Reader’s Question:

What should I look for when choosing an auto insurance provider here in New Jersey? What are the things that could tell me if a certain auto insurance company is reliable or if it can save me money or not? Thanks!

Elise

Jersey City, NJ

Excellent question! In these thought times, knowing how to choose the right kind of auto insurance company can save you hundreds, even thousands, of dollars every year and a lot of headaches and frustrations too! So here’s an effective guide to help you get the best auto insurance company in New Jersey:

Criteria # 1: Price

Everyone is on a budget these days, especially with how the economy is going. The best way to know if you are getting the best price from an auto insurance provider is to compare it with others. This can now easily be done with the help of the many dedicated auto insurance portals and websites, each one allowing free and instant access the latest auto insurance rate quotes available in your state. Using two or three auto insurance portals to compare rates is usually enough to maximize your ability to spot the most competitively-priced rates and policies around.

Criteria #2: Quality Of Service

This includes customer service, the claims handling process and billing & payments. A reliable auto insurance company is someone you can contact at anytime, 24 hours a day. This is especially crucial if you get involved in an auto accident, as you would need to report this to your insurer immediately. A fair and efficient claims handling process is also vital to you as a policyholder. Also, we all know how billing errors and payment issues can be total nightmares! So this should be a serious consideration when choosing a company.

Independent Rating Agencies

Moody’s, J.D Powers, A.M Best, these are some of the best names when it comes to helping you find the best overall auto insurers around. Similar to auto insurance portals, these consumer rating agencies have websites that usually offer free comprehensive auto insurance company ratings on all three factors stated above and more.

All the information you need to find the right auto insurance company is easily available on the Web. It only takes a few minutes of your time, and just a bit of effort, but the pay-off in terms of savings and reliability is definitely worth it!