You’ve probably seen the television ads that feature happy drivers who buy auto insurance online. They feature couples sitting in the auto dealer showroom quickly pulling up an auto insurance website, clicking a few buttons and printing out their proof of insurance. Is it really that easy to buy insurance online?
The answer is yes-if you’re willing to follow some common-sense guidelines to help you find the best insurance prices.
Comparison Shop for the Best Deals
Don’t just blindly go to an insurance site and apply for a policy. Instead, sign into one of the many websites that allow you to solicit quotes from multiple auto insurers and compare them side-by-side. You’ll get better offers when insurance agents know that you’re comparing prices.
Check to See Which Insurance Companies are Represented by the Comparison Site
When you compare auto insurance through a rate comparison site, you’re limited to the companies that the site does business with. This isn’t always the fault of the company running the site. In fact, some major insurers choose not to offer their insurance through agents or brokers and only deal directly with consumers. Get quotes directly from major insurers in addition to comparing quotes when you buy auto insurance online.
Check the Assumptions Made to Generate Your Car Insurance Quote
If you’re shopping for auto insurance at a site that offers instant quotes, check the fine print to find out what they base the quote on. One of the easiest ways for the site to provide quick quotes is to make general assumptions about drivers who apply for a quote-assumptions about age, driving record, use of the car and other things that directly affect the cost of your auto insurance. If those assumptions aren’t accurate, the instant quote will also be off. Check the assumptions, and if they don’t fit your situation, be aware that your actual quote from an insurance company may be more or less than the instant one you received.
Look Out for Sponsored Listings
Some sites will push you toward insurers that pay them a higher commission for each policy. The push may be subtle, such as placing sponsored listings at the top of the page or in larger type. Be sure that you read the insurance quote thoroughly before making a decision.
Get Your Paperwork Together Before You Start Applying to Buy Insurance Online
In order to get the most accurate quotes and follow it up to buy the best insurance, you’ll need to supply some information to the companies you’re asking for quotes. At a minimum, you’ll need driver’s license numbers for each driver in your household and the make, model and year of the autos that you plan to insure. It’s also helpful if you sort out your priorities in advance so that you know which insurance options you must have and which you can do without. When you’ve got everything together, it will take much less time for you to buy auto insurance online and you’ll have an auto insurance policy that suits you perfectly.
The answer is yes-if you’re willing to follow some common-sense guidelines to help you find the best insurance prices.
Comparison Shop for the Best Deals
Don’t just blindly go to an insurance site and apply for a policy. Instead, sign into one of the many websites that allow you to solicit quotes from multiple auto insurers and compare them side-by-side. You’ll get better offers when insurance agents know that you’re comparing prices.
Check to See Which Insurance Companies are Represented by the Comparison Site
When you compare auto insurance through a rate comparison site, you’re limited to the companies that the site does business with. This isn’t always the fault of the company running the site. In fact, some major insurers choose not to offer their insurance through agents or brokers and only deal directly with consumers. Get quotes directly from major insurers in addition to comparing quotes when you buy auto insurance online.
Check the Assumptions Made to Generate Your Car Insurance Quote
If you’re shopping for auto insurance at a site that offers instant quotes, check the fine print to find out what they base the quote on. One of the easiest ways for the site to provide quick quotes is to make general assumptions about drivers who apply for a quote-assumptions about age, driving record, use of the car and other things that directly affect the cost of your auto insurance. If those assumptions aren’t accurate, the instant quote will also be off. Check the assumptions, and if they don’t fit your situation, be aware that your actual quote from an insurance company may be more or less than the instant one you received.
Look Out for Sponsored Listings
Some sites will push you toward insurers that pay them a higher commission for each policy. The push may be subtle, such as placing sponsored listings at the top of the page or in larger type. Be sure that you read the insurance quote thoroughly before making a decision.
Get Your Paperwork Together Before You Start Applying to Buy Insurance Online
In order to get the most accurate quotes and follow it up to buy the best insurance, you’ll need to supply some information to the companies you’re asking for quotes. At a minimum, you’ll need driver’s license numbers for each driver in your household and the make, model and year of the autos that you plan to insure. It’s also helpful if you sort out your priorities in advance so that you know which insurance options you must have and which you can do without. When you’ve got everything together, it will take much less time for you to buy auto insurance online and you’ll have an auto insurance policy that suits you perfectly.