Auto Insurance Ratings: 7 Tips to Finding the Best Company

Regardless of where you live in America, car insurance is a necessary expense and is required by auto insurance laws. Car insurance provides a safety net that protects the driver and their car, as well as other motorists on the road. It seems as though there are a plethora of options for auto insurance coverage and hundreds of companies claiming to have the best deals for drivers. Compare auto insurance companies by entering your ZIP code above!

Consumers can choose from a variety of insurance providers. If you are tech-savvy then you can choose from a slue of online car insurance companies. Web-based insurance providers have advantages: they can provide consumers with a variety of polices, save time on purchasing policies and submitting claims and provide instant insurance quotes to prospective buyers. Find auto insurance coverage for your needs by entering your ZIP and comparing quotes!

If you are a traditionalist, you may feel more comfortable with a brick-and-mortar insurance provider located in your community. Many prefer a brick-and-mortar location opposed to web-based providers because they provide a personal touch. Many prefer the personal interaction with a dedicated insurance agent and like to be able to walk into an office to discuss questions and concerns.

But, while it can be a challenge to find the perfect insurance provider and policy for your needs, it is not an impossible task. If you are looking for a new insurance policy, don’t fall victim to choosing the cheapest policy without comparing and contrasting policies from several companies. You will have the best luck selecting the perfect insurance policy for your needs if you review our top 7 tips for finding the best auto insurance company.

1. Determine Your Needs

Before you go online or place a phone call to get a personalized insurance quote, be sure to take the time to figure out your exact coverage needs. While most states require motorists to hold liability coverage, most drivers will need to select comprehensive or collision coverage in addition to liability coverage. Liability coverage protects you from damage to other motorist’s vehicles and provides funds to pay for another driver’s injuries. Collision coverage pays for damages to your vehicle, while comprehensive coverage covers damage caused by forces of nature, vandalism or theft.

• Consider Your Unique Needs – Each motorist will need to determine what kind of coverage they need based on their vehicle and driving needs. Generally, if you have an older car with a book value under $2000, you do not need to buy comprehensive and collision coverage. If you own a newer car and cannot afford to replace the car if it is damaged, you should probably opt for comprehensive and collision coverage.
• About Car Insurance Deductibles – If you select comprehensive and collision coverage for your vehicle, you will need to decide how much money you are willing to pay for your coverage, or your deductible amount, and how much you would like your insurance company to cover in case of a accident or injury. Deductible amounts vary between companies but are generally available in $100 and $500 increments. For instance, if you are in an accident that costs $1250 and you have a $500 deductible, you will pay $500 and your insurance company will pay for the remaining amount.
• About Car Insurance Premiums – An insurance premium is the total amount of money you pay for your insurance policy. Generally, if you choose to pay a lower deductible for accidents and repairs, you will pay a higher insurance premium. Some companies will give a auto insurance discount to drivers who pay the cost of the premium up-front, while other companies will allow motorists to pay their premiums in installments.
• Consider the Policy Features – Also, be sure to take stock of your car’s features such as air bags, car alarms and anti-lock brakes, which can each provide you with a discount on your policy cost. In addition to comprehensive and collision coverage, you may also want to determine if you will need gap coverage, car rental reimbursement, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage or towing and labor provisions.
• Pay Attention to Hidden Fees – One of the reasons car insurance can skyrocket is because individuals don’t pay attention to their policy’s hidden fees. While most of us hope to never have a fender bender, sometime an accident is unavoidable. If you want to save yourself from being surprised later, think about selecting a policy that has an accident forgiveness provision. In some cases, a single accident can increase your insurance premium by 40 percent. Also, if you choose to divide your premium into monthly installments, be aware. You may also be charged an additional fee for the convenience.

2. Get a Referral

One of the best ways to find the perfect insurance company is to ask for recommendations from your family, friends and co-workers. It is always nice to talk with these individuals to get a feel for a company’s customer service and to see how they handle the claims process. While these individuals may not be able to provide detailed information about every company, they will surely share horror stories that will help you weed out the duds. For a more detailed understanding of which insurance companies are best, turn to consumer advocate websites and independent company reviews from sources like Consumer Reports or J.D. Power and Associates.

3. Talk to Your Mechanic

When most people select a new insurance company, few think to run their top-three list by their favorite mechanic before committing to a policy. Your mechanic can provide a unique perspective and provide recommendations as to the insurance companies with the smoothest claims process. If they’ve worked with a company that makes their job difficult, they will certainly let you know and help save you the hassle later on down the line.

4. Test Their Customer Service

Car accidents are unpredictable and don’t just happen between the hours of 9am and 5pm, so it makes sense to select a company that has claims adjusters and customer service representatives who are accessible beyond standard business hours. We all hate waiting on hold, and you’ll hate it even more if you’re waiting for help immediately following an accident. Save yourself a headache by calling your top-three insurance companies to see which company has the faster customer service response time. Also, check out our ZIP code search to see which companies have the easiest claims process. We will help you compare auto rates for FREE!

5. Search for Discounts

If you want to get the best deal on car insurance, you will need to shop around as rates vary from company to company. Before you commit to a policy, be sure to check with a least 3 or 4 different companies. Also, remember that while price is an important component in your car insurance formula, you still need to select a company with quality service. Be sure to ask each company about special incentives for good drivers and discounts for high-performing students and senior citizens.

6. Review Your Policy Each Year

One of the best ways to make sure you are not spending more than you need on a car insurance policy is to review your coverage every year. A yearly review of your insurance coverage will allow you to make changes based on your current needs and situation. If your situation changes, or if you get in an accident or need to add another driver to your policy, you could be eligible for a lower rate.

7. Bundle and Save

Once you select a reputable insurance company that works for you, talk to your insurance agent about how bundling might work to save you money. In some cases, insurance companies will provide motorists with discounts when they group together multiple policies. If you agree to bundle your homeowners insurance, life insurance and car insurance, you could save hundreds of dollars on your overall insurance costs.

Finding the best auto insurance company doesn’t have to be hard! We are here to help! With our great information and FREE comparison tool, we can help you save greatly on auto insurance. Enter your ZIP code below and begin your FREE auto insurance comparison TODAY! We will help you find cheap auto insurance that protects and covers all of your personel needs!