Comparing car insurance through online companies can be fast and easy, in addition you might just save a little. The most important part is to take the time to get rates from as many companies as possible in order to have all your choices.

If you've never shopped for car insurance online, you may be confused by the hoards of online car insurance companies and websites vying for your business. When shopping for car insurance there are multiple ways to compare quotes from car insurance companies in your area. The fastest way to compare involves getting comparison quotes online. This is very easy and can be done by comparing rates here.

Criteria which help determine your insurance rates

Auto insurance rates for your 2002 can vary widely depending on several factors. A few of these criteria are:

• A clean driving record keeps rates low
• Credit rating
• Your location impacts rates
• High miles vs. low miles
• Your gender can raise or lower rates
• Deductible amount directly impacts your rate
• NTSB crash rating for your vehicle
• What you do for a living
• The amount of protection requested
• Owning a home can lower rates

A final factor that can impact is the model year. Used vehicles have a much lower replacement value in comparison to older models so the payout to repair may result in lower rates. But newer models may have a trim level with safety features including pedestrian detection, a collision avoidance system, and adaptive headlights which can lower rates.

Coverage for liability

This coverage protects you from injuries or damage you cause to other's property or people. Liability coverage pays for claims such as funeral expenses, loss of income, and emergency aid. Coverage is generally pretty cheap so consider buying higher limits if possible.

Auto collision coverage

This coverage pays for damage to your resulting from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You will need to pay your deductible then your collision coverage will kick in. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so you might think about 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. A deductible will apply and the remainder of the damage will be paid by your comprehensive insurance. The maximum payout a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the ACV or actual cash value, so if it's not worth much more than your deductible consider dropping full coverage.

UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage

This coverage protects you and your vehicle's occupants when the "other guys" do not carry enough liability coverage. Because many people only carry the minimum required liability limits, it doesn't take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is a good idea.

Insurance for medical payments

Med pay and PIP coverage pay for bills (i.e. ambulance fees, surgery, and doctor visits). They are often utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. Personal Injury Protection is not available in all states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay.