Online Car Insurance Quotes: What You Are Asked and Why

Today, it is possible to obtain an online quote for almost anything: a plumber's visit, health insurance, home insurance... In this article, we will focus on car insurance, for which the quote generally takes less than 10 minutes. However, during the process, you will be asked for a list of specific information. Therefore, let's review together the nature of this information and the reasons why insurers need it for their calculations.

The Basics: Your Driver Profile

Every driver is different, and the first thing an insurer wants to know is the level of risk you represent. Thus, with direct insurance car quotes and other online quotes, you will be asked from the very first steps:

• Your date of birth. It is important to note that age is a significant factor since young drivers tend to have more accidents. Similarly, older individuals are more prone to unintentional collisions.
• The date you obtained your driver's license. Experience also matters, as a driver who has been on the road for several years will have better control of their vehicle.
• Your no-claims bonus/malus coefficient (if you have driven before). This ranges from 0.50 to 3.50 and summarizes your claims history. Obviously, the higher the number, the more you will pay for your insurance.
• Your claims history, particularly those for which you were at fault.

Good to know: To avoid any omissions when entering data about your driver profile, consider checking your information statement. This can be obtained from your current insurance provider.

The Vehicle Itself: Age, Value, and Power

Now let's move on to the vehicle, which obviously impacts the annual premium. Keep in mind that the newer, more powerful, and more expensive the car, the higher the repair costs. This translates into a higher insurance premium. Therefore, during an online quote, you will be asked for the exact model of the vehicle, its first registration date, and its fiscal power (in horsepower).

You may also be required to indicate its current value to calibrate compensations in the event of a total loss. Again, we recommend being precise in your declarations so that the calculated rate is as close as possible to the amount you will actually pay each year.

The Actual Use of the Vehicle

With identical cars, two drivers can have very different premiums. This is not necessarily related to their driver profile, as there is also the usage they make of it that is taken into account during the calculation. Indeed, a tradesperson who drives 40,000 km a year exposes their vehicle to different risks than an individual who drives 5,000 km for leisure!

This is why you will need to enter the estimated annual mileage during an online quote. Furthermore, you may be asked about the type of usage (private or professional) as well as the parking location (closed garage or vehicle parked on the street). Once again, we recommend being as honest as possible since any false declaration can lead to penalties.

Abcmoteur

The Abcmoteur team consists of enthusiasts and experts. We write articles and reports collaboratively to provide you with the best expertise on the subject.