Buying the right car insurance to suit your need is a lot easier today than it was when I was a young man. Back then there was no internet so getting an instant car insurance quote online was something we couldn't even imagine. If someone had told us that one day we could sit down in front of our own computer and with a few clicks on the keyboard be able to compare quotes from multiple car insurance companies – we'd have laughed in their face. The closest we came to shopping for car insurance “online” was to use the telephone and even that wasn't so easy. Phones then were the old rotary style which made the now simple act of dialing unbearably tedious.

Truth be told, we really never even thought about sitting around calling one car insurance company after another because it was much easier to just head on over our agent's office and discuss rates, premiums, and deductibles face to face. Doing business directly with a car insurance company was simply unheard of. You had to buy car insurance from an authorized agent of one of a few national companies – there were no other choices. If you lived in a smaller out of the way community, you may not have had any choice at all. Generally, people developed a working relationship with a particular insurance agent and would use him or her for all their insurance needs including home owner's insurance, life insurance, health coverage, as well as car insurance. A family insurance agent was something you “had” in the same sense as having a doctor, butcher, or barber. Comparing car insurance prices all over town was rarely considered. After all, you had always purchased your car insurance from “your” agent and you always would.

Those few thrifty souls who did stray to another agent for a cheap car insurance policy often found themselves in uncomfortable situations. They could be seen dodging into alleyways or ducking around corners if they happened to see their ex-car insurance agent coming down the street. This was especially noticeable in the early stages of an insurance company hop – you know – before the ex-car insurance agent knew that he was an ex-car insurance agent. I've even heard tell of whole families that had to change churches so they wouldn't have to endure the icy stares they were getting from a spurned car insurance agent and (former) fellow worshiper.

Yes, you younger folks have it much easier by far. So you had better appreciate what you have and enjoy the privilege of shopping for the perfect car insurance policy online. If you don't – I'm going to start telling you about how I had to walk to school through five feet of snow every day!