Compare Car Insurance Companies

How do car insurance compare companies such as Confused, Go Compare and MoneySupermarket make money?

Question:

Answer: Because they charge a fee to the insurer/ broker on every policy that is taken out through their web site - and believe me, it is quite a fee! In reality they are nothing more than middlemen who add nothing of value to the insurance you buy and, unlike an insurance broker, do not advise you on the policy cover or help you make a claim, or, in fact do anything at all. In addition they are forcing insurers to provide ever worse insurance policies to keep the premiums low as cheapness is all they can offer. So customers buying policies from these websites are being conned into thinkig they are getting as good a policy as when they buy through a broker. They are not. They are scum.

Why have all the cheap car insurance companies disappeared from go compare?

Question: I've finally got a car sorted and logged back into go compare for a quote and all the cheap insurers like elephant and admiral aren't there. The quotes are horrendous, any idea why?

Answer: Because those companies are scams and only offer enough protection so that they can't be shut down for fraud.

Car insurance companies willingness to pay a claim?

Question: I've been looking at several different car insurance companies to compare rates and services. I've never had a claim in the past, but I was wondering if anyone had positive/negative feedback they'd be willing to share about any specific companies and how they handled a claim. I've been warned that some companies are pain to work with when you do file a claim, but maybe that was just a few rare circumstances with the people I've already talked to. Thanks for you input.

Answer: We have State Farm and they are very fast with clam payments. When our car was totaled last year, (while it was parked in our driveway, no less), the adjustor went to the lot the car had been towed to the day after it happened, to check it over, and brought a check to our house the next day.

Where do car insurance companies find accident/driving violations?

Question: I have a clean driving record since 1991. I insured my younger brother's car a few years ago. He was in a couple accidents with alcohol playing the factor. The car title was under my name along with insurance. I want to compare insurance quotes but I honestly do not remember the dates of his accidents (3-4+ years ago?). If I find a cheaper rate, I want to make sure I am not dumped by the new insurance company for false information. How do I access the same information the insurance companies find for actual quotes? Since it was his name associated with the accidents and not mine, is there a unique database for this?

Answer: It's called a driving abstract you can just go to the DMV and request one they are pretty cheap, maybe $6 to $10 for one or you might be able to get it on your states website. Or I bet if you ask the insurance company that you are interested in to look that info up for you, I'm sure your not the first person that can't remember accidents, dates, tickets etc..