Insurance companies are responsible for the product (the underwriting, paying claims) and employ “captive” insurance agents, meaning agents can only sell products from the company they work for.

Insurance brokers are licensed to sell products from multiple insurance companies. Their professional designation means they work on behalf of the consumer, not an insurance company.

InsuranceHotline.com aggregates quotes from both insurance brokerages and companies.

Direct writers are insurance companies that sell their products online with support from phone agents. They usually don’t have brick and mortar locations. Direct writers only sell their own products.

Examples of direct writers include belairdirect, Onlia, and Sonnet.

Some consumers have reported finding better prices from direct writers, which is often attributed to their lower overhead costs.

You can compare rates from direct writers on rate comparison sites like InsuranceHotline.com.

Car insurance is unlike other products and services. The price of a policy is based on many complex variables, like driving and insurance history, age, location, and even the state of the economy and insurance industry at large.

Given the changeable nature of rating factors, companies don’t offer coverage at a flat rate.

Comparing quotes from multiple insurance companies is the best way to find out which company can offer you the best price for insurance.

InsuranceHotline.com compares quotes from 50+ insurance companies in Canada and bring you the ones that offer your lowest rate.

Insurance companies have a type of client they like to court. To this clientele, they offer preferred rates, which is another way of saying the lowest rates. The more closely you fit that profile, the better your rate will be.