Health Republic Insurance Extends Enrollment Window to March 15

Lake Oswego, Ore. (Feb. 18, 2015) – Health Republic Insurance, a non-profit health insurance carrier, announced that it has extended its enrollment window and  will continue to sell plans to individuals and families until March 15, with a plan effective date of April 1. The extended enrollment period only applies to plans purchased directly from Health Republic and not on the federal exchange.

“Our core mission is to increase the number of Oregonians with access to quality health care, and securing a good health insurance plan is the first step towards getting the care they need,” said Dawn Bonder, president and CEO of Health Republic. “Our extended enrollment period is a great opportunity to help people who need more time to choose the plan that will best fit their health care needs in 2015.”

To purchase a Health Republic plan, individuals Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and mail or fax in a paper application. A Qualifying Life Event (QLE) is not required to purchase a plan during this extended enrollment period.

About Health Republic Insurance

Unlike traditional health insurance companies, Health Republic is a 501(c)(29) private non-profit governed by its members, and by law must reinvest all profits back to its programs, including providing better care and lower costs for members. Health Republic provides access to health care in all parts of Oregon through the statewide Providence Network. This partnership offers members an extensive group of providers, practitioners, and facilities, including 60 hospitals and thousands of providers, labs, imaging locations and physician clinics throughout Oregon and SW Washington. To learn more, visit.

Lake Oswego, Ore. (Feb 4, 2015) – Health Republic Insurance, a non-profit health insurance carrier, will host a live telethon to answer viewer questions about health insurance and open enrollment on Thursday, Feb. 5 on KOIN 6 TV. The telethon will air from 3:30-7 p.m., and will feature licensed Health Republic staff available to answer phone calls and sign people up for coverage, provide information about key deadlines, penalties, subsidies and offer free quotes.
“We understand how confusing the open enrollment process can be for many people and our goal is to make this event a true health insurance ‘Infothon.’ During the event we will give people the critical information they need to navigate the sign-up process so they can avoid penalties and get the health insurance coverage they need,” said Health Republic president and CEO Dawn Bonder.
Health Republic licensed representatives will also be available to answer questions and sign people up for coverage during their free enrollment fair held in the community room at the McMenamin’s Kennedy School on Friday, Feb. 6 from 1:30-5:50 p.m. (5736 N.E. 33rd Ave).
Open enrollment ends February 15, 2015. Individuals must have health insurance coverage by that date in order to avoid penalties.

Great Insurance On The Slopes

There's no better feeling than flying across fresh powder on your snowmobile. But are you and your sled protected if a breakdown or tree stump gets in your way? Allstate snowmobile insurance can give you the specialized coverage at a great price. Talk to an agent about what's available and get started on your snowmobile insurance quote.

Get The Help And Support Of An Agent.

Snowmobile insurance isn't the most common, which is why having a dedicated Allstate^® agent can be so helpful. Your agent will know the nuances of your coverage and understand your choices. He or she can answer your questions along the way and help you:

• Understand your options and hone in on the protection you need
• Find discounts you qualify for to save more on your premium
• Learn what you need to know about filing any claims
• Get maintenance tips and advice to keep your sled running smoothly

 

Savings For Your Sled.

Don't pay more than you have to for quality snowmobile insurance coverage. You'll find a variety of Allstate insurance discounts based on things like your payment method and other policies you hold. An agent can help you understand all the ways you can save. 

Insurance For Your Mobile Home

You can help protect your mobile or manufactured home, your belongings and your family with Allstate. The coverage for mobile and manufactured homes is similar to a homeowners insurance policy, but there are some differences. You can talk to an Allstate agent who can help you understand what a mobile home insurance policy can protect.

Learn About Standard Mobile Home Coverage Types.

When you're thinking about purchasing insurance for your mobile or manufactured home, it's helpful to understand what your policy protects. Most Allstate mobile home insurance policies include standard coverage types, such as:

• Dwelling (home structure)
  This type of insurance is what can help protect the physical structure of your home, like the walls and the roof.
• Other structures
  This type of insurance can help protect the physical structure of buildings on your property that are separate from your home, such as a shed or a stand-alone garage.
• Personal property
  Personal property coverage can help protect the belongings inside your home, which can include belongings like furniture, bicycles, stereos and more. If these belongings are stolen or damaged outside of your home, personal property coverage could also help you replace them.
• Liability protection
  Liability insurance can help protect you if someone makes a claim against you or sues you for damages after being injured on your property.
• Guest medical protection
  This type of coverage can help cover the cost of medical expenses for a person who's injured on your property.

Optional Coverage For Your Mobile Home.

You can choose to add optional coverage to your mobile or manufactured home insurance policy. Optional Allstate coverage for mobile homes includes:

• Personal property reimbursement provision
  Typically covers your belongings for the amount it would take to replace them at the time of the claim.
• Fire department coverage
  Helps cover charges made by fire departments called to protect your property from a loss covered by your policy.
• Extended coverage on jewelry, watches and furs
  Increases coverage limits for jewelry, watches and furs.
• Business pursuits
  Extends coverage for specified business pursuits of an insured person—e.g., classroom teachers and clerical office employees.
• Satellite dish antennas personal property protection
  Helps pay for sudden and accidental direct physical loss to satellite dish antennas and their systems.
• Trip collision coverage
  Insures your home as it is being transported from the factory to your location.
• Vendor's single interest coverage
  Protects against collision during transportation and various types of fraud, including a lienholder's right to repossess the manufactured home.
• Mine subsidence insurance
  Covers the movement or collapse of land caused by manmade underground mines. This may be a mandatory coverage in some counties.
• Identity restoration coverage
  Coverage that can help in the event your identity is stolen.

In addition to optional coverage you can add to your mobile home insurance, there are also other policies you might consider purchasing, like flood insurance and personal umbrella insurance . To discuss your options and understand what your insurance can cover, find an agent .

Get Dependable Coverage And Discounts.

Save on mobile or manufactured home insurance with discounts from Allstate. There are many ways you can save on your already affordable monthly premium with discounts like:

• Original owner discount
  If you're the original titleholder of your mobile or manufactured home, you could save up to 5% a year.
• Multi-policy discount
  Save up to 15% when you insure more than just your mobile home with Allstate.
• Protective device discount
  Installing protective devices, like a home security system, in your manufactured home can help you save up to 15%.
• 50 and retired discount
  If you're over the age of 55 and retired, you could save up to 10%.

Find an agent to learn about all the discounts available to help you save on mobile or manufactured home insurance.

Insurance, coverage and discounts are subject to terms and conditions, which may vary by state. Discount amounts and total savings will vary. Other terms, conditions and exclusions may apply.

Insurance Quality Protection For Your Place

You may not need to mow the lawn or shovel the walkway, but it's still important to protect your condo or townhouse with insurance. Get dependable coverage for your belongings and yourself with Allstate condo insurance. Once you know what your condo association covers and requires, a local agent can help guide you through the rest.

Get Extra Coverage For Extra-Serious Problems.

In addition to your condo insurance policy, there are a few other policies you may want to consider to help protect against bigger issues you could face. Talk to an agent about protecting your belongings against flooding and keeping your assets safe if you're hit with a hefty lawsuit. 

Discover What An Agent Can Do For You.

Insurance for your townhome or condo can be tricky to navigate since condo associations vary so much. With an Allstate policy, you get a dedicated, local agent who can help you make informed choices along the way. Your agent can help you:

• Understand what your policy covers and answer your questions
• Find discounts to save you money on your premium
• Get answers about the claims process, before or after you file one
• Explore practical tools and maintenance tips for your condo or townhouse

Condo Discounts You Won't Want To Miss.

Your agent can help you identify ways to save on your premium, but you can check out what's available here, too. Something as simple as setting up automatic withdrawal can result in a lower payment. No matter how low you monthly premium is, you'll still enjoy high quality condo insurance coverage. 

Cut Your Premium, Not Your Coverage.

With Allstate, you'll enjoy quality protection and a variety of auto insurance discounts. Your lifestyle, driving habits and policy management preferences are just a few of the many factors considered when determining what discounts are available to you.

Featured Discount

With Drivewise^®, driving safe can help you save. Downloading a mobile app or installing a small device in your car to track your safe driving habits could help you earn a savings of up to 30%.

Vehicle Discounts

A shiny new set of wheels can help you lower your car insurance rates. Your car's safety features could also help you spend less on auto insurance. Explore all the vehicle discounts from Allstate:

• Passive restraint discount
  If your car came from the factory with airbags and motorized seatbelts, you could save up to 30%.
• Anti-lock brake discount
  When your car is equipped with anti-lock brakes, you'll score a 10% discount.
• Anti-theft device discount
  Secure more savings with an anti-theft device in your car—up to 10%.
• New car discount
  Save up to 30% if you're the first owner of the vehicle and your car is only two years old.
• Economy car discount
  You could save some green for driving green. Insuring an economy car could help you earn up to a 10% off your premium.
• Utility discount
  Save up to 15% when you own a utility vehicle with a model year of 2002 and prior.
• Farm vehicle discount
  Save up to 10% when you vehicle is used primarily for farm or ranch work.

Policy Discounts

From the way you pay your bill to purchasing additional insurance from Allstate, your policy management style can help you save money. Discover the available policy discounts:

• EZ pay plan discount
  Save up to 5% on auto insurance when you set up automatic withdrawal.
• eSmart® discount
  Sign up for ePolicy—a convenient way to view all your insurance documents online—and save up to 10%.
• FullPay® discount
  Save up to 10% when you pay your policy in full.
• Auto/Life Discount
  Enjoy a discount on your auto insurance when you purchase a life insurance policy.
• Multiple policy discount
  Save up to 10% on your auto insurance when you purchase a home or renters policy.
• Early Signing Discount
  Save up to 10% when you sign your policy seven days before it becomes effective.
• Good payer discount
  Save up to 5% if you did not receive a cancellation notice for non-payment during the past 12 months.

Lifestyle Discounts

You could already be eligible for discounts that can help make your auto insurance more affordable. See the ways your lifestyle can help you save:

• Senior adult discount
  Drivers who are at least 55 years old and not actively seeking full-time employment can save up to 10%.
• 55 and retired discount
  Drivers who are at least 55 years old and not actively seeking full-time employment can save up to 10%.
• Resident student discount
  Enjoy up to 35% off your premium if you have a child attending school at least 100 miles away from where your car is garaged.
• Good student discount
  All those A's can add up. Single, full-time students under the age of 25 can save up to 20% for getting good grades.

Driving Discounts

If you have a history of safe driving habits or proactively develop your safe driving skills, you could be rewarded with auto insurance discounts. Check out the discount rewards Allstate offers:

• Premier discount
  Save up to 22% for driving 3 years without any violations or accidents.
• Premier plus discount
  Save up to 35% for driving 60 months without any violations or accidents.
• Safe drivers discount
  Your safe driving habits could save you up to 45% on car insurance.
• teenSMART discount
  Save up to 10% when your teen successfully completes the teenSMART driver education program.
• Defensive driver discount
  Drivers who are 25 years old, have completed six or more hours of defensive driving courses and have no violations and no at-fault claims can save up to 10%.

Savings For Teen Drivers.

There are lots of ways for teen drivers to earn discounts on auto insurance with Allstate. From good student discounts to rewards for defensive driving programs, your teen's car insurance premium could be less expensive than you think.

The availability, qualifications and amounts of these discounts may vary from state to state. In addition, terms, conditions and exclusions not described above may apply, and total savings may vary depending on the coverages purchased. In some states, we may offer discounts that are not listed here. For more information regarding your eligibility for these savings opportunities, please contact your Allstate agent.

Savings and coverage subject to terms, conditions and availability. Your Choice Auto^® Accident Forgiveness, Deductible Rewards^® Safe Driving Bonus^®and New Car Replacement are optional and subject to terms, conditions. NOT AVAILABLE IN EVERY STATE. Deductible Rewards apply to collision coverage. In NY and PA, deductible amount will not go below $100. In NY, Safe Driving Bonus^® is a discount. Safe Driving Bonus^® is based on eligible premium for prior policy period (except in NY), and won't apply after an accident. Policy issuance is subject to qualifications. Allstate Insurance Company, Allstate Indemnity Company, Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Company, Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Northbrook, IL.

Drivewise available in AL, AK, AR, AZ, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV and WY. Feature is optional. Subject to terms, conditions and availability. Savings based on how you drive. Your savings will vary. Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Co. & Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Co. & their affiliates: Northbrook, IL. Allstate New Jersey Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Bridgewater, N.J. © 2012 Allstate Insurance Co

When You're In The Car, We've Got You Covered

Each state has specific laws that outline the types and amount of auto insurance you're required to have. Your coverage requirements might be different depending on where you live and what your personal insurance needs are. An agent can help you understand your state's insurance requirements so you can make an educated decision about the coverage levels and deductibles you want. In addition to agent assistance, our tools & resources will provide you with 24/7 access to safety tips and detailed information to help you better understand insurance. 

Coverage Centered Around You.

Your state's required minimums may not be enough to best protect you, your family and your car. That's why you can adjust your limits and deductibles- the basic building blocks of any policy-to fit your needs.
Find an agent to learn more about the following coverage types:

• Collision: Covers expenses related to the damage or destruction of your vehicle that's been in an accident.
• Comprehensive: Covers expenses related to the damage or destruction of your vehicle in situations like thefts or storms.
• Liability: When an accident is your fault, bodily injury liability covers expenses related to the injury or death of another driver or a pedestrian, and property damage liability covers expenses related to the damage of another person's property-like vehicles, homes, buildings and other structures.
• Medical payments: If you and/or your passengers are hurt in an accident, this can help cover your medical or funeral expenses.
• Personal injury protection: If you and/or your passengers are hurt in an accident, this can help cover medical expenses plus related expenses like income continuation.
• Uninsured & underinsured motorist: Covers medical expenses and/or repair bills if you're in an accident, the other driver is at fault and doesn't have any (or doesn't have enough) insurance.
• Personal umbrella policy: Offers protection against liability claims or judgments, kicking in when your auto insurance liability limits have already been reached.
• Rental reimbursement: Helps cover the cost of renting a car if your vehicle is in the shop because of an accident covered under your policy.
• Sound system: Covers the cost of replacing stolen or damaged audio and/or video equipment.
• Towing & labor: Covers the cost of common roadside services like tire changes and jump-starts.

Find an agent for more information about auto insurance coverage types.

Types of Business Insurance

Insurance coverage is available for every conceivable risk your business might face. Cost and amount of coverage of policies vary among insurers. You should discuss your specific business risks and the types of insurance available with your insurance agent or broker. Your agency can advise you on the exact types of insurance you should consider purchasing.

General Liability Insurance

Business owners purchase general liability insurance to cover legal hassles due to accident, injuries and claims of negligence. These policies protect against payments as the result of bodily injury, property damage, medical expenses, libel, slander, the cost of defending lawsuits, and settlement bonds or judgments required during an appeal procedure.

Product Liability Insurance

Companies that manufacture, wholesale, distribute, and retail a product may be liable for its safety. Product liability insurance protects against financial loss as a result of a defect product that causes injury or bodily harm. The amount of insurance you should purchase depends on the products you sell or manufacture. A clothing store would have far less risk than a small appliance store, for example.

Professional Liability Insurance

Business owners providing services should consider having professional liability insurance (also known as errors and omissions insurance). This type of liability coverage protects your business against malpractice, errors, and negligence in provision of services to your customers. Depending on your profession, you may be required by your state government to carry such a policy. For example, physicians are required to purchase malpractice insurance as a condition of practicing in certain states.

Commercial Property Insurance

Property insurance covers everything related to the loss and damage of company property due to a wide-variety of events such as fire, smoke, wind and hail storms, civil disobedience and vandalism. The definition of "property" is broad, and includes lost income, business interruption, buildings, computers, company papers and money.

Property insurance policies come in two basic forms: (1) all-risk policies covering a wide-range of incidents and perils except those noted in the policy; (2) peril-specific policies that cover losses from only those perils listed in the policy. Examples of peril-specific policies include fire, flood, crime and business interruption insurance. All-risk policies generally cover risks faced by the average small business, while peril-specific policies are usually purchased when there is high risk of peril in a certain area. Consult your insurance agent or broker about the type of business property insurance best suited for your small business.

Home-Based Business Insurance

Contrary to popular belief, homeowners' insurance policies do not generally cover home-based business losses. Depending on risks to your business, you may add riders to your homeowners' policy to cover normal business risks such as property damage. However, homeowners' policies only go so far in covering home-based businesses and you may need to purchase additional policies to cover other risks, such as general and professional liability.

Is Cheap Car Insurance Really Worth It?

With the rising costs of buying and owning a car, some drivers are looking to cut corners. When faced with upgrades like leather seats or a premium sound system, the price tag for comprehensive insurance coverage premiums can seem like a luxury. Securing cheap car insurance may help you save a few dollars for now, but will it pay off in the long run? Here are a few things to consider that could greatly influence your decision when considering low-cost auto insurance.

Know the laws in your state.

All states have laws in place that require a minimum level of insurance coverage when you are buying insurance. If you're considering paring down your insurance coverage in an effort to save money, first find out what the requirements are in your state before making any decisions. In some cases, just because state laws don't require you to carry a particular level of insurance doesn't mean that you should go without it.

Cheap car insurance can put you at financial risk.

Buying low-cost insurance might save you money in the short term, but think about what could happen if you're involved in a serious car accident. Scaling back by eliminating collision coverage, which covers damage to your own vehicle, might be an option. But that doesn't necessarily mean it's wise to leave yourself open to paying out of pocket for potentially costly repairs. You should also think about the heavy financial burden of having to pay for the car repair of another person if you're found to be at fault for an accident. Just because you live in a state that only requires you to have $15,000 in property damage liability doesn't mean you'll be completely covered if you're at fault in an accident involving a car worth $30,000.

Going cheap may leave you on the hook for other losses

Many drivers, eager to shave money from their insurance premiums, forego signing up for comprehensive auto insurance coverage because they don't think they'll ever need it. However, doing so can mean that you may be forced to foot the bill for repairing or replacing your car if it is damaged by fire or flood. Comprehensive auto insurance also covers you in the event your car was stolen.

Cutting out uninsured driver coverage may be a risky gamble.

When you purchase car insurance, you have the option to add additional coverage that will protect you in the event an uninsured driver hits you. According to a 2011 study by the Insurance Research Council, estimates indicate that about one in seven drivers in the U.S. are uninsured. With odds like that, dropping your uninsured motorist's coverage could be a gamble.

The value of your car should help determine your coverage.

If you are still paying off your auto loan, the lien holder usually requires you to purchase collision coverage. But, if you own the car outright, you get to choose which optional coverage, such as collision, you are going to carry. Without collision coverage, you could end up losing all the money you invested in your car if it is totaled in a crash. It may be worth considering carrying optional collision coverage to protect your investment.
If seeking cheap car insurance is at the top of your list of priorities, ask yourself if the benefits of saving a bit of money now are worth the potential risks you could face later. You might come to the conclusion that paying a higher premium is worth every precious penny.

 Understand Your Online Car Insurance Quote

Getting a fast online car insurance quote is easy—it's getting an accurate online quote that can require a bit of work and preparation on your part, and may take more time. But, it's entirely possible. When shopping for competitively priced auto insurance, your best bet is to have easy access to the following information that will determine how much you pay and what level of coverage you'll get for that price.

Review your driving record.

When you submit an online car insurance application, the insurer obtains your official driving record from the Department of Motor Vehicles database of your home state. This record tells the company how many prior accidents you have been involved in and about any convictions you have. Taking this information into consideration is key to helping a car insurer provide you with a quote that's accurate. Since you'll be asked questions about your driving history, it's important that you not leave anything out—even if it's something you'd rather not admit. Order a copy of your driving record and review it prior to submitting an online application. If you see anything on your record that's erroneous or that should have fallen off by now, take steps to address this with the DMV so that your record will accurately reflect your driving habits

Know how much insurance you need ahead of time.

Establishing coverage limits is key to determining the cost of buying car insurance. For example, if you only want the bare minimum state requirement for bodily injury liability, your quote will likely be far lower than if you were to opt for the maximum allowable amount. If you're not sure how much insurance you need, first review your state's requirements, then consider the following with regard to some of the most common insurance coverages available:

• Liability coverage pays for bodily injury and property damages resulting from an accident you caused. This should be set at an amount that will protect you from having to pay out of pocket if those damages exceed your insurance limit.


• Medical payments coverage pays medical expenses incurred by you or your passengers, regardless of who's at fault in an accident. If you already have good health insurance coverage, you may only need a minimal level of coverage. But if you're not enrolled in an existing health benefits plan, you may want to select higher medical payment coverage limits.


• Uninsured motorists insurance isn't always mandatory, but it could come in handy if you cross paths with the one in seven uninsured drivers that the Insurance Research Council says are on the road today. This type of insurance usually pays for damage caused by the uninsured driver.


• Collision coverage pays for damages done to your car, but if your car isn't worth much and you don't owe any money on it, spending too much on this coverage might be ill advised.


• Comprehensive coverage pays for any losses that don't come as a result of a collision, like a fire, theft or vandalism. 

 

How a car insurance quote is determined.

Once you've provided all of the necessary information, you'll be given a quote for coverage. The quote you receive is impacted by the following factors:

• Your driving record.
• Your past insurance claims history.
• Your vehicle type and value.
• Included safety features in your car, which could effectively limit the extent of bodily damage you suffer in an accident.
• Included security features in your car, such as anti-theft alarms or devices, which are likely to have an impact on preventing your car from being stolen.
• Where you live, which could directly influence the safety of your car with respect to theft and certain natural disasters.
• How often you drive, which tells an insurance company how frequently your car is exposed to risk.

So, when you're getting your online car insurance quote, it's important to provide complete, accurate information to make sure you receive a good quote.

Compare Car Insurance Quotes 2015

Getting quotes from auto insurance providers is easy. You can pick up the phone and talk to an agent, or you can get your quote right on the insurer's website. These days, you can get an accurate idea of how much car insurance will cost you just by punching in a few figures on your computer. But once you've got a handful of quotes in front of you, how do you determine which policy will suit you best? Here are a few tips to help you effectively compare car insurance quotes.

Understand that cost isn't everything.

When you first start comparing auto insurance quotes, it may be tempting to base your decision on the "bottom line:" Which policy will cost me the least amount of money out of pocket? Some people don't want to spend too much time shopping for car insurance—and for this reason, price is often the sole determining factor. But, price is not the only thing to consider when you're trying to get the most coverage for your money. If you're really interested in figuring out which auto insurance provider will offer you the best bang for your buck, you have to look beyond dollar signs and pick through the fine details that separate one from the other.

Get all of your information in order.

When you compare car insurance quotes with an eye toward buying auto insurance, you don't want ballpark figures. You want to know exact dollar amounts and precise coverage limits. In order to ensure there's accuracy in the quotes you receive, be ready to provide information like the make and model of your car, as well as all of its safety features. Since you'll also be asked about your driving record, it's important not to omit anything that could change your quote. Likewise, be ready to provide all information about any past accidents you've been involved in and how much money in claims your insurer paid out as a result. Past claims can have an impact on your quote amount.

Leave no stone unturned.

Comparing car insurance quotes isn't always like comparing apples to apples. Sometimes, it can be more like comparing apples to oranges... or apples to baseballs. The fact is, not all car insurance policies are the same, and there are numerous car insurance coverage options to choose from. Failing to conduct a thorough comparison could put you at risk of missing something critical. To prevent overlooking important details, make sure that each quote takes into account the same level of coverage for bodily injury, property damage liability, collision coverage, uninsured motorist coverage and personal injury protection, and then look at the other factors involved in your decision. Never assume that the coverage involved in all quotes will be identical. If you make this assumption, you could find yourself choosing a policy that's missing something vital—like adequate collision coverage or bodily injury coverage.

Take a look at your existing policy for reference.

Not everyone shopping for car insurance has an existing policy. But if you do, prefacing your quote comparison by reviewing your existing auto insurance policy is a great place to start. Are there some levels of coverage you could stand to lower, or do you need more coverage? Is your personal injury protection coverage too low? Use your current auto insurance policy as a measuring stick to determine if you're getting the best coverage for the best price.

Opinions matter.

Getting the opinion of friends, family members and neighbors who have had experiences with different car insurance providers is a good way of narrowing down your choices. When it comes right down to it, there are some insurance companies that are better than others at delivering high-caliber customer service and a speedy claims process. Since these factors can't be compared on paper, it makes sense to dig a little deeper into the "real world" reputation of an insurance company by talking with people who have had first-hand experience. If you're not satisfied with what you've learned by talking directly with those you know, take your search online. You can learn a lot by reading customer comments on discussion forums and social media websites.

Research the insurance company's financial standing.

Just because a worst-case scenario is unlikely to occur doesn't mean it's impossible. Think about what could happen if you insure your vehicle with a provider that's in the process of steep economic decline. It could cause pending claims to be held up indefinitely, or you might even lose coverage if the insurance company in question goes under. Before you pick an insurer, check out the company's credit rating on A.M. Best. It's free, it's easy, and it's the smart thing to do.