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If you were looking for online car insurance quotes a decade ago, all 'online' probably meant was that you could communicate with your agent via email, rather than through letters in the post. You still would have probably started by speaking with an agent, by telephone, if not in person.

In the past, it seemed ridiculous to assume that any agent would give up their secret weapon in the fight for new clients. Most of them would never even think about handing out a quote to a potential client if they didn't actually come to their office for a real meeting.

It's not like that anymore. These days, the agents of the past have given way to automated web sales which concentrate on price rather than the agent-customer relationship. Young urbanites find the shift to the Internet particularly handy, as it is their preferred form of media. Older, less tech-savvy customers will gradually have to look online too as more and more companies focus on web sales and agents have less to offer in comparison.

It is more and more common for car insurance quotes to be offered on line. As customers are increasingly occupied with other day to day activities, they have become increasingly more comfortable with online purchasing, even for major items. And, as their awareness of their options has grown along with their technological proficiency, their demand for more self-service opportunities has grown as well.

In this area, small insurance companies actually had a head start on the formerly major national carriers. When any customer could search for a free auto insurance quote online without any hassles or catches, they found real discounts and lesser companies were able to become major ones. Small companies gained national status and consumers made better deals before the industry leaders managed to catch up.

It seems that now, every American insurance company now offers online car insurance quotes in some form or another. The much greater number of competitors can be a good thing, as competition often leads to lower prices and/or better service from insurance companies.

The role of technology has changed in the search for discount car insurance, but because pronouncements of "big savings" and "free quotes" have become the norm, it is important to remember how long it used to take, just ten years ago, and spend a little bit of time comparing the offers. There are still great companies out there fighting for your business, looking to make a name for themselves.

In the past, it would have been unthinkable for insurance agents to forego the use of their greatest marketing leverage. Most agents refused to give a potential client a quote unless that person was prepared to meet in person. Ten years ago, "online car insurance quotes" meant that the agents you called sent quotes to prospective clients by email rather than through the post office. Now, almost every American insurance company now offers a free auto insurance quote in some form or another, including for popular and heavily advertised discount car insurance.