3. Don’t presume all cars need the same insurance.

Just as you shouldn’t waste insurance on minor incidents, some cars don’t really need full expensive package insurances. Drivers always need to maintain their liability insurance in case they cause an accident but some cars just aren’t worth the hassle, or the expense for that matter. For example, an old Toyota pickup wouldn’t be missing or noticed it if it falls off a cliff the next day. Insuring it with a reasonable deductible would also be useless. It would irritate insurers without promising much upside in the event of a claim.

2. Don’t have a tiny deductible.

When buying auto insurance, consumers frequently think of it as a way to protect themselves against every ding and scratch. That’s a bad idea. One should insure for what you cannot afford to lose. That means, don’t have a miniscule deductible of $100 or even $250. If you nickel-and-dime the insurance companies with these small claims, you may get socked with a premium hike or they may say they’re not going to insure you.

Policies with higher deductibles that extend to higher coverage levels are not necessarily more expensive and protect drivers from costs associated with more serious car problems. Higher-deductible policies also cost less.

1. Don’t think the insurance salesman is your friend.

The best policies for consumers aren’t usually the ones that bring in the best bonuses for salespeople. Quite often, it’s the opposite. Smaller policies leave insurers less exposed to risk and proportionately tend to be more expensive. Most probably, they’re likely to be profitable for the insurer. Because of this conflict of interest and other factors, even wealthy clients are often under-insured.

Be certain that you get “liability” coverage, which is usually standard procedure in most areas and covers the costs of both another person’s car damage and injury. “Comprehensive” will protect you if your car gets stolen, catches fire, or is damaged without coming into contact with another car. “Collision” meanwhile, covers damages if your car collides with another vehicle or object, no matter who’s at fault.

If you are looking for ways on how to choose a good insurer, here are some guidelines for you to consider.

Study consumer surveys. Look for information regarding which company users find the most appealing. You could also ask those who have tried different insurance companies.

Search the internet. Car insurance is discussed in consumer forums and automotive discussion boards.

Get the opinion of repair shop managers. They would know a lot about car insurance.

Research data from the government. Most states have departments that handle complaints against insurance companies. You could go to the Attorney General’s office of consumer affairs or the office of the Insurance Commissioner.

However, if the coverage is shared, then the insurance provider will cover their client’s portion of the damage but will only cover your portion if the driver at fault has uninsured motorist insurance. Whatever the situation of the other party is, the best way to secure yourself is to have ample auto insurance for your vehicle.

Do you want to save on your auto insurance? No problem! Here are a few tips.

Shop around. There are a lot of options available for you to choose. Choose between different policies. Choose between different coverages. Pick the insurance that best suits your needs and your budget.

Adjust your coverage. Assume more risk. If you pay more for coverage, you will get a discount on your premiums.

Get your discounts. You could get discounts through a lot of ways: by being a senior citizen, being a member of an association, or being loyal to the insurance company. Know the discounts you are entitled to.

Pick a normal car with money-saving safety features. A luxury car costs more to insure than a normal one. That’s because thieves may want to steal it.

Keep a good driver’s record. More tickets and road accidents means more costly premiums.

If you want someone to help you with your auto insurance, you could consider having your very own agent. You could choose a captive agent who represents only one insurance company or a broker who represents several. An agent (captive or not) is someone who can guide you towards the policy that is suitable for you. A broker could help you choose between insurance from different companies. You could change carriers but keep the same agent. However if you choose, you could interact directly with a company if you feel that your agent is not working as you expected or the agent is pressuring you into purchasing policies you don’t like.