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Being a smart shopper can save you money. A smart shopper would know how to buy cheap car insurance online and receive a free online car insurance quote. The best kept secret is to gather some important information before logging on to do an application for a online car insurance quote.

Here’s some great tips from an expert insurance shopper for the best deals:

1. Know your driving record.

Insurance companies will go over this during the quote process. It’s better to know what will show up to them and what wont show up. People with poor records often have a higher premium than those with good records. Make sure to check for any kind of mistakes the DMV(Department Of Motor Vehicles) might have done. This can save you a big hassle by getting your record prior to getting an online car insurance quote. I ran into a problem where a ticket was dismissed due to an officer lying, luckily I pulled the record and found out that the DMV has innacturately recorded it and fixed it just in time to get a quote.

2. Know your credit rating.
If you have a less than awesome credit rating, you can expect to pay more for online car insurance but don’t spend anymore than required!
Many shoppers never know about the inaccurate information that messes their credit ratings and means that their going to be paying a higher insurance premium. Don’t guess, get the truth.

 For information on how to get a free credit report from the top credit reporting agencies, go to www.AnnualCreditReport.com.

3. Know how much insurance you need.
Usually, personal liability and medical coverage are required, but the amounts can vary by state. Check with your state motor vehicle department to be sure. The safest course is to buy the most insurance coverage you can afford. If your budget is really tight, you’re not required to get more insurance than you’re lawfully required to carry.

4. Beware the low-ball scam.
This is what happens when a not so reputable company gives you an online car insurance quote that looks great when you sign up, but then they take your money, and months later want you to pay a higher premium than they quoted originally.

To avoid the low-ball scam, check with the industry companies, such as www.AMBest.com, that rate car insurance providers. Don’t buy from any insurer whose rating is lower than B. The higher a insurer’s rating, the less likely it is to go out of business owing to insolvency, and the more reputable it probably is.

5. Etch your VIN.
Some insurers give a 10 or 15 percent discount on cars that have the vehicle identification number (VIN) etched into the windows. VIN-etched cars have a 64 percent lower theft rate than non-etched cars. An etched car that is stolen has a better than 85 percent chance of recovery. Law enforcement authorities recommend VIN etching as a proven, effective deterrent to theft. The process is easy and takes as little as 15 minutes to etch the average car. Purchasing VINetcher, the do-it-yourself VIN Etching Kit, the do-it-yourself VIN Etching Kit, includes the option to register in the National Vehicle Identification Program for increased protection.

I hope in that reading this it allowed you to get a better understanding of the whole being a smart shopper for a online insurance quote. Just remember: get your driving record, credit report, watch for low ball scam, and Etch your vin into your windows. Doing this can greatly improve your chances of a lower premium.