Auto insurance can be a nightmare. It's costly, confusing, and unrewarding -- until you need it. Often, that's when you find out whether you bought the right coverage from the right company. But it's better to be sure before you ever file a claim. Here's how to purchase peace of mind now and later.

For a quick overview, click on "Top things to know". Or work your way through "The details" sections for more information on the topics in this lesson (calculators and other interactive features are marked with a symbol). And "Take the test" is a quiz that checks what you've learned and offers suggestions for further study.