If you are searching for a new car insurance policy, your initial impulse is probably to compare insurance premiums in order to make certain that you get the best deal on your policy. But comparing rates alone will not provide you a good indication of which policy is more cost effective, dependable and better suited to your general needs. Use this list to help you narrow down your choices for all the reasons you should consider, not just cost.

1. Compare coverage options.

Check out the coverage options for all the different policies you have gotten quotes for. Make sure they are similar and that they provide you the security that is most vital to you. This may mean they only consist of state-required coverages or that they include additional protections like uninsured motorist coverage.

2. Compare deductibles and limits.

Policy premiums will differ, especially if you set different limits and deductibles on each. It isn’t a fair comparison to put a low-cost policy with high deductibles and low limits up next to one with small deductibles and high limits. So when you do your comparisons, make sure the deductibles and limits on each policy, for each coverage option, are comparable.

3. Compare A.M. Best ratings.

An insurance policy is only as good as the company that issues it. When comparing two different policies from two different carriers, don’t just center on cost, deductibles and coverages; take a look at the A.M. Best rating for every company to make sure they are alike in terms of financial standing.

4. Compare customer service and payment options.

If you like to do business on the internet, make sure that the insurance companies you are looking at have that capability. If you’d rather to converse on the telephone, make sure they can do that. Also, verify their different payment options (online, automatic draft, check, etc.) and pick the policies from those companies that have what you are searching for.

5. Compare rates.

Now that you’ve made sure that you have several comparable policies from different companies, it’s time to actually look at the rates and compare them. Be sure to check out all premium types—the annual, semi-annual, quarterly and monthly so that you get a good idea of the differences.

Once you’ve compared all these items and narrowed down your choices, you should finally come up with the policy that meets most, if not all, of your needs.

Call us at 713-227-7283 to review your current Houston auto insurance policy or customize a new policy today!