Auto insurance company lists are readily available. There are approximately 100 major car insurance companies alone. Then there is such thing as secondary insurance companies who do not have the strong recognizable and familiar names as the majors.

Online car insurance quotes are available for your review with only your zip code!

Most insurance companies today have their own website you can go to directly, or you can use comparison sites to try to navigate through them. Since there are so many, you have to find some way to narrow them down to make a conscious decision. For this reason, many service websites have found a way to categorize them for you.

How are lists of auto insurance companies categorized?

Insurance companies are categorized by state or region in many cases. Many comparison sites will give you an option to compare as many as 10 to 20 companies at a time.

Not all insurance companies are licensed to do business in every state. Therefore, some lists are categorized by region or specialty, like commercial car insurance carriers.

Is there a list of auto insurance companies for my state?

Since transportation and insurance laws are established in each state, auto insurance companies are regulated by each state as well. Moreover, each company has to be licensed by the State Insurance Commission. Most reputable carriers are members of the NAIC or National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

The insurance commission makes sure the companies that provide service to the state are financially solvent and offer you service within the guidelines of the state. They also receive a grade rating from insurance ratings companies such as J.D. Powers and Associates and A.M. Best. If you have a complaint with a company, you can report or register it to the insurance commission of your state.

Insurance companies have a direct relationship with your local DMV as well. Technology allows DMV and your insurer to cross-reference each other for information regarding new policies, cancellations and renewals. This new technology includes the National Driver Register, which keeps track of suspensions and revocations in addition to DUI’s and other serious traffic offences.

What if a company that I want to buy insurance from isn’t listed on my state’s website?

Just because a company isn’t listed doesn’t mean that they aren’t licensed in your state. Some state websites are slow to update and, when a newer company moves into the state, they may not be listed right away.

You can ask the company to provide you with proof that they are licensed to sell insurance in your state. What’s more, you can call your state insurance department and ask for the information as well. Even if it isn’t yet listed on their website, they should have a record of the licensing in their files.

What if I am solicited by an insurance company that doesn’t sell car insurance in my state?

Any insurance company can advertise where you live, even if they aren’t licensed to sell insurance in your state. If, however, they make an offer toyou for an actual insurance policy, then you need to inform the insurance commissioner’s office in your state.

You should never, under any circumstances, purchase car insurance from a company that isn’t licensed to sell insurance in your state. If you are in a car accident, then your policy will not be considered valid and you will be personally responsible for the costs associated with any damages or injuries.

If an unlicensed insurer tries to sell you insurance and you purchase it knowing that they are not a licensed insurer, then you could be arrested for fraud. You just don’t want to open up that can of worms. Report the company and move on.

What if I move to a new state and my current insurer isn’t licensed where I live?

Until you register your vehicle in your new state, your current insurance is valid. You do need to check the laws in your state to see how long you have to register your vehicle. In some state, such as Florida, you have ten days. In other states, you can have as long as 60 days.

While, technically, your car will still be insured if you don’t make the registration transition in the time frame required by your state, you could end up paying heavy fines if you cause an accident and it is discovered that you haven’t registered your vehicle yet.

Can I get a list of cheap auto insurance companies?

Most people want to get the lowest insurance rates they can find. However, price doesn’t always correlate to quality. Many drivers prefer to establish their policies with a reputable firm that has proven to be solvent and reliable regardless of the rate. Some want the most affordable rates, especially if they fall in a high-risk driver category.

Many companies take advantage of the need by advertising and marketing themselves as “low cost” or related insurance companies. The irony is many of the “low cost” insurance companies cater to high risk drivers, who pay the highest premiums among all drivers. The “low cost” or affordability in most instances is in relation to what you would pay as a high-risk driver to a standard company.

What is the difference between auto insurance agencies and auto insurance companies?

There is a difference between an insurance agency, and insurance company. An insurance agency acts as a broker for several companies. The licensed insurance agent or sales person may act as a broker or work exclusively with a carrier, such as an agent with Progressive or Allstate.

The insurance agency sells the policy, collects the premium and manages the policy. The insurance carrier or company interchangeably establishes your level of risk as a driver. They also are the financial backbone in the event of an accident. They process the claim and make the final decision on payouts as well.

The auto insurance underwriter is actually the processor of claims. Although there may be an individual or group of processors that puts the package together after the information is gathered by the auto claims adjuster. The underwriter determines the risks and makes the decision to pay your claim through the company. Insurance underwriters also back other insurance companies through reinsurance.

Where can I get a list of auto insurance reviews?

When you want to know, what others are saying about an insurance company or agency, car insurance company reviews can give you the answers. The internet allows people to give a voice to their experiences. This feedback keeps companies honest, and used by insurance company raters when issuing grades for customer service.

If you Google an insurance company you may even find a legal decision in PDF format. This is an actual case that was heard before a judge, and concluded. If an insurance company is reprimanded for unfair or unlawful marketing practices, you may find it online.

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