Auto insurance is something that everyone is required by law to have, and the auto insurance companies know this fact and take full advantage. If you’re looking for auto insurance, you’ll have to be prepared to deal with all kinds of scams and hidden problems. Read on to find out how.

If you are driving into Canada or Mexico, many people don’t realize that your American car insurance won’t cover you in a foreign country. You will need to purchase auto insurance ahead of time online, or in the border town or city where you will be crossing over into either Canada or Mexico.

Use social media to your advantage when shopping for an auto insurance policy. Check what real drivers are saying about insurance companies via websites, forums and blogs. By going the social route, you will find out the truth about an insurance company, not the hype the insurance companies themselves pay to put out.

When buying a new or used car, don’t forget to factor in the cost of insurance. Your dream car may come with an insurance premium that pushes the monthly payment out of your reach. Do some research before you go shopping. You can find average rates for different car models online, or your insurance broker can provide this for you.

Some auto insurance companies have streamlined claims service for glass replacement. If you’re shopping for new coverage, don’t overlook this benefit. Depending on the carrier, you may have your deductible waived, meaning your glass can be repaired or replaced at no expense to you and your insurer may even send the glass company to your home or workplace to make it extra easy.

Ask your insurance agent if your age can get you any discounts. Studies have shown that, much like fine wine, drivers tend to get better with age. Your insurance company may offer you a discount for being a long-term driver, giving you a discount each time you pass the age milestones they have set.

In order to get the very best price on your auto insurance policy, avoid making monthly payments on the policy. Instead request to divide your premium into two payments, six months apart. In this way, you will be able to avoid monthly processing fees assessed by numerous companies. Even if your insurer requires monthly installments, try to set up automatic payments in order to avoid any additional mailing or billing charges that may otherwise accrue.

If you are a young driver paying for your own car insurance, add an older driver to you plan. Having a more experienced driver on your plan can reduce your premiums. Just make sure this older individual is willing to be added and that your car insurance provider offers the discount.

Before deciding on an auto insurance policy, learn about what each of the options cover. You will be able to obtain great savings if you understand what you actually need in an auto insurance policy. Do you need the towing option? Or did your new car come with that option? Thoroughly study your policy before signing on the dotted line.

If your insurance contacts you about an increase in your premium, find out if it is justified or not. A practice known as data mining is used by certain unethical companies: they refer to a consulting firm that will create fake data that would justify an increased premium. If you catch your insurance company doing this, switch immediately to another one.

As you read at the beginning of this article, auto insurance scams and tricks are incredibly common. If you know how to avoid them, though, finding the insurer that’s right for you is simple and easy. We hope that this information helps you to make an informed decision when insuring your vehicle.