January 13, 2010

Tips To Make Online Car Insurance Comparison As Fast As Possible

Looking for auto insurance can be a pretty time-consuming affair, especially if you take the wrong approach. A decade ago, a motorist would have to call around to local car insurance offices to try to find a low rate and then go into the office to put a policy in place. Lucky for us, the Internet age has made the process of buying auto insurance much easier. Online auto insurance comparison websites make it much simpler to get quotes on varying amounts of coverage from dozens or even hundreds of car insurers. However, you can still spend quite a bit of time sorting through various quotes and offers. By doing a bit of preparation, you can make your search for a good auto insurance quote quick and easy.

First, gather your information. You’ll want to have your car’s make, model and year in front of you. You may also want to have access the VIN number. Additionally, get the details from any traffic citations and accidents that might count as points against your record. Auto insurance comparison websites will also often ask for your address. This allows them to determine whether you live in a high-crime area (the more auto theft in your neighborhood, the higher your rates will be).

Then, find several car insurance comparison websites. Enter the requested information to view the top quotes based on your driving record, age, gender, address and other factors. Keep in mind that while a comparison website might outright declare that a certain insurer will offer you the lowest possible rate, this isn’t always the case. You’ll want to narrow down your options to a few choices, and then get a detailed quote from each of these options. The actual insurer’s website might ask for more information than the comparison website. Enter all information truthfully; otherwise, the quote that you receive is likely to be inaccurate. You can also often save quite a bit by contacting prospective insurers via phone. Let them know if you’ve seen any lower quotes, and see if you can talk them into matching or beating their competitors’ prices. In today’s market, it’s very likely that you’ll be able to save significantly with a single phone call to a knowledgeable agent.

You should research auto insurance rates online at least once a year. This will ensure that you’re getting the best rate possible. Just because you receive a great low rate from your auto insurer to begin with doesn’t mean that the rate will continue to be the best in the industry. Car insurance is a very fluid market, so it’s well worth your time to check around, particularly if you’re at the end of your current car insurance term.