Thanks to rising employment and cheaper gasoline, Americans are driving more today, which means they’re also getting into more accidents. With the current insurance rates also rising at the fastest rate in almost 13 years, it’s now more important than ever to select the best car insurance company for your needs.
It’s a long and tiresome process, but finding the right car insurance company for you save you money and even more. And you can also make it a lot easier if you take it on one step at a time.
Know what you want
Start by figuring out what you want. If you’re not just looking for the cheapest car insurance out there, then also invest some time in researching coverages and amenities. The process will go much smoother if you know what you’re looking for before you actually start looking to buy car insurance. Ideally, you’ll want a company that offers great coverage at an affordable price.
Give Agents and Brokers a chance
While both can be very helpful, there is one important difference between agents and brokers. Agents work with just one company, while brokers work with several companies. If you don’t want to do the legwork, agents and brokers can prove very useful.
Reputation matters…
Once you’ve created a shortlist of companies, visit the Department of Insurance website and see if they are licensed to sell auto insurance in your state. Afterwards go and take a look at the complaint ratios, and don’t hesitate to check out their social media accounts. They may contain helpful customer reviews.
… and so does the company’s financial standing
This is actually an important step, as you need to be sure that the company can pay your damages in the unfortunate event of a car accident. You can check their financial standing on websites such as J.D. Power or A.M. Best.
Compare Quotes
Get as many quotes as possible, don’t just stop at two or three. Talk to your friends and family and ask them to help you. Never forget that getting the right quote can save you a lot of money. So look for companies that offer discounts and rewards for good drivers. And keep an eye out for companies that offer multi-line insurance, which comes with a discount for buying two or more lines of coverage, such as homeowner insurance and car insurance.
Don’t get complacent
Don’t stop just because you found a great car insurance coverage at an affordable rate. There’s always something better out there.