Is SelectQuote a Good Company? An Honest Review

You’ve probably seen their commercials promising to save you time and money. But when it comes down to it, is SelectQuote a good company? Let’s clear up a common point of confusion: SelectQuote is not an insurance company. They don’t create policies or handle claims. Instead, they are a large insurance broker—think of them as a matchmaker. Their service connects you with policies from various carriers, allowing you to evaluate car insurance quotes all in one place. This model simplifies shopping for cheap car insurance or bundling auto and home insurance quotes from well-known companies.

Key Takeaways

Understand Their Role as a Matchmaker: SelectQuote isn’t an insurance company; they are a broker that connects you with insurers in their network. This simplifies the shopping process, but your actual policy and claims will be handled by the partner carrier you choose.
Recognize the Trade-Off for Convenience: While using a broker saves you from filling out multiple forms, they can only show you plans from their specific partner companies. You get a quick comparison of some options, but not a complete view of the entire market.
Prioritize Value Over the Lowest Premium: The cheapest quote isn’t always the best deal. Compare coverage limits and deductibles to ensure the policy truly protects you, and ask about bundling your home and auto policies to find significant savings.

How SelectQuote Shops for Car Insurance for You

When you start shopping for car insurance, you’ll quickly come across names like SelectQuote. It’s helpful to understand exactly what they do and how they fit into the insurance landscape. Think of SelectQuote as a large insurance agency, or what’s more commonly known as a broker. They don’t create or sell their own insurance plans. Instead, their service is designed to help you compare policies from a variety of different insurance companies they partner with, making the whole process feel less overwhelming.

SelectQuote is an online company that essentially acts as a matchmaker, connecting customers like you with insurance providers. While this review focuses on their auto insurance services, it’s worth noting they also help people find home, life, and even senior health insurance. Their main goal is to simplify the shopping experience. Instead of you having to visit ten different insurance websites to get ten different quotes—and re-enter your information each time—you can go to one place. An agent gathers your details once and then presents you with several options from their network. This approach allows you to see how different plans stack up against each other in terms of coverage and cost, all in a single conversation, saving you a significant amount of time and effort.

Is SelectQuote an Insurer or a Broker?

This is a common point of confusion, so let’s clear it up right away: No, SelectQuote is not an insurance company. It doesn’t create the policies, handle claims, or underwrite the risk. Instead, SelectQuote operates as a marketplace. They have agreements with a network of well-known insurance carriers. When you decide to purchase a policy through one of their agents, the insurance company pays SelectQuote a commission. This business model means their service is free for you to use. Your actual insurance policy will be with a familiar name like Progressive, Travelers, or another one of their partners, not with SelectQuote itself.

What an Insurance Broker Actually Does for You

Using an insurance broker like SelectQuote is a straightforward process. It starts when you contact them for a quote. An agent will have a conversation with you to understand your specific needs, your budget, and details about your vehicle and driving history. With that information, the agent gets to work. They will look at plans from their partner insurance companies to find options that are a good fit for you.

The agent then comes back to you with a few of the best choices they found. They’ll walk you through the details of each plan, explaining the coverage and the costs. The idea is that by comparing multiple trusted insurers at once, you have a better chance of finding the right coverage at a competitive price without the hassle of doing all the research on your own.

What Car Insurance Coverage Can You Get Through SelectQuote?

When you start looking at auto insurance, the different types of coverage can feel like a language all their own. But don’t worry—it’s much simpler than it seems. Most policies are built from a few key components that cover different situations. Think of it like building a safety net for yourself and your vehicle. You start with the basics that are required by law and then add other pieces for more complete protection. Let’s walk through the main types of coverage you’ll encounter.

Covering the Essentials: Liability Insurance

This is the foundation of any auto insurance policy and is required in most states. In simple terms, liability coverage pays for damage you cause to other people and their property if you’re at fault in an accident. It doesn’t cover your own car or your own injuries. It’s broken down into two parts: Bodily Injury Liability, which helps pay for the other person’s medical bills and related expenses, and Property Damage Liability, which covers the cost to repair or replace someone else’s car or property (like a fence or mailbox) that you damaged.

Protecting Your Car with Collision and Comprehensive

While liability covers others, these two coverages are all about protecting your own vehicle. Collision coverage helps pay for repairs to your car if it’s damaged in an accident with another vehicle or object, like a tree or a guardrail. Comprehensive coverage is for damage from almost everything else besides a collision. This includes things like theft, vandalism, fire, falling objects, or hitting an animal. If you have a loan on your car or are leasing it, your lender will almost certainly require you to have both of these coverages to protect their investment.

Customizing Your Policy with Add-Ons

Beyond the basics, you can add extra layers of protection to your policy. Common options include coverage for uninsured or underinsured motorists (in case you’re hit by someone without enough insurance), medical payments coverage, and roadside assistance. These add-ons provide peace of mind for specific situations. A great way to make your policy more affordable is by bundling your car insurance with your home or renters policy. Most insurers offer a significant discount for keeping multiple policies with them, which can make adding these valuable protections much easier on your budget.

How to Get a SelectQuote Car Insurance Quote

Getting a quote is your first step toward finding the right auto insurance. The process with SelectQuote is designed to be straightforward, but it helps to know what to expect. Let’s walk through what you’ll need, what influences your price, and how SelectQuote finds the best options for you.

What You’ll Need to Get a Quote

To get an accurate quote, you’ll need to have some key pieces of information ready. Think of it in three main categories: details about the drivers, the car you want to insure, and your driving history. This includes basics like your name, address, and driver’s license number, along with the vehicle’s make, model, year, and VIN. You’ll also be asked about your driving record, including any accidents or tickets. It’s really important to be honest and accurate here. Providing correct details ensures the auto insurance quote you receive is the price you’ll actually pay, preventing any surprises down the road.

What Factors Influence Your Car Insurance Rate?

Ever wonder how insurance companies come up with your final price? Several factors play a role in determining your rate. Your driving history is a big one—a clean record usually means a lower premium. The type of car you drive matters, too; a high-performance sports car will cost more to insure than a standard sedan. Other key elements include where you live, the amount of car insurance coverage you choose, and even your age. In some states, your credit score can also be part of the calculation. Understanding these factors can help you see why your quote looks the way it does and identify areas where you might be able to find savings.

Seeing Your Insurance Options Side-by-Side

This is where using a broker like SelectQuote really shines. Instead of you having to visit multiple websites and fill out the same forms over and over, they do the heavy lifting. SelectQuote takes your information and gathers quotes from a wide network of different insurance companies. They work with many well-known and trusted insurance companies, comparing the policies and prices for you. Their goal is to present you with the best available options, helping you find a policy that fits your needs and budget without the hassle of shopping around yourself. It’s a streamlined way to see what the market has to offer in one place.

Is SelectQuote a Good Company to Use?

Using an insurance broker like SelectQuote can be a great way to simplify your search for auto insurance, but it’s smart to look at the full picture before you start. Like any service, it has its strengths and some potential drawbacks. Understanding both sides helps you decide if their approach is the right fit for your needs. Let’s walk through the benefits, the things to watch out for, and some common questions people have about how it all works.

Company Background and Business Model

It’s important to know that SelectQuote is an insurance agency—often called a broker—not an insurance company. This is a crucial distinction. As a broker, SelectQuote doesn’t create its own policies or handle claims directly. Instead, it works like a marketplace, connecting you with a variety of well-known insurance carriers. This model simplifies the shopping process by letting you see multiple options from its network of partner companies, like Progressive and Travelers, all in one place. Think of them as a personal shopper for insurance; they gather the options so you don’t have to.

When you decide to purchase a policy through SelectQuote, the insurance company pays them a commission, which means the service is free for you. While you get the benefit of a streamlined comparison, your actual insurance policy will be with one of the partner carriers, not SelectQuote. This business model, which we explore in our full SelectQuote insurance review, is designed to save you time and effort. You can get quotes from several insurers without filling out the same information on multiple websites. In essence, SelectQuote acts as a matchmaker for insurance, helping you find a policy that fits your needs and budget.

Why Using a Broker Can Save You Time and Money

The biggest advantage of using a service like SelectQuote is convenience. Instead of visiting multiple websites and filling out forms over and over, you do it once. They take your information and compare prices from the different insurance companies they work with, acting as a personal shopper for your policy. This comparison can save you a good bit of time and effort.

This process can also lead to real savings. By putting several options side-by-side, you might find a more affordable premium for the coverage you need. SelectQuote notes that customers who bundle their home and auto insurance save an average of $693 a year, which shows how powerful comparing policies can be.

What Are the Downsides of Using SelectQuote?

While convenience is a major plus, it’s important to know that SelectQuote only shows you plans from their specific network of partners. This means you won’t see every single option available in your area. You could potentially miss out on a better or less expensive plan from a company that isn’t on their list.

Some people also find the follow-up process a bit much. After you request a quote, you can expect to receive phone calls and emails, which some customers have found to be overwhelming. It’s also worth looking at customer feedback. A number of BBB reviews mention issues with claims being denied or not covered as they had expected, so that’s something to keep in mind.

Impersonal Call Center Experience

One of the most common frustrations you might encounter with a large-scale service is the call center experience. SelectQuote operates using this model, which means you likely won’t speak to the same agent twice. Each time you call with a question or a follow-up, you may have to start from the beginning, explaining your situation to a new person. This can lead to a disjointed and impersonal process where you feel more like a case number than a valued client. When you’re making an important decision about insurance, building a relationship with someone who understands your specific needs is often a key part of feeling confident in your choice. The lack of a dedicated agent can make that difficult.

Pressure-Driven Work Culture

The internal environment of a company often shapes the service you receive. Reports from former and current employees suggest that SelectQuote fosters a high-pressure, metrics-driven sales culture. This focus on quotas and sales numbers can sometimes put the agent’s goals ahead of your own. Instead of feeling like you have a trusted advisor dedicated to finding the absolute best fit for your situation, you might feel rushed or pushed toward a particular policy. When an agent’s success is measured by how many policies they sell, it can create a conflict of interest, potentially compromising the quality of the guidance you receive during your search for the right insurance plan.

DOJ Lawsuit and Ethical Concerns

It’s also important to be aware of more serious issues. SelectQuote is currently facing a lawsuit from the Department of Justice related to its senior health insurance business. The lawsuit alleges that the company was involved in an illegal kickback scheme, receiving payments from certain insurance carriers to enroll beneficiaries in specific Medicare Advantage plans. While these allegations are focused on their Medicare sales, they raise broader questions about the company’s business practices. When a broker is accused of accepting payments to favor certain products, it undermines the trust that their recommendations are unbiased and truly in the customer’s best interest. This is a significant red flag to consider when evaluating their services.

Fact vs. Fiction: Common Insurance Broker Myths

Let’s clear up a few things about how services like SelectQuote work. First, SelectQuote isn’t an insurance company. They are an insurance agency, or broker. They don’t create their own insurance plans; they simply connect you with plans from the companies they partner with.

You might also wonder how they make money if the service is free for you. It’s simple: the insurance company pays SelectQuote a commission when you purchase a policy through them. This is a standard practice in the industry. The final price you pay is set by the insurance carrier, not the broker. Insurance companies look at many factors, like your driving history and vehicle type, to determine your rate.

Finding Cheap Car Insurance with SelectQuote

Everyone wants to find the best coverage without overpaying. The good news is that working with a broker like SelectQuote can uncover several ways to lower your premium. Let’s look at the most common strategies for saving money on your auto insurance.

Save More by Bundling Home and Auto Insurance

One of the simplest and most effective ways to lower your insurance costs is by combining policies. When you bundle your car insurance with your homeowners or renters policy, insurers often reward you with a significant discount. Think of it as a thank-you from the insurance company for giving them more of your business. It simplifies your life by having fewer bills to manage and can put real money back in your pocket. If you have policies with different companies, it’s always worth asking your SelectQuote agent to run the numbers and see how much you could save by bringing them under one roof.

Uncovering Discounts for Safe Drivers

Beyond bundling, insurance companies offer a variety of discounts that can chip away at your premium. You might be eligible for savings based on your driving habits, your vehicle, or even your personal background. Common discounts include those for:

Having a clean driving record
Being a loyal customer for several years
Being a student or a member of the military
Having safety features in your car, like anti-lock brakes or an alarm system

Don’t assume you’re getting every discount you qualify for. It’s always a good idea to ask your agent to review your policy and see if there are any savings you’re missing out on.

How Much Can You Really Save?

So, what do these savings actually look like? While your final rate depends on many personal factors, the numbers can be quite compelling. According to SelectQuote, customers who bundle their home and auto insurance save an average of $693 a year. That’s a substantial amount that could go toward other financial goals. If your household has more than one vehicle, the savings can stack up even more. Bundling multiple cars on the same policy can reduce your coverage costs by up to 20%. These figures show that taking a few minutes to explore your options with a broker can lead to significant long-term savings.

How Does SelectQuote Compare to Other Options?

When you’re looking for auto insurance, you have a few paths you can take. You can work directly with an insurance company, find a local independent agent, or use a large online broker like SelectQuote. Each option has its own process and benefits, so it’s helpful to understand how they differ before you start shopping around. Knowing how SelectQuote fits into the bigger picture will help you decide if it’s the right choice for your needs.

Using SelectQuote vs. Going Directly to an Insurer

Going directly to an insurance company’s website or calling their 800 number is one way to get a policy. You’re dealing with a single brand, and the process is usually straightforward. The downside is that you only see their prices, and you have to repeat the process with every single company to compare rates.

SelectQuote works differently because it’s an insurance broker, not an insurance company. They don’t issue the policies themselves. Instead, they act as a middleman, letting you compare quotes from several different insurance companies at once. This saves you the time and effort of shopping around on your own. The agent’s job is to help you find a suitable plan from one of their partners.

SelectQuote vs. Other Insurance Brokers

SelectQuote isn’t the only insurance broker out there. You might have local, independent agents in your town who do the exact same thing: compare policies from multiple companies to find you a good fit. The main difference is scale. SelectQuote is a large, national company with a significant online and television presence. They have a streamlined process designed to give you quotes quickly.

A local agent, on the other hand, might offer a more personal, hands-on relationship and may have deep knowledge of regional insurance quirks. Neither approach is inherently better; it just depends on what kind of experience you prefer. If you like handling things quickly online or over the phone, a large broker like SelectQuote can be very efficient.

Which Insurance Companies Does SelectQuote Work With?

This is probably the most important thing to understand about any broker. SelectQuote works with a specific group of insurance companies—their partner network. While they compare quotes from many well-known carriers, they can only show you options from the companies they have a relationship with.

This means you won’t see every single plan available in your area. It’s possible that a better or more affordable plan exists with a company outside of their network. This is one of the key red flags to consider when using any broker with a limited partner network. While their service is convenient for comparing the options they do have, it’s not a complete view of the entire market.

What Is SelectQuote’s Customer Service Like?

When you’re choosing an insurance plan, the quality of customer service is just as important as the price. You want to know that if you have a question or need help down the line, someone will be there for you. Customer experiences with any large company can be a mixed bag, and it’s helpful to understand the entire process, from the first phone call to the support you receive after you’ve purchased a policy.

SelectQuote is a large insurance agency, which means their service model is a bit different from buying directly from an insurance carrier. They act as the middleman, connecting you with plans from their partner companies. This structure influences the customer experience. Let’s walk through what you can typically expect during the sales process, the accuracy of their quotes, and what kind of support you can anticipate once you become a policyholder. Knowing these details can help you make a more informed decision about whether their approach is the right fit for you.

Customer Ratings and Reputation

BBB and Trustpilot Scores

Checking out what other customers have to say is always a smart move. When it comes to ratings, SelectQuote looks pretty solid. They have an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), which is the top score possible. This usually indicates that they take customer issues seriously and work to resolve them. Over on Trustpilot, they have an “Excellent” 4.3 out of 5-star rating. Many of the positive reviews mention that the agents are knowledgeable and that the process of getting a quote is straightforward, which is exactly what you want when you’re trying to sort through your options.

Net Promoter Score (NPS)

Another number you might see is the Net Promoter Score, or NPS. It sounds technical, but it’s just a simple measure of customer loyalty. It boils down to one question: “How likely are you to recommend this company to a friend?” SelectQuote’s NPS is 58, which is considered “Great.” This tells us that a good number of their customers are happy enough with the service that they would recommend it to others. It’s a positive sign that, for many people, the experience is a good one.

Response to Negative Feedback

While the positive ratings are encouraging, it’s just as important to see how a company handles things when they go wrong. This is one area where you’ll want to pay attention. SelectQuote has only responded to about 3% of its negative reviews on Trustpilot, which might make you question how committed they are to fixing problems after you’ve signed up. Some recent customer complaints bring up issues with service after the policy is in place, like unexpected claim denials. A few people also felt the agents were more focused on making a commission than on their long-term satisfaction. This doesn’t mean you’ll have a bad experience, but it’s a good reminder to always read your policy documents carefully so you know exactly what you’re getting.

What to Expect When You Call for a Quote

When you contact SelectQuote, you’ll be connected with a licensed agent. It’s important to remember that SelectQuote is an insurance broker, not the insurance company itself. This means their agents don’t work for one specific carrier. Instead, their job is to help you compare plans from the various insurance companies they partner with.

The agent will ask you questions about your needs, your budget, and your health to get a clear picture of what you’re looking for. Based on your answers, they will search for options within their network and present you with a few different plans. This process can be a helpful way to see multiple quotes at once without having to contact each company individually.

Are the Quoted Prices Accurate?

One of the most common questions people have is whether the price they’re first quoted will be the final price they pay. Based on customer feedback, this can be a point of concern. Some people have reported that the final price for their policy ended up being higher than the initial quote they received from the sales agent.

This can happen because initial quotes are often estimates based on the preliminary information you provide. The final price is only set after the insurance carrier has completed the full underwriting process, which is a more detailed review of your information. It’s always a good practice to ask the agent if the quote is an estimate or a finalized rate before you commit.

What Happens After You Choose a Policy?

Your relationship with an insurance provider doesn’t end once you buy a policy. You might have questions about your coverage or need help with a claim down the road. While many customers report a positive experience with the initial sales process, some have found it difficult to get help or answers after their policy is active.

When you’re researching any company, it’s also a good idea to see how they handle feedback. Some customer review sites show that SelectQuote doesn’t have a strong track record of responding to negative comments or complaints. This is something to keep in mind as you consider what level of ongoing support you might need. When you choose a Medicare broker, finding someone who provides excellent service for the long haul is key.

Ready to Compare Car Insurance Quotes?

Getting an auto insurance quote can feel like a big task, but breaking it down makes it much more manageable. Using a service like SelectQuote is designed to simplify this process, but it’s still wise to know what to expect. When you’re prepared, you can move through the steps confidently and make a choice that feels right for you and your family. Think of it not as a chore, but as an opportunity to ensure you have the right protection at the best possible price. Let’s walk through how to get your quotes and what to do once you have them.

How to Request Your Free Quotes

Before you start filling out forms, take a moment to think about what you actually need. The first step is to decide on the types of coverage you want. Are you looking for basic liability, or do you want the added security of comprehensive and collision? Next, consider your deductible. A higher deductible usually means a lower monthly premium, but you’ll have to pay more out-of-pocket if you file a claim. Once you have a clear idea of your needs, you can provide your information to SelectQuote. Their team will then take that information and gather quotes from their network of insurance partners, saving you the time and effort of contacting each company individually.

How to Compare the Quotes You Receive

Once SelectQuote presents you with your options, you’ll see that an auto insurance quote is more than just a price. It’s a detailed summary that shows you exactly what you’re paying for. Each quote will outline the premium, the specific coverages included, any policy exclusions, and the deductible you selected. You’ll also see any discounts you qualify for, such as for safe driving or having safety features in your car. It’s important to remember that quotes can vary significantly from one insurer to another. Each company has its own method for calculating risk, which is why comparing several options side-by-side is the best way to find a great deal.

How to Pick the Best Car Insurance Policy for You

With several quotes in front of you, the final step is making a decision. While it’s tempting to simply choose the lowest price, it’s crucial to look at the bigger picture. Make sure the policy provides enough protection for your needs. Experts often recommend purchasing more than your state’s minimum required coverage to better protect your assets in case of a serious accident. Compare the coverage limits and deductibles on each quote. A policy that costs a few dollars more per month might offer significantly better protection, giving you greater peace of mind. The goal is to find the policy that offers the best value—the right balance of coverage and cost for your situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SelectQuote the actual insurance company that will cover my car? No, and this is a really important distinction. Think of SelectQuote as a helpful personal shopper or a matchmaker for insurance. They are an insurance agency, or broker, that partners with many different well-known insurance companies. Their job is to help you compare plans from those partners, but your actual policy and coverage will be with a carrier like Progressive or Travelers, not SelectQuote itself.

If the service is free for me to use, how does SelectQuote get paid? This is a great question. SelectQuote’s service is free to you because they are paid by the insurance companies. When one of their agents helps you find and purchase a policy, the insurance company you choose pays SelectQuote a commission. This is a standard industry practice and doesn’t change the final price you pay for your insurance.

Will I always find the absolute cheapest insurance plan through SelectQuote? Not necessarily. While using a broker is a fantastic way to find competitive rates, it’s important to remember that SelectQuote can only show you plans from their specific network of partner companies. There might be another insurer outside of their network that could offer you a lower price. Their service gives you a great comparison of many top options, but it isn’t a complete view of every single plan on the market.

After I buy a policy, who do I contact if I need to file a claim? Once your policy is active, your relationship is directly with the insurance company that issued it. For any service needs, like filing a claim, asking billing questions, or making changes to your coverage, you will contact your insurance carrier directly. Their contact information will be on all of your policy documents.

Why should I use a broker like SelectQuote instead of just buying directly from an insurer? The biggest advantage is saving time and effort. Instead of you having to go to five or ten different insurance websites to get quotes—and re-entering your personal information each time—you do it just once. A SelectQuote agent does the comparison shopping for you, presenting you with several options side-by-side so you can easily see which one offers the best value for your needs.