How to Get Reliable Insurance Information
Before you decide to buy insurance based on what some anonymous guy on social media says, think about the reliability of your source.

Although learning about insurance may not be at the top of your list of things you love to do, if you have ever asked “What about (insert your insurance question here)?” then you need to read on. Getting the correct information starts with where you go to get it.
So, where do you get your information? Back in the day, we had these things called encyclopedias that were large books filled with information from A to Z. They were as updated as could be based on when they were printed. That could be years, but alas, they were a great resource for accurate information.
Another place to go: the Yellow Pages, which focused on where you could buy things or hire services. They listed local businesses — everything from grocery stores and pharmacies to gas stations and insurance companies. Some of those businesses even paid to display a big advertisement to make you more likely to call them.

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
You might also have asked your neighbors, friends or family for recommendations. Who hasn’t done that on just about anything? Where is a good Italian restaurant? Who can fix my flat tire? And yes, where is a place to get insurance at a fair cost?
Online sources vs your friends and relatives
But that was in the past. Now you have a plethora of online sources to consult with. And online sources are better and more informed than your friends, right? Well …
Let’s start with the internet as a whole. Some online sources may be better, or worse, than others, so be sure that you know who or what those sources are.
When you search online for, say, an auto insurance quote, what are you going to get? First, paid advertisements show up at the top of your search results. Sometimes you can tell pretty easily that it is an advertisement. Sometimes it isn’t as clear.
I think we can agree that where a company or person comes up in search results does not necessarily have much to do with the legitimacy of the information provided. Someone paying to be at the top of the results when you search for auto insurance quotes doesn’t make them a good auto insurance insurer or broker.
Looking for expert tips to grow and preserve your wealth? Sign up for Building Wealth, our free, twice-weekly newsletter.
How about social media? Facebook, X, Instagram, Nextdoor, Reddit, etc., all allow anyone to put their opinion out there, whether it’s based on fact or not. It could be a doctor, a lawyer, a physicist, an insurance expert, an elected official, a 10-year-old kid, a scammer in Nigeria, the Chinese or Russian government, you name it. Some of these sources are not even people — they are code known as bots that pose as people to push out information en masse.
Where to go, then?
So where should you go to get reliable information?
Ask your family and friends. Not only do these people, we hope, want what’s best for you, but they also have firsthand knowledge of working with the insurance agent or broker they are referring you to. Nothing can beat firsthand experience.
Read nationally recognized magazines and websites, such as U.S. News and World Report, MarketWatch, Car and Driver and Kiplinger, or check other reliable sources, such as NerdWallet and AM Best, to see what they are saying about insurance companies. Are the insurers taking care of their policyholders? Are they paying their claims?
Remember: Your insurance information is only reliable if you get it from a knowledgeable source.
Want to learn more about insurance? Visit KarlSusman.com.
Related Content
- Four Reasons It May Be Time to Shop for New Insurance
- Home Insurance: How to Cut Costs Without Losing Coverage
- What Claims Adjusters Are Thinking vs What They're Saying
- Why Homeowners Insurance Has Gotten So Very Expensive
- Are You Tempted to Drop Your Homeowners Insurance?
Get Kiplinger Today newsletter — free
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.

Karl Susman is an insurance agency owner, insurance expert witness in state, federal and criminal courts, and radio talk show host. For more than 30 years, Karl has helped consumers understand the complex world of insurance. He provides actionable advice and distills complex insurance concepts into understandable options. He appears regularly in the media, offering commentary and analysis of insurance industry news, and advises lawmakers on legislation, programs and policies.
-
Trump’s Tax Bill Could Kill Chance at ERC Refunds
Tax Credits Millions of small-to-mid-size businesses could be denied the pandemic-era Employee Retention Tax Credit under Trump’s tax agenda.
-
Best Places For Living Single In Retirement
From cost of living to health care access, here are three states you may want to consider if you are single and retired.
-
What You Expect in Retirement vs What You Get: Where Reality Can Surprise You
A financial planner explores how your expectations for retirement can greatly differ from reality — and how you can plan for that.
-
5 Momentum Stocks to Buy Now
momentum stocks Amid volatile trade and rising uncertainty, these momentum stocks have shown strong signs of leadership in the first half of 2025.
-
Nvidia Earnings: Live Updates and Commentary May 2025
Nvidia's earnings event is less than a week away, and investors are keyed into the AI bellwether's results.
-
Stock Market Today: Dow Falls 817 Points as Bond Yields Rise
Financial markets are once again focused on Washington, D.C., but taxes, not tariffs, are driving recent price action.
-
Seven Habits Rich People Swear By to Build and Maintain Wealth
Unlock the secret to lasting financial success by adopting the wealth-building habits of a high-net-worth individual.
-
What's Up With the 10-Year Treasury Bond: Four Financial Experts Weigh In
A financial professional and three colleagues explain the fluctuations in the 10-year Treasury bond and what investors should do.
-
Thinking About Buying a Boat? 10 Things to Know First
Planning on buying a boat in retirement? Think of it as a hole in the water you dump money into, says one expert. But it's not all bad.
-
Stock Market Today: Cautious Investors Let Stocks Drift Lower
Markets weigh encouraging trends for earnings and tariffs against concerning signals from U.S. consumers.