See If You Qualify for Lower Rates
With so many car insurance providers, how do you know you’re getting the best rate? More importantly, how do you know you’re getting the right coverage? At TrySmartly, we help drivers search for affordable car insurance quotes in minutes. Our free online request can streamline your research process by delivering insurance quotes from top insurance companies. We help you make smarter car insurance decisions that could also save you money.
A car insurance quote is an estimate of how much you could pay for a policy. Although all companies consider the same factors when determining your car insurance rate, they calculate your insurance risk differently. At TrySmartly, we outline the common factors affecting a car insurance quote, so you know how your rate is determined. These factors include:
Personal Details
Your age, gender, and marital status are part of your personal details. For example, insurance companies consider drivers aged between 25 to 50 to be more experienced and less risky. Statistically, married drivers tend to have fewer accidents. On average, male drivers have more accidents, often resulting in higher premiums.
Coverage
Reasonably, your quote will cost more the more coverage you need. For instance, a full coverage insurance policy costs almost twice as much as a liability-only car insurance policy. This is because, as the name states, a full coverage policy provides total protection. On the other hand, a liability-only policy covers damages to third parties and their property, not the policyholder.
Driving Record
A history of accidents, speeding tickets, and DUIs can raise your car insurance rates. At the same time, not having a driving record can also have the same effect on your quote. You must have a good driving history with no violations to increase the chances of getting the cheapest car insurance quote.
Type of Vehicle
This includes your car's make, model, mileage, and other details like GPS or safety equipment. For instance, rates for luxury models will be higher because it costs more for specialty parts and technicians. Conversely, having added safety features and low mileage might lower the insurance rate because the driver may be less likely to file a claim.
Location
Some states are more prone to natural disasters, have higher traffic congestion, more uninsured or underinsured drivers, and more claims. As a result, premiums may be higher in certain states due to these reasons.
Credit-Based Insurance Score
A lower credit score could result in higher car insurance premiums. Typically, the higher your score, the cheaper your insurance rates could be.
High-risk drivers usually have a history of at-fault accidents, speeding tickets, or other infractions. If you have poor credit, a major traffic violation, or lack driving experience, insurers may consider you a high-risk driver. Hence, they will raise your premiums accordingly.
Some reasons you may be classified as a high-risk driver include:
DUI offense
Driving without a license or with a suspended license
Reckless driving
Hit-and-run
Multiple speeding tickets
High-risk drivers often pay higher auto insurance rates and have fewer choices from car insurance companies. However, there is still hope. You may be able to lower your rates by attending traffic school or signing up for car accident forgiveness. With TrySmartly, you can submit a free online request to search for cheap car insurance rates from top-named providers.
Teen drivers are typically charged considerably more because they are less experienced behind the wheel. Hence, insurance quotes for teen drivers are notoriously pricey, costing more than three times as much as an experienced driver for full coverage.
Luckily, once drivers approach their mid-twenties, their rates tend to drop. Of course, this depends on whether they have a clean driving record.
In addition, young drivers may benefit from other discounts, such as home and auto bundling. Insurance companies typically offer cheaper rates to customers who bundle two expensive assets, leading to significant savings.
While car insurance usually increases for senior drivers, they can find ways to save by comparing quotes or qualifying for senior driver discounts. For instance, most insurance providers offer drivers between 55 and 65 years old a reduction in their annual premium if they complete a safe driving course.
Getting an auto insurance quote allows drivers to see personalized rates and coverage options from insurance companies. There are several ways to get a free car insurance quote. These include:
The insurer’s website: Getting an auto insurance quote online from the insurer's website can be convenient, fast, free of charge, and requires minimal paperwork.
Over the phone: Drivers may prefer talking with a company representative over the phone to ask questions and receive in-depth information about their auto insurance quotes.
Captive insurance agents: Captive agents work with one specific insurance company. Their job is to help determine what policy meets your needs. Captive agents are helpful if you have multiple cars or drivers under one policy.
Independent insurance agents and brokers: If you don’t want to limit yourself to one company, consider contacting an independent broker or agent because they work with multiple insurers. Hence, they can offer different options and affordable quotes.
Third-party websites: With online websites like TrySmartly, you can search for quotes from top-rated companies in a matter of minutes. If you know the coverage you want, this is a great way to search for car insurance quotes that can save you money.
Specialty agencies: This type of insurance company usually specializes in policies for high-risk drivers. So, if you have a record of DUIs, car accidents, or speeding tickets, they can help you find insurance quotes.
Whichever option you choose, consider getting at least three car insurance quotes to evaluate whether you’re getting a good deal for the coverage you want. When comparing quotes, make sure to understand coverage limits and if each policy has comparable liability limits and deductibles.
With TrySmartly, drivers can enter their basic information and search for some of the best auto insurance quotes from trusted companies within minutes. To speed up the process, make sure you have the following documents ready to share:
Your name, address, birth date, gender, and marital status are required to get auto insurance quotes. Some companies may also need your driver’s license number.
Insurers need to know your vehicle's year, make, model, and mileage. When getting a quote for auto insurance, some may also ask for your vehicle’s identification number (VIN). Other details include vehicle status, whether owned or leased, primary use, and average miles driven.
Most car insurance companies require drivers to have an insurance history of at least six months, if applicable. Insurers ask for your insurance history because a lack of continuous coverage can indicate higher risk. Unfortunately, this may also mean that you were driving while uninsured, which is a violation of state law, except in New Hampshire. But don’t worry if you don’t have one. Qualifying without a history may also be possible. However, it will cost you more than average.
Insurance companies check your credit-based insurance score, which is calculated based on your outstanding debt, length of credit history, credit mix, payment history, and credit inquiries. Studies show that individuals with lower credit scores are more likely to file auto insurance claims. Therefore, insurance companies typically charge a higher rate to lower credit drivers.
Your driving record is also another important rating factor that indicates the level of risk you carry. For instance, the more violations you have, the more your policy will cost. On the other hand, you may be rewarded with a good driver discount if you have a clean driving record without any DUIs, at-fault accidents, or major traffic violations. Insurance companies check your driving history upon providing them with your driver's license number.
We know that car insurance can be costly. That is why people shop around to find the most cost-effective deal for them. To help, here are some steps you can take to keep your premium low:
At TrySmartly, we help drivers search for auto insurance quotes to ensure they find coverage the smarter way. So, we encourage you to take advantage of our free online request to search for affordable car insurance quotes from top-rated companies. It requires minimal information, and you can see on-screen results within minutes. Our request form is fast, convenient, and has no impact on your credit score.
There are different types of coverage to choose from. These include full coverage, liability-only car insurance, personal injury protection, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. In addition, all states have a minimum coverage requirement that varies. Hence, policyholders cannot have insurance less than the state’s requirement, so make sure to check with your state laws. Here is a list of some of the options:
Full coverage auto insurance includes comprehensive and collision insurance.
Comprehensive insurance covers damage to your vehicle resulting from natural hazards, such as damage caused by weather, vandalism, theft, and crashes with animals on the road.
Collision insurance covers damage after your vehicle is involved in a collision with another car, regardless of who is at fault. It also covers crashes into stationary objects or hit-and-runs.
Full coverage car insurance is recommended for vehicles worth more than $4,000. It is also required for leased or financed vehicles. The average cost of a full coverage car insurance policy ranges from $1,000 to $2,000 per year. Because it offers complete protection, it costs more than twice as much as liability-only auto insurance.
Liability insurance protects others from bodily injury or property damage if you are at fault for the accident. However, it does not pay for your injuries or damage to yourself, your passengers, or your property.
Bodily injury includes the medical bills of the other driver’s injuries for which you are responsible in a collision.
Property damage covers the damage you cause to another property, like another vehicle, structure, or bicycle.
Every state requires liability car insurance except for New Hampshire. Depending on your coverage level and the state you live in, the average cost of liability car insurance can range between $400 and $800 per year.
Personal injury protection covers medical expenses and lost wages of the policyholder or their passengers who are injured in a car accident, regardless of who is at fault. It is mandatory in 18 states to carry a minimum amount of personal injury protection.
Depending on where you live, your insurance may cover the following:
Medical bills
Disability and rehab costs
Lost wages
Death benefits will be paid to your family if the accident results in a fatality
Uninsured motorist coverage protects drivers from others who don’t have auto insurance or whose limit does not cover the full cost of damages. The policyholder’s insurance company covers the full cost if the other driver is uninsured. Or the insurer will cover the remaining cost if they are underinsured. Many states require all drivers to have this type of insurance coverage.
With TrySmartly’s free online request, you can search for cheap quotes with the click of a button. Also, qualifying for a car insurance discount may help you get inexpensive quotes without sacrificing the coverage you need.
Auto and home insurance bundle quotes may save you money since most insurers offer a multi-policy discount. Most of the time, bundling insurance can help you save 5% to 25% of the total. It is also more convenient to be insured through one company and make a single payment.
A multi-car insurance policy allows drivers to insure more than one vehicle with one insurance payment. These can result in up to 25% savings on your premium. Most insurance companies allow four to five cars on a single policy, although this can vary. However, all vehicles must be kept at the same address. For example, you may add any car belonging to a family member or roommate to your policy.
You may have different types of coverage on each vehicle if you want. Generally, liability and uninsured motorist coverage limits are set at the policy level; however, you may choose different deductibles for each car for liability only, collision, and comprehensive coverage.
Student drivers usually find it tough to find affordable car insurance quotes, given their lack of driving experience. Nonetheless, most car insurance companies offer discounts ranging from 5% to 25% to students with GPAs of 3.0 and above, which can lead to significant savings on car insurance.
If you’re an active-duty service member or veteran, you may qualify for special military auto insurance discounts of around 5% to 15% for your service. Special discounts may also apply to military family members. In addition, bundling home and auto policies and having a good credit score and a clean driving record could help you get cheaper quotes.
Senior drivers pay the second-cheapest car insurance rates, with a yearly average of $1,315. Generally, senior discounts are offered to drivers past the age of 50. For example, 21st Century, Allstate, and American Family provide discounts for drivers over 55 years old. To qualify, they must complete a state-recognized defensive driving course.
With TrySmartly, you can search for car insurance online from top-rated providers within minutes. Below are the estimated costs of minimum and full coverage car insurance for each company.
Here are minimum coverage providers that may offer you the cheapest auto insurance quotes:
| Provider | Monthly Estimate | Annual Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Geico | $57 | $681 |
| State Farm | $67 | $798 |
| Nationwide | $56 | $671 |
| Progressive | $79 | $950 |
| USAA | $47 | $563 |
Similarly, here are full coverage providers that may offer you the cheapest auto insurance quotes:
| Provider | Monthly Estimate | Annual Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Geico | $96 | $1,158 |
| State Farm | $111 | $1,333 |
| Nationwide | $105 | $1,258 |
| Progressive | $123 | $1,471 |
| USAA | $82 | $986 |
| Travelers | $120 | $1,437 |
| Allstate | $139 | $1,671 |
| Farmers | $149 | $1,789 |
Here are the most common questions drivers ask about car insurance quotes:
A car insurance quote is an estimate of the cost of your car insurance based on the information you provide. Some of these factors include your credit score, driving history, age, gender, and state.
Vehicle insurance quotes are available for free. You can get one online or over the phone. In addition, online auto insurance quote sites like TrySmartly allow you to search for quotes from top-rated car insurance companies within minutes.
Not only is getting car insurance quotes online safe, but it also allows you to save time and money.
Car insurance quotes are personalized based on each person’s information like driving history, location, and age. Each insurer calculates these factors differently to determine your quote. That’s why we encourage people to shop around to find the cheapest car insurance quote. TrySmartly’s auto insurance request offers a free way to search for affordable and reputable insurance companies.
Getting a quick car insurance quote online does not affect your credit score. Nonetheless, your credit score is a factor that insurers consider when estimating your policy rate. However, insurance companies in California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Michigan cannot use credit scores to determine car insurance rates.
With TrySmartly, you can search for inexpensive car insurance quotes online for free. Quotes are personal to you and are based on multiple factors, including location, age, driving history, and car make and model. Start searching for quotes online by submitting our free request form.