Even with the reminders and having put “Renew car insurance!” notes on your calendar or fridge door, many people still forget to start the process of renewal. This is part of what happens when you live in a busy world where everyone is fully booked with massive number of tasks and activities to do every day including weekends. The International New York Times called it “The Busy Trap” and forgetting to renew your car insurance is part of the effects.
This is why the insurance industry through one of the top insurance companies began to offer instant online car insurance quote in 1999. The idea was quickly adopted by other insurance companies with an online presence and in 2010, there were over 20.2 million people who requested for an online car insurance quote!
Who Buys Insurance Online?
If you have never bought car insurance online and feel a bit unsure about taking that step, it should assure you that while more men shop online for car insurance, the number of females is growing. In 2013, there was an almost equal number of male to female ratio searching online insurance. More interesting is that more than 40% are over the age of 40 and 28% are over the age of 50! Practically everyone shops online because it is convenient, easy, and simple.
The first step is always the instant online car insurance quote which only requires your zip code and basic vehicle information. And if you’re worried because you have a ticket (or several tickets) or an at-fault accident, insurance websites are ready to handle more complicated situations involving auto insurance renewal.
Another reason why many consumers have shifted to shopping for their auto insurance online is because there is less, if any at all, pressure to sign up for insurance. Aside from having an agent selling you insurance, negotiating face-to-face had that added pressure to understand the documents. It can be confusing. By going online, you can take your time, find answers on the Internet, and have time to talk to people you trust about certain clauses you may not understand.
Instant Online Car Insurance Quote Gets the Job Done Faster
If you are pressed for time and need to renew your policy which is about to expire, the online insurance website can get it done for you even if it is after office hours or during the weekend. This is one of the plus factors to buying online. Time does not become a boundary forcing you to wait for Monday and business hours.
Worried about Legitimate Insurance Websites?
This should be one of the least of your worries because you can check with the local Insurance Commissioner for the state license of the insurance company you want to do business with. Every insurance company is mandated to be registered with the state. If you cannot find any mention of the company with the state’s website, then step away and look for another company to ask for an instant online car insurance quote.
Auto-Renewal: Should You or Shouldn’t You?
If you bought insurance last year and you are due for renewal, your insurance company usually notifies you. However, if you signed up for auto renewal, the insurance company will simply roll over the policy for another year. This is a feature that you can terminate at any time before the expiration of your current policy for reasons such as wanting to shift to another company or because you have sold the vehicle.
There are a few pointers you have to remember when agreeing to auto renewal such as:
- You do not have control over the rates and could possibly be paying more than what is necessary.
- You could be underinsured so it is recommended to go over the fine print and details of the new policy. If you are not happy, you can always search for instant online car insurance quote from other companies to see if you are getting a good deal.
- Before you sign up and agree to auto renewal, find out the fee for canceling this feature. Some companies charge a minimal fee and require that you notify them x number of months before the expiration of your current policy.
