The biggest mistake drivers make when buying car insurance is just calling the first company that comes to mind, which is probably the one they last saw on television. You are sure to end up paying way too much for insurance if you do this.

Here is a flawless way to get the cheapest insurance without sacrificing good coverage.

Step 1 – Compose a List of 10 Car Insurance Companies

Start with the top nationwide companies like All-State, Geico and Esurance. Then, finish off the list with some local companies. It’s important to inquire from several companies for two reasons. First, you’ll find that the rates are quite different, in some cases one company may be $100s less than the others. The second reason building a list is good is that later on when you are talking to agents and getting quotes, they’ll quickly see that you are shopping around and therefore may offer an even lower rate right on the spot.

Step 2- Get Quotes

Get online quotes from all the companies that offer this service. Be sure you keep track of the kind of coverage you are getting a quote for. Don’t make the mistake of believing one company is cheaper than the other when in fact they are only cheaper because the quote was for less coverage. Then, call all the companies that don’t have online service and see what they will offer you. Make sure that you get every quote in writing. Email should be good enough. You need a paper trail. Finally, put your list in order from the cheapest to most expensive. Now you’re ready for the next step.

Step 3- Bargain

Call the company offering the 2nd cheapest rate. Ask them if they can do better than the cheapest offer you had. If they can, make sure you get the quote in writing. You can stop here if you want and purchase your car insurance. Or, you can rinse and repeat this step to see if any of the other companies are willing to beat lowest quote. When your satisfied that you found that lowest quote then buy your car insurance.