Insurance Buying Tips

Getting great insurance quotes is simple with these policy-shopping strategies. Read on to learn how to find the highest-quality insurance coverage with the lowest premiums.

• Start with the insurance department. Before you begin looking for great insurance quotes, browse the information contained on the site of your state's department of insurance. This is an excellent starting point for coverage shopping, as the site will contain information on insurers in your area and the rates they charge. You can also review customer complaint/satisfaction data maintained by the insurance department.
• Consult multiple sources for great insurance quotes. The most effective way to find great quotes on insurance is to check multiple sources for offers. Don't rely only on the official sites of insurers for quotes. Instead, find sites like ours that provide many different quotes from various carriers at once. If you find a site that offers multiple insurance quotes, you won't have to visit more than one site to finish your coverage comparison shopping.
• Investigate the insurer's credentials. The fact that a company offers great insurance quotes is no guarantee that it will provide quality coverage and reliable service. For this reason, you should always verify that your insurer is licensed by the state and covered by a guaranty fund. This fund, sponsored by your state, will pay your claim if the insurer defaults on the payment. Check with your state's department of insurance for this information.
• Verify that the company is financially strong. You don't want to do business with an insurer that doesn't have a robust financial foundation. After you find great insurance quotes from several carriers, check each carrier's financial rating online or in the public library by reviewing Weiss Ratings, Moody's Investor's Services, or another financial index.
• Meet with an agent. Insurance agents are the face of an insurance carrier and are often the best indications of an insurer's approach to customer service. An agent should be willing to meet with you for free to discuss policy offerings and great insurance quotes. You want an agent who is available, straightforward, attentive, and understanding of your coverage needs.
• Ask current or former policyholders for their opinions. People who have had first-hand experience as policyholders can usually give you the best insights on insurers. Find out what carriers your family members, colleagues, and friends have dealt with to get a feel for how well different insurers treat their customers. You might take this input into consideration when you decide on the carriers from whom to solicit great insurance quotes.