You are shopping for a nice couch and see an advertisement in the Sunday paper for one you really like. You select the fabric, plunk down your plastic and schedule a delivery date. On your way home, you see another furniture store and much to your horror discover that you could have saved nearly $400. What happened? You didn’t comparison shop. You selected and purchased the first thing you saw. Why do I use this analogy? To exemplify why comparing auto insurance quotes is important.

Whether your vehicle is brand new or has a few years upon it, we all want the same thing: good coverage. It can mean the difference between being sued or protecting our assets. A new car must maintain Collision and Comprehensive coverage. On an older model however, or where you have a poor driving record you may want to consider dropping them or not having them as part of your policy to obtain a cheaper premium.

Another way to save money on your premium is by foregoing car insurance endorsements like towing and rental car expenses. While they are not expensive, they may not in fact be necessary at all. Going with an auto club like AAA for towing and labor protection tends to be more cost- effective. And keep in mind with an auto club for your towing and labor protection you avoid the aggravation of filing a claim every time you use the service. Daily rental insurance is often a better deal particularly if you are someone who relies heavily upon their car. It offers you much in the way of convenience and the cost is minimal.

When looking at auto insurance quotes make a comparison on the following:

• Quality of customer service • Reputation • Costs • Online/Phone versus Paper for Filing Claims • Safe Driver Incentives • Hidden Fees

Sometimes we get caught up on the name. As a result, we do not take the time to consider whether they are really the best company for my personal auto insurance needs. Or am I being drawn in by clever jingles, catchy phrases and flashy television commercials? You may find several insurance companies in the same pricing range. The determining factor at that point may be how knowledgeable the Customer Service Representatives are about their company products or whether they are courteous.

The purpose of comparison shopping is to get the most for our money. Rich or poor I don’t know of anyone who likes to waste money. Why pay for services you don’t need? Why go the cheap route to save a few bucks when in the end it can end up costing you dearly?

Exercise the freedom of choice we have with the availability and ease of surfing the Internet and having tons of information at our disposal. With the costs of living increasing and food prices, even food staples going through the roof why not take the extra keystroke or two and compare and get the best price possible rather than picking the first thing you see?