Online car insurance quotes are a great way to save you time and money. Take a look at these five tips when shopping for the best value online. 

1. Prepare a head of time. Having some basic information available will speed up the quote process and help you get more accurate quotes. This includes information about each driver (license and Social Security numbers), annual mileage you typically driver, model and make of each automobile and coverage amounts for bodily injury, property damamge, collision and comprehensive. Remember, if you currently have auto insurance, your policy already has this information and is a good reference source.

2. Obtain multiple auto insurance online quotes. Because car insurance rates can vary considerably from one company to the next, shopping around could save you hundreds as opposed to taking the first quote you get. The Insurance Information Institute recommends that consumers obtain at least three different quotes for comparison.

3. Find companies to get quotes or visit a comparison site. Most companies offer the ability to request quotes through their Web sites. You can spend some time browsing the Internet, or visiting the Web site of your state’s insurance department to locate auto insurers in your region. An easier way is to use a insurance quote comparison Web site because you only need to fill out one form to get several competing quotes in return, without having to visit several different sites.

4. Keep a record of your quotes to help you compare. Most people find it easier to keep track of quotes and help make decisions by taking a few notes. You can jot down information about the final quote, name of the company, discounts offered, friendliness of the reps, etc.

5. Get some peace of mind about the company’s stability. Once you’ve identified the lowest quote, you can check various rating Web sites, such as Weiss, Standard & Poor’s and A.M. Best to see that the company will be financially stable. Additionally, you can check with your state insurance department to see if there are any complaints against the insurer.

Last, but not least, be sure you get the discounts you are eligible for. For example, most companies will offer discounts for anti-theft devices, low annual mileage, good grades (important for insurance for young drivers) and having more than one policy with them.

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