Finding the Right Auto Insurance

Selecting a good auto insurance company doesn’t have to be a headache. You just need to know where to look and what you need. The payoff is worth it. A good car insurance company will stand behind you, get you out of jams and offer excellent customer service when you need it.

Talk to your friends, colleagues, and even employees at body shops to see who insures their cars. Ask if they’re happy with their service. Also compare as many car insurance company quotes as possible. There are many rates out there, especially online.

4 Important Things:

Price
Because a lot of companies offer auto policies, prices vary greatly, so it pays to shop around. Get at least three quotes, from agents and the Internet. For an idea of what you should pay in monthly premiums check with your state’s department of insurance. They may publish a guide that shows what insurers charge for different policies in various parts of your state.

Stability
Make sure that the company you buy from is financially stable so you know they will be around to pay any claims. Smaller companies that offer fantastic deals may be worth a check first. These companies rate insurance company strength:

A.M. Best Company, Inc.

Fitch Ibca Inc.

Moody’s Investor Services

Standard & Poor’s Insurance Ratings Services

Weiss Research

Service
Your insurance company should answer your questions and handle your claims fairly, efficiently and quickly. Get a feel for this by talking to other customers who have used a particular company or agent. You can also check with your state insurance department to see if it makes public a “complaint ratio,” which compares the number of valid complaints with the company's share of policies in your state. Disgruntled customers have also been known to post to blogs or consumer sites with their horror stories. A quick online search can tell you a lot.

Comfort
You should feel comfortable with your insurance company and its representatives. Find out what are they like on the phone. Call your new prospective agent with a question and learn if your agent will be easy to reach if you have more questions or need to file a claim.

Finding the right car insurance company is an important task. Once you find a company you like you may want to stay with them for awhile. But don’t be afraid to shop the marketplace annually for better deals. Some policies run for a year minimum, but sometimes you can cancel a policy if you are unhappy with any service.