A Window Shopper’s Guide to Shopping for Auto Insurance

Studies show that the cost of identical auto insurance policies between major U.S. carriers can differ by as much as $100 or more a month. That means that somewhere, drivers are paying as much as $1,200 a year more than they should be because they didn’t take the time to shop around.

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What kind of shopper are you? Are you the type of shopper who knows what they want, walks into a store and buys the first one they see? Or are you the type who likes to shop around a little bit to find the best bargain so you can buy not one, but two of whatever sale you’re stalking? Choice B might earn you the title of window shopper if you happen to be walking through the mall (store managers hate that), but when it comes to shopping for auto insurance it definitely pays to do a little window shopping before signing on the dotted line.

If you have a radio, a television or a computer and you haven’t been living under a rock for the past decade you know that there are literally thousands of options out there when it comes to buying an auto insurance policy. As a driver, it can be hard to find a policy that meets your needs without cleaning out your bank account once a month. This is where being a dedicated window shopper can come in handy.

A true window shopper can troll the stores for days without buying anything if they don’t find the sale they’re looking for. Unless the DMV is about to slap you with a $500 fine for being an uninsured driver, you’ve probably got time to do a little bit of shopping around. Shopping for auto insurance is a science, and like any science, it has a procedure. We’ve dubbed this procedure:

The Window Shopper’s Guide to Shopping for Auto Insurance

1) Gather the names of as many recognized auto insurers in your area as possible. It doesn’t matter whether they’re a big firm or a small one. It doesn’t even matter how much they’re going to cost-yet. All that matters is that they have a good reputation.

2) Once you have a list of names it’s time to start trolling the forums. Most national providers, like Progressive and Geico, offer you the opportunity to get a personalized quote on their website in minutes. Others will have a phone number you can call to speak to a sales associate. Boot up your computer, pick up your phone and get ready. It’s time to start talking dollars and sense.

3) When you ask for a personalized quote, be sure that they’re giving you two things:

a) A quote that covers all of the insurance and amenities you need. Getting the cost for a liability policy is great, but that’s not going to do you any good if your car is carjacked on the streets of New York. Discuss all of your options, and get a price for each. (This includes extras like medical insurance, renter’s insurance, which can be invaluable if your car breaks down when you’re out of town, and emergency roadside assistance.)

b) A quote that includes all of your discounts. School grades, driver education points, car safety bonuses and the number of miles you drive in a week all have two things in common-they can lower the amount of money that you have to pay for your auto insurance policy, and salespeople tend to skip over them when they’re figuring out your quote. Don’t let them get away with it.

** Some insurance salesmen will attempt to rush you through the sale so they can put another star next to their name and move on to the next driver. Don’t let anyone rush your decision when it comes to your auto insurance. This is your money, your car and your life, and honestly? They didn’t really have anything better to do anyway.**

Finding an auto insurance policy that meets your needs without breaking your budget isn’t impossible. It just requires a little legwork, perseverance and some insider knowledge on the inner workings of window shopping to leave you walking away with the deal of a lifetime.

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