Getting a quote for an insurance policy should be a very straightforward process, right? Although it seems like a task that shouldn’t require much personal information, it isn’t, and it does require plenty of personal information if you want the quote to be totally accurate. But there’s a reason for that.

Why Car Insurance Companies Need Your Personal Info to Give You a Real Quote

In case you’re not familiar with the process of how policy providers generate a quote, here’s a quick summary. They determine and categorize risk factors according to a set of special criteria. For example, they consider young drivers a liability because they’re less experienced, and male drivers to be more of a risk because statistically, they receive DUIs and other violations more than women. So, as you can see, insurance policy providers won’t be able to give you a fully accurate quote that they can stand by without knowing a bit about you first.

The act of giving up all of that information also demonstrates to them that you are in fact serious about seeking out car insurance. From their perspective, any time that they may have to spend time in order to produce a quote for you, it ought to be justified for them. And proving you’re actually interested in buying insurance by handing over your personal details may be step one as far as they’re concerned. Coming up with a car insurance estimate without personal information might even be considered a waste of time for them. Long story short, they’re trying to get you as close to actually signing up as possible, as soon as possible.

Don’t be surprised if you fill out a bunch of columns on their site thinking that when you hit ‘next’ and go to the following page that you will be given the quote. It’s common for insurance providers to make you think you’re right about to get a quote and then just ask you for more information, probably until they have everything they need other than your credit card.

What Information Do They Need?

Not every company will request all of the same things from you, but there are several that you will pretty much always be asked for in order to provide the most accurate quote possible. Here are the most common personal details requested by coverage providers:

• Telephone number
• Home address
• SSN
• Driver’s license
• Credit score estimate
• Your salary
• Financial obligations

Of all of the things listed above, your SSN is the most private and valuable. It’s understandable if you don’t want to share this with too many different people, because it’s one of the number one ways that criminals can steal your identity. Your license is also quite sensitive, as it could potentially also lead to identity theft if it ends up in the wrong hands.

The good news is that as long as the company’s website is secure and your internet connection is secure, it’s probably just fine to use this information in order to get a quote. After all, for some companies, there’s no way around offering them this info. They require access to your record from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), and can’t get it without the right info.

Is it Still Possible to Get a Car Insurance Estimate Without Personal Information?

Yes, you can still get a quote without offering the company sensitive information such as your driver’s license or SSN, but it will be a rough estimate. It is quite possible that the rough estimate they give you could perfectly match the final quote you get after providing them with all of the info they want. But if you want your quote to be accurate, you have to be totally honest when applying.

They will find out everything they need to know about your driving record one way or another, so it’s best to be totally transparent upfront if you’ve had tickets or accidents in the past while driving.

It is even possible to get a quote without providing your contact information. Anonymous quotes are possible, but may not be accurate as mentioned earlier. They offer this option because they know it may result in attracting new customers who didn’t initially feel comfortable sharing their details. It’s a show of good faith so to speak, and insurance companies understand this. So, getting a car insurance estimate without personal information is actually rather common.

Streamlined Processes Allow Personal Information to Flow More Easily

In the digital age, you can click through application forms very quickly. It’s a much faster process than it was 20 years ago, so if you are in fact okay with sharing your personal data such as contact info, SSN, etc, you can save time and don’t have to go down to a company’s office in person. This also allows you to apply for many different quotes in a short amount of time from the comfort of your home. The internet has made finding the best auto policy simple and easy. You can even do it from your mobile phone.

Shopping around for the best quote is definitely recommended. With how easy it is to get a quote nowadays, there’s no reason not to look around until you find the best one for you since it will save you money in the long run. So be sure to choose the best value policy that you can get in your area.