Breaking down an online car insurance quote
If you’re interested in taking out a car insurance policy for your beloved vehicle, sourcing online quotes is a time efficient way to begin your search. Rather than waiting in a telephone queue, or travelling between different insurance companies, you’ll be able to directly compare the quotes offered by a number of reputable companies with a mere click of a button. However, it’s always a good idea to bear in mind that quotes, and especially online quotes, are usually a basic estimation of costs rather than a set figure. Here are some tips to get the most out of an insurance quote that you’ve sourced online.
Consider the information you’ve been asked to provide
Car insurance companies will use the information you put into their online forms as a basis for providing a quote. Some of these forms are more sophisticated than others, which is an indication that the quotes you receive will vary in accuracy. While most forms will ask about information such as your age, your past accident history, and the make and model of your car, many forms omit important details that can have an impact on the cost of your insurance. For example, a form might not ask about whether you’ve installed a security system in your car, or whether you park it safely in a locked garage during the day and at night. Some forms might not take into account modifications that you might have made to your car, or additions such as a stereo system.
Does the form take into account different payment options?
Car insurance policy costs can vary depending on how you decide to pay your insurance, as well as what’s included in your coverage. For example, a decision to pay a higher excess usually translates into lower premiums, and vice-versa. Similarly, a decision to include optional extras in your coverage, or to excise parts of a policy that aren’t relevant to your needs as a car owner will also have an impact on the cost of your policy. Often these details won’t be reflected in a quote, so this is something you should bear in mind when comparing the different quotes offered.
Do you have an existing insurance policy?
Whether you have an existing insurance policy for your home or business will also influence the overall cost of your insurance policy, but this is something that often won’t be taken into account by an online insurance quote service. While some quote services may flag this as an area where you may save money, many won’t, so it’s worth bearing this in mind when you’re comparing different online auto insurance quotes.
Online auto insurance quotes are only ever an estimation, and while they can be indicative of the cost you’ll incur, they’re unlikely to be entirely accurate. Always keep this in mind when sourcing a quote, and make sure you ask the hard questions before signing up for a new auto insurance policy.
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