Auto insurance is a must for any driver, but sometimes it can feel like a useless burden. The second you get into an accident, however, that same insurance becomes your best friend. While you may not have a choice when it comes to whether you need insurance, there are many options for providers and plan types – but it's up to you to find one that works. There's good news and bad news for drivers who are shopping around for a new policy. 

Low-income buyers charged high prices
The Washington Post recently reported that low-income drivers are under a lot of financial stress when it comes to their car insurance. According to new data from the Consumer Federation of America, there are certain areas throughout the U.S. where average insurance premiums greatly exceed the norm, posing a significant problem for low-income drivers. 

"High insurance premiums act to deny [low-income] Americans economic opportunity and also help to explain why so many low-income drivers drive without insurance," said Tom Feltner, CFA's director of financial services and the principal author of the report, as quoted by The Post. 

The source did note that several factors go into insurance premiums. For example, urban areas tend to have higher rates of thefts and more expensive repair costs, which can up the required payments. 

Americans are still satisfied
Some people face high prices, but most are happy with their insurance provider. A recent study from J.D. Power found that overall customer satisfaction in the industry has steadily improved throughout the past five years. The biggest gains were made with regard to service interaction happiness and claim professional satisfaction, which essentially means that insurance representatives are doing their best to help clients. 

"Insurance companies are placing more emphasis on training their employees and representatives to be customer-centric, especially during the interaction process," said Jeremy Bowler, senior director of the global insurance practice at J.D. Power. "That focus is reflected in the increase in satisfaction, specifically with claim professionals, whose primary responsibility is to accurately estimate the amount of the insurance settlement." 

Although some people may face higher premiums, there are plenty of ways to balance a budget so a used car is affordable. If that's the case, you need to check out NJ State Auto. The auction lot boasts hundreds of Carfax-certified vehicles, as well as an in-house financing department that can help you find the right fit.