It’s just about impossible to sit down and watch TV these days without seeing a car insurance commercial.
There are so many different companies offering car insurance at the moment, which can make it really difficult for the average consumer to pick the right auto insurance plan.
If you’re wondering how to choose car insurance, it’s actually not as tough as it might seem…if you know how to go about doing it! By doing your homework and putting in the time to research different insurance companies, you can get the best deal possible.
It’ll ensure you have the proper car insurance plan in place in the event you’re ever involved in an accident.
Here are 10 tips that will show you how to choose car insurance.
1. Ask Friends and Family Members Which Car Insurance Company They Use
The easiest way to find a car insurance company that you love is by asking those around you if they would be willing to recommend one to you.
If a friend or family member has enjoyed a pleasant experience with a company, they’ll very likely step up and tell you all about them.
This can, at the very least, help you generate a short list of companies that you can look into further. It’ll provide you with a great start as you move forward.
2. Read Online Reviews for Different Car Insurance Companies
Whether your friends and family members are able to recommend car insurance companies to you or not, your next step should be to read online reviews for insurance companies.
See what other people out there in the world have to say about specific companies like Insured ASAP. Read through a mix of good and bad reviews to get a sense of what companies do well and what they could improve upon.
Continue generating a list of car insurance companies you like the most.
3. Research the Car Insurance Companies You Like Best
At this point, you should have a list of at least four or five auto insurance companies. It’ll be time to dig a little bit deeper into what they’re all about before making a decision.
Research car insurance companies by:
- Visiting their websites and reading their “About” or “History” pages
- Checking their grade on the Better Business Bureau website
- Sorting through recent news stories about them
- Looking at their financial standing on sites like A.M. Best
- Scanning social media to see what else people are saying about them
Use the internet to your advantage and research as much as you can about car insurance companies. Educate yourself as far as how long they’ve been around and what they specialize in.
4. Contact Car Insurance Companies and Ask for a Quote
Eliminate any of the car insurance companies you don’t like from your list. Then, reach out to the ones you do like and ask them for a car insurance quote.
Do this by either visiting their website or calling them. Many car insurance shoppers prefer to request car insurance quotes online because it allows them to compare quotes easily.
5. Compare the Car Insurance Quotes You Receive
Regardless of how you choose to go about gathering quotes, you should take the time to compare them once you have them in front of you.
Consider these questions as you compare quotes:
- Which car insurance company is offering you the best rate?
- Which one is offering the best coverage?
- Which one made it easiest for you to get a quote?
- Which one seemed most interested in obtaining your business?
- Which one has made you the best overall offer?
The answers to these questions are ultimately going help you make your final decision.
6. Learn About Discounts Car Insurance Companies Offer
Before you settle on a car insurance company, try to learn about any discounts the different companies might offer.
Some companies will offer good driving discounts. Others will offer discounts to those with alarms on their vehicles.
Feel free to ask about what discounts you qualify for now as well as what discounts you might qualify for later.
7. See If You Can Save on Car Insurance by Bundling Different Insurance Policies Together
Do you already have a home insurance policy with a specific company or another type of insurance policy through them?
You might be able to save a lot of money by bundling a car insurance policy along with other forms of insurance.
This isn’t always the case. But many companies offer big discounts to those who bundle. So don’t be afraid to ask your current insurer about your bundling options.
8. Use Social Media to Evaluate How Car Insurance Companies Interact With Customers
If you ever experience an issue with your car insurance, you want to work with a company that will communicate with you. In some situations, that might mean communicating with you through social media.
Test a car insurance company’s presence out by touching base with them on Facebook, Twitter, or one of the other social media platforms. If they don’t ever get back to you, that’s probably not a good sign.
9. Consider Everything You’ve Learned Before Picking a Car Insurance Plan
After all this is done, it’ll be time to pick the car insurance plan that’s right for you.
Don’t just go with the car insurance company that offers you the lowest rate. Consider everything from the quote they gave you to their commitment to customer service.
10. Evaluate Your Car Insurance Coverage At Least Once Every Year
Once you’ve selected a car insurance company, you might think your job is done. But think again.
Get into the habit of evaluating your car insurance coverage at least once every year. You might be able to get a better deal or a better plan by switching up your car insurance company every so often.
As Long as You Know How to Choose Car Insurance, It Doesn’t Have to Be Daunting
Once you’ve learned how to choose car insurance, it can make the process of picking an auto insurance company significantly easier. You’ll become a pro when it comes to getting quotes and sorting through them in no time.
Just make sure you don’t cut corners when working through the process. It could lead to you paying more than you should have to for car insurance.
Check out our blog to find out more about car insurance policies and taking care of your vehicle.
