There are more than 627 species of fish, three million lakes, and 3,000 rivers in the Land of the Midnight Sun. There are also nearly 200 areas where liability auto insurance is not required. All other drivers must purchase a policy in the amounts of $50,000/100,000 for bodily injury or death and $25,000 for property damage. In 2007, Alaskans were paying an average of $923 for auto insurance, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.). Take into account that many drivers required full-coverage auto insurance while others felt confident with the State minimums which affects Alaska auto insurance rates. But if you find yourself without proper coverage in the event of an accident, you might end up spending hundreds or thousands of dollars out of your own pocket.

Close Encounters
Spotting a moose in The Last Frontier is rather commonplace. These passive creatures are often spotted chaperoning their young, nibbling on foliage and sometimes digging through your trash cans. While you may have enjoyed meeting your share of these fairly languid creatures, a run-in on the road could cost you thousands of dollars or perhaps your life. In 2002, there were 557 collisions with moose with 30.7 percent occurring in Anchorage, according to the Alaska Department of Transportation (ADT). Adding comprehensive coverage to your insurance plan could save you from paying for expensive auto repairs or replacing your vehicle in the event of an animal-related accident. This coverage cost Alaskans an average of $155 in 2007, according to the I.I.I., which seems like pennies after a run-in with a large animal.

Arctic Excursions
Slip-sliding on icy Alaska roads is scary. It's because of this natural hazard that there were 4,352 accidents in 2002, 23 of them deadly, according to the ADT. There were 833 accidents because of snow and 1,442 on wet pavement, but accidents on dry pavement took the cake with 5,514 accidents. Needless to say, hazardous weather isn't always to blame for high Alaska auto insurance rates. The biggest culprit is driver error. From drunk driving to improper lane changes and speeding, human factors were contributing factors of nearly 25,000 accidents in 2002, according to the ADT. With this in mind, drivers should be cognizant of the importance of Alaska auto insurance. Increasing your liability insurance or supplementing your policy with personal injury protection, collision coverage or comprehensive insurance could help you get back on your feet in the event of an accident.

Great Land Guidance
Many Alaska auto insurance companies offer discounts to those who take a safe driver course and to those who arm their vehicles with anti-theft and safety devices. You can also save a little more money if you combine your auto and homeowners insurance policies. But the best way to keep your Alaska auto insurance rates on the lower side is to shop around. With so many insurance companies to choose from, researching the Internet and cold calling companies can be mind numbing. A free service like LocalInsurance does the grunt work for you. All you need to do is visit LocalInsurance.com, enter your zip code and fill out an easy form and you'll have several quotes for Alaska auto insurance rates to compare and decide upon.

To find more information on the auto insurance requirements in Alaska, visit these useful links: