After being inundated with geckos, cavemen and various forms of mayhem, it can be difficult to distinguish between different car insurance companies other than through their advertising campaigns. Fortunately for auto insurance shoppers, there is a plethora of information of the web that can help them figure out the pros and cons of different insurers and find the policy that will work best with their lifestyle.
Cheaper car insurance companies aren’t always better
While cost is obviously a huge factor in the decision, experts warn shoppers to pause before signing up for the cheapest policy available. New buyers may be tempted to latch on the most inexpensive plans, but those policies may not provide the coverage necessary after a collision or other incident.
Auto insurance shoppers should do their research and communicate with other policyholders, if possible, to see how they are satisfied with their company. Experts warn that most consumers don’t experience problems with their insurer – such as poor customer service, repair issues or unsatisfactory settlements – until after a claim has been filed. At that point, it may be too late.
Researching a car insurance company
Multiple websites offer consumer satisfaction data that can help a shopper determine how a car insurance company treats its policyholders. First, buyers should start by checking their state’s Department of Insurance website. The state usually publishes compliant ratios for all of the insurers who operate there, allowing shoppers to see if they have received a large number of complaints.
Private companies, like J.D. Power and Associates, also collect data from auto insurance policyholders across the country and rates companies according to price, claims handling and customer satisfaction, allowing a shopper to get a quick glimpse into the overall quality of the company.
Don’t focus on one company
Instead of trying to speak to a number of different companies individually, it can be helpful to use insurance brokers that offer policies for a number of different insurers. Because these sites work with multiple auto insurance companies, they are impartial, and will not benefit by pushing a particular insurer on a customer.
Experts add that those sites can provide consumers with basic information and pricing about a variety of companies. Different companies offer a variety of different discounts and other programs, which can significantly affect the cost of the policy.