Car Insurance Advice

For some drivers, trying to understand the mountain of insurance products available in the market place can be a daunting prospect and they may feel in need of some car insurance advice.

That's perfectly understandable. In today's world there are a huge range of companies marketing a wide variety of policies and products through multiple channels such as the Internet, TV, the press, telephone marketing and so on.

Not only that, the complexity of these products may also be quite baffling. Although many insurance companies do try to use plain and simple language to describe their products openly and honestly, sometimes they may unintentionally lapse into jargon or 'insurance-speak.' This can prove quite confusing.

If you have experience of car insurance gained over some years, this may become simply 'business as usual'. However, for younger drivers or those moving from one country to another, it can prove to be a nightmare of confusion, terminology and conflicting offers.

Most reputable insurance companies or brokers will offer advice to casual callers. Some of their customer service departments are very helpful and friendly and offer excellent explanations aimed at simplifying things through email or telephone call centre contact.

Some people may feel that this advice is useful in general terms, but remain uneasy about asking for specific car insurance advice from a specific company that may be selling a range of products. Additionally, in some countries the law may limit the advice offered by insurance companies unless it relates to advice and clarification on their individual products.

In the situation where someone wants general advice of the type "what policy/product is for me" or "what policy should I buy", there may be several useful routes to consider.

The first is the leaflets and Internet advice offered by the insurance associations and regulatory authorities -sometimes including consumer associations and government bodies. These are general professional organisations not linked to any particular company and their advice and explanations may usually be seen as being objective and impartial.

The second is the licensed insurance broker. The broker is a person or company that looks across many different insurance providers trying to find the product and deal that's right for a certain individual. Their advice and recommendations should be impartial and based upon their assessment of the needs of their customer.

Going online to reputable car insurance websites can also typically provide you with lots of useful information about motor insurance. Car insurance comparison websites can also be a good resource.

Insurance brokers should have many years of practical and professional experience upon which they can base their advice and guidance. Typically they are happy and willing to offer advice about the basics and principles of car insurance rather than just sell policies.

It may be the case that a given broker has a long history with certain insurance companies and as such their views and car insurance advice may be influenced in part by that. Even so, this should not detract from their ability to provide good, useful car advice about the intricacies of car cover and the motor insurance marketplace.

Jon McGovern is from Tescocompare.com, the insurance comparison site where you can compare car insurance policy features and prices.