How do you make sure that the auto insurance company you choose is going to be worth the money you’re paying them? How will the company interact with you when you file a claim?

Here’s a few tips:

1) Check the auto insurance company under your state’s department of insurance Web site. Every state has a department of insurance. Check for published “consumer complaint ratios” for all of the insurance companies that sell policies in their state. Use complaint ratios to screen prospective insurers.

By now you should already have a list of auto insurance companies with the lowest premium quotes. Choose the best company with the lowest premiums and the lowest complaint ratios.

2) Check out which auto insurers are recommended by local body shops. Contact local body shops that you trust and ask for their recommendations. They are most likely to know which companies have the easiest claims.

3) Use the JD Power Ratings. JD Power collects data from policyholders nationwide and rates them according to coverage options, price, claims handling, satisfaction with company representatives and the overall experience.

4) Look at the auto insurers’ financial standing. Look at the AM Best and Standard & Poor’s ratings. Both companies publish financial ratings for all insurance companies.

5) Consider talking with an agent. Auto insurance companies like Esurance, Geico and others nowadays allow you to purchase insurance directly — over the phone from a customer service representative or online.

Eminently Practical Advice - it’s best to make sure you have cheap and good comprehensive auto insurance on your side to cover those unexpected events on and off the road. Get a free quote and compare what you’re paying for auto insurance now.

C.T.

Auto Insurance Advisor

In just about every state in the country, if you’re going to drive a car you are required by law to have auto insurance. If you’re asking yourself the question how does auto insurance work? The answer is quite simple. You pay money in the form of premiums to an auto insurance company. In exchange for these payments your car insurance company assumes the financial responsibility should you be involved in an accident.

That is sort of an oversimplified explanation but that is the basic idea. Of course there are a lot more variables. There are different degrees of coverage and of course the more coverage you require the more you’re going to have to pay for that coverage. If you are driving an old clunker you may want to simply find some really cheap auto insurance and get whatever coverage is the absolute minimum allowed by law. On the other hand if you’re driving a brand-new car you may want to get full coverage so that your car can be repaired or replaced in the event of an accident even if that accident is your fault.

Car insurance is an expense that anyone who drives a car must deal with. But there are some ways to cut costs and get a low rate car insurance. One of the easiest ways to save money and lower rates is to simply shop around for multiple quotes and choose the one with the best coverage and the smallest premiums. Another way to save some money on car insurance would be to increase your deductibles. Increasing your deductible from $500 to $1000 can reduce your premium payments considerably. So as long as you don’t crash your car you won’t have to pay the deductible and you’ll save yourself some money. Being a safe driver with a clean driving record will also entitle you to some discounts on your premiums.

If you’re going to drive a car you are required to have auto insurance but that doesn’t mean you have to pay through the nose for it. Shop around, drive safely, and ask your insurance agent about possible discounts. You may be eligible for discounts you don’t even know about and you could possibly save some money just by asking.