Updated October 2026. This guide uses consumer guidance from the NAIC, state insurance departments, the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I), AM Best, and Canadian regulators and public insurers. We do not publish sample prices or name a “cheapest” insurer, because your quote depends on your own driver, vehicle and location details.
The best way to compare car insurance quotes is simple: give every insurer the same information, ask for the same coverage limits and deductibles, then compare the total price alongside the company’s financial strength and complaint record. A quote that looks cheap is only a good deal if it buys the same protection from a company that pays claims well. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and the Insurance Information Institute both suggest getting at least three quotes. The steps below show you how to do it in about an hour, whether you live in the United States or Canada.
Step 1: Gather the information insurers ask for
A quick quote for car insurance can take a few minutes online. However, an accurate quote needs accurate details. According to the NAIC’s Shopping Tool for Auto Insurance, insurers typically ask about every driver in your household, every vehicle, and how you use each car. Have these ready before you start:
- Drivers: name, date of birth or age, driver’s license number, years of driving experience and marital status for each licensed driver in the home, including students away at school. In the U.S., many insurers also ask for a Social Security number.
- Driving record: accidents and moving violations for each driver over roughly the last three years.
- Vehicles: year, make, model, VIN (on your registration or title), odometer reading, and the name of any lender or leasing company.
- Use: whether you commute, how many miles you drive to work or school, your average annual mileage, and whether you use the car for business.
- Current policy: your current insurer, policy number and declarations page. The declarations page lists your limits and deductibles, so it is the easiest template for a like-for-like quote.
Be complete and honest. The NAIC warns that your final premium can differ from the quote if the information you gave was wrong. For example, if you report a clean record and the insurer finds a ticket, your price will rise. Insurers also check claims databases such as CLUE in the U.S., and U.S. consumers have a right to a free copy of their CLUE report, so it is worth checking it for errors first.
Step 2: Decide what coverage you want before you shop
You can’t compare prices until you know what you are buying. The NAIC is blunt: “there is no such thing as a ‘full coverage’ auto insurance policy.” A policy is a bundle of separate coverages, and each one is priced separately.
Liability limits
Liability coverage pays for injuries and damage you cause to others. U.S. limits are usually written as three numbers. In the NAIC’s example, 25/50/15 means up to $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $15,000 for property damage. Each state sets its own minimum. However, the NAIC says state minimums are usually too low to protect you after a serious crash. It recommends buying as much liability coverage as you can reasonably afford. If you live in Texas, our Texas car insurance guide covers that state’s rules and price data.
Coverage for you and your car
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage pays when an at-fault driver has no insurance or too little. Some states require it.
- Medical payments or personal injury protection (PIP) pays medical bills for you and your passengers. PIP is required in some no-fault states and can also cover lost wages.
- Collision pays to repair your car after a crash. Comprehensive covers theft, fire, hail, flood, vandalism and hitting an animal. A lender or leasing company usually requires both.
- Optional extras include rental reimbursement, towing or roadside assistance, and GAP coverage if you owe more than the car is worth.
On an older car, physical damage coverage may not pay for itself. Triple-I suggests that collision or comprehensive may not be cost-effective if your car is worth less than 10 times the premium. Ontario’s regulator, FSRA, gives a similar example: optional collision or comprehensive may not make sense on a vehicle worth less than $2,000.
Step 3: Get at least three quotes from different types of sellers
Insurers sell car insurance in three main ways, according to the NAIC:
- Independent agents or brokers represent several companies and can give you several quotes at once.
- Exclusive (captive) agents sell only one company’s products.
- Direct sellers sell online or by phone, with no agent.
Getting an auto insurance quote from each channel gives you a wider view of the market. Triple-I recommends at least three price quotes, and the NAIC says the same. Ask your state insurance department whether it publishes a premium comparison guide. For example, the Texas Department of Insurance points shoppers to its HelpInsure site to compare prices from several companies, plus a worksheet to compare policies. You can find your state’s department through the NAIC’s directory of insurance departments.
How to get a car insurance quote you can trust:
- Use the same drivers, vehicles, garaging address and annual mileage on every request.
- Ask for the same coverages and limits. The NAIC and the Illinois Department of Insurance both stress this point.
- Get every quote in writing, including the coverage breakdown, not just the total.
- Ask how much the price changes with a different deductible.
- Write down the quote date. Prices change, and FSRA notes that the company with the best rate last year may not be the best value now.
Step 4: Compare the same coverage limits and deductibles
This is where most people go wrong. One quote may look $300 cheaper simply because it has lower liability limits or a $1,000 deductible instead of $500. Before you compare prices, line the quotes up coverage by coverage. The NAIC’s comparison chart lists exactly what to match:
- Bodily injury and property damage liability limits
- Uninsured motorist bodily injury, uninsured motorist property damage, and underinsured motorist limits
- Medical payments, PIP and any excess medical coverage
- Collision and comprehensive deductibles
- Rental reimbursement, towing and GAP
- The total annual, six-month and monthly premium
How deductibles change the price
A deductible is the part of a claim you pay yourself. A higher deductible means a lower premium. Triple-I’s example: raising your collision and comprehensive deductible from $200 to $500 could cut the cost of those coverages by 15% to 30%, and a $1,000 deductible could save 40% or more. Remember, though, that the NAIC notes you pay the deductible every time you file a damage claim, even when you are not at fault. Only choose a deductible you could pay tomorrow.
Check the term and payment fees
Many policies run for six months, so make sure you are not comparing a six-month price to a 12-month price. Also ask about payment plans. The NAIC says paying monthly usually adds a fee, and some insurers offer a discount for paying in full.
Step 5: Ask about every discount, then compare the final price
Insurers offer different discounts, and not every discount exists in every state. Triple-I, the NAIC and state regulators list these common ones:
- Bundling auto and home or renters insurance with one company
- Insuring more than one vehicle
- No accidents or moving violations for several years
- Defensive driving or driver’s education courses
- Good student, or a student away at school without a car
- Low annual mileage or usage-based (telematics) programs
- Anti-theft devices and safety features
- Group membership through an employer, union or alumni association
- Long-time customer, paperless billing and automatic payments
Triple-I makes an important point: “The key to savings is not the discounts, but the final price.” A company with few discounts may still be cheaper overall. So compare the total after discounts, not the number of discounts.
Your credit can also affect your price. The NAIC says most insurers use a credit-based insurance score where state law allows it, but some states restrict that practice and several ban it. If a hardship hurt your credit, ask the insurer whether it offers a life-event exception.
Step 6: Check each insurer’s financial strength
A low price means little if the company cannot pay claims. Both the NAIC and Triple-I suggest checking ratings from independent agencies such as AM Best, S&P and Moody’s. AM Best’s Financial Strength Rating (FSR) scale runs as follows:
| AM Best rating | Category | AM Best’s definition |
|---|---|---|
| A++, A+ | Superior | Superior ability to meet ongoing insurance obligations |
| A, A- | Excellent | Excellent ability to meet ongoing insurance obligations |
| B++, B+ | Good | Good ability to meet ongoing insurance obligations |
| B, B- | Fair | Fair ability; vulnerable to adverse changes in underwriting and economic conditions |
| C++, C+ | Marginal | Marginal ability; vulnerable to adverse changes |
| C, C- | Weak | Weak ability; very vulnerable to adverse changes |
| D | Poor | Poor ability; extremely vulnerable to adverse changes |
Source: AM Best, Guide to Best’s Financial Strength Ratings.
Keep two limits in mind. First, AM Best says an FSR is an opinion of financial strength, not a recommendation to buy a policy. Second, it does not address an insurer’s claims-payment policies or procedures. That is why the next step matters.
Step 7: Check complaint data with the NAIC complaint index
Financial strength tells you whether an insurer can pay. Complaint data hints at how it treats customers. The NAIC explains that a complaint index “measures how many complaints your state insurance department receives relative to the size of the company.” In other words, it adjusts for size, so a large insurer is not penalized just for having more customers.
To look up an insurer, use the NAIC’s Consumer Insurance Search. You can search by state, company and insurance type for the past three years. The NAIC compiles closed, confirmed complaints from state insurance departments. It also gives three cautions:
- Do not choose an insurer based on one factor alone.
- Compare the complaints, financials and premiums written of several companies.
- A company’s index can move because the whole market’s complaints or premiums changed, not just the company’s own.
Many state insurance departments publish their own complaint data. For example, Texas lets you look up a company’s complaint record and confirm that it is licensed. Checking the license matters: the NAIC warns that unlicensed companies may not pay claims, and a business card or website is not proof of a license.
Step 8: Read the declarations page and switch safely
Once you pick a winner, protect yourself during the switch:
- Keep your old policy until the new one starts. The Texas Department of Insurance says not to cancel your current policy until you have the new policy or written proof of coverage. A gap in coverage can also raise future prices, according to the NAIC.
- Read the declarations page first. Confirm the limits, deductibles, drivers, vehicles and discounts match the quote you accepted.
- Watch the calendar. In Ontario, FSRA advises waiting until renewal to switch, to avoid cancellation penalties.
- Expect your documents. The NAIC says to contact the insurer if you don’t receive your policy within 30 days.
How to compare car insurance quotes in Canada
In Canada, the rules depend on where you live. According to Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), there are three systems. For a full overview, see our guide to car insurance in Canada.
Private-insurer provinces and territories
In Alberta, Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, and the three territories, you buy all of your coverage from private insurers. Here the U.S. steps above apply almost directly. For example, Ontario’s mandatory minimum includes $200,000 of third-party liability, accident benefits and uninsured automobile coverage. FSRA suggests considering $1 million or $2 million of liability instead. FSRA also lists discounts to ask about, including multi-vehicle and multi-policy discounts of 5% to 15%, and a winter tire discount that all Ontario insurers must offer. Our Ontario car insurance guide explains the province’s rules in more detail.
These jurisdictions also share a statistical agent. The General Insurance Statistical Agency (GISA) collects mandatory auto insurance data on behalf of the regulators of Alberta, Ontario, the four Atlantic provinces and the three territories. Regulators use that industry data to oversee rates. It does not quote you a price, so you still need quotes from insurers or brokers.
Public-insurer provinces: B.C., Saskatchewan and Manitoba
In these provinces you must buy basic coverage from the government insurer, so there is no quote to compare for that layer. Instead, focus on the optional coverage on top:
- British Columbia: ICBC Basic includes $200,000 of third-party liability, up to $200,000 of Basic Vehicle Damage Coverage, and Enhanced Accident Benefits. Collision and comprehensive are optional, and IBC notes you can buy optional coverage from private insurers. See our ICBC insurance guide.
- Saskatchewan: Every licensed vehicle carries basic plate coverage through the Saskatchewan Auto Fund, run by SGI. The province’s regulator, the FCAA, says extended coverage is available from a variety of insurers.
- Manitoba: You need a valid registration and Basic Autopac from Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI). MPI sells Autopac options, such as higher liability limits and lower deductibles, through its network of Autopac agents. Ask your agent which extension options fit your vehicle.
Québec
Québec uses a mixed system. The SAAQ’s public plan covers bodily injury, and IBC says the premium is included in the cost of your driver’s licence. You must also buy at least $50,000 of civil liability coverage from a private insurer, along with any coverage for your own vehicle. So in Québec, you compare quotes for the private property-damage part of the policy.
Car insurance quote comparison checklist
Print this table or copy it into a spreadsheet. Fill in one column per quote. If a row doesn’t match across quotes, fix it before you compare prices.
| What to compare | Why it matters | Quote A | Quote B | Quote C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability (per person / per accident) | Your main protection if you injure someone | |||
| Property damage liability (Canada: third-party liability) | Pays for damage you cause to others | |||
| Uninsured / underinsured motorist | Covers you when the at-fault driver lacks insurance | |||
| PIP / medical payments (Canada: accident benefits) | Pays your own medical costs and, with PIP, lost wages | |||
| Collision deductible | Higher deductible, lower premium, more out of pocket | |||
| Comprehensive deductible | Applies to theft, hail, fire, glass and animals | |||
| Rental, towing, GAP | Small add-ons that change the total | |||
| Drivers and vehicles listed | Every licensed household driver should be included | |||
| Discounts applied | Confirm each one you qualify for is on the quote | |||
| Policy term and payment fees | Six-month vs. annual; monthly installment charges | |||
| AM Best Financial Strength Rating | Ability to pay claims | |||
| Complaint record (NAIC index or state/provincial data) | How the company treats customers | |||
| Licensed in your state or province | Unlicensed sellers may not pay claims | |||
| Total premium after discounts | The number you actually compare |
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
How many car insurance quotes should I get?
Get at least three. The NAIC and Triple-I both recommend at least three quotes, ideally from a mix of independent agents, captive agents and direct sellers. Each insurer prices risk differently, so the NAIC says your premium is likely to be very different at each company.
Is a quick online quote the price I will pay?
Not always. A quick quote for car insurance is an estimate based on what you entered. The NAIC says the final premium can change if the insurer finds different information, such as a ticket or a past claim. To avoid surprises, enter complete details and ask for the final quote in writing.
What AM Best rating should I look for?
AM Best describes A++ and A+ as “Superior,” A and A- as “Excellent,” and B++ and B+ as “Good.” Ratings of B and below describe insurers whose financial strength is vulnerable to adverse conditions. Keep in mind that AM Best says its rating is an opinion of financial strength, not a judgment on claims handling or a recommendation to buy.
What does the NAIC complaint index tell me?
It shows how many confirmed complaints state insurance departments received about a company relative to its size. A lower figure suggests fewer complaints for its size. The NAIC advises comparing several companies and not relying on the index alone, because it can shift with market-wide changes.
How do I compare insurance rates in a province with a public insurer?
In B.C., Saskatchewan and Manitoba, basic coverage comes from ICBC, SGI or MPI, so you cannot shop it. Compare the optional or extended coverage instead, such as higher liability, collision and comprehensive. In Québec, compare the private policy that covers civil liability and damage to your car, since the SAAQ covers bodily injury.
The bottom line
To compare car insurance quotes well, control the variables. Use the same information and the same limits and deductibles everywhere. Then judge the final price together with financial strength and complaint data. Repeat the exercise at each renewal, because rates change. And if something on a quote is unclear, call your state insurance department or provincial regulator. Their consumer help is free.
This article is general information, not insurance advice. Prime Capital Report is not an insurer, agent or broker, and we do not sell insurance. Confirm coverage and prices with a licensed provider in your state or province.
Sources
- NAIC, A Shopping Tool for Auto Insurance (2023)
- NAIC, A Consumer’s Guide to Auto Insurance
- NAIC, How to File a Complaint and Research Complaints Against Insurance Carriers
- NAIC, Consumer Insurance Search
- NAIC, State insurance departments directory
- Texas Department of Insurance, How to shop smart for auto insurance
- Illinois Department of Insurance, Auto Insurance Shopping Guide
- Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I), Nine ways to lower your auto insurance costs
- AM Best, Guide to Best’s Financial Strength Ratings
- FSRA (Ontario), How to save on auto insurance
- Insurance Bureau of Canada, Mandatory auto insurance requirements
- GISA, 2026 Catalogue of Statistical Information
- ICBC, Basic insurance and Enhanced Care
- Government of Saskatchewan (FCAA), Basic and extended auto coverage options
- Manitoba Public Insurance, Insuring your vehicle
- SAAQ, Québec’s Public Automobile Insurance Plan in Brief
Written by
Roberto Gomes, Founder and Editor
Roberto researches insurance and personal finance in the United States and Canada from insurers' policy documents, regulator data and public rate filings. He is not a licensed agent or adviser. How we research.