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Car insurance is one of those products you can only avoid purchasing if you choose to never own a car.
If you want to enjoy the freedom that owning a car offers you, you’re going to have to solicit auto insurance quotes and choose which quote is best for you and your budget.
After you compare pricing, you’ll have to apply for the policy and provide all of the detailed information that your agent asks for.
You don’t have to provide a stack full of documents to get an auto quote, but you do need to provide some information that can only be found in reports when you apply for coverage.
If you are trying to get prepared so you can buy insurance, here are some of the documents that you need in your file so that you can answer every question correctly.
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An auto insurance quote is an estimate that gives consumers the information that they need to decide on a carrier. Since insurance premiums are based on so many different rating factors, everyone’s rates are different.
The only way that you can really shop the market is to solicit quotes and compare them.
When you’re getting insurance quotes, you need to provide some of your personal information. The only way that you can go about getting an accurate quote is to provide information about you, your vehicle, and your driving habits.
You don’t need to show an agent any documents if you’re just getting a casual quote, but you do need to provide accurate answers to the best of your knowledge.
Virtually all personal auto insurance companies will ask for the same basic information to give you estimates.
This is the information that’s needed to put you in a rate class and to give you all of the discounts that you’re eligible for. If you’ve never gotten a quote by phone or online, here’s some of the information you’re going to have to provide:
You can get quotes for free as long as you’re not doing business with a brokerage that charges a brokerage fee. After you get your free quotes, the next step is completing an application.
It’s much like getting a pre-approval for a loan and then having to provide detailed information when you’re ready to apply.
Agents don’t ask you everything when you’re getting quotes because it can extend how long it takes to give you the pricing information that you need.
Since a lot of the details you need to provide won’t change the insurance rate, you won’t be asked for all of the details right away.
Much of the information that you provide it so that the insurer can verify the picture that you’re painting. They need to look at your records and history to fact check. Some of the documents that you should have to complete the application include:
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To get an auto insurance quote, you must provide your date of birth, license number, accident details, and vehicle information.
Getting auto insurance quotes can be a time-consuming process when you’re not prepared. Since an auto insurance policy is a legally-binding contract, the insurer asks for a lot of information to ensure the company isn’t taking on the wrong risks.
If you’d like to shop around for auto insurance, preparation is the key. By gathering all of the documents and information that you need before you start the process, you can save both time and money.
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A car insurance quote is an estimate of what your auto insurance rate might be through a specific carrier. Since all carriers weigh factors differently, shopping around for several different quotes is necessary to find the best rates.
While comparison shopping is necessary, the estimates that you receive aren’t binding.
You must submit an application for coverage – once that application is fully underwritten, you’ll see your actual rate for the term. It’s possible to be quoted a rate and then to receive a bill with a higher rate after the 30- or 60-day underwriting period.
When you’re soliciting auto insurance quotes, most companies will ask you for the same pieces of information. This information helps the agent place you in a rate class. If you are dishonest about your habits or history, you can easily be misquoted.
You should be prepared to give the following information:
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While the above list is a lot of information, most of it is information you’d know off the top of your head. However, once you submit an application a company will ask for more specific information.
Here are some specifics an underwriter may need:
It’s going to be hard to remember the specifics of all this information. Luckily, there are documents you can request in advance to ensure the full accuracy of your history.
Here are some documents you may want to prepare before applying for auto insurance:
A letter of experience does two different things. First, it shows the insurer you’ve had prior insurance with a carrier. Second, it helps remove errors from your claims history. Ask your previous insurer to draft a letter of experience for you.
A declarations page will show you how you’re being rated with your current insurer. If you don’t know what limits you’re carrying, or if you don’t know your loss payee clause, you can find all of this on your current declarations page. Don’t confuse the declarations page for your insurance ID card.
Some insurance companies offer automatic withdrawals. To set this up, be sure to have a canceled check or your account number on hand when applying.
For drivers who have been licensed in other states, it’s important to have prior licensing information. A driver abstract or your old licensing information will demonstrate your previous experience to your insurer.
The more information you have, the better. If you have everything that you need for quotes, start shopping around now. Size up the coverage that you have now and then modify it if necessary.
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