Shopping for car insurance can be time consuming and generally is not a lot of fun. Rates for car insurance can vary quite a bit from company to company. So when you shop for car insurance, you should try to get quotes from at least three different auto insurance companies. However, the only way you can really tell if one quote is better than another is to make sure you're comparing the same policy features. Doing so, requires that you keep track of some basic information. Here are some tips to help you save time while getting quotes.

First, review your current insurance policy and think about your needs:

• Decide if you want to get quotes on the same limits and features such as Property, Bodily Injury,
• Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist, towing and car rental options.
• Decide if you want comprehensive or just collision coverage.
• Decide what deductible you can afford.

Then, gather some information about your vehicles and the drivers:

• Drivers license and Social Security Numbers (not always necessary but good to have on hand)
• Make, Model, Year information for each vehicle
• The average mileage driven each day for each vehicle
• Vehicle features such as Anti-lock Brakes (ABS), alarms, air bags, etc.

Have all of this information easily available when you begin shopping for your quotes. Then as you get each quote, right it down on the same piece of paper.

It's also a good idea to take notes on how you feel about each company that generated the quote. Are they a financially strong, reputable company? Did they return your quote request quickly? If you spoke with a representative or agent, were they professional? Did they offer any advice? After all, insurance value is about more than price; it's also about service and trust.