NAU Auto Insurance Review

There are two insurance-related firms in the United States that are known as NAU, or National Insurance Underwriters. Neither one provides direct auto insurance. One of the NAU entities is located in Minnesota, and it is a specialized provider of insurance for farms. The other North American Underwriters is an insurance brokerage that represents several auto insurance firms in Connecticut. While NAU is a respected source of car insurance in Connecticut, consumers will often find that they save money by comparing auto insurance quotes from brokers such as NAU with online price quotes. Enter your ZIP code now to compare quotes with our FREE tool!

Traditional Brokers versus Direct Online Quotes

Traditional brokers such as NAU, which is rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau and therefore considered reliable and professional, do provide a valuable service. They are able to obtain beneficial terms and pricing for their clients because they deliver a steady stream of customers to the insurance companies with which they deal. Since NAU represents several insurance companies, its agents can provide potential customers with a selection of policies, each of which have different terms and annual premiums.

Still, even though NAU even has its own online quote finder, consumers are best served by comparing NAU or other brokerage quotes with online quotes that include prices and terms offered by national, regional and local firms that deal direct with their customers.

These firms do not add brokerage commission on to their prices, so even for a customer who prefers the personal touch of a broker, online quotes from direct-to-consumer firms can be useful as negotiating points.

A brokerage firm may be able to renegotiate with an insurer to match a direct quote, or a traditional broker may even be willing to forego partial commission in order to meet a quote that a loyal customer obtained from a direct sales insurance firm.

Comparing Firms

It is crucial to remember that even if a broker issues policies under its own name, it is not the actual insurer.

It is also crucial for consumers to know exactly which firm or firms provide the coverage that a broker offers. This is because consumers should check the reliability of any insurance carrier they are considering for auto insurance with A. M. Best to make sure it is a financially stable firm. Only firms with a rating of A or better should be considered by most consumers. Some firms that specialize in high-risk coverage may have lower ratings, and in this case a thorough Internet search helps to uncover information regarding satisfaction with an insurer.

That Internet search should also include the J. D. Power consumer satisfaction rating site. If a broker is willing to provide all post-sales service, consumer satisfaction ratings are not as important as they are for direct policies or for policies where the consumer must contact the insurer’s customer service department without assistance. Nevertheless, a firm with at least a four-star overall review from Power is recommended over firms with lower or no ratings.

Comparing Quotes

Once it is clear that a firm is reliable, comparing quotes must include being sure that the coverage offered by all insurance firms is the same. A brokerage firm such as NAU does provide a valuable service when its agents are able to explain exactly what policies that it sells covers and what the dollar amount and deductible is for each aspect of coverage. The most important parts of an auto policy are damage and liability coverage. Online quote sites often provide consumers with the ability to choose and compare not only among different insurers, but also among different options offered by the same insurer.

For instance, raising a deductible for damage or theft can lower annual policy premiums quite substantially. A broker should advise clients of such options as well, and consumers should be aware of these options when dealing with a brokerage firm. Otherwise, the firm will offer terms that it considers the most beneficial, based not only on the consumer’s interest but also on factors such as incentives offered to brokers by insurance companies to promote certain policies.

It is the prevalence of such incentives for brokers that makes it absolutely necessary to compare quotes from traditional brokers like NAU with firms that offer direct policies to potential NAU clients. Even if a customer does prefer the advantages of dealing with a brokerage, he or she will have the information necessary to get the best possible terms from that brokerage. Since NAU does have its own online quote feature, a customer who is considering NAU can begin by comparing NAU quotes with other price quotes available online.

The automobile insurance industry is a very competitive one, and even traditional regional insurance brokers like NAU in Connecticut must compete by offering online quotes.

The consumer is the winner in this buyer’s market, and taking advantage of online quotes to compare prices from brokers against those offered by direct sales auto insurance providers is the best way to ensure the best prices and terms. Consumers can then weigh any price differences between direct and broker policies against any benefits that a qualified insurance broker may provide.

If you are looking for the right fit for auto insurance, make sure you type your ZIP code into our FREE comparison tool and get quotes right away!