Online car insurance quotes automate the process of obtaining insurance, saving customers thousands of dollars per year. A customer can enter all his or her information into one site or paste the same information into a variety of sites, comparing rates quickly and efficiently.
History
There was a time in the not-too-distant past when customers had to rely on verbal quotes from a couple of insurance agents. This involved reciting all of your information over the phone and trying to compare rates. Most people, not wanting to bother with the process, chose insurance companies by commercials or word-of-mouth.
The Internet revolutionized car insurance quotes. Seemingly overnight, a multitude of websites have popped up touting the best rates. With all the choices, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But all these choices make it easier than ever to find the best car insurance premiums for your family.
Traditional companies
The same companies you’ve been watching in commercials for years now provide online car insurance quotes. All the names should be familiar to you: Allstate, Nationwide, MetLife, and State Farm, to name a few. If you choose the traditional route, you’ll want to make sure you have your current auto insurance coverages page, with any of your desired changes clearly marked. This will ensure you are comparing the same coverages across all companies. You can still go through an agent, as was traditional, but many insurance companies now provide what is called “direct writers,” where you deal directly with the insurance company. The upside is there is no middleman agent taking a commission, but the downside is that when something does happen, you won’t have a trusted agent to call. Traditional companies are more likely to assign you to an agent than discount companies.
Discount insurance companies
Discount companies like Travelers, GEICO, and The General have thrived because of online car insurance quotes. These companies are no-frills, saving money mostly by doing away with the field agent. Much of their business comes from online referrals and phone calls, but price comparison services send business their way, as well. Instead of having agents cold-call potential clients, discount insurance companies rely on advertising to get the word out and GEICO, especially, has become known for its creative and imaginative television commercials.
Because these companies deal directly with the customer, some customers become frustrated with the lack of personalized services. Unlike traditional companies, where you can call up your agent and ask questions, you might find yourself on hold for a while just to speak to a random customer service operator. Again, if personalized service is important to you, a traditional company might be worth the extra money.
Price comparison services
Perhaps one of the most popular innovations in obtaining online car insurance quotes is to be able to get those quotes at one central site. AAA Auto Club has been offering members this service for a while, but you don’t have to have any kind of special membership to take advantage of online price comparison services. Probably one of the most well-known price comparison services, thanks to its television advertising, is Progressive. Esurance also provides price comparison, as do Netquote, InsWeb, and CarInsurance.com.
Conclusion
Getting online car insurance quotes is quick and easy and can be done from the comfort of your home. No matter how much you’re paying for insurance, since shopping around is so easy, you might find you’re able to save hundreds of dollars a year in premiums for you and your family.