The cost of driving an automobile in California can be prohibitive without a cheap auto insurance quote, and, in a recession, finding a better way to get a car insurance quote can be one of the best things one can do to save money.

Remember that the essential part of any cheap insurance quote is to get as many different competing quotes as you can. Don’t just use the first insurance office you find, and don’t just renew your existing package without shopping around first; always call as many insurance agents as you can.

The cheapest rate is not the only factor in getting the best insurance deal available. The policy that’s easiest on the pocket may turn out to be too good to be true. One also needs to be sure that the prospective insurer or agency has a good reputation as an honest and trustworthy business. Ask around among your friends and family members for a referral to a good agency, or, if that doesn’t work, try calling the Better Business Bureau, or reading online evaluations of agency or insurance company performance.

Be organized. Write down your information (the make, model, and year of your car; your address; a brief summary of the accidents or tickets you’ve had in the past 10 years; and any special safety features that your car has on it) in an easy-to-read format, and have it with you while researching policies or speaking with insurance agents. Doing this right from the start will help you to make sure that you don’t forget anything.

While you’ll certainly be aware of most of this information without having it in writing, such a list will help you remember all the things you need to be sure to mention when on the phone or meeting in person with an agent. After all, you’ll only get quotes that are truly comparable across agencies if you’re providing the same information to each agent.

Don’t forget that insurers sometimes offer special deals if you’re able to do without certain things; for example, eliminating weekend driving may reduce your policy price substantially, since many accidents happen on Saturday and Sunday. Thus, you should remember to inquire about such programs while speaking with each agent.

If you have a towing service available to you from another source, such as an auto club or an incentive program from your car’s dealership, remember to tell the agent to delete tow coverage as well. This can also reduce your cost of coverage by quite a lot. Ditto for glass, or collision. If you don’t have to have it, eliminate it - and get rid of the excess price!

While telephone research is fine at the initial stage, it is vital to obtain, from each agent with whom you’re considering doing business, a written quote. You don’t want to select an insurer based on their cheap car insurance quote, only to find, when it comes time to pay the bill, that the price has unexpectedly skyrocketed. Also, each quote’s fine print should be read through carefully - terms that, before you bought the policy, didn’t seem important, may turn out to be crucial when you have an accident.

Saving on your car insurance can help substantially when it comes to being able to afford the essentials of life, especially during this rough economic period. Following the above suggestions will aid you in your search for a car insurance quote that better fits your budget. And, if you save enough on car insurance, you might even be able to buy enough gasoline to actually go somewhere!

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