This company knows that comparison shopping for auto insurance quotes is the way of the future.
But can it walk the walk, too?
NerdWallet is a personal finance website that includes reviews of financial products and informational articles about credit scores, credit cards, identity theft, banking and bank accounts, and stocks. Designed for a millennial audience interested in making smart money moves, it strives to advise users on how to make sound and well-informed financial decisions.
Unlike many other personal finance apps and websites, NerdWallet is also home to a car insurance comparison tool that lets users compare insurance policies between companies. Nerdwallet isn’t the only site providing a car insurance comparison experience. Insurify lets users compare and purchase dozens of different car or homeowners insurance quotes––in minutes, in real-time, and for free.
If you want to better understand interest rates, what credit bureaus include in your credit report, or how your checking account and savings account work, Nerdwallet might be your first stop, with the site working like a personal online financial advisor. But can Nerdwallet help you with car insurance quotes comparison––and is Nerdwallet safe for insurance comparison shoppers to use? Let’s investigate.
How does NerdWallet work?
NerdWallet’s car insurance comparison page takes the form of an interactive box “powered by insure.com”, where users can input their zip code.
When I inputted my ZIP code, I was redirected to the insure.com website. There, I was asked to answer a few quick questions about personal information like my birthday, current insurer, marital status, driving record, homeownership status, gender, whether I owned more than one vehicle and the age of my vehicle(s), and whether I served in the military. This process was quick, taking just a few minutes.
When I completed answering these questions, I was forced to input my contact information, including my email and home address. While the site assured me that my information was “safe”, I made sure to read the fine print at the bottom of the page, which stated that “The advertisers appearing on this website are clients from which QuinStreet receives compensation (“Sponsors”). Compensation may impact where the Sponsors appear on this website (including the order in which they appear). Our websites do not, and are not intended to, provide a comprehensive list of all companies that may provide the products and services you are seeking.”
Ultimately, I didn’t receive any real quotes with real rates at the end of Nerdwallet’s car insurance comparison experience. Instead, I received a few advertisements from common insurers like Progressive, GEICO, and Esurance, with hidden quotes without real dollar figures or the ability to purchase.
When I clicked “get quotes” on each ad, I was redirected to the homepages of those insurance companies, where none of my information was pre-populated, leaving me wondering why I had tried Nerdwallet’s car insurance comparison product in the first place. While Nerdwallet may excel at helping readers determine the best credit card for cash back or how to find a free credit report on sites like Transunion or Experian, the BBB-accredited site lags behind competitors when it comes to comparing car insurance policies.
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NerdWallet Reviews: Here’s what customers are saying…
Are users getting a good deal on the NerdWallet quotes comparison experience, or even finding appropriate car insurance rates at all? While the site’s insurance comparison product isn’t a “scam”, users should still be wary.
Reviews of Nerdwallet’s car insurance comparison experience are mostly negative. Randall D., who made a verified purchase on Nerdwallet in March of 2021, complained about the site’s advertising-based business model on ShopperApproved:
Bonita L. also experienced difficulties with broken functionality on the site in early 2021, stating that she was unable to select her current insurance carrier from Nerdwallet’s drop-down list:
However, a representative of Nerdwallet did respond to both negative reviews, and the site has a high overall 4.4/5 satisfaction rating on ShopperApproved. The user Theodore, among others, praised the site for its service and comparison experience.
Nerdwallet vs. The Zebra
How does Nerdwallet’s car insurance comparison experience stack up when compared to another well-known insurance comparison site––The Zebra?
While both sites offer car insurance comparison experiences and are well-rated by users online, The Zebra, like Insurify, provides users with real-time quotes with actual dollar figures attached generated by AI that consumers can then immediately purchase. The Zebra, like Insurify, lets users customize their coverage levels and other aspects of their car insurance policy.
Nerdwallet, in comparison, simply redirects users to a few well-known insurance sites, where they have to input their personal information all over again.
So while Nerdwallet may be a great resource if you want to learn more about financial institutions, financial services, or personal finance topics like student loans, social security, banks and other lenders, or how to choose a credit card company or improve a bad credit score, the site is probably not your best choice for comparing car insurance quotes.
Nerdwallet vs. Insurify
Your car insurance savings journey doesn’t have to end with NerdWallet.
Insurify can help you unlock savings on your car insurance premium! Whether you’re a first-time insurance shopper, looking for a new insurance provider, or just curious about which discounts you qualify for, Insurify can offer you a slate of personalized, real, bindable rate so you can compare car insurance quotes in a matter of minutes––in real-time and with real-quotes. And Insurify users can purchase their car insurance policies right on the Insurify website––no tedious re-entering of personal information required.
Finally, Insurify will never use your personal information to send irritating calls or texts without your permission.
With over 3,000 user ratings and an average user score of 4.8/5, Insurify is officially the #1 highest ranked insurance comparison platform in the U.S.
Insurify now offers homeowners insurance comparison and life insurance comparison, too…which means all of your significant life changes are covered on a single platform!
Whether you’re from North Carolina or North Dakota, California or Connecticut, Insurify’s got you covered. Start comparing today!
More about NerdWallet
Founded in 2009 by Tim Chen and Jacob Gibson, NerdWallet is currently based in San Francisco, California.
Contact Information
| Headquarters | 901 Market St #600, San Francisco, CA 94103 |
| Customer feedback email | feedback@nerdwallet.com |
| Customer support and technical inquiries email | support@nerdwallet.com |
| Website | www.nerdwallet.com |
Nerdwallet Car Insurance Comparison: Quick Questions
Is Nerdwallet legit and safe to use?
Yes, Nerdwallet is a BBB-accredited website. While users may receive a flurry of calls or texts from insurance agents if they input their personal information into Nerdwallet's comparison engine, they don't need to worry about their financial information being stolen or misused.
What is Nerdwallet's customer rating?
Nerdwallet.com currently has a 4.4/5 customer satisfaction rating on ShopperApproved, out of 2,931 customer ratings.
What are the differences between Nerdwallet and Insurify?
With Insurify, you can pull quotes from different insurers at any time, and you’ll get more options than you would with Nerdwallet. You may be able to see up to 20 quotes at once. Insurify's interface makes it simple to control your coverage levels and deductible amounts. You can edit any of the factors affecting your rate, and you’ll be able to clearly identify the policy with the cheapest premium that meets your needs. By contrast, Nerdwallet doesn't provide real, personalized car insurance rates in real-time––instead, after you input your personal info the site simply redirects you to the homepages of a few insurance companies.