This is the modern age and there are very few households in the US that are not online, even if it is only via a dial up connection. While you are online, you should be aware that you can buy car insurance online. But is this safe or smart?
The answer is a resounding yes to both questions. In fact, many of the major car insurance companies have an online division. There are many people these days that are extremely busy and just do not have time to talk on the phone during the business day. So people like that like to read and respond to emails when they get a chance to relax at night or on the weekends, where they can take the leisurely time to read the fine print and make sure they are really comparing apples to apples as they compare prices and coverage amongst multiple car insurance policies that they are considering.
Another advantage to shopping for your car insurance online is that you can get quotes from multiple companies with just a couple of mouse clicks, compared to the offline method of calling around town, waiting to talk to the right person, waiting for callbacks, and the additional time it takes to perform this task offline. Is it any wonder that more and more people are turning to the online method which is so much faster?
But the online method of shopping for car insurance is not without its disadvantages. You need to make sure that when you are comparing two supposedly identical quotes, that they really are identical. Do they have the same coverages? Do they have the same deductibles in each area, such as collision, comprehensive, fire, theft, personal liability and property damage? What about hospitalization costs and ceilings? If your car is in the shop being fixed after an accident, do the policies provide rental car reimbursement?
When you submit your request for an online car insurance quote, they are going to quote you their best rate and are going to assume that you have provided accurate and 100% truthful information. The Internet is great for that kind of thing, but it also opens up the opportunity for someone to be not completely honest with the information they provide. For example, if they ask about your driving record and you happen to neglect to mention those 5 speeding tickets you got last year, your omission may be discovered when they actually write the policy, or even worse, it may not be discovered until you have a claim, at which point since you provided incorrect information, you may find yourself not insured at all! This is not a reflection of that online car insurance company, but rather should be seen as a reflection on YOU for not providing the correct information, and you cannot be upset with them at that time.
It definitely pays to shop around, and it definitely is worth your time and effort to get some online quotes to compare against the other quotes you are getting. Do not assume the first company you get a quote from is going to be your best option, but get all the data in front of you so you can be sure you are comparing apples to apples, then see which one has the best and most cost effective option for you.
