When shopping for car insurance, it is easy to think that the price is the most important aspect in getting a good deal. However, as well as considering the finer details of your policy and making sure you have sufficient cover for your car, you should also consider the level of customer service you are likely to receive.
The claims service is by far the most important component of customer service when it comes to car insurance. If you are unfortunate enough to have an accident, you will want to be sure that your insurance company will support you whilst making a claim. Here are a few things to think about before you commit to one particular company:
Firstly, how does your prospective insurer allow you to register a claim? Some companies only operate online and will require you to use I.C.T. facilities to begin the claims process, in order to cut human resources expenses. If you'd rather talk to a real person, choose a company which operates a claims phone line instead.
If this is the case, look into the operating hours of the phone line. A 24 hour phone line, such as that offered by Co-operative car insurance, is preferable.
Investigate how quickly your insurance company has managed to process claims in the past. Have their customers been kept waiting? Were they satisfied with the service they were given? If not, no doubt some of them will have been very vocal about the experiences. Use the internet to read their reviews.
When going through these reviews, you should also try to see if customers were satisfied with the amount they received from the insurance company in the end. Were they able to repair or replace their vehicle as required?
You should also find out how your insurer will provide for you during the claims process. In some cases you will be eligible for a courtesy car or discount on a hired vehicle, as with the Co-op, depending on the circumstances of your accident. In other cases you may be left to fend for yourself.
Use the internet to read customer reviews and get impartial advice on your insurance decision. There are plenty of websites dedicated to giving insurance customers the low-down on the choices available to them, so exploit them to their full potential to ensure that your insurance company will be reliable should you need to make a claim.
