Auto Insurance Referrals

You know you need a car insurance quote. But how do you know you can count on a particular company reliably handling your claims and other needs? Get a referral from someone you know. Anyone who drives needs to have insurance coverage. That means there are a number of recommendations that friends and others can make based on your needs.

Before you ask someone else the first question, ask yourself: What do I need? Yes, you need an insurance quote but what should the policy give you? Look at state government Web sites to learn about the vehicle insurance requirements in your state. That is the minimum of what you need. What else should you have? If your assets are few, the minimum may be enough. But if you have a home and other assets that could be taken away in a lawsuit stemming from an auto wreck, you'll need more coverage to protect what you have.

Armed with that information, approach those people who seem to have a similar lifestyle as you. That usually means talking with co-workers since your compensation likely is similar to theirs. Also, pick the people who have similar thresholds of excitement in their lives. Be honest with yourself about the sort of person you are. If you like driving fast each day, you likely are going to need a different policy from the person who drives cautiously the few times she or he is behind the wheel.

Now start asking others. Before you start asking a lot of personal questions, explain to the other individuals why you want to know. Give them the chance to decline and don't take it personally. Just make sure you get your information from at least several individuals. Once you find the right match, get the URL for that company's Web site so you can get more information. The Web site is another clue about how the insurer would handle your needs. If the site offers little information or is hard to use, that may tell you whether they're interested in serving you or taking your money.

Another group to talk with is a little less obvious but they have the most contact with car insurance companies to know the good ones from the bad. This group is made up of auto body repair representatives. They can tell which companies are quick to meet their needs and which are not. Since the auto body employees deal with claims on a daily basis, they are in the right position to advise those who don't have the same experience. They also know which companies want cars repaired with cheaper after-market parts. You want the insurers who will pay to have your vehicle restored to the same quality it had when it left the factory.

While you are getting all of this information, make sure you are taking good notes. There is nothing worse than making a critical decision based in what you think someone said. You could end up making a decision that will cost you more time and money in the long run.