As someone who recently shopped her auto insurance, I can tell you that what I wanted first was to compare rates. And I wanted to be in the driver's seat—meaning that I wanted to tell agents what I was looking for, receive initial quotes, and decide who I wanted to work with from there. And though I write about insurance for a living, I wanted easy access to insurance-related information so that I was armed with the necessary facts and saving tips needed to secure a good rate and a solid policy.

When it comes to finding information and getting preliminary quotes and estimates, the Web is where it's at. And luckily for us consumers, there are plenty of free online shopping services that help people find the insurance info they need and get free quotes. Of course, I work for InsureMe.com, and biases being what they are, I used InsureMe to find auto insurance quotes.

And that experience went a little something like this:

1. I filled out the online form with some info about my vehicle, driving record and past insurance history
2. The system matched me with local insurance professionals
3. I was able to state (in the quote form) that I wanted to receive initial quotes via email, and included my email address
4. I received multiple auto quotes (four by email; two by phone), compared initial estimates, and narrowed my choices down from there

Once I narrowed my choices, I used the Web to do a little homework on the insurers in question.

Sites like AM Best allow you to view the financial strength and customer service rating of insurance companies for free. It's quick and easy and helps to ensure that you don't partner with a seedy insurer.

With the ball in my court and initial rates in my hand, I contacted the insurers I was interested in working with. Because, while the Web makes comparison shopping a breeze, most of us like to speak to a human when it comes to these sorts of transactions. I mean, we're talking about the person you're going to give your money to and count heavily on in the event of a house fire, car accident or death in the family. So if you’re asking my opinion, I say yeah, it’s important that you feel comfortable with your agent. And of course, it's nice to have an insurance expert on your side to advise you about special products and policy contingencies.

At the end of the day, your insurance purchase shouldn’t bring surprises. You should know exactly what you’re getting and for how much.

So use the Web to find insurance information and to shop around. Doing so cuts out the time and hassle involved with finding an affordable insurance rate. And take advantage of free shopping services that put you in touch with local agents—allowing you to compare quotes and speak to a human.

If I were you, I’d shop using InsureMe.com—your one-stop shop for all things insurance. But now I’m just shamelessly promoting our company. :)

Happy shopping...and don't hesitate to leave your insurance questions via comments. Or, email our staff insurance expert, Jeb at AskJeb@insureme.com We're here to serve, and also to protect. :)