Owning a car is an important milestone in your life. However, in today’s society, you cannot risk driving your car without car insurance. It’s not only unlawful in most of the states, but it can turn out to be costly.
With the US insurance industry netting over 1. 28 trillion in premiums annually, you must ensure that your premium goes to the right insurance company. Picking car insurance companies that are reputable and reliable can make all the difference.
Let’s be honest: not all insurance companies will focus on offering top reasonable rates and top-notch customer services at the same time. Some are just focused on making profits only. Choosing the wrong insurance company can be frustrating and a waste of your money.
For this reason, choosing a reputable and reliable insurance company becomes invaluable. However, with more than 600,000 insurance companies serving customers in the US, how do you narrow it down to the best? Worry no more.
Here is a comprehensive guide on the top 7 factors to consider when picking car insurance companies
1. Licensing
When looking for an insurance company, don’t just pick any insurance company you come across. Some companies might not be licensed to operate in your state. Imagine paying premiums for over one year only to find the insurance company no longer exists?
Yes, unlicensed companies can disappear from the industry without warning. Picking a licensed car insurance company can help you save money. Besides, in case of a problem, the state insurance department can help you out if you are dealing with a licensed car insurance company.
Therefore, before choosing a car insurance company, you need to ask them to show their license. But be warned not all licenses are genuine. For this reason, you need to contact your state insurance department to confirm the licensing of the insurance company.
2. Check on the Financial Situation
When choosing an insurance company, people tend to focus more on their financial status. You want an insurance plan whose premiums you can comfortably afford.
It would help if you also focused on the financial situation of the car insurance company. Despite the insurance industry netting over 1.28 trillion dollars per year, you need to keep in mind the insurance companies have to pay for claims.
You will definitely need a car insurance company that will have your back if you need to make a claim.
The big player in the insurance industry might have the capability of paying for claims at any time. However, if you choose a ‘smaller’ insurance company that fits your budget, you need to also focus on their financial situation.
Thus, you will need to have a look at the books of the car insurance company. If the books are in good order, you can rest easy.
3. Company’s Size
The size of the car insurance company is another factor to weigh when choosing an insurance company. Car insurance companies that operate nationwide might have a better financial situation. However, don’t forget that smaller companies might offer more personalized policies that better suit your needs.
Besides, smaller insurance companies operate in a small geographical area and have a small risk profile. This means the company will receive fewer claims that will have a little effect on their financial situation, making it easy for them to pay a claim when needed.
Thus, when choosing a car insurance company, you must weigh the benefits of both the large and the small competitors. Depending on the needs of your car and your financial situation, choose a car insurance company you are comfortable with.
4. Reviews
Don’t be misled by most insurance companies’ promises on their websites and social media pages. Some are just empty promises whose aim is to attract your attention. For this reason, you need to dig deeper into the reputation of the car insurance company.
Reading online reviews can help you assess the company’s track record. A car insurance company with negative customer reviews is worth keeping off.
But a car insurance company with many positive reviews and pays attention to negative reviews is worth giving a try.
However, don’t just trust the customer reviews you find on the car insurances website. Some might not be genuine. Check the reviews on the better business bureau that are purely third-party reviews and more reliable.
5. Cost of Premium
The premium charged by car insurance companies varies from one company to another. You will definitely need a car insurance policy whose premium you can afford. However, this does not mean you go for an insurance company that charges the lowest premium.
The lower your premiums are, the lower coverage you will have on your policy. Before choosing the right insurance premium, you need to inquire about the coverage you will get. You will also need to focus on deductibles and co-pay.
Believe me; you don’t want to choose a car insurance company that offers low premiums by coupling them with high deductibles. This will leave you paying more upfront before the insurance policy kicks in.
Thus, before picking the best car insurance premium, focus on the insurance deductible rate and co-pays.
Do you know there is a state’s minimum auto liability requirement that you should meet? To avoid finding yourself having to deal back and forth with the state, you need to know more about this requirement.
6. Ease of Doing Business
Car insurance companies don’t operate in the same way. Others offer excellent customer service than others. Others are easy to contact than others.
When making your claim, you will need a car insurance company that you can quickly contact. For this reason, you need to consider dealing with a car insurance company that offers 24/7 customer support and online claim reporting.
7. Referrals
I believe you are not the first person to need the services of a car insurance company. Your friends and relatives must be aware of some of the best car insurance companies around. However, even after being referred to a given car insurance company, don’t blindly go ahead to work with the company.
Not all car insurance companies will have insurance plans that will meet your personal needs. Therefore, you will need to check the cost of premiums, deductions, and discounts offered by the car insurance companies before picking the one that suits your need.
Consider the Above Tips When Picking Car Insurance Companies
Finding a car insurance company with customers’ interests at heart might be challenging. However, picking car insurance companies that offer the best insurance plans can help you have peace of mind.
Pay attention to the above factors to consider when choosing a car insurance company, and picking the best will become easy-peasy.
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