Smart Auto Insurance Blog

The JD Power 2009 National Auto Insurance Study rankings are out and Amica Mutual stays strong as the award recipient.  The detailed rankings can be viewed on JD Power’s website.  USAA and the New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Co. both ranked very high as well but are not included in the rankings since they are exclusive auto insurance groups.

Amica Mutual ranked among the best for all the categories which include overall satisfaction, contacting the insurer, policy offerings, billing and payment, and pricing.  Contacting the insurer is a score based on how customers rate their experience dealing with the auto insurance company in terms of an agent, call center representative, website, or an automated phone system.  This may include getting car insurance quotes.

Policy offerings is based on how customers rate the type and variety of coverage options offered by the insurer.  It also factors in the extent in which the company meets their needs.  Billing and payment is based on timeliness, accuracy, and the clarity of billing statements, and the overall payment process whether through regular mail or the internet.  Pricing factors in the actual cost as well as the type of coverage at that price.  Shelter Insurance and State Farm also ranked well in the study.

According to the article “State Insurance Official Says 15 Percent of Montana Drivers are Uninsured” by Charles S. Johnson on www.missoulian.com, Montana’s uninsured rate is slightly higher than the national average.

The national average for uninsured drivers is 13.8% while Montana is coming it at 15%.  Even neighboring states are much lower.  Mari Kindberg, the property and casualty actuary in the state Auditor’s Office says North Dakota comes in at 5%, South Dakota is at 7% and Wyoming is at 9%.  What is different about Montana that’s making Montana auto insurance quotes unattainable?

Kindberg states that Montana already has laws requiring drivers to have auto insurance and there are stiff penalties for those who choose not to and get caught.  The Revenue and Transportation Interim Committee is studying the problem of uninsured and underinsured drivers.  The Auditor’s Office recommended changing the state credit act to assist consumers keep their current auto insurance policies and make rates affordable during tough times.  This may help Montana’s high uninsured rate.

As online auto insurance quotes are getting more popular so are the concerns over giving personal information over the internet in order to shop around.  According to the article “No Personal Information Needed For Online Auto Insurance Quotes” by John Pirro found on emailwire.com, auto insurance companies are recognizing these concerns and are making the process easier.

Many insurers allow online quotes without sensitive personal information such as a social security number or driver’s license number.  It’s important for consumers to understand though that the less information they share, the more of an “estimate” the quote really is.  A quote is no guarantee since most insurers use driving records and credit information in calculating auto insurance rates.

It can be beneficial to use certain websites where you only have to enter in your information once and the site will generate numerous quotes for you.  Limiting the amount of times you enter in your personal information can be helpful in keeping it safe.  Visit www.smartautoinsurance.com to learn more about obtaining online auto insurance quotes.