Smart Auto Insurance Blog

As more and more consumers become Internet savvy, shopping online for auto insurance quotes is becoming more popular.  People are drawn to the convenience and ease of shopping online.  According to the press release “Shopping for Auto Insurance Online Becoming More Popular in New Year, according to Onlineautoinsurance.com” found on prweb, found a large increase of online shoppers on their site in January 2010 compared to any month in 2009.  This goes to show which way the trend is heading.

The Missouri Department of Insurance encourages the use of online auto insurance shopping.  Their research shows you can get 20 quotes online in the time it may take you to get 3 quotes by calling various auto insurance companies on the phone.  Many insurers are excited about the increase of shoppers online such as Progressive and Eastwood Insurance which both have options to get quotes directly on their website.

Times are changing and it’s important to ensure, as a consumer, you are getting the best deal on your auto insurance quotes.

According to the article “New Year May Provide Opportunities to Save on Auto Insurance” found on the Sun Herald’s website, consumers should be aware of some personal changes that will come with the new year to obtain lower auto insurance quotes.

The first change discussed is an increase in your age.  Many companies offer lower rates with the more driving experience you have.  Also, if you have a driving violation on your record, your rates may get better with each passing year.  Eventually those violations will fall off your record and affect your quotes.  If you have gotten married it’s worth reevaluating your auto insurance rate since many companies view married couples less risky.

Another benefit to passing time is the depreciation of your automobile.  The less your car is worth the less your auto insurance rates usually are.  Once your car has reached a certain value it may be worth considering to drop your collision insurance and just keeping your liability insurance to save money.  Companies such as Eastwood Insurance incorporate all of these variables into determining your quotes, so shopping around in the new year may be well worth your time.

According to the article “Regulators Shy Away From Imposing Emissions-Cutting Auto Insurance” by Evan Lehmann on NYTimes.com, key insurance regulators recently said they won’t require the auto insurance industry to offer auto insurance policies that help reduce emissions by rewarding drivers who are on the road less.

The regulators also weren’t keen on the new plan to make those policies standard across the county.  This plan is often known as “pay-as-you-drive”.  Joel Ario, Pennsylvania’s insurance commissioner believes they will never require the pay-as-you-drive concept.  Ario and other researchers have promoted the drive less mentality over the years.  They believe drivers will stay off the roads more if they know they will pay less on auto insurance quotes because of it.  This will lead to less environmentally unfriendly emissions from automobiles.

The concepts are similar to other movements such as the Energy Star appliance standards, and the green building code called LEED, or Leadership Energy and Environmental Design.  Auto insurance companies such as Eastwood Insurance, would have to offer some type of policy that rewards drivers for driving less, but in a way this already makes drivers less risky which often translates to lower rates.

Eastwood Insurance and Infinity Auto Insurance are both known for their expertise in non-standard auto insurance.  In today’s environment, these types of companies are becoming more and more important. 

Auto insurance is being dropped at an alarming rate and once you are caught driving without the proper coverage you may run into trouble finding a company to insure you.  This is where Infinity and Eastwood Insurance can help.  Infinity auto insurance ranks among the top 50 Property and Casualty Insurance companies in the US and is the 2nd largest underwriter of non-standard auto insurance through independent auto insurance agents according to their website.  Eastwood Insurance is a proven industry leader in non-standard auto insurance and offers quality sales and service for all types of auto coverage. 

If you find yourself in a situation where you are considered a high risk driver and have difficulty getting reasonable auto insurance quotes, check out these two companies.  You can get quotes directly online and comparison shop instantly.

It can be challenging to find affordable auto insurance, but it’s even harder if you have been involved in a serious accident or have many driving violations against you.  If you file too many claims you may find it harder to find auto insurance as well.

There are many drivers who fall into this category.  That’s why a unique market has emerged in the auto insurance industry known as “non-standard auto insurance”.  Many auto insurance companies specialize in this type of insurance such as Infinity Auto Insurance and Eastwood Insurance.  These types of companies understand the kind of protection high-risk customers need. 

It’s important that these companies thrive because there is definitely a need for high-risk drivers to have coverage, perhaps more important than safe drivers.  It can be challenging for an insurer to take on these types of customer since they often cost the company more money and even though they generally pay higher premiums it doesn’t always offset the costs.  This may translate to less revenue which companies do not want to risk.

Eastwood Insurance has come along way since it started back in 1989.  Over the years it has become an industry leader in offering quality service of auto insurance coverage.  They have developed a reputation of integrity and expertise.  They believe insurance should be affordable for all and they truly want to save their customers money.

Eastwood Insurance individually chooses their partners.  Instead of offering every single insurance product on the market, they look for partners who can represent what Eastwood believes in.  Information is being delivered faster than ever and they ensure their technology is up to date.  Their website provides easy access to the company’s information, employment opportunities and changing trends in the insurance industry. 

Community service is also an important part of Eastwood’s philosophy.  They contribute regulary to Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles, and Oakland.  They also contribute to Goodwill Industries.  Their employees are always encouraged to take an active role in the community in any way they can.  This shows what kind of company you will be doing business with if you become their customer.

When shopping around for auto insurance, it’s important to understand the different ways to buy and understand some of the pros and cons of each.  There is a huge market for auto insurance out there today and it can be overwhelming when you first start out your shopping experience.

One option to buy auto insurance is to go through a broker, such as Eastwood Insurance.  Brokers, in general, do the shopping for you which can save you time and money in the long run.  It’s important to know when you are going through a broker, because sometimes consumers may think the broker company is actually supplying the insurance coverage, when really a different company is, causing billing and customer service confusion.

Purchasing directly from an insurance carrier can have its benefits because you know what you are getting right off the bat.  You may see an advertisement on TV or the web and can call directly to get your price.  On the other hand, if you are interested in ensuring you are getting the lowest quote, shopping around by calling each carrier is timely and can be extremely redundant.  You can also use websites such as smartautoinsurance.com to help you shop around and determine if you are getting the best price.  It’s a competitive market, so the informed consumer definitely saves more.