The pros and cons of online car insurance are important to know if you are shopping for car insurance. Purchasing car insurance online is becoming more popular, although it still has not out done insurance agents. If you are thinking of taking a leap into online insurance land, learn exactly what the pros and cons are when compared with the traditional route of an insurance agent.

• Purchase Insurance Any Time Day or Night: Great for today's busy lifestyle, online insurance has the convenience of being available at all hours of the day. Gone are the days when the only time you could purchase insurance was between 9 and 5. Convenience is a big perk of online insurance.

• No Waiting Time for Insurance Documents:Although being able to print insurance documents online is becoming common with most insurance carriers, most do not offer an ID card at the point of purchase online. Printing online car insurance proofs is available at the point of purchase.

• Get Answers to Your Insurance Questions Online:The internet is becoming a great resource for insurance information. An answer can be found to nearly any insurance question you might have online. The online insurance companies do a good job of providing smart and easy to understand insurance information.

• Potential Savings by Skipping the Middle Man:Purchasing your insurance online skips the middle man, which is the insurance agent. Theoretically, buying insurance direct should save money since the insurance company does not have to pay an agent. A lot of different factors go into insurance ratings so it is definitely not a slam dunk when it comes to price but it does warrant a look.

• Must Call an 800 Number to Speak with a Person: Never underestimate the importance of speaking with a live person when it comes to your car insurance. Questions pop up, websites malfunction, and a real person is needed from time to time to verify the accuracy of your policy. Dealing with an 800 number is not necessarily awful but it is impersonal and usually annoying if you have to go through an automated system and wait on hold.

• You Need to be Your Own Insurance Expert: Without an agent, you will have to research answers to your insurance questions. Another option would be to call the online insurance company's 800 number. Online insurance companies have agents answering your questions but you do not have an assigned agent so you'll probably speak with a different person each time you call. A personal insurance agent's expertise can save a lot of time. Researching insurance questions on your own or dealing with an 800 number can be time consuming. Understanding your coverage is essential so be prepared to spend some time looking up insurance information if you buy your insurance online.

• No Help Filing a Claim: At the time of a loss, it is comforting to have a familiar voice help you through the claims process. Many insurance agents file claims for their clients. With an online car insurance company, you will have to file a claim on your own. Claims are not difficult to file but in a time of stress it is nice to have someone do the work for you.

• Must be Computer Savvy: It takes quite a bit of effort to fill in all the information required for a car insurance quote online. If you are not comfortable on the computer, do not even think about buying insurance online. Let an agent do the work for you.

• Home Insurance is usually Not Offered Online for Multi Policy Discount: Most online insurance companies do not offer home owners insurance. If you do not own a home or need renters insurance, it really wouldn't affect your rates. However if you are a homeowner, you would be missing out on a multi policy discount. Some online insurance sites do work with other insurance companies to provide coverage on a home but it is still not providing the multi policy discount.

Purchasing insurance online can be a good option but it is not for everyone. Take time to weigh the pros and cons to see if an online insurance policy is a good fit for you. Get as many quotes as possible when shopping for insurance to make a well-informed decision. Insurance is serious business and it is important to understand exactly what is being purchased.