Getting an insurance estimate can easily be done in two ways. You can also get two types of estimates.
- First, you can get a ballpark estimate. This is an estimate based on various non-identifiable pieces of information: your age, zip code, car type, home size, etc. This may be enough for you to see if you'd like to pursue a formal quote from that particular company. The advantage to using this first is that the insurance company isn't pulling your credit score unnecessarily. Not all insurance companies will use your credit score, but many do.
- Second, you can get a personalized quote. For this you will need to provide your personal identification. Information like your social security number, actual address, more detailed car information, etc. This will allow you to see which insurance company will really provide you with the best rates.
Typically you can get a quote from an insurance company directly (or their in-house agents). You can also call an independent insurance agent. An independent agent has contracts to sell insurance for many different companies. One agent may be able to sort through the comparisons for you and help you determine which company is offering the best deal. One source to find an independent insurance agent would be Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America. Searching the Internet may provide you with additional listings. You can also find independent agents listed in your local phone book.
You can get an estimate by either calling on the phone or by using the Internet. Depending on your comfort with the Internet, it might save you some time and effort. You can search through direct websites yourself or use a website that can compare several insurance companies for you at once. Use whatever method you are more comfortable with.
Regardless of the method you choose, make sure you are comparing apples to apples. If you're looking for car insurance, make sure that you are using the same deductibles and coverage from each of the companies. Look over the details of the estimates. If the coverage isn't nearly identical, the comparisons don't help you much.
Beyond that, do a little research to see what kind of customer service the insurance company has. The initial service is important, but maybe more important is what would happen if you have to file a claim. With the ease of having your opinion heard on the Internet today, a few Internet searches looking for customer service reviews of your chosen company may turn up a wealth of information. Bear in mind that because it's so easy to have your voice heard these days, you may also find that a few people with a personal grudge can have a much larger impact than the old days. Do your homework, but take extreme opinions with a grain of salt.
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