Trying to find an affordable auto insurance rate will save you a ton of money in the long run.  Almost ever middle-class, home owner is having troubles paying off their credit card debt, let alone being able to afford auto insurance.  However, with a little bit of research, you will be able to save a few dollars every month.  Think about it, if you switched insurance companies and saved on average $50 a month, this means you have just freed up $600 a year.  That $600 a year could go towards your vacation expense or other house hold items.

There is always a fine line between having adequate coverage and having affordable an affordable auto insurance plan.  On one hand, you do not want to pay for additional coverage as it will jack up your monthly rate, on the other hand, if you did get in a car accident, you will not be protected because you choose to decline the coverage.   With certain tactics, you will be able to save hundreds of dollars or even thousands of dollars per year.  Needless to say, a little bit of research and time will save you some sweet dough, ensuring that you have the cheapest car insurance (and still have adequate coverage).  

The first step is to determine what kind of coverage you need.  Look at your car and your financial situation.  These two factors will determine what you need for adequate coverage on your car.  If you own your car and it’s old, you might want to consider not having as any insurance options as a brand new vehicle.  Try to weigh the costs and benefits of having full coverage compared to liability on an older car that you own.  Also determine the type of car you have and how much it would cost to repair your car if something did happen.  Newer cars have much more electronic technology in them which will require specialized parts and mechanics in order to fix the vehicle.  Older car parts can be repaired by rummaging through salvage yards and will cost considerably less to repair.  Sometimes paying out of pocket is a cheaper route to get more affordable car insurance (especially if you are a good driver).  Comprehensive and collision insurance is not required for vehicles that you own and you should determine whether your vehicle is worthy of purchasing this coverage.  Newer technology might go in your favor as having a security system or a Lo-Jack system on your vehicle could give you a discount on your premium.  Things such as anti-lock breaks, the color of your car, and airbags will also determine how much of a discount you will receive.    Maybe that $250 deductible isn’t worth paying every month if you think your car’s value is not very high.  Sometimes getting the bare minimum on an old car is your best bet as your $700 car is not repairing if it were to get totaled.  Other factors you will need to take into consideration is collision insurance, car rental insurance, emergency services coverage, and comprehensive insurance.  Amounts of liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage will also determine how much your premium is.  If you live in an area that has higher chances of flooding, tornadoes, or other natural disasters, then you might want to consider buying comprehensive insurance.  On the other hand, if you believe your area is relatively safe, then you may consider not buying comprehensive insurance which will greatly reduce your premium.  Larger coverage is focused more towards people with a lot to lose.  Do not get more coverage than you actually need, especially if you are living in a 500 sq ft. studio and just squeaking by.  Also, look at your driving record and driving habits.  Have you been in accidents in the past?  If so, you are probably more likely to get in another accident, which will mean you probably should get more coverage.  However, if you are a great driver and have a clean record, then maybe you should get the bare minimum. 

Now that you know what you should plan for and want in your car insurance coverage, it is time to find the most affordable auto insurance based on your needs.   Instead of calling or going into a brick and mortar insurance shop, certain websites allow the user to compare multiple insurance quotes at one time.  Also, other insurance websites allow the user to compare by submitting their information and having insurance agents call or email the user with their rates.  This takes hardly any work on your part as all you have to do is fill out a form and allow the insurance companies to fight over you.  The more quotes you receive, the higher the chance of receiving an affordable auto insurance rate.  Also, if you want to perform additional work and look at more of the larger insurance companies quotes (which might be more competitive and cheaper), then going directly to websites such as State Farm, Geico, and Progressive are a sure fire way to determine which quote is the most affordable.  Go to websites such as JD Power and Associates to see which insurance companies have the best reputation and go to their website to receive your own personal quote. 

Other considerations to make your auto insurance more affordable is to join another person’s policy.  Adding a second driver to a good driver’s policy will allow the second driver to receive the discounts from the good driver.  Also, if you are a young driver, having good grades will give you a small discount.  All of the things listed will ensure that you have affordable auto insurance.