How to get a car insurance quote
Getting an auto insurance quote is the best way to see personalized rates and coverage options from insurance companies. While traditional car insurance companies do offer free quotes, this process can be inefficient as it only results in a single option. With The Zebra, drivers can enter some basic information and receive quotes from hundreds of the most trusted insurance companies within minutes.
If you’re shopping for a new policy, use the following steps to help you find great coverage with rates you can afford.
1. Set a budget
The first thing most customers look at when comparing quotes is price. It’s important to keep your car insurance costs within budget, but remember: the cheapest option isn’t always the best. Cheaper coverage from an auto insurance company with a poor track record or poor customer service may not be ideal. This is where your knowledge of coverage types will come in handy.
2. Consider your coverage
Knowing what coverage you need ahead of time can help you in your search for car insurance. While some drivers just want to get minimum car insurance coverage, there are a lot of reasons to look beyond just basic liability insurance. For one, you risk paying out of pocket for damages that exceed your liability limits after an at-fault accident. Second, some insurance companies see drivers with a history of state minimum coverage as risky. If any insurance company sees you as a risky customer, they will account for that risk with a higher premium.
3. Research insurer reputation
Making yourself familiar with how insurance companies treat their customers is a very important step in the insurance shopping process. You’ll want to look for things like claims satisfaction and customer complaints, along with organizations such as the Better Business Bureau and J.D. Power. Another great place to start is with our list of the best car insurance companies.
4. Choose how to get your quotes
After doing some research on the best insurers, the next step should be deciding how to receive your insurance quotes. Regardless of the method you choose, it’s important to get multiple quotes. This can be done through the following methods:
These agents are tied to a specific insurance company, meaning they aren’t able to compare offers so you’ll only get a quote from one carrier. While these insurance agents are great for customer service needs – many with brick-and-mortar offices to service their clients – some more technology-focused carriers no longer use these types of agents at all.
Independent agents are appointed to sell policies for various insurance companies, giving you many options to choose from. The Zebra is an example of an independent agent. We work with most of the top companies and have in-house agents ready to help you with your car insurance policy.
Offering the most convenience and the widest array of options, online insurance comparison sites, which The Zebra also is, can help you find multiple car insurance quotes in minutes.
