In the digital age, shopping online has become the norm for many of us. Whether it’s your Prime membership, online grocery delivery or renting new clothes through an online company, the way we shop has changed dramatically. One area that’s still catching up to this digital revolution, however, is insurance. Shopping around online for auto insurance hasn’t yet become the norm, however, if you’re wondering how to get an online auto insurance quote, you’ve come to the right place.
With so many unfamiliar companies claiming to provide quotes online, it can be difficult to find a trustworthy place to compare auto insurance rates. If you’re in the beginning stages of looking for comparative auto insurance quotes online, here’s our guide to your options!
How to get an online car insurance quote
Do your research
Like any online shopping experience, not all online insurance quote providers are created equal! While some, like InsuraMatch, are true insurance agencies that can provide you real auto insurance quotes online, many are just platforms to connect you to the highest bidding insurance agencies and companies – sometimes many at once (if you’ve ever entered your information into one of these, you’ve probably gotten dozens of phone calls after the fact).
When looking for quotes online, be sure to read about the company first and check online reviews. Look for companies that are licensed independent insurance agencies instead of a technology platform and check to see if they’re a licensed producer in your state. If not, they are not authorized to sell insurance in your state and you can be relatively certain you’ll be passed along to someone who can. Sometimes, instead of a trusted partner, that company is the highest bidder.
If you’re wondering about InsuraMatch, read about us here and you can check out our producer licenses at the bottom of this page.
Gather your information
Like you would when calling an insurance agent, make sure you have your information handy when looking for an online insurance quote. You’ll want to have your coverage levels and your car’s make, model and year ready, as well as your driving history over the past five years fresh in your mind. In some cases, a VIN number can help speed up this process, but if you don’t have it, don’t worry. You can still get an online quote with InsuraMatch without your VIN.
Inputting accurate information is essential in getting an accurate online insurance quote. “Forgetting” to mention an accident from a couple years ago or leaving your spouse off the quote initially will only change your rates later in the process. Other details you can expect to need to share in order to complete an online quote are your address and how long you’ve lived there, how long you’ve been driving and your car’s safety features, as well as personal information like your name, email, date of birth and phone number. All of these questions help insurance companies determine your risk and price your quote accordingly.
Once you have all of your information ready, you’re ready to go! Just input your information into the quote engine to start comparing rates.
Ready to get an online auto insurance quote? Get started now!
Call to make your purchase
With strict regulations in the insurance industry, as well as complex rating factors that go into pricing out a quote, providing online quotes can be complicated – let alone binding a quote. For these reasons and more, most insurance companies do not allow customers to buy auto insurance online. At the end of the online insurance quoting process, you’re likely going to need to pick up the phone and speak to an insurance agent.
This isn’t such a bad thing. A licensed insurance agent, like one of our insurance advisors, is well-qualified to help you choose the coverage levels that will help protect you best financially. An agent can also help identify discount opportunities based on your driver profile to help you save on your premium. Connecting with an insurance agent is also helpful should you need to file a claim in the future, since you’ll have an expert professional on your side during the process.
When you call in about an online quote, an agent will review the information you entered online and ask any further questions the insurance companies mandate. Once you’ve reviewed your quote information, your agent will re-run your quote with any updates that may have been made to get you the most accurate pricing. Because not all insurance companies are able to offer insurance quotes online, your agent might even be able to provide you with additional quotes– which could mean better rates!
After reviewing your updated quotes with an insurance agent, you’ll be able to purchase the best match for you. You can skip straight to this process by calling an InsuraMatch agent today at (844) 300-3364.
The Bottom Line
Shopping for auto insurance can feel like a chore, however, you can get a sense of what your rates will before getting on the phone with an insurance agent by shopping around for auto insurance online. Online quotes are available 24/7, so you can shop at a time that’s best for you. In most cases, you’ll need to get on the phone with an insurance agent before you buy, but this can be a good thing, as an agent can help advise you on discounts and coverage.
Get your free online auto insurance quote today with InsuraMatch in just a few minutes! Then call one of our expert insurance advisors at (844) 300-3364 to review and purchase your coverage.