These are trying economic times and simply turning on the television can put you in a state of depression. You may be a casualty of a layoff at work, a downsizing or a flat out firing and you still have to pay that stack of bills that are piling up on your counter. The temptation to cut your car insurance coverage to save money may end up costing you more in the end than it saves you today.

Insurance is a personal matter and finding the right insurance agent is an important decision. Licensed insurance agents are trained to help you analyze your insurance needs and make coverage recommendations based on your personal or financial situation.

As winter weather grips the majority of the U.S., hopefully you’ve already taken the time to make sure your car is winterized and ready for the harsh conditions.

I was watching TV last night and I happened to see an Allstate car insurance commercial that was a little more direct than just saying they could save you X dollars or asking if you’re in good hands.

Think again.  That three, five or even seven hundred dollar GPS navigation unit that does everything but steer the wheel is essentially uninsured while in full view of anyone looking in your windshield.

Why do I say essentially? Ok, there is coverage actually, but it probably doesn’t come from your car insurance policy.

When buying car insurance from an agent, there are different types of agents you can choose from. Agents who write with companies like State Farm and Farm Bureau Insurance are captive agents, which means they only write for one company. They do not have access to car insurance rates of any other companies, so they cannot comparison shop your coverage for you.

Buying car insurance online has transformed the way auto insurance is advertised, sold and delivered. Your only option used to be calling or stopping by your local insurance agent’s office. Advertising was much more location-focused with large companies attempting to push the consumer to their local representative.

If you own a “classic” car, which could be considered anything over about 25 years old, you could save money on your car insurance by buying specialized classic car insurance.

There are two ways to find insurance for your older vehicles. The first is to check with your current insurance company to see if they have a rating classification for classic or antique autos.

The world of car customization has gone mainstream with TV shows like West Coast Customs, OverHaulin and Pimp My Ride.

Women may get the brunt of jokes from their husbands about how bad their driving is, but do insurance companies actually give lower rates to women because they are better drivers?

If you compare male and female drivers in the same age groups, female drivers tend to have fewer accidents and traffic violations as compared to their male counterparts.