Buying auto insurance through online companies is easy, in addition you might just save a little. The key is to compare rates from as many companies as possible in order to have the best prices.

People who are new to comparing rates may think buying cut-rate 2014 insurance is difficult. Finding a better price on auto insurance is not a difficult process. Consumers just need to spend a few minutes to get quotes from different insurance companies. This can be accomplished by comparing rates here.

Criteria which help determine your insurance rates

Auto insurance rates for your 2014 will vary greatly based upon several criteria. A few of these criteria are:

• Your driving record
• Your credit history
• Men typically pay more than women
• Deductible amount directly impacts your rate
• NTSB crash rating for your vehicle
• Claims drive up premiums
• Maintaining coverage lowers rates
• Owning a home can lower rates

A final factor that helps determine is the model year. Newer models cost more in comparison to later models so repair costs are higher which will push premiums up. But more recent vehicles may have a trim level with safety features including anti-lock brakes, adaptive headlights, blind-spot warning system, and a backup camera so those may lower rates.

Coverage for liability - Liability insurance will cover injuries or damage you cause to other's property or people in an accident. Liability insurance covers claims such as funeral expenses, loss of income, and emergency aid. Liability insurance is relatively cheap so consider buying as much as you can afford.

Collision coverages - Collision insurance will pay to fix damage to your resulting from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are older. You can also bump up the deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision) - Comprehensive insurance coverage pays for damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first have to pay a deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by your comprehensive insurance. The maximum amount a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the actual cash value, so if it's not worth much more than your deductible it's not worth carrying full coverage.

Uninsured and underinsured coverage - This coverage protects you and your vehicle's occupants when the "other guys" are uninsured or don't have enough coverage. Since many drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is very important.

Insurance for medical payments - Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage provide coverage for bills (i.e. ambulance fees, surgery, and doctor visits). They are often utilized in addition to your health insurance plan or if there is no health insurance coverage. PIP is only offered in select states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay.