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

For people with no credit history, it is nearly impossible to get credit cards with low rates in the short-term. For people with a fuzzy history, it can be very difficult to get one. However, for all applicants with a solid rating it is very easy to get such a card.

But, there is a lot more to a credit card than the interest rate. Some card issuers offer plastic with a low rate of interest but more than make up the difference in their profit margins by tacking on all sorts of fees and surcharges. Other companies offer the best credit card rates only for the first several months, then suddenly interest rates become extremely high. Still others will offer all sorts of different rates depending on whether the money was for a balance transfer, purchase, or cash advance.

There are some cards coming with low interest rates that are not fixed-rate but floating rate. As the prime rate changes so do the interest rates on variable-rate plastic. It is possible to carrying a balance on your card at 10% and suddenly the federal government has the rates up by 5% and you’re drowning in debt at a 15% interest rate.

In general, the interest rate on your plastic isn’t important as you would pay off your account in full every month. But when unexpected events occur in life your best credit card offers can provide you with emergency money. This is when you really need a low interest credit card. As long as you don’t miss any payments on your account, your low rate should remain. If you miss a payment, your interest rate can easily go up %10-20%, depending on your current rate. Furthermore, your credit rating is harmed and you may not be able to get any more a credit card with low interest rate.