When trying to find affordable car insurance rates, many people think that just by shopping around they are going to save money.  This is a big misconception because of the fact that what you drive is almost more important than what insurance company you choose.  The options that you choose for your auto insurance are also important, things such as deductibles, coverage limits and any discounts that can be applied to help lower your premiums.

First, there are many different factors that go into what determines your premium. Besides your driving history and record, the type of auto you own is just as important. Many times foreign cars are going to be more expensive due to their parts being higher priced than most domestic made cars. This is one area that is often overlooked as an insurance company takes into consideration the total value of the car, including what it would cost to replace or repair it if a claim occurs.

Secondly, just because you choose a 4 cylinder motor doesn’t make it cheaper on the premiums. Some foreign cars with 4 cylinders are more expensive than 6 or 8 cylinder domestic cars to insure. Why? Well, the parts are usually more expensive and some of the “little cars” from overseas are just as powerful as domestic larger cars. Not only that, but most of the Top 10 list of stolen cars in America are foreign cars due to their popularity amongst thieves that will strip a car for its parts to sell.

Another issue that can help you find better car insurance rates is what options you put into the coverage you want, or your state requires. Many times a $500 or $1,000 deductible is considered a minimum. However this borders on making it tough if you suffer damage to your car and have to pay that deductible. Take this into careful consideration about how much risk you are willing to assume with your deductible, and how much you can really afford.

Your coverage limits are often dictated by the state you live in, so there is usually not much “wiggle” room to decrease these limits. Just keep in mind that if you are in an accident, anything over the limits that are covered by the insurance plan would be your responsibility. The more coverage you want or need, the higher your premium will be.

The last tip that you can use to help find more affordable auto insurance is to shop around. You can visit car insurance brokers that will do a lot of the leg work for you in shopping around. You can also check out insurance companies online. Often times by going online, you can save over the traditional storefront insurance operations because some of them don’t have to pay the overhead of shops and agents around every corner. You just want to make sure that if you need them, they are going to be easy to work with and get your car repaired quickly.

When shopping online for auto insurance quotes, you want to keep it really simple. Pick a deductible and stick to it amongst all of your comparison shopping. Usually $500 is a good number to get you started in the comparison. Also, pick a coverage amount for both your liability and collision or comprehensive coverages. When you compare apples to apples, you can find the best one.