Why to Get Multiple Auto Insurance Quotes (2024)
By shopping around and getting multiple quotes for auto insurance, you can save hundreds of dollars. Some sites will even compare quotes for you.
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Tim Bain
Licensed Insurance Agent
Tim Bain is a licensed insurance agent with 23 years of experience helping people protect their families and businesses with the best insurance coverage to meet their needs. His insurance expertise has been featured in several publications, including Investopedia and eFinancial. He also does digital marking and analysis for KPS/3, a communications and marking firm located in Nevada.
Licensed Insurance Agent
UPDATED: Oct 22, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Oct 22, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
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Most experts advise people to compare multiple auto insurance quotes every year or so. The reason most experts advise this has to do with changes in the insurance market and changes in consumer’s lives.
The insurance market is very competitive, and things change all the time.
One company or another might introduce a new plan or type of discount that could be beneficial to some vehicle owners.
If you don’t take the time to compare insurers every once in a while, you might not be getting the best possible deal from your old company.
Additionally, things change in your own life. These changes can impact your best choice of coverage and company. You might not even realize what changes that you make might influence your best choice for an insurer. That is why it is helpful to shop around periodically.
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Changes that Might Impact Your Best Choice of Car Insurance Company
There are multiple changes that can occur in your situation that can change the type of car insurance premiums you receive. Some of these things can change the way you shop for car insurance:
- Buying a new or used car
- Adding a new driver to your family policy
- Paying off a car note
- Moving to a new house
Other good times to compare multiple auto insurance quotes are when you get married, switch jobs, start a business, or start working from a home office.
Auto insurance companies consider all sorts of things when they figure out how much to charge each customer for their coverage.
Some of these factors can include the age of the drivers, the type of insurance you need, makes and models of the vehicles to get covered, and the ZIP code where the car gets parked at night.
Shopping around for multiple car insurance quotes gives you a chance to compare current quotes, discounts, and plans. It also forces you and an insurance agent to consider your current circumstances.
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How To Compare Multiple Auto Insurance Quotes
If you have not bought a new policy for several years, you might think that shopping around for multiple plans and prices is a difficult and time-consuming task. In the old days, it did mean driving around to meet with several different local agents.
Even though local agents are very helpful, they are also motivated to try and sell you something.
This could make the process stressful as well as time-consuming.
However, it is much easier to compare multiple quotes and plans today. You can simply find online auto insurance quote forms that allow you to compare rates from multiple insurers in your area.
It should only take about five minutes to supply your basic information and click the Submit button. Then you can sit back and relax as multiple quotes and plans are delivered right to your personal computer, tablet computer, or smartphone.
In any case, you are never obligated to purchase a policy just because you got free quotes. You might want to do some more research, purchase your policy that day, or decide that your old coverage is still a good deal.
However, these free online quote systems can give you some information to base your decision upon.
Additionally, they should supply you with contact information for local agents or company representatives. It might be a good idea to contact these people before you make a final decision.
After you narrow down your choices, it should not take you that long to just contact a couple of agents or insurers for more information.
Should you still speak with a local agent?
It is never a bad idea to speak with local insurance agents. Good agents should be familiar with your community, and they can also provide a lot of advice that can help you choose with type of coverage is best for your family.
You should be aware that there are two types of auto insurance agents:
- Captive agents – These agents only represent one insurance company
- Independent agents – These agents can represent multiple insurers
Which type of agent is better? You will probably do best if you can simply find a good agent who stays in business because he provides good service for his clients.
Captive agents probably take the time to learn a lot about their own company’s products that are for sale in the area. On the other hand, multiple agents should know about several different companies, and they can shop the market for you.
If you already know which company you would like to learn more about, a captive agent can probably provide you with some good advice about his company’s products.
If you are still shopping around, it might be convenient to speak with an independent agent who can do some comparison shopping and provide advice.
In any case, you should know that agents are legally required to represent their customers. Yes, they get paid by insurers for selling policies.
But they still have a duty to represent their clients. If you can find a good agent who does his duty, you should probably hang onto him and tell all of your friends.
Should you only compare multiple auto insurance prices?
You really should not just shop by price alone. Drivers rarely save money when they sacrifice good coverage in order to save a few dollars on their monthly bills.
You might be prudent to check into a company’s record of handling claims and providing good customer service. You should be able to ask your friends for their opinions about their experiences with one company or another.
You can also find review sites that rank several factors about the services that car insurance companies provide their customers.
It might take a little bit of time to shop around for multiple auto insurance quotes. But you might find that you can save hundreds of dollars per year on your premium. If you take a little time, you can also be sure that you have purchased the right auto policy at the right price.
Enter your ZIP code into our FREE auto insurance comparison tool below to get started!
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Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap auto insurance rates.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I get multiple auto insurance quotes?
Obtaining multiple auto insurance quotes is highly recommended for several reasons:
- Price comparison: Insurance premiums can vary significantly among different insurance companies. Getting multiple quotes allows you to compare prices and find the most competitive rates for the coverage you need.
- Coverage options: Insurance companies may offer different coverage options, deductibles, and limits. By obtaining multiple quotes, you can assess the available coverage options and choose the policy that best suits your needs.
- Discounts and incentives: Each insurance company may have its own set of discounts and incentives that can help lower your premium. By comparing quotes, you can identify which insurers offer the most favorable discounts based on your eligibility.
- Customer service and reputation: Researching and obtaining quotes from multiple insurers gives you the opportunity to assess their customer service reputation, financial stability, and overall satisfaction ratings. This information can help you make an informed decision about the insurer you choose.
How many quotes should I get?
It’s recommended to obtain quotes from at least three different insurance companies. This provides a good range of options for comparison. However, if you have specific preferences or are particularly interested in a certain insurance company, you can focus on obtaining quotes from a few select insurers.
Should I only consider well-known insurance companies?
While well-known insurance companies often have established reputations, it’s worth considering quotes from both well-known and smaller or regional insurers. Smaller companies may offer competitive rates or specialized coverage options that align with your needs. Research the financial stability and customer reviews of any insurance company you are considering to ensure they are reputable.
Can obtaining multiple quotes affect my credit score?
Generally, obtaining multiple insurance quotes does not impact your credit score. Insurance quote inquiries are typically considered “soft inquiries” and do not have a negative impact on your credit. However, it’s recommended to confirm with the insurance companies or the quote providers whether they perform a soft or hard inquiry before obtaining quotes.
Should I always choose the cheapest quote?
While price is an important factor when selecting auto insurance, it’s crucial to consider the overall value and coverage provided. The cheapest quote may not always offer the most comprehensive coverage or the best customer service. Evaluate the coverage options, deductibles, limits, discounts, and the reputation of the insurance company before making a decision.
Free Auto Insurance Comparison
Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap auto insurance rates.
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Tim Bain
Licensed Insurance Agent
Tim Bain is a licensed insurance agent with 23 years of experience helping people protect their families and businesses with the best insurance coverage to meet their needs. His insurance expertise has been featured in several publications, including Investopedia and eFinancial. He also does digital marking and analysis for KPS/3, a communications and marking firm located in Nevada.
Licensed Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.