel Ohman
Founder & CFP®
Joel Ohman is the CEO of a private equity backed digital media company. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, author, angel investor, and serial entrepreneur who loves creating new things, whether books or businesses. He has also previously served as the founder and resident CFP® of a national insurance agency, Real Time Health Quotes. He has an MBA from the University of South Florida. Jo...
Founder & CFP®
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.