​Life is like a jigsaw puzzle. You must know all the facts and pertinent information before making a choice. To see the entire picture, you need every piece of the puzzle in its place.

Like the way your Auto Insurance Policy Price being determined, you need some pieces of information or maybe, a common knowledge, as to what the insurance companies are looking for when determining how much your coverage will cost.

There are six major areas that determine your auto insurance policy price. The first is your driving record. A better driving record lowers the total cost of your auto insurance. Avoiding auto accidents, speeding tickets and other driving convictions can keep your clean record that will not cause your rates to be outrageous.

Do a self-check sometimes to see the impact of raising and lowering your deductibles and coverage amounts on the price of your insurance. Raising a deductible lowers your monthly payments while increasing the deductible has the opposite effect. The same goes for the actual coverage amounts.

Studies show that younger drivers are involved in more accidents than older drivers. Inexperience people behind the wheel of an automobile may potentially be involved in a collision. Generally, most insurance companies charge more for individuals under the age of 25.

Thank in large part to theft, vehicular costs and safety records because some cars rate a higher premium over other vehicles. As if it wasnít bad enough, the amount of annual miles you place on your vehicle through driving can increase your auto policy. If you exceed to the total average of 10,00 miles in a year, except a rate increase because you also increase the potential to be involved in an auto accident.

If you live in a big city, youíll pay more for your auto insurance policy compared to those who live in a nice farm out in the country. Itís because the city has more thefts and has higher rate of accidents, which lead to higher costs absorbed by the insurance company. It was passed along to the consumer when the insurance companies determine you auto insurance policy price.

Hopefully, this information can help you focus in some areas within your auto policy that you can review you insurance agent in the hopes of actually lowering your auto insurance rates instead of raising them. Now, did you see the whole picture of the puzzle?

​1: Other Party:

Auto Insurance Bodily Injury (BI) Liability and Property Damage (PD) coverage is Legally required in most states today. (BI & PD) Most people understand that they need BI and PD, but they have no idea how to determine how much coverage they need.

Try this simple question: What if your car was involved in an auto accident tonight where heaven forbid, someone else was injured or killed? Remember, everything you own is in the back seat of the car with you and is at risk in a lawsuit! So, what do you think their family would sue you for? $15,000? $25,000? $100,000 or even maybe a Million dollars! Where would you get the money to pay them?

Perhaps the Equity in your Home would help? How about your Savings and/or Investments? You could even have up to 25% of your wages attached to pay the award in most states! Are you prepared to sacrifice everything you own to pay an award due to this accident? If not, read on for how to choose the auto insurance coverage you need.

2: You and Your Family:

 Now letís turn the above accident around. For some unfortunate reason, you or a loved one is the one who is injured or killed in an auto accident. Where would you get the money if the person who hit you did not have auto insurance or not enough auto insurance? Medical bills can be covered if you have health insurance. But health insurance doesnít cover loss of life, pain & suffering or permanent disability.

Maybe you have a life insurance policy through your employer or your own individual life policy. Is the benefit amount sufficient to cover your family if your loved one is killed? But even if you have life insurance, what pays for the misery, the pain and suffering, maybe the fact you or a loved one canít walk or use their arms again?

You might have a disability insurance policy through your work if youíre lucky or had good financial advice. But disability insurance doesnít pay for loss of life, pain & suffering, permanent loss of your legs, arm or hand.

The only coverage that pays for these things is a part of an auto insurance policy known as Un/Under-insured motorist coverage. You can only buy as much coverage here as you have in Liability coverage. Your auto insurance agent should be able to help you determine the exact amount you need.

3: Your Car

Comprehensive and Collision Coverage are the third part of an auto insurance policy and are sometimes referred to as ìFull coverage.î Basically the difference is this: If you run into the tree you are covered by Collision coverage. If the tree runs into you (hypothetically of course), then you are covered by comprehensive coverage. Comprehensive also covers broken windshields, fire, theft and vandalism. The higher deductible (risk) you take here, the lower the premium. Use the savings here to purchase higher limits in the coverages that protect your assets and your family.

The bottom line to determining proper auto insurance coverage is, of course, the money available in your household budget. An excellent place to start in determining the proper auto insurance coverage for your family is to meet with your local auto insurance agent.

Most cut-rate companies concern themselves with one thing only: Price. Tell them what coverage you have and theyíll see if they can give you the same coverage for less. You become the insurance professional. If this is the only need you have then that is ok. If not, you need to seek the advice of a professional to help you determine the proper amount of coverage you need and how best to accomplish it.

Review these tips for auto insurance coverage to make sure you have enough to protect your family.