To get inexpensive car insurance in whatever city you live in, which provides adequate coverage (depending on your needs), it is important to shop around when looking for a new policy. Rates from insurance companies can vary by hundreds of dollars. Although sites like Insweb compare quotes from different insurance companies it is important to note that they are paid commission, thus taking away some of your savings. And, according to an Edmunds article, some of the lowest rates might not be visible on comparison sites like these because the company, which can provide the lowest rate does not pay these sites commission. Regardless, comparison sites do save you time and give you some of the lowest rates available, despite their faults.

However, a comparison site can only give you so much. Inexpensive car insurance companies vary not only by the different quotes they give you, but by the quality of their service. The NAIC (National Association of Insurance Commissioners) has a link to your state’s State Department of Insurance. From this site you can find out the complaint ratio of your local insurance companies. From your state's insurance site you can also find out the general prices insurance companies will give you for your area. You can also try calling your local auto body shops to see which type of insurance companies they would recommend.

Furthermore, an online comparison website cannot give you the same attention as as a one-on-one interaction with an independent insurance agent who can compare rates from companies and cater more deeply to your needs. Once you find an online rate (whether you get several quotes from the big companies or find a low quote through a comparison website) it is always a good idea to head to your local independent car insurance agent to see what they can do for you. Generally an agent is independent if he or she has a business name you’ve never heard of before. If you see an agent with one of the big companies in their business name (Geico, Allstate, Statefarm) they can only give you quotes from that respective company.

In Auto Insurance Discounters: You Are Your Own Discounters! I give you many ways from which you can get the most most inexpensive car insurance possible.