Which Auto Insurance Company is the Best?

There are so many auto insurance companies out there vying for your attention, claiming they will give you the lowest possible price while providing the best service. Between the highly popular companies and the local companies, it can be a bit confusing to decide on which company is better suited for you. While everyone is trying to find the best one out there, the answer just might be that no one particular company is the best auto insurance choice for every driver. Each driver has their own list of priorities for an insurance company and expectations that they must meet before they are chosen.

Are you looking for an auto insurance company? Drivers who begin the search for their first auto insurance company or who want to change the insurer they are currently with need to know some things to look for in their next auto insurance provider. Always start off by making a list of things that are important to you; things that should be provided by the insurer to make your experience with them as pleasant as possible. If you are not sure what to look for or what additional expectations to have, read our suggestions below to help better explore your options.

Price
No customer wants to pay more for the same product that is offered elsewhere at a cheaper price. Often, a driver’s number one priority from an auto insurance company is to get the best price available when compared to another insurer. To make sure you’ve got the lowest price, you will need to shop around and compare what other insurers are offering to their customers. One convenient way to shop around is by using our site and entering in your information, which will then give you a list of price quotes from competing auto insurance companies in your local area. You can begin by entering your zip code on our Homepage.

Another way to guarantee you are getting the lowest price for your auto insurance is by making sure you are taking advantage of the discounts that are offered by your insurance provider. Each company has their own rules and limits on discount programs, so look for a company that offers a variety of ways to lower your insurance price. Some of these discounts include getting good grades, safety features on your vehicle, and attending specific driving courses. Most companies also have an accident forgiveness program that could save you from increasing rates should you be involved in an accident.

Customer Service
If you know that you want an excellent experience any time you make contact with your auto insurance company, always check into the prospective company’s customer service history. There are a few ways of doing this. First, during your selection process, you can call the companies you are considering and find out for yourself how they treat people over the phone with their questions. Do they treat you with respect even though you are not a customer? How do you think they would help you if you needed to file a claim in the future?

Second, you can check how their customer service rates by researching the Better Business Bureau or J.D. Power (jdpower.com). Both of these companies compile lists and information regarding other customer’s experiences with auto insurance companies. You could save yourself some headaches by knowing what other past and current customers think about different auto insurance companies you are considering to use.

Third, don’t hesitate to ask family and friends (and even friends of friends) who they use for their auto insurance and how they like the company. Try to find out how the company treated them when they were first purchasing a policy, when they changed their policy, when they filed a claim, when they had questions, etc. You will want to get a full understanding of their experience with their auto insurer so you can form a better opinion of the company’s customer service.

Financial Stability
In this weak economy with failing companies, it would be helpful to know which auto insurance companies are going to be around for a while to pay out any future claims you may make. Auto insurance companies need to have more money coming in to them (by the method of premium costs) than money going out (by paying filed claims). One way to check their financial status is through researching Weiss Ratings (weissratings.com) and A.M. Best (ambest.com). Much like the customer service review Websites, these Websites provide solid information on the likelihood of an auto insurance company paying out a claim.

These third party evaluations are not biased, compared to calling the auto insurance companies themselves and asking how their financial status is currently. Also, making sure these evaluating companies do not accept any forms of pay will keep their findings more truthful and a better way for you to compare the insurers and find the best one for you.

Convenience (close location, online bill pay, answers phone)
The convenience of an auto insurance company may also be a high expectation and help determine which company you want to use. Factors such as online bill pay, a close location, and even how many times the phone rings before it is answered can influence your decision. Any company, including auto insurance companies, should make themselves available to you and be absolutely convenient in every way. The more convenient and easy a company is to use, the more customers they will have.

An auto insurance company that is does not provide conveniences — no Website, far away, never answers the phone — should probably be dismissed as it would cause stress on your part when you do need to contact the company. Auto insurance is for your protection, and you should have every convenience offered to you.

Again, the best auto insurance company is based on matching your needs and expectations with the auto insurance company that provides the solutions. You will find that one company may be better suited for you, but someone else may disagree it’s the best choice for them. Thorough research will help you find your best company and give you a positive experience with auto insurance.