| A great deal is at stake when choosing an | | | | Because body shop managers must deal with a |
| auto insurance carrier. In addition to the | | | | number of insurance adjusters, they can |
| financial considerations, there are issues | | | | provide you with an inside look at insurance |
| such as reliability, quality of service, and | | | | companies. The managers will know, for |
| integrity. Luckily, there are certain steps | | | | instance, which companies offer the most |
| you can follow to ensure that you select an | | | | convenient claims procedures. They'll also |
| auto insurance company that will meet your | | | | know which companies are particularly slow in |
| needs. | | | | processing claims. |
| | | | |
| When choosing an insurance carrier, | | | | Another important source of information is |
| reputation carries a great deal of weight. | | | | J.D. Power and Associates, which rates |
| For instance, Allstate, Nationwide, and State | | | | insurance companies in terms of variety of |
| Farm are well-known companies that have | | | | coverage, rates, claims processes, and |
| managed to hold onto some clients for years. | | | | customer service. In recent years, Amica and |
| For additional guidance, you can consult your | | | | Erie have posted the best rankings with J.D. |
| state's department of insurance website. The | | | | Power. These two companies have earned raves |
| website might offer consumer complaint ratios | | | | for finding ways to cover claims, when at all |
| which indicate exactly how many complaints an | | | | possible. You might also want to consider an |
| auto insurance company has received for every | | | | insurer's financial strength by checking out |
| 1,000 claims filed. This information can help | | | | ratings from A.M. Best and Standard and |
| you to better evaluate companies so that you | | | | Poor's. These ratings determine an insurance |
| have some idea how their customer service | | | | company's ability to pay claims. Still, you |
| rates. You can then compare the list of | | | | should be aware of the fact that most |
| companies with low complaint ratios with the | | | | well-known carriers are considered to be |
| list of companies with low premiums and see | | | | financially sound. |
| if you can come up with any matches. Those | | | | |
| companies that combine stellar customer | | | | Finally, you might select your insurance |
| service with low rates offer you the best | | | | company based upon the professionalism of an |
| deal for your money. | | | | individual agent. Since you will have to work |
| | | | closely with your agent, it is important to |
| If for some reason you cannot locate | | | | find one that you can trust. You might |
| complaint ratios for your state, try looking | | | | consider consulting a relative or friend to |
| at the complaint ratios for other states. | | | | find out the names of some particularly |
| While an insurance company's operations may | | | | efficient agents. |
| vary from state to state, if a company posts | | | | |
| a high complaint ratio in a number of states, | | | | In the end, you may not find out just how |
| you should consider that to be a warning | | | | responsive your insurance company is-until |
| sign. It is best to simply cross off your | | | | you are faced with an accident. However, if |
| list any insurance company with consistently | | | | you conduct extensive research before |
| high complaint ratios. | | | | selecting an insurance company and agent...if |
| | | | you pay close attention to complaint |
| Another technique you can use when evaluating | | | | ratios...and you ask plenty of questions, |
| insurance carriers is to determine which | | | | chances are good you will find insurance |
| insurers body shops in your area recommend. | | | | coverage you will be happy with. |