Buying Car Insurance Online Vs Offline: Which is Better?

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Online Car Insurance Purchase

Offline Car Insurance Purchase

Meaning

Online car insurance purchase refers to buying  a car insurance policy virtually with the help of a computer or a mobile phone.

Offline car insurance purchase refers to buying a car insurance policy physically at the office of the insurance company or by contacting an insurance agent.

Buying Process

It involves visiting the official website/mobile app of the insurer or an insurance broker, selecting a car insurance plan and making the premium payment online.

It involves visiting the nearest branch of the insurance company or meeting with the insurance agent, filling up the proposal forms, submitting them and paying the premium.

Car Insurance Premium

The premium charged is usually lower as compared to the offline mode as the insurer’s operational costs are reduced.

The premium charged is mostly higher than the online mode as it includes operational costs, such as stationery cost, office expenses, agent’s fee, etc.

Plan Comparison

You can easily compare car insurance plans from different insurance companies online at the website of an insurance broker. You can compare multiple plans based on their premium, coverage and benefits.

It is difficult to compare car insurance plans by different insurers offline as you may have to visit their offices separately. Even if your insurance agent offers multiple options, comparing them can be a tedious task.

Convenience

Buying a car insurance policy online is any day more convenient than buying it offline as you can access the internet round the clock from the comforts of your home.

Buying car insurance traditionally is not very convenient as you will need to step out of your house to visit the insurer’s office or meet an agent during working hours.

Transparency

It has a higher level of transparency as no middlemen are involved and you can cross-check all the information on the website before buying the policy.

It has lower transparency as middlemen like agents are usually involved in the process and you end up believing everything they say.

Influenced Decision

While buying car insurance online, the probability of getting influenced by an agent is zero as you can compare different plans online and choose the most suitable one.

While buying car insurance offline, you may get influenced by the agent and end up buying an expensive policy with lesser coverage.

Paperwork

It involves minimum to zero paperwork.

It involves lots of paperwork as you need to fill up multiple forms.

Time

The process of buying car insurance online is quick as you do not have to fill lengthy forms or wait for an appointment to meet with your insurance agent. You can buy a car insurance policy online within a few minutes.

The process of buying car insurance offline is time-consuming as you need to visit the insurer’s branch or fix an appointment with an insurance agent. You will also need to fill up several forms that will take some time.

Premium Payment

While purchasing car insurance online, you can pay the premium amount online via debit cards, credit cards or internet banking.

While buying the insurance offline, the premium can also be paid offline through cash, cheque, etc.

Customer Support

If you have a query while buying car insurance online, you will be able to contact the customer service team round the clock.

If you face a query while buying the policy offline, the customer executive or the insurance agent will be able to solve it only during office hours.  

Renewal

The process of renewing a car insurance policy online is simpler than the buying process as your policy details will be saved on the insurer’s website. All you need to do is log in to your account or enter your policy number to renew it.

The process of renewing a car insurance policy offline is as cumbersome as the buying process as you will have to visit the insurer’s office or meet with an agent and fill up the forms to renew it.