Thanks to the invention of the Internet, it's easier than ever to shop around for auto insurance. Most auto insurance companies have websites that will give you a quote, and there's sites that will help you in your auto insurance search by providing quotes from multiple companies at once. If you're looking for new auto insurance, there are a number of pieces of information that you need to have on hand. Here's what you need to tell auto insurance companies about when making your auto insurance search:
Identifying Info
All sites will want to know both your social security number as well as your driver's license number when you make your auto insurance search. The driver's license number will help the company to look up your driving record, which can result in a change in the price of your insurance, and the social security number can look up credit information to help determine what sort of risk you have for missing payments. While you might not always want this information disclosed, the insurance companies need to have it, so expect to give it out.
Records Of Accidents
If you've had any accidents in the last few years, be sure to not when and where they were, and the amount your former insurance company had to pay out, if anything. Many companies will ask you to provide this information when you're on your auto insurance search, so keep it handy. Your best bet to make this easy is to keep some sort of file for yourself that you can reference when on an auto insurance search. The same goes for records of any tickets or speeding violations that you've received over the last several years.
Driving Classes
If you've taken a driving class recently, whether for a ticket or just on your own, be sure to note that in your auto insurance search, if possible. Most credit for driver's education classes expires after a year or two, however, so be sure to keep records of when you took your class. Sometimes the discount you get can be as much as ten percent, which doesn't seem bad on a monthly basis, but adds up over the course of a year.
Know Your Car's Security System
Another thing that can get you lower payments when on an auto insurance search is some sort of car security system. Having one makes your car more difficult to steal or easier to recover, which makes the auto insurance companies feel more confident that they won't lose on their investment. Know what sort of system you have when on your auto insurance search, because many companies will ask you to describe the kind. With this and the other pieces of information above, you will be able to give your auto insurance company reasons for giving you a lower quote, or fuel their reasons for giving you a higher one.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
The Importance of Auto Insurance Ratings
Most people who purchase auto insurance do so because they have to, not because they want to. Because of this, not much is paid attention to when it’s time to purchase the coverage. Of course, everyone wants the most bang for their buck, and as long as the company is widely known, many don’t have a problem simply signing up with that company without even thinking about checking auto insurance ratings or comparison shopping.
In fact, even though big companies that offer auto insurance nationwide don’t satisfy all of their customers all of the time, they don’t lose much business because people stay for the ease of doing so. In cases like this, you can get stuck with an auto insurance company that does not meet your needs, but it’s too much of a hassle to pick up and walk away now.
Better to be Safe than Sorry
An important aspect of purchasing auto insurance is to know the companies before you begin doing business with them. In order to make sure you are in the know, you will want to do a number of things. Firstly, you’ll want to comparison shop for the best pricing, but keep in mind this won’t be the thing that makes or breaks your decision. Sure, it’s nice to save money but not at the cost of losing valuable service that is important to you. Another thing you’ll want to do is to check auto insurance ratings.
What is An Auto Insurance Rating?
An auto insurance rating is something that’s meant to inform you of the type of company you are thinking of doing business with. J.D. Power offers new and used auto insurance ratings, designed to give you the most information available about a company. Auto insurance ratings are like a report car for insurance companies.
You’ll find information about how good insurance company policies are, what is covered in them compared to other companies, and the satisfaction of consumers that are doing business with said company. The major categories are broken down into 4 categories:
Overall Experience
Policy Offerings
Pricing
Contacting the Insurer with Ease
Using these categories as a guide, you will be able to determine which companies offer the things you’re looking for, get a good idea of what other consumers think about a company’s service offerings, and ultimately decide which company you’d like to do business with.
In fact, even though big companies that offer auto insurance nationwide don’t satisfy all of their customers all of the time, they don’t lose much business because people stay for the ease of doing so. In cases like this, you can get stuck with an auto insurance company that does not meet your needs, but it’s too much of a hassle to pick up and walk away now.
Better to be Safe than Sorry
An important aspect of purchasing auto insurance is to know the companies before you begin doing business with them. In order to make sure you are in the know, you will want to do a number of things. Firstly, you’ll want to comparison shop for the best pricing, but keep in mind this won’t be the thing that makes or breaks your decision. Sure, it’s nice to save money but not at the cost of losing valuable service that is important to you. Another thing you’ll want to do is to check auto insurance ratings.
What is An Auto Insurance Rating?
An auto insurance rating is something that’s meant to inform you of the type of company you are thinking of doing business with. J.D. Power offers new and used auto insurance ratings, designed to give you the most information available about a company. Auto insurance ratings are like a report car for insurance companies.
You’ll find information about how good insurance company policies are, what is covered in them compared to other companies, and the satisfaction of consumers that are doing business with said company. The major categories are broken down into 4 categories:
Overall Experience
Policy Offerings
Pricing
Contacting the Insurer with Ease
Using these categories as a guide, you will be able to determine which companies offer the things you’re looking for, get a good idea of what other consumers think about a company’s service offerings, and ultimately decide which company you’d like to do business with.
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