There’s just no way around it: Car insurance is something you need. Your state car insurance regulations probably require you to have some sort of insurance coverage. Your car financing or leasing company also probably requires coverage, and let’s face it, you probably don’t want to have to come up with thousands of dollars for vehicle repairs, property repairs, or medical costs in the event of an accident.

In brief, you buy an insurance policy from an auto insurance company. You pay annual premiums, and if you have an accident, you make a claim that covers your financial losses that occurred because of the accident. Read How Car Insurance Works and How Much Car Insurance Do I Need for more information.

Getting a good deal on car insurance is all about finding the balance between the coverage you want and rates that fit your budget. We took a look at