If you've ever been involved in a traffic accident, even a minor one, then you know the importance of having auto insurance. Being covered by insurance protects you from liability in case of an accident and also moderates any losses you may sustain. Even a minor collision can result in very expensive repair bills. Unfortunately, auto insurance is also very expensive: the average cost of auto insurance per year is around $800. So how do you find the cheapest car insurance quotes without sacrificing coverage? Here are a few tips to keep in mind.

First, you have to know where to look. Of course, the easiest place to find car insurance is online, through comparison sites that offer auto insurance quotes. But this is not the only way to find auto insurance. You should also ask around for recommendations from knowledgeable people, like employees at your state's insurance department. You can also ask your friends which insurance carrier they use and if it's one they would recommend.

Second, make sure that the insurers you are interested in dealing with are reputable. Again, you can check with the state insurance department about them. Also related to this, be wary of insurers who offer cheap quotes that seem too good to be true since they probably are. The insurer may be cutting back on some essentials such as customer service or necessary coverage to offer such cheap quotes.

Third, keep on looking if you don't find a quote that meets your budget at once. Try looking at least once a month since the quote you need may suddenly emerge. Remember that the auto insurance market also has trends just like any other market.

Fourth, when you're filling up an insurer's online quote form, make sure that you're giving the same information every time. Keep in mind that even minor variations in the information that you provide may even up giving you an inaccurate quote. So keep a note pad of your information handy and refer to it when filling up online forms.

Fifth, stress your good points. If you have a clean driving record, a car with many safety features, a high credit score or don't use your car that frequently, stress these with insurers when securing quotes. These factors may make you eligible for discounts.

Sixth, make sure that you're quoted only for the insurance that you actually need. Many quotes may include personal injury protection, which you will not need if you already have adequate health insurance. If this is excluded it could result in a much lower quote.

Seventh, ask for a quote based on a multi-policy coverage. Some insurers will offer you a discount if you take out other types of policies, such as homeowner's insurance.

Eighth, don't just go for the cheapest car insurance quotes; carefully evaluate each to see which one will give you the best value. For example, you should look at considerations such as the amount of deductibles, limits of liability and uninsured motorist coverage.

Keeping these tips in mind will help you find the cheapest car insurance quotes and save you hundreds of dollars.