Driving a car is a big responsibility, so is insuring it. When it comes to buying car insurance, with so many insurers offering widely different rates and types of coverage, it becomes quite complicated to buy it.

Often we end up going with what our friends use or the company whose commercial you have seen the most on TV. But this is probably not the best idea to buy car insurance.

Different insurance companies have different rates and they all vary greatly in everything from their coverage to the speed of their claims service. So in order to get the best deal for you, it is very important to shop around. After all, choosing the right vehicle and negotiating a good deal can take substantial time and research.

Here are some of the important questions to ask car insurance companies to find out which deal is best for you:

• What type of coverage do I need? : Each state has its own requirements but in most states, it is mandatory to have auto liability insurance coverage. This is divided into two types: bodily injury liability (BI) and property damage liability (PD). In case of an accident where you caused the accident and are at fault, BI will pay for bodily injuries sustained by the third parties. This can include medical expenses and also wages lost as a result of injuries. PD will pay for any property damage to others, including the other person’s vehicle and also any damage to fences or walls.
• Do I have to buy collision and comprehensive coverage? : In case you are taking out a loan to buy the car, you will be required to buy “full coverage” car insurance for the life of the loan. That, in addition to liability, includes collision and comprehensive coverage. Collision and comprehensive coverage pay for the damage to your own car such as repairs if you crash into someone else, back into a pole, suffer weather-related damage or encounter other problems. Comprehensive coverage also pays for in the event of your car getting stolen and not recovered.
• What’s my risk assessment? : Risk assessment is based on much more than how many speeding tickets you have had. The factors include your age, gender, where you live, driving record and credit rating. Different agencies will assess your risk in different ways.
• How high do I want my deductibles? : In case you are involved in an accident, then you will be required to pay a certain, pre-agreed amount- a deductible- towards repairing the damage or treating injuries before your car insurance company will cover the rest of the costs. While it may be enticing to have a low deductible so that in the event of an accident, the car insurance covers the costs immediately, having a higher deductible can substantially lower your premiums- which can lead to big savings over the time.

Direct Line is the UK’s leading direct car insurer. For getting in touch with the company’s customer care team, you can call on Direct Line Contact Number.