Comparing auto insurance quotes should include a few more steps than going through your wallet. First is putting all the information that is presented to you in order, this means getting accurate quotes first. If you didn’t give the company the make and model of your car, as well as your driving history, they have likely given you a rough quote that may be much more or less than what you will pay. Often times, insurance companies offer approximate ranges of their lower paying clients to entice you to join, only to trap you with much higher premiums later on.
Getting insurance quotes from block to block can be difficult, not all insurance policies are created equal. The main factors to compare are bodily injury, property damage, collision coverage, and uninsured motorist coverage. Many people also prefer personal injury protection as it guarantees full coverage. Never assume that coverage is the same between companies just because the price is similar. Compare with your current coverage or that of a friend to determine if the coverage offered is adequate or insufficient for your needs.
While you are reviewing a friend policy, ask for their opinion. People are happy to tell you about bad companies, and also good companies, they ask who they use and who they have used. Another test that many people use is to call the potential company claims line, see how long it takes for a person to get on the phone. Hang up or just explain that you are comparing insurance quotes and want to see response times from your claims department. If you have one or two businesses in mind at the moment, check out their social media websites, this will quickly tell you what their customer service really is like; people are very quick to publicly complain if they feel wronged by a large company.
The final check to do when doing a car insurance quote comparison is to check the bottom line of your top options. The internet is the fastest place to check a business’s credit standing, but calling customer service can also yield results. A company that eventually gets a bad reputation is at a higher risk of canceling your policy or not being able to pay you should it need to file a claim. Worst-case scenarios are rare, but they can happen to anyone, always choose worst-case coverage to ensure you’re covered no matter what life throws at you.
