Car insurance? The first thing unthinkable is how to protect the car from unforeseen events. The events that can happen to anyone at the time was driving on the road. Although the road is already secured with traffic signs, but sometimes there is an accident. Both of the driver or of the car itself.
Every car in the country must be insured if it is going to be used on the road, that makes for a very large number of people looking for auto insurance. There are hundreds of insurance companies in every state willing to provide this service, but trying to figure out which ones are the best and deserve one’s attention can be a bit tricky.
There are numerous factors that go towards contributing to the quality of an insurer. Financial strength of a company is frequently over-looked by most insurance shoppers, yet it is a very significant factor. After all, signing up with a financially unstable company may mean that by the time one is involved in an accident and files a claim, the company may be facing bankruptcy and unable to pay. The cost of the policy and customer service is also significant issues. After continuous payment of premiums, one would expect quick and efficient service when it is needed. If one is involved in an accident, being put on hold for ten minutes or told by a machine that “an agent will get back to you as soon as possible” only to find they never take the call can be frustrating! Also, whether the company even has a valid license to operate in the state and sell insurance is another important variable.
Auto insurance for drivers is required by law in most states and driving without it can lead to fines and losing your vehicle. It also provides liability coverage for both bodily injury and property damage for you and others involved in accidents with you. Most lenders of car loans also require that you have insurance to protect their interest in your car. Owners of classic and collector cars also need insurance, but the rules can be slightly different.
The requirements for auto insurance vary from state to state. Check with your state insurance regulator to learn more about individual requirements, as well as insurers you may be considering for your policy.
To get the best coverage at the best price, get several quotes from insurance companies. It may save you hundreds of dollars a year. According to most consumer guides put out by the government and industry professionals, insurance companies provide the required cover with very competitive prices, are financially sound and have a reputation for being available when required.
Find out which insurers body shops recommend. One of the best ways to identify reliable insurers, is to contact local body shops that you trust and ask for their recommendations. Body shop managers have a unique perspective to offer, since they regularly interact with insurance adjusters. They know which companies have the smoothest claim processes, which affects how quickly the work can be completed on a damaged vehicle. And they know which companies are pushing aftermarket parts, in lieu of genuine original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts, to cut costs.
Check the J.D. Power Ratings. J.D. Power and Associates collects data from individual policyholders nationwide and rates them according to coverage options, price, claims handling, satisfaction with company representatives and the overall experience. A quick visit to the J.D. Power Consumer Center will give you a feel for how the major carriers stack up. J.D. Power also publishes an annual survey of major auto insurers.
Consider insurers' financial strength ratings. As a final check, you can take a look at the A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's ratings. Both companies publish financial strength ratings for all insurance companies — these "measure" an insurance company's ability to pay out a claim (they have nothing to do with the way a company treats its customers).
When shopping for insurance on the Internet, check that the website is secure. Look for the lock icon, a URL that begins "https:" and never provide personal data if you don't trust the site.
Be wary of people selling insurance door-to-door and over the telephone.
Be suspicious if, after an accident, a stranger contacts you to offer "quick cash" or recommends a particular attorney, mechanic, or healthcare provider. Report the incident to your police department.
Don't give your insurance identification numbers to companies you don't know.
Carry a disposable camera in your glove compartment. If you are in an accident, take pictures of the damage and the people involved. Ask for names, telephone numbers and driver's license information for all those involved. Getting contact information for any witnesses is also a good idea.
For the general consumer, looking up these ratings is only a formality, since most of the well-known carriers are going to be a safe bet. Moreover, independent agents would be unlikely to recommend a company with dubious financial standing. Still, if you're considering a smaller, unfamiliar insurance carrier, you might consider this research time well spent. Insurance companies often provide this information on their Web sites, but if not, you can run a search at the A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's sites.
Still confused? Consider working with an agent. It used to be that everyone purchased auto insurance from an agent, but now, car insurance companies like Esurance, Geico and others allow you to purchase insurance directly — over the phone from a customer service representative or online. Still, many of the major players have preserved their national networks of local agents — even if you use State Farm's or Allstate's Web site, you will still be assigned a local agent.
Every car in the country must be insured if it is going to be used on the road, that makes for a very large number of people looking for auto insurance. There are hundreds of insurance companies in every state willing to provide this service, but trying to figure out which ones are the best and deserve one’s attention can be a bit tricky.
There are numerous factors that go towards contributing to the quality of an insurer. Financial strength of a company is frequently over-looked by most insurance shoppers, yet it is a very significant factor. After all, signing up with a financially unstable company may mean that by the time one is involved in an accident and files a claim, the company may be facing bankruptcy and unable to pay. The cost of the policy and customer service is also significant issues. After continuous payment of premiums, one would expect quick and efficient service when it is needed. If one is involved in an accident, being put on hold for ten minutes or told by a machine that “an agent will get back to you as soon as possible” only to find they never take the call can be frustrating! Also, whether the company even has a valid license to operate in the state and sell insurance is another important variable.
Auto insurance for drivers is required by law in most states and driving without it can lead to fines and losing your vehicle. It also provides liability coverage for both bodily injury and property damage for you and others involved in accidents with you. Most lenders of car loans also require that you have insurance to protect their interest in your car. Owners of classic and collector cars also need insurance, but the rules can be slightly different.
The requirements for auto insurance vary from state to state. Check with your state insurance regulator to learn more about individual requirements, as well as insurers you may be considering for your policy.
To get the best coverage at the best price, get several quotes from insurance companies. It may save you hundreds of dollars a year. According to most consumer guides put out by the government and industry professionals, insurance companies provide the required cover with very competitive prices, are financially sound and have a reputation for being available when required.
How to you if you want to choose a reliable auto insurance company and pay on time and in full
Visit your state's department of insurance Web site. Although you may not be familiar with it, your state, and every state, has a department of insurance. Most departments have Web sites, and many publish "consumer complaint ratios" for all of the insurance companies that sell policies in their state. This ratio tells you how many complaints a car insurance company received per 1,000 claims filed.
Consumers use complaint ratios to screen prospective insurers. "Just because they're a big name doesn't mean that they'll be a 'good neighbor' or that you'll be 'in their hands,'".
If you've done your homework, you should already have a list of car insurance companies with the lowest premium quotes. Now jot down the companies with the lowest (or best) complaint ratios. Then, compare your two lists — the companies that rank best on both lists merit your strongest consideration.
If you can't find complaint ratios for your state. Keep in mind that a single insurance company's practices can vary significantly from state to state — a subpar ratio in one state doesn't necessarily mean the situation is the same in your state. But watch for general trends. If an insurer is getting a lot of complaints in several other states, you probably don't want to get involved with this company. The I-CAN Web site provides links and contact information for every state's department of insurance.
Also note that insurance department Web sites often provide basic rate comparison surveys. These can give you a rough idea of which insurers might interest you on a financial basis without the hassle of typing in all your personal information.
Consumers use complaint ratios to screen prospective insurers. "Just because they're a big name doesn't mean that they'll be a 'good neighbor' or that you'll be 'in their hands,'".
If you've done your homework, you should already have a list of car insurance companies with the lowest premium quotes. Now jot down the companies with the lowest (or best) complaint ratios. Then, compare your two lists — the companies that rank best on both lists merit your strongest consideration.
If you can't find complaint ratios for your state. Keep in mind that a single insurance company's practices can vary significantly from state to state — a subpar ratio in one state doesn't necessarily mean the situation is the same in your state. But watch for general trends. If an insurer is getting a lot of complaints in several other states, you probably don't want to get involved with this company. The I-CAN Web site provides links and contact information for every state's department of insurance.
Also note that insurance department Web sites often provide basic rate comparison surveys. These can give you a rough idea of which insurers might interest you on a financial basis without the hassle of typing in all your personal information.
Check the J.D. Power Ratings. J.D. Power and Associates collects data from individual policyholders nationwide and rates them according to coverage options, price, claims handling, satisfaction with company representatives and the overall experience. A quick visit to the J.D. Power Consumer Center will give you a feel for how the major carriers stack up. J.D. Power also publishes an annual survey of major auto insurers.
Consider insurers' financial strength ratings. As a final check, you can take a look at the A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's ratings. Both companies publish financial strength ratings for all insurance companies — these "measure" an insurance company's ability to pay out a claim (they have nothing to do with the way a company treats its customers).
When shopping for insurance on the Internet, check that the website is secure. Look for the lock icon, a URL that begins "https:" and never provide personal data if you don't trust the site.
Be wary of people selling insurance door-to-door and over the telephone.
Be suspicious if, after an accident, a stranger contacts you to offer "quick cash" or recommends a particular attorney, mechanic, or healthcare provider. Report the incident to your police department.
Don't give your insurance identification numbers to companies you don't know.
Carry a disposable camera in your glove compartment. If you are in an accident, take pictures of the damage and the people involved. Ask for names, telephone numbers and driver's license information for all those involved. Getting contact information for any witnesses is also a good idea.
For the general consumer, looking up these ratings is only a formality, since most of the well-known carriers are going to be a safe bet. Moreover, independent agents would be unlikely to recommend a company with dubious financial standing. Still, if you're considering a smaller, unfamiliar insurance carrier, you might consider this research time well spent. Insurance companies often provide this information on their Web sites, but if not, you can run a search at the A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's sites.
Still confused? Consider working with an agent. It used to be that everyone purchased auto insurance from an agent, but now, car insurance companies like Esurance, Geico and others allow you to purchase insurance directly — over the phone from a customer service representative or online. Still, many of the major players have preserved their national networks of local agents — even if you use State Farm's or Allstate's Web site, you will still be assigned a local agent.
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