With today's economic downturn, many people are having a difficult time meeting obligations during the month without having to worry about paying a huge insurance bill every six months to a year. Fortunately, monthly auto insurance is becoming more widespread which better meets the needs of consumers.By breaking premiums into more manageable chunks, the legal requirements associated with insuring your car is easier to meet today than ever before. Although the single payment or bi-yearly strategy worked for many years, in today's marketplace it no longer fits budgetary constraints that are limiting options for many people.Paying for auto insurance on a monthly basis has many advantages. Not only does it fit better into the individual lifestyles and today's budgets, but coverage can be extended between three months and a year without a penalty applied for changing carriers. Since the insurance industry is highly competitive, payments can be customized to meet individual needs.Rates vary widely so researching multiple carriers could be very beneficial in finding the cheapest rate. It's important to remember that premiums are based on various factors. Things like the location where you live, credit rating, how much vehicles are driven on a daily basis, and especially your driving history all impact the quote received.One way to find the best rate is to compare quotes online as well as the area where you live. Although payments made each on a cyclical basis have a tendency to be slightly higher than when paid at a single point in time, everyone can qualify regardless of history. Additionally, specifying the components most desired in the policy is important. This includes the level of the deductible as well as whether or not going above the minimum limit for the state is desired.It's important to remember that the more that can be paid initially, the lower the monthly payments will be. Additionally, payments can be broken into quarterly installments, ten monthly payments, or twelve disbursements. It's important to note, however, that there is also a small fee charged at the time each installment is paid. This is in addition to the cost of the policy.Once low rates have been secured from several companies, speaking directly to representatives can determine the best carrier and package for you. Just because cyclical payments are made does not mean that you must give up the level of coverage desired. Today service providers are developing programs that better meet the current economic crisis and, many times, this includes providing monthly auto insurance installment programs.