Car Insurance Online

How to Buy Car Insurance Online

Applying for car insurance online is much like doing so in person, but you can do it in the privacy of your own home. You will still need to share a lot of personal information so the company can determine how much of a risk you are to insure. Learning about your driving history and station in life is how the company decides your car insurance rate. Someone with a history of accidents and high-risk driving behavior will have a higher rate than someone with a clean driving record.

Since most of this information is sensitive, make sure you have updated virus scan and firewall software on your computer. Also check the site you are using to make certain that it is secure. You can tell by looking for a lock on the bottom of the screen.

When you are ready to apply, have the following information on-hand to make the application process faster:

• Personals information, such as name, sex, age, marital status, address, and telephone number. If you have moved recently, you will probably need to provide your last address and phone number.
• Driving history. Be honest about any speeding tickets, traffic violations, or accidents you have had. The insurance company will find out anyway when they do a background check, so it is best to be honest.
• Make, model, and year of car.
• How often and how far you drive.
• Credit history. The insurance company will run a credit check themselves, once you provide your social security number.

After you provide all this information and decide what kind of coverage you want, you will be provided with a car insurance quote. Many sites will do this instantaneously, and you can decide in minutes if you want to accept the policy. You can pay for your insurance right through the same web site, print out your proof of insurance, and hit the road.

Benefits to Buying Car Insurance Online

Many car insurance companies claim that you can save money using their site, and that may be true since it is so easy to compare insurance rates through the web. Imagine how much time it would take if you called three or four different car insurance companies and went through their application process.

Be careful that you are comparing the same type of policy. Company A may be cheaper than Company B, but if the deductibles are drastically different, Company A could cost more if you have an accident.

Buying car insurance online also eliminates potentially aggressive salespeople offering you add-ons you do not need. Before you purchase your policy, the website should spell out exactly what you are ordering, so there are no surprises.

You can also expect to reach more potential companies by shopping online. Your hometown may only have a handful of insurance offices, but the Internet has hundreds. As long as the company is licensed in your state, you can even use a foreign company if they have the policy you need. The company website should tell you where it is licensed or you can contact the Insurance Commissioner in your state for a list.

Best of all, searching for car insurance online means you can do it at your own pace and in your own time. Many of us cannot fit a trip to our local car insurance office into our day, so shopping online after normal work hours or during a lunch break fits into our busy schedules.

Drawbacks to Buying Online

The biggest disadvantage to getting insurance online is that you cannot talk to agent about any questions you have. An agent may also be able to show you different options or work within your budget to get you exactly the policy you need. But if you know what you want and are comfortable working without an agent, there is no reason not to try it.

Online Companies Offering Car Insurance

There are two types of companies offering car insurance on the web:

Direct Companies

Most large insurance companies like Geico, Progressive, and State Farm offer their own online forms that give you quotes directly from their company. They may also be able to show you discounts you qualify for or allow you to get information or quotes about other insurance products from their company.

Comparison Sites

These companies have one form for you to fill out. They then take your information and develop quotes from several insurance companies. You can then choose to do business with one of these companies or continue on your search. This saves a lot of time and can quickly show you how to save the most money. Popular sites include insweb.com, insure.com, and insurance.com.