As our world becomes ever more automated, we are all doing more and more of our business online. When we know exactly what we need, it’s relatively simple to shop around to find the best price for an item, and order it for convenient delivery to your home. For smaller purchases we are confident about – such as the best electric knife sharpener or the perfect picture frame – online shopping is ideal
In the realm of car insurance, online insurance websites are becoming more and more common in Canada. They tout many claims, including lower premiums. But even if that were always true (and it isn’t), the insurance business is complicated, and there are some cons to purchasing online. In addition, lower premiums may mean you’re not getting the coverage you need. As Calgary-based insurance brokers serving all of Alberta, we at Lane’s work directly for you and with you, providing the best rates for the most comprehensive coverage.
Cons of Purchasing Online
Difficult to Do Research. The problem with insurance policies is they are extremely difficult to contrast and compare without inside knowledge and access. An insurance policy is a complex document that not many take the time to read all the way through – except for trained insurance brokers. At Lane’s, we have access to the policies offered by up to 12 different companies, and we are knowledgeable about what they offer and how they will suit your individual needs.
Hard to Tell if You Are Getting what You Need. Getting the best car insurance coverage in Calgary and Alberta depends on a lot of factors. How often do you drive? What type of vehicle do you own? Some are targeted and stolen much more often than others. Is your car most often parked in a safe and secure location? Which neighbourhoods do you live and work in? All of these variables play a part in your optimal insurance coverage, and an online form doesn’t necessarily cover all of these important aspects of your car insurance.
Pressure to Buy More Than You Need. Many people make the same mistake when they are shopping for car insurance. In order to be “on the safe side,” we find that several may opt for more costly policies when the kind of car they drive and the amount of time they spend on the road could make a less expensive, comprehensive-only policy an option. We will ask the right questions and get to know you, not just read the results of an online form.
No Personal Interaction. Working with an online insurance provider can make it very hard to get the one-on-one interaction necessary when you have questions about your policy, or if you would like to look into making a change at renewal time. As well, solely online insurance companies don’t have offices or storefronts – no physical address you can go and visit.
A Lane’s insurance broker is always easy to contact. There are several misconceptions when it comes to insurance brokers, and one is that they will sell you a policy and then your communication with them stops, as you get “passed on” to the company now in “charge” of your insurance. We take pride in the policies we offer, and are here to help facilitate your relationship with your provider at all times.
Not Necessarily “As Advertised”. Online insurance companies often claim an advantage due to not having to maintain a dedicated office space. These savings, they say, are passed along to their consumers. But is there any way to know that for sure? Running a business that is completely Internet-based is costly in its own way. There’s more technology than usual that needs to be continuously monitored by those knowledgeable in the field. As well, the more business we do online, the greater risk we put our personal information. Online businesses need to be extra diligent about keeping customer information safe from cybercrime.
No Help Filing a Claim. We know that having to file a car insurance claim means something unfortunate has happened. At these stressful times, we are always here to help walk you through the immediate steps you should take after an accident to make sure the claims process goes as smoothly as possible.
Not as Many Available Discounts. Online insurance companies may not be able to offer the same sort of discounts and benefits as we at Lane’s Insurance have access to. For example, you can save as much as 20 percent by combining your home insurance and auto insurance together.
Benefits of Using an Insurance Broker
Discover the many benefits of using an insurance broker, such as access to better deals, personalized service, and comprehensive knowledge about the products we offer. When dealing with Lane’s, you are sure to get the best car insurance coverage at a competitive price. As an accredited brokerage, we are able to browse through the products of a number of the country’s top providers to select the optimum policy that meet your needs. And if you ever have to make a claim, our customer care representatives will make sure everything goes smoothly. Contact us at our Calgary, Edmonton, Banff and Alberta offices today.
