Buying a New Car? It Can Pay to Get Insurance Quotes First

Finding out how much it costs to insure a new vehicle could potentially help guide your purchasing choice.

When buying a new car, there are a lot of things to consider. You want to make sure the vehicle has enough seating for your family, that it gets good gas mileage, and that it's affordable.

But for many drivers, it also pays to think about auto insurance first before purchasing a vehicle. While it may seem odd to get a car insurance quote for a vehicle that you don't actually own yet, there are some significant benefits to shopping around for coverage prior to purchasing.

Here's why this step should likely be a part of the car-buying process for most motorists.

The costs of insuring high-risk vs. low-risk vehicles

For many motorists, it just makes sense to get car insurance quotes before buying a car. That's because the cost of insurance coverage varies depending on the type of vehicle purchased.

Insurers set premiums based on the likelihood they'll have to pay out damages in an accident -- and based on how much they expect they may need to pay when something goes wrong. The type of vehicle you drive can play a role in the chances of a crash and the possibility of expensive damages.

Some cars, such as fast sports cars, are seen as inherently more dangerous by insurers because these cars are seen as more likely to be:

• Involved in collisions
• Involved in high-speed crashes that cause serious injury
• Stolen

Getting parts to repair them can also be costlier, which could mean insurers end up paying more if they're damaged. As a result, these types of cars can come with higher insurance premiums.

The cheapest cars to insure are generally ones that are seen as less risky. This includes vehicles with lots of safety features and anti-theft devices, as well as cars that have less expensive parts. Cars that appear to present a lower risk of expensive insurance claims will be much less expensive to purchase a policy for.

It can pay to see how much insurance will cost

When motorists purchase a new car, buying insurance is required immediately. And drivers have to maintain their insurance coverage for the entire time they have the vehicle.

For most people, spending a fortune on insurance costs isn't the ideal way to spend money. And, in fact, it may come as a financial shock to get a brand new car, only to find out it's much costlier to insure than other vehicles.

If motorists check insurance premiums before actually purchasing their car, then they can avoid unpleasant surprises that could throw off their budget. Some drivers may decide that it makes sense to opt for a car that comes with low insurance premiums, while others may determine it's worth it for them to pay higher coverage costs just to get the vehicle of their dreams.

But the important thing is to know that up front and take insurance costs into account along with auto loan payments when deciding if a particular vehicle is the right one. Fortunately, car insurance companies make it easy to get quotes online -- even for vehicles that drivers don't own. Drivers just have to enter the make, model number, and other details along with information about who will be driving the car.

Drivers who get quotes for any car that's under consideration can make the best and most informed choices during the car-buying process.