Auto Insurance: How to Switch Carriers
Just as we change our cell phone carriers, our Internet service, or even our accountant, lawyer or stock insurance broker according to our developing needs, so are we prone to switch our auto insurance carriers. This is absolutely a common thing to do and can be a mindless and simple procedure, but to accomplish the transaction most effectively, the individual(s) involved must be very keen to what is going on. The individual and his or her family who is seeking out new auto insurance coverage must be very alert to the entire scope of the situation, including expert knowledge about the auto insurance they wish to leave behind and how it differs from the auto insurance they wish to gain.
First and foremost, the individual must be sure to shop around to various auto insurance carriers. Insurance agencies have their own specialties and one might be surprised to find that the newest auto insurance carrier with that breakthrough low price just may not have some of the crucial aspects to it that some of the other, more expensive auto insurance carriers have. One needs to do research by as many different means as possible, including online research, phone (or better, in person) discussions with the auto insurance company representatives and if possible, find some random individuals with whom you associate with on some level of acquaintance and solicit some auto insurance testimonials. Sometimes word of mouth suggestions can be the most valuable and honest form of advertising.
Once deciding on a new auto insurance carrier, individuals need, then, to terminate their relationship with a previous carrier. This procedure must be done with great care so as to not leave one uninsured at any given time and additionally, to prevent any unnecessary extra costs. Individuals need to notify their current auto insurance company the very moment they decide on a new one. This can be done with phone, being sure to retain record of the conversation in terms of representative spoken to and confirmation number. To be safe, one might also want to send a formal letter. Either way, the individual terminating the auto insurance will verify a formal cancellation date with the auto insurance company’s customer service agent and will be notified regarding due fees up until that point. One popular myth among auto insurance receivers is that an agency will simply terminate your coverage if you fail to pay. While that is indeed true, this does not go without consequence. Failure to pay, especially without any prior notice to an auto insurance company can result in bad credit, extra payment fees and a difficult time trying to obtain auto insurance from other companies in the future. People need to make sure that no matter how “through” they are with their old auto insurance agency, that they do not burn bridges and carry out the relationship to proper, professional closure. Otherwise, these mistakes like failure to formally terminate insurance or refusal to pay the full due amount will surely result in future problems for the insured.
Finally, after dealing with the final payment for the former auto insurance carrier and determining a set closure date for the relationship, one may proceed to open up a new account with the next auto insurance agency. The rules regarding this transaction are not much different than the procedure that should’ve been followed to obtain the first auto insurance membership, with one major exception. Due to the fact that individuals will be terminating an old auto insurance membership it is absolutely imperative to coordinate the new account to begin precisely the same day, if not a few days prior to be on the safe side, as the end of the old account. If the individual is sure to do this, there will be no room to be stranded with no auto insurance, something that is not only very risky, but, since, preventable, a bit careless.
