Are Instant Auto Insurance Quotes Accurate?

Insurance consumers have been inundated in recent years with advertisements promising quick, accurate online quotes (some even promise to provide quotes for not only their own company but for their competitors as well). Many consumers are skeptical of these claims, and some groups have dismissed such practices as little more than marketing trickery. Nevertheless, if you remember a few basic rules, it is possible to use these online instant auto insurance quotes effectively to obtain a great deal when seeking auto insurance coverage.

Remember that an online instant auto insurance quote is an estimate. If you like the quote that the company web site provides to you, then you will typically be asked if you authorize an insurance agent to contact you. If the agent verifies the information that you have submitted, then he or she will almost always honor the quote provided by the online system. However, it is not unheard of for insurance companies to draw in consumers with low online instant auto insurance quotes, only to turn around and offer a higher quote upon review. Such practices are frowned upon and may even be illegal.

If you are upfront and honest while filling out the instant auto insurance quotes forms, then you can be reasonably comfortable in assuming that the insurance company will honor the figure that the automated system quoted. However, remember that the amount quoted by the automated system is not binding and simply serves as a starting point for negotiations with human insurance agents.

It's important to compare several auto insurance quotes before selecting a policy, so go ahead and get multiple estimates. Most companies will stand by the auto insurance quote amount they give you, but if not, you're under no obligation to take out a policy with them.