There are a lot of things to consider when you are thinking of buying a new car; what kind you want to get, what monthly payments you can afford, what features are the most important to you, etc. But one thing most people don't think of is to check the new car's insurance rates. Or if you are deciding between several different makes and models, to compare insurance rates for each. InsWeb's quick and easy online marketplace is the perfect place to do this. You can easily check rates for your potential new vehicle(s), and you can save your information so you can activate a policy quickly if you decide to purchase. Most dealerships require proof of insurance before they let you drive your new vehicle off the lot.

Insurance rates differ greatly between cars. If the car is safe and performs well in crash tests, is not frequently stolen, and/or has certain safety or anti-theft features, it will generally cost less to insure. If the car is flashier, has a history of being frequently stolen, or is more expensive to repair, you can bet your insurance rates will be higher.

Budget, Budget, Budget
It is always a good idea to prepare a budget before you even begin looking for a new car. Figure out how much you can afford without putting too much of a strain on your wallet or altering your current lifestyle too much. When preparing your budget, be sure to add in any additional features you want to the base price of the car, as well as figure in things like how much gas, repairs, and of course, insurance, will run you each month. And keep in mind that just because you get approved for a certain loan amount does not necessarily mean you can afford that amount on a month-to-month basis. Many people overbuy on cars, leaving them staining to make ends meet and having to severely alter their current lifestyles.

Here is a short checklist that will help you in the car buying process:

• First, as discussed above, decide how much you realistically can spend on a car.
• Start doing research on the Internet to find various prices, availability, etc. Check to see which dealers or sellers are offering incentives or rebates on the car(s) you want to buy.
• Check insurance rates on the various cars you are interested in at www.insweb.com. Be sure to save your information so you can quickly and easily insure the car you decide to buy.
• If you are trading in your car, be sure to check its trade-in value. And remember, there are two different trade-in values; one for selling it to the dealer, and one for selling it privately.
• Print out any Internet research, including price quotes and trade-in values, and bring it with you when you go to start looking at cars.
• Make sure to test drive all the cars you are considering buying. You may be surprised to find you like the way the less expensive (or safer) car drives just as much (if not more) than your other option(s).
• Shop around! Don't impulse buy - there may just be a better deal out there!
• Be sure to carefully read all the paperwork during the purchase process, and be aware of all the extras the seller might try to work in. Only purchase what you want or need.
• Remember, extra safety and anti-theft features may add on more to the price of your vehicle, but this may be offset by the lower insurance costs they result in.
• Lastly, enjoy! A car is usually the second largest purchase (next to a house) that a person makes. Make sure you really like the car you decide to spend your hard-earned money on!