Even if your company is a well-recognized name in the industry or your agent is a friend of the family, it is important to be sure that you fully understand the terms of your policy and that the company will stand by them in case of an accident leading to a claim.

Contact the Better Business Bureau and ask for your insurance company’s rating. Find out if complaints were filed and if they were resolved satisfactorily. You also may be to able to ask your insurer about contacting other clients for referrals, just as you might do for a home improvement contractor.

Every year or two you should make an appointment with your agent to go over your policy with a fine-tooth comb. Report any changes in your household members, the vehicles you drive, your driving conditions and distance, or other factors that may have a bearing on your insurance premium. Restate in your own words what you think the policy says, and ask the agent if your understanding is correct. If you can agree, then chances are you should have no problems in the event of a claim. But if your agent explains the policy in terms that are different from those that appear in the written policy, find out why this is so. If you do not receive information that makes you feel comfortable, start shopping for another insurer.