The Zebra Auto Insurance Review [2024]: Save Time and Money Buying Auto Insurance

Shopping for car insurance is one of my least favorite chores and any help I can get I welcome. The Zebra offers a simple way to shop for car, home, renters, or life insurance in one place, so you have all the answers you need. I did find their process to be a little repetitive because you must re-enter the same information on the insurance company’s website that you entered on Zebra, but it’s a minor inconvenience.

Overall, you can get quotes from over 100 of the best auto insurance companies, so The Zebra can save you time and money, and best of all, it’s free.

The Zebra pros and cons

What is The Zebra?

The Zebra is one of the most popular insurance comparison websites in the U.S. Think of it like a search engine to find the most affordable and robust car insurance. They shop over 100 insurance companies using your criteria to match you with the insurance that best meets your needs. 

Along with auto insurance, The Zebra offers quotes for the following types of insurance:

• Homeowners insurance
• Renters insurance
• Life insurance
• Pet insurance
• Motorcycle insurance
• Recreational insurance
• Small business and commercial insurance

They’ve provided over 18 million quotes to consumers to help them find the best match and potentially save hundreds of dollars per year. The best part is they offer their services free to customers. I use the tool annually before my current car insurance renews to ensure there aren’t better options available that might save me more money.

Year founded	2012
Types of coverage	The Zebra is an insurance comparison site and does not sell insurance directly. The insurance companies that provide quotes through The Zebra may offer multiple auto insurance coverage options, including: Collision Comprehensive Property damage liability Bodily injury liability Uninsured motorist (UM) Underinsured motorist Personal injury protection Rental reimbursement insurance Roadside assistance Personal umbrella liability
Discounts available	Available car insurance discounts vary by insurance provider and your location but may include: Bundled policies Multiple policies Multi-car Loyal customer Safe driver Teen driver Away at school Defensive driver or driver education courses Added auto safety equipment Anti-theft devices Low mileage driver
Where you can use it	Desktop and web browser
Customer support	Phone: 1-888-255-4364 Email: support@thezebra.com Customer service for insurance company partners can be found on the individual partner's website.
Availability	The Zebra can search for insurance in all 50 states and Washington, DC, but specific coverage availability and requirements may vary.

How does The Zebra work?

To get insurance quotes from The Zebra, you must provide some basic information. The more accurate the information is that you provide, the more realistic the quotes you receive will be.

After selecting the type of insurance you need, such as auto insurance, you’ll enter your zip code and answer the following questions:

• Do you have car insurance now?
• Do you own or rent your home?
• The reason you’re shopping for car insurance (buying or renewing)
• The year, make and model of your vehicle
• Whether you own or lease the vehicle
• How you use your vehicle (pleasure, commuting, farm, or business
• Number of miles you drive per day, week, month, or year
• Length of time you’ve owned the vehicle
• Name, address, and birthdate
• Gender and marital status
• Estimated credit score
• Information about your driving history
• Information about any other drivers, such as a spouse or child

After entering this information, you must select the type of coverage you want. Zebra offers a few options that they label Minimum, Better, and Best. They also offer an option to customize your package, but they always ‘pick’ the Better option which is usually the middle-of-the-road option.

You select which coverage option you want and then they provide you with a list of insurance companies with options. If you want quotes from any of the insurance companies they mention, you click on ‘Get Price’ and it takes you to the insurance company’s website where you will re-verify the information you entered on The Zebra to get an accurate quote.

How to maximize your savings with The Zebra

The point of using The Zebra for auto insurance is to lower your car insurance costs. While The Zebra shops the best deals for the vehicle you drive, your driving habits, location, and credit history, there are a few things you can do to increase your savings.

• Bundle multiple policies: Bundling your home and auto policies together can help you save money on both. Compare rates before and after bundling to ensure you get the best deal and the right coverage.
• Automatic payments: Setting up automatic withdrawals to pay your bill usually qualifies you for a monthly discount.
• Full payment: Paying your six-month or annual policy in full may earn you a discount off the total amount due.
• Multi-car: Having multiple vehicles covered by the same insurance company could earn you extra savings on top of any bundled policies.
• Student discounts: Many insurance carriers will provide a discount to full-time high school or college students that maintain a set GPA for a term or semester.
• Purchase a policy in advance. Waiting until the last minute before your current policy expires could cost you money. According to a report by The Zebra, people who purchase a policy at least 10 days in advance of when they need it can save up to 4.2%, on average. Note, however, that some insurers may offer this discount with a seven-day advance notice instead of 10 days.
• Improve your credit score. Your credit score may affect your car insurance prices in states that allow this practice. The higher your credit score is, the less risk you pose to an insurance company, which may result in lower rates. However, if you live in California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Michigan, they don’t allow this practice.
• Don’t let your coverage lapse. Your insurance rates are based on the risk you pose to the insurer. If you allowed your coverage to lapse, the insurance company has less information to work with, which could result in a higher rate. Even if you don’t own a car at times, non-owners insurance may be worth the cost to maintain continuous coverage.
• Ask about other discounts. Ask insurance companies about any additional discounts they may offer, such as installing a device on your vehicle to track your driving habits. The better driving habits you have, the more money you may save on insurance.

FAQs about The Zebra insurance

Bottom line

Shopping around for car insurance is one of my least favorite things to do for my personal finances, but if you don’t do it regularly, you could leave money on the table. I try to check the latest quotes once a year, at the very least to confirm that I’m still getting the best rate from my current company.

I may also check if I need to make changes to my coverage or other aspects of the policy because each company prices things differently. Using The Zebra is an excellent way to go through this process without wasting a lot of time, and getting more information than you might get from other comparison websites.

Methodology

FinanceBuzz researches a number of factors in each auto insurance provider to create our reviews. These factors include cost and discounts, complaints and customer satisfaction, coverage, and ease of use. We also gather information from sources such as J.D. Power, AM Best, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), and the Better Business Bureau to ensure we provide the most useful information to our readers.