How to be SAFE when shopping for car insurance online

By Daniel Gregorovich

The internet has helped us at least feel more in control by allowing us to find out what we need to know instead of having to rely on what someone we don’t know tells us. Access to so much info and being able to corroborate facts and figures about anything gives the smart shopper the ability to make more informed decisions and Auto Insurance is no exception.  An online search can yield a host of quotes in very short order allowing you to compare prices as well as do reviews and find background information on selected companies. You don’t even have to leave the couch to do it....just remember that Cyberspace isn't always as safe as your couch.

You mean it isn't always safe?
The convenience and speed are definite pluses for shopping for insurance online. Mix in the fact there are regulatory bodies in place to oversee the online insurance industry and everything is just peachy…right? Well, prudence is always in order when giving out private and perhaps even sensitive information. Be willing to take a few extra minutes and be safe about it
This is where it would be recommended that if you are getting quotes from companies you are unfamiliar with that you take a few minutes and do your research of the companies themselves. Insurance fraud is very real and not to be an alarmist but, consider that if federal websites have bothered to set up insurance fraud reporting hotlines…. there’s a good reason. So always be a savvy consumer and do your homework……Caveat Emptor (buyer beware)

How To Be Safe
For a list of Insurance companies licensed to sell insurance you may wish to see what your state or province has to say about your own insurer and/or the ones you find online that you find before signing up with them. It helps to know for yourself what the different types of insurance are that are available as well as what coverage you will need as a minimum requirement in your state or province. In Canada such helpful explanations are available at  http://www.ibc.ca/en/Car_Insurance/index.asphttp://www.ibc.ca/en/Car_Insurance/index.asp .
In Canada its available at  http://www.osfi-bsif.gc.ca/osfi/index_e.aspx?ArticleID=552 . For the US each state is responsible for listing and regulating its insurers. If you live in California you can search the current list at  http://www.insurance.ca.gov/0100-consumers/0010-buying-insurance/0010-auto-insurance/ . If you want to see who got rated well before starting to shop go to a review site like JDPower.com. They have done a survey of auto insurance companies and rated their performance in several categories – go see at http://www.jdpower.com/autos/ratings/autos-insurance , or check out what individual customers had to say when they gave their feedback at http://www.viewpoints.com/Car-Insurance.

A Safe Way to Compare Quickly
It may take a little time to do all the research and look up all the companies yourself. Very useful companies have evolved to do the work for you and allow you to do comparison shopping online for auto insurance without all the legwork. They actually offer such comparisons for most types of insurance we might need. They are a real asset to the busy consumer.
 
Don't Forget To Ask

When you are requesting quotes make sure you are aware of discounts that are available to you. Things like no claims discounts, clean driving record discounts,  multiple vehicle policies, low mileage for work commute and sometimes even your credit rating is considered a factor. So asking for a list of possible discounts is a wise move and could make a difference in the bottom line. Look for future posts dealing with those topics.
For now, here a company that offers the comparison service. So just go and do a safe and easy online auto insurance comparison quote with these guys: Kanetix