Why Trust Solvable
Solvable conducts independent research and data analysis. Our content is not influenced in any way by other companies, including the ones we write about and/or have a financial relationship with. Above all else, we strive to make the best data-driven recommendations for our readers. Read more about our process.
What to Know
Comparing quotes means lining up the same coverages, limits and deductibles from several insurers before you look at what each one costs. It applies to anyone shopping for a new policy, approaching a renewal or seeing a change in their situation.
How Car Insurance Works and Why Your State Requires It
Car insurance is a contract: you pay a premium, and the insurer pays for specific losses up to set limits, minus your deductible. Nearly every state requires at least liability coverage, which pays for injuries and damage you cause to other people. Minimums vary by state, and many are low.
Your premium is what you pay for the policy. Your deductible is what you pay toward your own claim before the insurer pays. Your limit is the most the insurer will pay.
Your state's minimum is only the legal floor. Some states use a no-fault system that also requires personal injury protection, so check your state insurance department for the exact rules. If a lender holds your loan or lease, it typically requires collision and comprehensive as well.
For example, liability written as 50/100/25 means up to $50,000 per injured person, $100,000 total for injuries per accident and $25,000 for property damage. If you cause a crash that totals a $40,000 car, the policy pays $25,000. You could be personally liable for the remaining $15,000.
Types of Car Insurance Coverage to Compare
Every quote is a bundle of coverages, and two quotes are only comparable when the bundles match. The table below lists the coverages you'll see on most quotes, what each one pays for and which ones are usually required.
| Coverage | What it pays for | Whose costs it covers | Typically required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | Medical bills and related costs for people you injure in a crash you cause | Other drivers, passengers, pedestrians | Required in nearly all states |
| Property damage liability | Damage you cause to other people's cars or property | Other people | Required in nearly all states |
| Collision | Repairs to your car after a crash, regardless of fault, minus your deductible | You | Often required by lenders |
| Comprehensive | Theft, hail, fire, flooding or hitting an animal, minus your deductible | You | Often required by lenders |
| Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) | Your injuries when an at-fault driver has no insurance or too little | You and your passengers | Required in some states |
| Personal injury protection (PIP) / MedPay | Medical bills after a crash regardless of fault; PIP may also cover lost wages | You and your passengers | PIP required in some states; MedPay usually optional |
"Full coverage" isn't a policy type. It usually means liability plus collision plus comprehensive, but insurers define it differently. Two "full coverage" quotes can differ on every line in the table above.
Optional add-ons that show up on quotes
- Rental reimbursement pays for a rental car while yours is being repaired after a covered claim.
- Roadside assistance covers towing, jump-starts and lockouts.
- Gap insurance pays the difference if your car is totaled and you owe more on the loan or lease than the car is worth.
How Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Works
Comparing quotes takes four steps, from setting a baseline to reviewing matched offers.
Start with your declarations page
Start with the summary page of your policy, also called the declarations page. It lists your limits, deductibles and premium. Review your current policy and use it as a baseline for shopping around.
Decide what coverage you want
Before you shop, decide what coverage you want. Pick your liability limits and deductibles, and decide whether you need UM/UIM, collision and comprehensive. Only raise a deductible if you could pay that amount tomorrow without borrowing.
Get at least three quotes
Get at least three quotes, and don't overlook local and regional carriers. Insurers price auto insurance quotes differently for the same driver. A car insurance comparison tool like Solvable lets you get car insurance quotes online from several carriers with one form instead of filling out five.
Provide the same information and review each quote
Provide the same information for each quote: the same drivers, vehicles, annual mileage and address. When a quote changes at purchase, the usual reason is that something entered at the start didn't match your records. Review each quote and see what each company offers and what it will cost.
Use the table below to check, line by line, whether two quotes are for the same policy.
| Quote line | What to match | Common mismatch to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Liability limits | The same three numbers, such as 100/300/100 | Cheaper quote defaults to your state's minimum limits |
| Collision and comprehensive deductibles | The same dollar amount for each | Deductible quietly raised from $500 to $1,000 |
| UM/UIM | The same limits as your current policy | Missing entirely, or set lower than your liability limits |
| PIP or MedPay | The same benefit amount | Lower benefit, or MedPay dropped |
| Term length and total price | Annual cost for every quote | Six-month price set next to a 12-month price |
| Add-ons (rental, roadside) | The same options on each quote | One quote includes rental reimbursement and the other doesn't |
What You Need to Compare Car Insurance Quotes
Have these details ready so every quote is built on the same information.
Have these ready
- Driver's license numbers
- for everyone on the policy, so each quote covers the same drivers.
- Vehicle details
- your vehicle's VIN or make, model, and year, so each quote prices the same car.
- Your address
- the same address on every quote, since a mismatch can change the price at purchase.
- Annual mileage
- the same figure for each quote, so the prices are comparable.
- Current declarations page
- if you're comparing against an existing policy, it lists your limits, deductibles and premium as a baseline.
Why Getting Multiple Quotes Matters
Without a second quote, you won't know whether the price you'll pay for renewing with the same carrier is fair. You might be able to get a better deal elsewhere.
Getting two or three competing quotes won't cost you anything, and they could save you money on premiums.
What to Do Before Your Renewal Date
The best time to compare car insurance quotes is three to four weeks before your renewal date, and whenever your situation changes. Insurers usually apply changes at renewal or when you report them, and each insurer prices the same change differently.
You can't change how an insurer prices your ZIP code or what your state sets as its minimum. You can choose your limits and deductible, when you shop, and how many quotes you get, and those choices decide whether the comparison tells you anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are free car insurance quotes really free?
Yes. Free car insurance quotes from insurers, agents, or comparison tools cost nothing to request and don't obligate you to buy anything. Getting free quotes for car insurance does mean sharing contact details like your phone number and email, so expect a follow-up call or two.
What information do I need to get a quote for car insurance?
To get a car insurance quote, you'll need driver's license numbers for everyone on the policy, your vehicle's VIN or make, model, and year, your address, your annual mileage, and your current declarations page if you're comparing against an existing policy.
How many car insurance quotes should I get?
Get at least three quotes for the same coverage limits and deductibles. Insurers price the same driver differently, so include local and regional carriers, too.
When is the best time to compare car insurance quotes?
Compare quotes three to four weeks before your renewal date. It is also worth shopping whenever your situation changes, because each insurer reprices a given change differently.
What does 'full coverage' car insurance mean?
"Full coverage" isn't a policy type. It usually means liability plus collision plus comprehensive, but insurers define it differently. Check each coverage line on the quote rather than relying on the label.
