Ask These Before You Say Yes

Most policies are bought on price alone, and most unpleasant surprises trace back to a question nobody asked. This is the list worth running before you commit.

1. Which company is this, and what's their claims process like?

You're buying a promise to pay a claim. Know whose promise it is and how you'd make the call.

2. What exactly are my limits, and what happens above them?

If a claim exceeds your liability limit, the remainder is your personal exposure. That sentence should be concrete before you choose the number, not after.

3. What's my deductible, and could I pay it tomorrow?

A deductible you can't cover turns a covered loss into a crisis. It's a budgeting question more than an insurance question.

4. What's not covered?

Rideshare and delivery driving, business use, a regular driver who isn't listed, a car mostly kept somewhere other than your address. Every one of these has surprised somebody at claim time. Ask directly.

5. What happens at renewal?

Is this an introductory arrangement or a durable price? Are there fees on the payment plan? What would cause a change?

6. What do I have to tell you about later?

New car, new driver, moving, a change in commute. Knowing which changes need a phone call keeps a policy accurate — and an accurate policy is one that pays without argument.

7. Who do I call?

A name and a number for a person, ideally. Ours is on every page of this site.

How the answers are given tells you something too

Pay attention to the manner as well as the content. Clear, specific answers — a named carrier, an actual limit, a straight description of what is excluded — suggest someone who expects you to understand what you are buying. Vagueness, deflection, or pressure to decide now suggest the opposite. You are choosing a company you may need on the worst day of your year; how willingly they explain the policy beforehand is a reasonable early signal.