by Daniel J. Gansle

Created on: November 07, 2008   Last Updated: January 13, 2009

Car insurance is one of those things in life you hate to pay for, but state law says you gotta have it. Whether you hit someone else or someone hits you, somebody has to pay and fault must be determined in order to file a claim. This is why most policies offer uninsured motorist coverage, so that if an uninsured driver hits you, you will still be covered for your repair or loss.

However, there's an upside to car insurance. While of course it comes in very handy if someone hits you and causes damage to your car, it's also useful for things like paying out claims for chipped windshields, rental car coverage, acts of God, and theft damage. For example, those in southern and midwestern states know all too well the damage that hail can do to one's vehicle.

How many of us have locked our keys in the car accidentally? I know I have. What a horrible, sinking feeling when you peer through the driver's side window, only to see your keys lying on the front seat and not being able to get to them! Options for unfortunate incidents such as these and towing if your car breaks down are also valuable in terms of saving money (towing in and of itself can quickly become very expensive).

Shopping for car insurance can seem a bit daunting at first. But rest assured; you don't have to visit offices and be pressured by pushy salespeople to get information on the best insurance policy for you. All you have to do is harness the power of the Internet from the comfort of your own home. But before we take a look at the top insurance quote websites, let's briefly review the different types of car insurance.

From Collision to Liability: Defining Car Insurance Policy Categories To gain a full understanding of how car insurance policies work, you must first understand the major types of car insurance and how they fit into your overall policy.

* Collision: If you are at fault in an accident, collision pays for damage to your vehicle in addition to medical expenses.

* Liability: If you are at fault in an accident, liability reimburses the other driver for damages to his or her vehicle in addition to their medical expenses.

* Uninsured motorist: If the other driver doesn't have insurance, uninsured motorist pays you for medical expenses and/or property damage.

* Personal injury protection (PIP): Pays your medical expenses and other personal costs (such as lost wages) in an accident.

* Comprehensive: Pays for property damage in the event of fire, flooding, hail, or theft. One popular use of this auto

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