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When purchasing insurance, it is important to shop around, getting quotes from several different sources.  Not only does this give you a sense of what your average rate will be, it can also give you bargaining power when you do finally settle on a provider. Most major insurance companies have online rate generators at no extra charge. You can also complete self-quotes online. Certain types of payment plans for cars contractually require certain levels of coverage.  Additionally, if you are looking at used cars, buying an older car, with reasonable safety scores and a low resell value, you can usually get by on the minimal coverage for your area. Cars on lease or lien require comprehensive coverage, which means that insurance will cover the cost of all accident-related repairs and replace the value of the vehicle in the event it is totalled in an accident. Insurance rates vary wildly throughout the United States and other parts of the world.  Some regions like Hawaii forbid assessing insurance based on age or gender, so a teenager would pay the same as an adult. Florida requires “Personal Injury” insurance on all automotive policies, running about $200 per term. Some places assess insurance rates based on the safety mechanisms the car provides; other places assess on the basis of the cost to replace the car in the event of an accident. In Puerto Rico, car insurance is state subsidized to ensure everyone has access to it. In some states, certain types of cars are seen as inviting accidents or more prone for damage in accidents, so the rates can be accessed with that risk in mind.  An older car usually has a lower resale value, which can be helpful on states like South Carolina, where insurance is based on value of the car.  In Florida, however, because an older car has fewer safety accommodations, the same car would be more expensive to insure than a new car. High-end cars mean higher premiums. Particularly foreign cars that require dealer parts mean higher insurance rates because they cost more to repair. Bigger motor means bigger cost.  Cars with more powerful motors are designed for speed and, when you buy one, your insurance company assumes you plan to drive it fast and assesses your policy as a greater risk. Theft risk matters.  Insurance rates depend on a good many factors, even including the rate of theft for certain makes and models of car, independent of the actual value of the vehicle.
Get quotes. Understand types of coverage. Understand how area or region impacts insurance rates. Understand that vehicle type and age can impact rates.