Getting Auto Insurance Estimates: Are They Reliable?

When shopping for auto insurance, you will probably receive several auto insurance estimates before you decide on a company and policy. You should remember that estimates are only approximate and that the actual price you pay for a policy may vary from the price you are quoted. So, here is some things you should know about auto insurance estimates.

Auto Insurance Estimates From the Insurance Agent

Generally speaking, estimates or quotes obtained from a local insurance agent will usually be very accurate. Most of the time, auto insurance agents will ask you what type of deductible you want, and ask you about particular policy limits that you may require. Most agents also do a good job of including miscellaneous fees and charges in the estimates as well. When it comes to accuracy and reliability of auto insurance estimates, you will probably receive the most accurate quotes from your local agent.

Online Auto Insurance Estimates

The accuracy and reliability of online car insurance estimates varies widely. While there are some insurance companies that do a good job of accurately estimating how much auto insurance coverage will cost you, other websites tend to leave out small details such as fees for paper statements, charges for making monthly payments and other miscellaneous fees and charges. Also, many websites quote you a price using higher $500 or $1000 deductibles. These quotes may not be very accurate if you need a smaller $100 or $250 deductible.

How to Spot Inaccurate Auto Insurance Estimates or Quotes

When searching for car insurance policies, you should be wary of any quotes that are much lower than others you receive. If you receive a car insurance estimate that is considerably lower than all the others you have received, you should check the quote and make sure the deductible amount and policy limits are in line with the others you receive. Most the time, you will find that the quoted policies require a much higher deductible or offer policy limits that don’t provide adequate coverage.