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Comparison shopping is crucial if you want to save money on car insurance. Here’s why: Insurers look at similar factors, but they have their own “secret sauce” when it comes to setting rates. So two companies can charge wildly different rates for the same driver.

Auto insurance prices tend to inch up over time, but they can also go down. By shopping around, you might find that your current insurer offers the cheapest rate for you, or you might find that it’s time to switch.

Several factors go into an auto insurance rate: ZIP code, marital status, annual mileage, driving history and vehicle make, year and model. In most states, your gender and credit history could also be used to determine rates.

That’s why every year, NerdWallet analyzes car insurance rates for men and women with various driving and credit histories, in every state and for every major auto insurance company, so you can compare auto insurance rates with ease and get the cheapest price for you.

How to compare car insurance quotes

First of all, every car insurance quote you receive should be free — whether it’s from Geico, Farmers or a small insurer you’ve never heard of. Some auto insurers require a down payment to start your policy, but whether you’re buying car insurance online or with an agent, a simple quote estimate should always be free of charge. Here’s how to start comparing quotes.

1. Gather your information
To quickly and easily compare car insurance online, have the following on hand:

Personal information, which includes the address, date of birth, occupation, driver’s license and marital status of everyone you want included on the policy.

Vehicle information: Mileage, date of purchase and vehicle identification number (VIN) for each car. Or, if you haven’t purchased the car yet, have mileage, make, model and year handy.

Driving history: Include all claims, violations and tickets you’ve had over the past five years, plus any completed driving courses.

Current or previous insurer’s name for anyone on the policy or in your household. Some insurers won’t cover you without some coverage history, and if you want to exclude anyone living with you from the policy, you’ll need to prove they’re covered elsewhere.

2. Choose the right liability car insurance coverage levels
Auto insurance is financial protection, and not just for the investment you made when you bought your car. After a really serious accident, bills for damage and injuries can easily reach into hundreds of thousands of dollars. If you happen to cause such a wreck, the victims could sue you. In the worst case scenario, assets such as your savings and home could be seized.

Liability auto insurance protects you from that worst case scenario by providing a cushion between your assets and the amount you’re on the hook for. For this reason, choosing the right auto liability limits is the most important part of your car insurance quote comparison. NerdWallet typically recommends having at least as much liability coverage as your net worth.

But liability coverage levels come in threes — you’ll probably see something like 50/100/50 up to 250/500/250 in typical policies. You can think of these limits like: individual injuries / total injuries / property damage. Insurers are a little more technical, calling them bodily injury liability, total bodily injury liability and physical damage liability.

Liability insurance comes in thousand-dollar increments, so when you choose an auto insurance policy with 100/300/100 limits, you’ll be choosing:

$100,000 for bodily injuries per person you injure in a crash.

$300,000 total for all bodily injuries you cause in a crash.

$100,000 for damage to any property you cause in a crash, including cars, buildings and objects like mailboxes and lampposts.

When choosing liability car insurance coverage, try to make sure the highest, middle number is equal to or greater than the value of your net worth.

Understand car insurance requirements in your state
In certain states, you may be required to have a car insurance policy that includes personal injury protection (PIP), medical payments coverage (medpay) or uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage — or two of the three. If you have medpay you don’t need PIP, and vice versa.

Any car insurance comparison tool you look at should have your state’s minimum car insurance requirements pre-loaded into its options. States requiring PIP or medpay are generally referred to as “no-fault” states, meaning that when injuries occur, each driver in a crash makes a claim with their own insurance company to pay for them. Beyond the PIP or medpay limit, the at-fault driver’s liability insurance kicks in to cover the rest.

3. Decide if you need full coverage car insurance
Liability coverage doesn’t pay for your car or injuries, or for any injuries your passengers sustain if you cause a wreck. This is why you may want “full coverage” car insurance, especially if your car isn’t paid off yet. Note that this isn’t actually a type of coverage, but typically refers to policies that include liability coverage, plus comprehensive and collision coverage.

In other words, you can’t just click a “full coverage” button when comparing insurance quotes online or buy something called a full coverage auto insurance policy. You’ll need to add collision and comprehensive coverage in the amounts you want.

Collision insurance pays for

Damage to your car in an accident you cause.

Damage to your car if you hit an object such as a fence or pole.

Damage to your car if someone else hits you. Another option in this case is to make a claim against the other driver’s liability insurance.

Comprehensive insurance pays for

The value of your car if it’s stolen and not recovered, and damage from:

Weather such as tornadoes or hail.

Floods.

Fire.

Falling objects.

Explosions.

Crashes with an animal, such as striking a deer.

Riots and civil disturbances.

Auto insurance quote comparison tip: Whatever coverage you choose, make sure you compare the quotes for the same type and amount of coverage so you can find the best price.

4. Collect and compare car insurance quotes

You’ll want to get car insurance quotes from at least two or three companies available in your area to be sure you’re getting a good deal. Consider comparing quotes from regional companies as well as the big companies such as Allstate, Progressive and State Farm. While shopping, make certain that each insurance quote includes:

The same levels of liability and uninsured/underinsured motorist protection.

The same deductibles for collision and comprehensive coverage, if you’re buying them.

The same drivers and cars.

All discounts you’re eligible for (most insurers list the discounts they offer on their websites).

Compare car insurance frequently asked questions
Why do you need to compare auto insurance quotes?
Comparing car insurance quotes is the best way to ensure that you’re getting the most for your money. Auto insurance companies look at similar factors but weigh them differently, so you’ll get differing quotes from each.

We recommend you shop around and compare rates for car insurance about once a year — this is your best bet at getting the cheapest rate. If you’ve been in a recent at-fault accident, received a speeding ticket or are about to move out of state, shop around again.

Can you get car insurance online?
Yes, buying car insurance online can be easier and more convenient than buying from an agent face-to-face. Most major insurance companies offer online quotes and let you adjust your policy details to see different prices. Remember to use a car insurance comparison tool to shop around and compare rates from at least three insurers before buying a policy.

Does an auto insurance rate change depending on your gender?
It depends. Some states — California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Montana, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Michigan — have