Buying insurance is a necessity, unless you’re in the small minority that plans to buy a car and set in the yard on blocks. But if you’re going to actually drive the thing around, insurance is a big plus – and possibly a requirement in your state. But how do you know good insurance from bad? How can you know what a company will do for you – because you aren’t just buying a product, but a service. It’s important to find a reputable company that will be there for you if you’re ever involved in an accident.

Fortunately, there are companies who have taken great pains to rate the insurance companies. The rankings come in the form of scores that are based on statistics and personal accounts. The voice of the people really drives these ratings, and you can use them to determine what kind of experience you can expect with a particular insurance company.

Experience has shown that even a small difference in ratings can help drive marketplace competition. Quality and service, as well as overall customer satisfaction, will increase if for no other reason than so that the company can get a higher rating that they can use in their promotions.

So these ratings, and the many rating services that use similar guidelines, are a good thing. When you being to look at the ratings, look into exactly how they’re calculated. They’re usually derived from ongoing customer surveys, as well as statistical analyses of complaints and claims responses. This is exactly what you’re looking for – current ongoing data means that you have a current picture of how the company treats its clients.

But however good the ratings you find, remember that you’ll primarily be interacting with an agent of the company. The agent is the face of the larger company, and there are few things that you should expect from a good agent. Namely, they should have a speedy response to calls and be concerned with accessibility for their customers. There should be a rapid follow-up on claims, and they should be proactive regarding customer contact. The office should reflect professionalism, and there should be regular contact with clients and an offer to review your coverage.

But how can you know if an agent provides these services before you give them any money? First, there are qualification programs – another part of the company’s overall rating – that measure how customers rate agents against a series of customer satisfaction measures. Then, agents who meet these qualification standards undergo a thorough evaluation, measuring their business practices, documented service results, and many other factors. These factors are the ones that are the most important to the people being served.

These agent awards – especially those from the prestigious J.D. Powers Company – are awarded to agents with an established record of success at satisfying customers. Working with one of these agents will ensure you that you’ll have a quality experience and the best level of service. When you see such awards in an insurance office, see who they’re from. Do the awards reflect on the agent, or the underwriting company? Make sure that the award is current and reviewed annually.

Looking for these ratings, both for the local agent and the companies at large, will ensure that you pick a good insurance company that will stand by you when you need it the most.