Understand the Purpose

• A driver on the road without auto insurance poses a major risk to other drivers, passengers, pedestrians and even the infrastructure of public roads. If that person is in a crash that damages property or harms individuals and cannot pay for it, that would leave the bill for someone else to manage. For this reason, many states require drivers to have auto insurance to register and drive a car.
  
  

Shopping for a Policy

• You can simplify the process of finding auto insurance by visiting a website offering quotes from a number of insurers. You must enter your vehicle information, including the year, make and model, as well as information about you. Each potential insurer needs to research your driving history to evaluate your risk level and determine the estimated cost of the premium. The insurance company also considers your credit score and history in the policy evaluation and resulting quote. Select the insurer offering you the best rate with all of the options you require. You can receive policy discounts if you're a good student or have protective devices on the vehicle.
  
  

Choosing Coverage

• You have two main options for auto insurance when it comes to choosing coverage. You can select either a standard liability or comprehensive policy for the car. A standard liability policy is the minimum acceptable by most states. It provides basic protection for others on the road, including reimbursement for bodily injury and property damages. A comprehensive policy includes these protections as well as optional additional coverage for repairs or replacement of your own car in case of incidents. If you have a car loan, the bank will likely require you to maintain a comprehensive policy until you pay off the loan.
  
  

Cancellations and Policy Lapses

• You should not allow your auto insurance policy to lapse unless you already have a new policy with another company in force. If you cancel insurance coverage you own the car, you could experience issues with your state department of motor vehicles. Driving the car without insurance could lead to expensive fines and even suspension of driver's license or registration privileges.