Taking the time to make sure that the auto insurance company that is being considered for coverage is financially sound can be well worth it and in many cases will not eat up much time at all. Top rated insurers are commonly defined as having the ability to meet their ongoing obligations to policyholders and an unstable carrier may be on the verge of bankruptcy and may lead to unpaid claims.

Various agencies analyze these companies and rate them based on the ability to meet the obligations that they have to their customers and these ratings can be obtained by consumers free of charge.

Rating agencies are available online and are a valuable resource to help motorists make a well informed decision before choosing a company. These agencies use certain tiers which they place insurers in based on their financial stability; for example, one agency uses letter grades similar to school grading.

If a carrier receives an “A” then they are regarded as having an excellent ability to compensate policyholders, a “D” letter grade would indicate a weak ability to fulfill obligations. These agencies are a well trusted source of information and commonly suggested by government websites; the Illinois Department of Insurance website provides a list of rating agencies and will even provide company ratings to residents.