In nearly every state in the US, carrying car insurance is mandatory; and even where it is not required by law, it is a very good idea to do so, to say the least. The protection that insurance coverage provides you with is invaluable - but you could save money on your coverage by using a car insurance quote comparison.

You are almost certainly spending more for your insurance than you need to. By comparing quotes from a number of different insurance companies, you can find lower rates - and if you speak with an insurance agent, you can find out about discounts which you may be qualified to receive.

Here's how to use car insurance quote comparison:

Firstly, you have to make sure your initial quotes are already good to begin with. To achieve that,

1. Know your discounts. Good-paying customers get rewards. Part-time drivers are issued discounts. Federal and military drivers are entitled to discounts. Disabled people, senior citizens or those affiliated with certain groups get discounts. Knowing which of these discounts apply to you helps you weed out agents and sellers who excessively overprice.

2. Choose a vehicle which is reasonably priced and practical - economy class cars tend to cost far less to insure. Even if your car is brand new, it can cost more or less to insure depending on the make and model.

3. If your car has safety features installed such as airbags or anti-lock brakes, you can generally get a discount on your insurance. Just about every insurer has these discounts, but they do not usually advertise them; so you should make sure to ask.

4. Be a careful, responsible driver. Limit your driving to when it is actually necessary, since insurance companies offer discounted premiums to drivers with low mileage. Take some driving safety classes and maintain a clean driving record for further discounts. If you stay with the same insurance company for three years or longer, you can also get a discount - ask your insurer about loyalty discounts or longevity discounts.

Once you know what the lowest rate available from your current insurer is, now it is time to do a car insurance quote comparison and find out what rates are being offered by other companies. You might be able to get a significant discount (sometimes as high as 25%) by bundling your car and homeowners insurance. Most insurers offer this as a package; ask your insurance agent about this option.

Lastly, ask for competitive quotes. Yes, to complete your car insurance quote comparison and get a best-value rate, make a second request from your top three providers but this time, include some competitor data in your request and specifically ask if they can match it or best it.