The best way to be sure you're not paying too much money for your auto insurance rates is to actively research and compare your options. This is particularly true if you've gone through any major changes in your life, especially if your prior answers had a big impact on the amount that you're paying.

For example, if you have reduced your driving mileage due to a change in commuting patterns, it may be easier now for you to find cheap auto insurance. If you're one of the many Americans who now work most or all days from home when you used to commute into an office every day, the number of miles you drive daily has likely dropped substantially. Annual miles driven is a number that most vehicle insurers take into account when they provide you with an insurance option. When that number goes down, you could save money on your low mileage car insurance.

On the other hand, who has time to research all of the insurance companies out there and compare insurance quotes?

These websites collect information about your vehicles, address, whether you need comprehensive coverage, collision coverage, property damage protection, and more. You will answer a series of questions about your driving history, insurance history, your gender, any tickets, and other factors as you go through the quote process. You will be able to look at customer satisfaction rating information, insurance rate comparison between companies, and explore your insurance coverage options. These online tools can help you get accurate quotes and connect you with licensed agents. You get multiple quotes while only answering common questions about your driving records and preferred coverage level once.

Two popular online insurance comparison sites are QuoteWizard and The Zebra. Clearsurance has collected reviews on both websites from drivers who have used the sites to shop for insurance. On average, both sites have very close scores on Clearsurance reviews: The Zebra's score is 3.88 out of 5.0 stars, and QuoteWizard's score is 3.86. Read on to learn more about QuoteWizard and The Zebra.

What are insurance comparison sites?

Companies that provide comparisons of online insurance quotes for auto are beneficial because they can save you time and money. You have to be careful when entering personal information online. Even though you're shopping for a policy and will need to enter personal information, you should make sure you trust the insurance comparison tools you use. While there are a number of sites that can provide you with a range of quotes based on data you enter on the website, this article focuses on two sites — QuoteWizard vs. The Zebra.

Although both sites are similar in that they can provide you with estimated premium costs from a wide range of insurers, the sites are different especially in one important way.

What is QuoteWizard?

QuoteWizard allows users of the site to get quotes from insurance agents across a wide range of insurance types. They partner directly with companies in the insurance industry. You can get auto insurance quotes, as well as quotes for home insurance, renters insurance, life insurance, and health insurance.

QuoteWizard earned a score of 3.86 out of 5.0 stars on Clearsurance, based on reviews submitted by people who have tried the service when shopping for affordable car insurance.

The website is clear and easy to navigate. Depending on the type of policy you're interested in, typically the first step you take is to enter your zip code. (Note: if you are interested in health insurance, the form will ask you if you are under or over 65, as it will factor Medicare into the quotes for those over 65 years old).

After that, you will provide some personal information, which QuoteWizard will make available to insurance agents, saving time for both you and them. QuoteWizard is an online lead-generation marketplace.

This means that the site, while useful for customers as it makes getting quotes easy, it is also helpful for insurance agents. The information QuoteWizard collects from customers is segmented into relevant categories, for example by region or location for auto insurance, and then insurance agents purchase these leads and follow up to sell a policy. While you can get an accurate quote, your results may not be immediately available.

So, if you're an insurance agent in Texas looking to build your business in auto insurance, you can purchase leads from QuoteWizard. When a customer from Texas who is looking for quotes enters the data into QuoteWizard, you follow up and provide the quote. There is also the opportunity to get direct digital quotes or go through well-known insurance companies such as Progressive.

Be sure to read QuoteWizard reviews on Clearsurance to learn more about what customers think of the website.

What is The Zebra?

The Zebra also provides quotes, but its offerings are slightly narrower, as it doesn't offer health insurance quotes. Its primary focus is on auto insurance, but also provides quotes for home, renters, and life insurance. You can review all major auto insurance carriers in one place and find the best value for you. Their licensed insurance agents can help you choose policies from major insurance companies and find the insurance coverage you need.

You can choose to purchase a policy directly through the provider or skip the hassle and buy through the Zebra. It's the same policy anyway.

The Zebra earned a score of 3.88 out of 5.0 stars on Clearsurance, based on reviews submitted by people who have tried the service. The Zebra’s score is slightly higher than QuoteWizard's score, but still very close. Just like its main competitor, it can help you save time and secure lower insurance premiums.

The Zebra collects rates from more than 100 auto insurance companies, and insurance shoppers can receive quotes for free. It's a great way to look at what rate different companies will charge for different types of insurance products. It differs significantly from QuoteWizard in that it partners with insurance providers to sell policies to customers.

So, rather than making its money by selling leads to an independent insurance agent like QuoteWizard, The Zebra makes money when a customer purchases an insurance policy through its website. To get an auto quote from The Zebra, you enter key details about your vehicle, such as the make, model, and year, whether you own or lease, primary use, and an estimate of annual miles driven.

You'll also need to add information about the drivers of the vehicle and some personal information that most insurance companies use to provide a quote. This information will vary from state to state. For example, some states allow insurance carriers to use your marital status or credit score as part of the assessment process, while other states prohibit insurers from using those as factors to arrive at an insurance premium quote. These tools may not show you all the insurance discounts you qualify for. While excellent credit helps, any site should warn you before running your credit.

Once you provide all of the necessary information, The Zebra will provide you with the top three quote estimates based on the data provided and the coverage you need. Your personal information will be secure, so you won't have to worry about it.

Be sure to read The Zebra reviews on Clearsurance to learn more about what customers think of the website.

What do insurance shoppers love about these sites?

When comparing QuoteWizard vs. The Zebra, one thing becomes clear very quickly. People like having a website do the comparison work for them when shopping for coverage. The way that these sites aggregate auto insurance quotes also helps to streamline the process. Comments for both sites include statements like “it's quick and easy,” and “fast,” along with being happy with the quotes provided.

If you've received a list of quotes on coverage from QuoteWizard, you might want to compare insurance with Zebra's website data. Similarly, if you have insurance quotes from Zebra, you can always see how the same coverage data is reported by QuoteWizard.

Generally speaking, many drivers thought the quotes provided by both sites were fair and within range of what they had expected in an auto insurance policy.

What negative customer feedback exists about both sites?

It's noted above, the biggest difference between the two sites is the business model. What both sites seem to receive in the way of complaints is from customers who feel they are receiving too many unwanted phone calls from either insurance agents (in the case of QuoteWizard) or insurance companies (from The Zebra), who want to sell them coverage. Both of them have the same goal, which is to help you through the auto insurance comparison process so you can get the best possible auto insurance rates.

Understanding the business model of each website and how they make money is important so that you know what to expect when you provide information to the website and how they'll profit off of the auto insurance quotes you receive.

If you’re looking to save money on your auto insurance, and are considering getting an online insurance quote to help you make a decision, there are a number of choices out there. Make sure that you understand how the information you're providing to the website will be used. You also need to be certain you're shopping for the right coverage based on your needs.

Auto insurance comparison sites are a fast and easy way to find alternative options that could help you to save money or get better coverage for the same price.

When shopping for cheap car insurance online, be sure to visit Clearsurance's rankings pages to find the top companies in your zip code, according to customer reviews.

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