It used to be the case, before comparison sites came along, that the process of shopping around for insurance was a laborious task that involved a lot of phone calls and hours of your time.
This was because consumers had to spend time repeating their details in full to several different providers. They would then have to look at the details of the different prices and policies to make a decision.
This was and still is, extremely frustrating as an exercise, as valuable time is wasted and the repetitious information the sites collect having to be entered several times can be irritating.
This frustration should not act to prevent consumers from shopping around for the very best prices for their insurance. Times are tough and it is only right that people want to save money.
Price comparison websites offer an easy, convenient and effective way for consumers to look at a huge range of different insurance providers. This enables them to make an informed choice that will save them money.
Using a comparison site will also make sure that consumers pick the insurance policy that is right for them. There are huge variations in cover and it is easy to overlook important details when considering different policies.
Price comparison sites usually allow a consumer to compare all aspects of a policy, in order to make sure that a cheap price does not mean they are sacrificing policy features that they might want or need.
There are often special discounts available to consumers who purchase an insurance policy online. Price comparison sites will have details of all these deals, meaning a consumer will not miss out.
Some insurers are not well known and may not spend a great deal on advertising. As price comparison sites test the whole insurance market, they will be able to bring deals from less well known insurers to a consumer.
Insurers, as with suppliers from all industries, now have to compete harder for consumers’ money and may offer tempting discounts for new customers. These can be flagged up by price comparison sites so that consumers can see who offers the greatest savings.
Some price comparison sites are able to negotiate discounted rates from insurers thanks to their buying power through referrals, which users of the site can then enjoy.
With traditional insurance quotations, changing policy elements to see what difference it makes to the price can be time consuming. Price comparison sites usually enable a consumer to do this at the touch of the button, updating all quotes instantly.
A price comparison site allows the consumer to get a quotation at any time of the day or night without the need to contact an insurer for clarification. Often, this can only be done in office hours, only adding additional vexation to the process.
Insurers are increasingly aware that price comparison sites offer the best way to access the widest possible audience for their products. More and more now make themselves available to consumers through these sites, meaning the widest choice is available.
Price comparison sites are also aware that they need to attract customers and so there can be incentives offered for buying a product through them in the form of free gifts, vouchers or even cash back.
There is no doubt that in tough times, any tool that can help consumers save money is a valuable one. Price comparison sites have revolutionized the purchase of insurance and the trend is set to continue.