Erie ranks highest among 18 major auto insurance companies in satisfying new buyers, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Insurance New Buyer Study. The study focused on distribution channel, price and policy offerings.

Erie received a score of 896 on a 1,000-point scale, performing particularly well in the price factor. The Hartford follows Erie with a score of 894, while State Farm ranks third with 893.

The study finds that while 55 percent of all new auto insurance sales are handled by local agents, the percentage of buyers shopping and closing via direct channels, including insurer Web sites and call centers, has increased from the 2007 study. In 2008, 44 percent of buyers purchased directly from the insurer, rather than through an agent, an increase of 3 percent from 2007. 22 percent of buyers who changed their shopping channel went to direct purchasing methods compared with 15 percent who switched to using an agent.

However, the study finds that buyers who purchase their auto insurance policies through local agents give higher average satisfaction scores compared with those who purchase policies from direct channels.

The study also found:

For more information, visit http://www.jdpower.com/.

Special Reports /

Erie ranks highest in new buyer satisfaction: J.D. Power study

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