Most consumers see buying auto insurance as an irritating and unrewarding process. After all, who gets excited about shelling out money for a policy they hope to never use? Not to mention that finding the ideal insurance for your vehicle and financial situation can be a daunting and complex task.

Whether or not you’re happy about it, auto insurance is a necessity. If you happen to wreck your car, it could spell the difference between a minor inconvenience and a financial catastrophe.

Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to simplify the auto insurance selection process. To ensure a pain-free shopping experience, keep these four golden rules in mind:

Rule #1: Consider your car when choosing limits.

Many car owners make the mistake of choosing auto insurance limits based solely on the minimum requirements in their state. Of course, auto insurance companies won’t sell you a policy that falls below these requirements. However, if you choose just the bare minimum, you may not be fully covered in case of an accident.

For example, if you drive a truck or SUV, you have the potential of causing considerable damage to a smaller vehicle. Let’s say you choose your state’s minimum property damage requirement of $10,000 for your insurance. If you slam into a brand new BMW and cause $20,000 worth of damage, you’ll have to pay the remaining $10,000 out of your own wallet. That’s why it’s critical to consider the size and type of your car as you choose your insurance limits.

Rule #2: Tell it like it is.

When you’re buying car insurance, it’s important to be completely up-front and honest about your driving history. If you fail to disclose past accidents, speeding tickets or other moving violations, the insurance company will not be able to give you an accurate quote.

As soon as the insurance company checks your driving record (and they always do), they will adjust the price to reflect your violations. Therefore, it’s beneficial to you to be honest from the get-go. By telling the truth and the whole truth, you’ll know you’re getting a more precise rate quote.

Rule #3: Pay attention to the total package

While it may be tempting to simply choose the insurance company with the lowest rate, you may want to dig deeper. Read all the fine print to find out what the company actually offers. Usually there’s a reason for a super low rate—and often that reason is substandard service. Another insurer with a slightly higher rate may offer a much more attractive insurance package—and excellent customer service to boot.

Decide what’s most important to you when it comes to car insurance and choose your insurer accordingly. Is price most important or is convenience at the top of your priority list? Do you want a company that offers more options when it comes to repairs and parts?

You should also consider the company’s availability. For example, the company offering the lowest rate may not offer 24/7 access to their customer service reps. If easy access is important to you, you may want to go with a different company.

Rule #4: Don’t double up on coverage.

Before you settle on a policy, you should think about any other auto coverage you may have. Make sure you aren’t duplicating any coverage.

For example, if you are a member of AAA, your membership probably covers towing costs if you break-down in the middle of nowhere. Therefore, there’s no need for a policy that includes Roadside Assistance coverage.

Finding the best auto insurance policy may not be fun, but it doesn’t have to be quite so painful. Keep these four golden rules in mind as you choose auto insurance—it could save you a lot of time, stress and money.