Auto Insurance Reviews

There are many internet websites that specialize in auto insurance reviews. Many of these sites offer the opportunity to compare different companies, evaluate policies, research complaints and help you make the best decision as to which auto insurance to purchase. A car insurance review can be extremely helpful when looking to buy a new policy, switch companies or add a driver onto your insurance.

While there is no doubt that car insurance reviews are helpful, it is important to think critically about what is being discussed and understand what to look for in a review. This article will explore some of the best websites for auto insurance reviews, where to look for insurance reviews, and some other tips and tricks you may not have thought of. This will hopefully get you one step closer to finding the perfect policy for you!

Making Accurate Car Insurance Comparisons

One of the most important features to look for is auto insurance comparison. Using an independent insurance agent or website to compare auto insurance companies and policies is very important. Because there are many insurance companies in the United States, the ability to compare many different companies is extremely handy. A simple Google search will lead you to some of these sites in just a second.

For example, www.epinions.com has a great list of auto insurance product reviews and prices compiled by customers. Comparing auto insurance companies can be confusing, but independent sites like this make it easy and hassle-free.

For a different perspective, try visiting independent rating companies such as J.D. Power and Associates. This website allows consumers to quickly and easily compare products and services such as car insurance. J.D. Power and Associates has been in business for over 40 years and prides themselves on listening to consumers and providing easy to understand auto insurance ratings and rankings.

Because J.D. Power and Associates is one of the top rating companies in the United States, it is a great place to learn a little more about car insurance ratings and discover top rated auto insurance companies.

The Insurance Information Institute (www.iii.org) is also a great resource for anyone looking for information on insurance companies and policies. This website provides information for individuals and businesses. It has a large list of articles explaining auto insurance, what is covered by a basic policy, and information on how to choose an insurance company. This is a must read if you are looking to buy auto insurance for the first time or if you don’t have a very good understanding of insurance terms.

In addition to independent sites, you may also find that the company itself offers a comparison feature. Online car insurance comparison can be very convenient – but also very biased. Have you ever seen a company state that their competitor has a lower rate?

Probably not.

So while this is very handy, it probably isn’t the best place for comparing auto insurance companies. If you have tried all of the above comparison tips, your last resort is to visit all of the prospective insurance agencies and compare the quotes you get yourself.

Understanding Car Insurance Complaints

Once you’ve narrowed your choices down to a few companies to choose from, you should start looking at the inner workings of the companies. One of the most interesting things about auto insurance reviews is that they often provide you with insight into customer complaints and other service issues.

But, you need to really stop and think when reading these reviews on car insurance companies and ask yourself some questions like…

• Is there any bias?
• Why might a customer have this complaint?
• Out of the many customers that this company services, how many are complaining?
• Is it the same complaint over and over again?

These are important questions to ask as you read these reviews. It may also be worthwhile to examine the specific complaints.

For example, if you find a complaint such as “the agent was very rude when I asked for a quote”, consider their location (if given) and evaluate how that may affect your insurance shopping. Does friendly, helpful service rank high on your list of values? Or is it something you can live without so long as you get a good price?

Lastly, it has been found that many more people will take the time to write a bad review online than a good one. Thus, there is a bias that causes there to be many more bad reviews than good ones. Don’t forget this when reading car insurance company reviews.

Are There Other Ways to Find Auto Insurance Reviews?

Of course there are! If you don’t have success with any of the above tactics, try asking your family and friends. Often, they can point your towards an insurance company or agent that has really worked for them. Positive reviews from people you know is always a good sign. Many times you’ll be so focused on the top rated car insurance companies that you won’t even think about the small, local insurance agency down the street. Sometimes these insurance companies can have the best policies!

Using your local phone book is also a great idea. Calling companies up and asking about their insurance policies can often give you great insight into their customer service. They might even tell you about a discount or deal that you couldn’t find online. By gathering this data yourself, you don’t have to rely on reviews from other people. In this case, using all your resources to your advantage is the best way to find the perfect insurance policy for you.

Some Final Thoughts About Auto Insurance Reviews

As mentioned in this article, there are many ways to find reviews of car insurance companies, agents, and policies. First, take a look at independent customer review sites. Be wary of the potential for bias, but make a note of some of the reoccurring issues or problems that you find.

Next, explore the company’s history and any awards or ratings they’ve received. As you might remember, J.D. Power and Associates is a great place to look for unbiased reviews of insurance companies in the United States.

After that compare potential companies or policies. You can do this by either an independent site, the companies website (if offered), or by compiling the information yourself. Remember that sometimes independent sites can be outdated, and a companies website doesn’t always give you the right facts and figures – they might skew the numbers to make their policy seem the best.

The most accurate (but also the most time consuming) method of comparison is to actual go out and get the data yourself. Visit each company, talk to an agent, get a quote and sit down with the numbers. This will ensure that you find the policy that meets your needs and your budget.

As a final option, you can always talk to family and friends and discuss their experiences with different insurance companies. Ask them questions about their policy, the customer service they receive, any issues they’ve encountered, and whether they would recommend them. Because these are people that you trust, it will be much more helpful than reading comments online from customers you don’t even know.

Auto insurance reviews are excellent ways to research potential policies and insurance companies but be sure to use every resource to compare different rates, discover top rated companies, and get the policy you want for the price you want.