The Zebra Auto Insurance Review [2023]: Get Quotes for Coverage in Minutes

If you haven’t shopped around for car insurance since you purchased your last policy, you could be missing out on some serious savings. But requesting quotes from individual insurers can be time-consuming, which is a good justification for many to put it off.

Enter The Zebra, an insurance platform that makes it easier to get quotes from more than 100 insurers, including some of the best auto insurance companies. If you’re thinking of switching to a new insurer or you simply want to make sure you’re still getting the best rate, The Zebra can help speed up the process of researching coverage. Here’s what you need to know about this unique platform, how it works, and who it’s right for.

The Zebra: Is it worth it?

Pros	Cons
The Zebra does not sell personal information or collect phone numbers as part of its quote process. Licensed insurance agents are available to assist with questions about a quote generated through The Zebra or about insurance in general. The Zebra is highly rated on multiple websites, including Trustpilot, Google, and the Better Business Bureau.	If you don’t purchase a policy through The Zebra, you may receive multiple email reminders, follow-ups, and special rate offers from select partners such as GEICO. The Zebra works with more than 100 insurance companies to provide quotes, but some insurance providers may not be available, and you’ll have to request a quote separately. The Zebra doesn’t sell your personal information, but it does collect, use, and store your information, which is important to be aware of in case of a data breach.
Our verdict: The Zebra is an insurance comparison site that collects multiple auto, home, or life insurance quotes in one place based on the information you provide. Working with 100 or more national and regional insurance providers, The Zebra could help you find the best coverage for your needs at the best price.

What is The Zebra?

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.

The Zebra is an insurance agency that was founded in 2012 by Adam Lyons, an insurance industry veteran, and Joshua Dziabiak, an internet entrepreneur. The company was founded with one goal in mind: to simplify the process of obtaining affordable insurance coverage. Today, it’s one of the most popular insurance comparison websites in the U.S. and offers quotes for a variety of insurance policies, including:

• Auto insurance
• Homeowners insurance
• Renters insurance
• Life insurance

One thing that sets The Zebra apart from other auto insurance comparison sites is that it invests time to educate consumers during the online quote process. When I got to the page with rate quotes, I got a lot more than just a number. I received an overview of each insurer, some of the features it provides, the coverage for the quoted price, and how the rate breaks down on a monthly basis versus upfront. I was also able to view quotes for more or less protection than what’s standard.

With more information like this, it’s a lot easier for consumers to make an educated decision about where to get their car insurance and other types of insurance policies.

What insurance does The Zebra offer?

The Zebra is an insurance comparison site that provides users easy access to quotes from several car insurance companies that you can compare side-by-side. Most insurance companies offer standard and optional add-on coverages that may include:

• Collision: This coverage helps to pay for expenses if you’ve damaged or totaled your vehicle in an accident or other type of collision, typically even if you were at fault.
• Comprehensive: Comprehensive coverage helps to cover damage caused by vandalism, theft, fire, hail, windstorms, falling objects, etc. A lender or leasing company may require both collision and comprehensive coverages for the length of your loan or lease.
• Liability: Liability coverage applies to injuries, death, or property damage caused to others when you’re at fault in an accident. Bodily injury liability and property damage liability are usually both required, depending on where you live. It's generally recommended to carry more than the state minimum requirements on both types of liability coverage in case you’re ever in a serious accident and sued for a significant amount of money.
• Personal umbrella policy: This policy adds additional coverage above and beyond your standard auto liability policies. If you are found at fault in an accident and don’t have enough standard liability coverage, your assets, including your home, retirement funds, or other personal property, may be at risk if the other driver sues you. A personal umbrella policy may extend that coverage.
• Medical payments: This helps to cover medical expenses if you or your passengers are hurt in an accident.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM): UM/UIM covers your expenses if you’re in an accident with a driver who doesn’t have insurance or enough insurance to cover your damages and medical expenses.
• Roadside assistance: Roadside assistance covers standard roadside services such as jumping the battery, repairing a flat tire, fuel delivery, or locksmith services.
• Personal injury protection (PIP): PIP helps to cover expenses related to injuries in a covered accident. Unlike medical payments coverage, PIP often helps with additional expenses such as assistance services if you can’t work after an accident.
• Rental reimbursement: This usually optional policy helps cover the cost of renting a car or other transportation expenses while your vehicle is being repaired after an accident.

Although The Zebra can help you find insurance across the country, the coverage options available may be limited based on state laws and the information you provide to The Zebra.

In addition to the best car insurance, The Zebra can also help you find quotes for other types of insurance policies. Some policies can be bundled with an auto policy for additional savings or purchased individually. Policy quotes available through The Zebra can include:

• Homeowners
• Renters
• Motorcycle
• Life
• Pet
• Small business
• Commercial auto

How does The Zebra insurance work?

The process of finding car insurance coverage with The Zebra is pretty simple. Remember, the company isn’t an insurer itself, but it does provide quotes from a long list of insurance companies to streamline the process and help ensure you get the best rate.

When you start the quote process through The Zebra, it has you create a profile it can use to field quotes from top insurers. That includes information about your vehicle, where it’s parked, how many miles you drive, and also some basic information about you. It took me less than five minutes to fill everything out.

Then, you’ll get matched with quotes from top insurers based on your individual needs and qualifications. You can even make some changes to your coverage needs to get a more accurate view of what’s available and how much it costs.

The Zebra: How cheap is it?

How to find discounts

The discounts offered by insurance companies vary based on multiple factors, including your driving habits, location, and the age and type of car you drive. Discounts are never guaranteed through an insurance company. Still, some standard discounts include:

Account and policy management:

• 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.
• Long-time customer: Some insurance companies offer discounts based on the time you’ve been a customer. However, the specific length of time required to receive a discount varies by provider.
• 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.

Vehicle safety and safe driving:

• Anti-lock brakes: if your car comes with anti-lock brakes or if you upgraded the safety features on an older car, your insurance company might offer you a discount. The amount and qualifying features vary by company, so be sure to ask.
• Anti-theft systems: Much like the anti-lock brake discount, vehicles with safety features like alarms, GPS locators, glass-break sensors, or steering wheel locks may help you save on your insurance bill.
• Safe driver: Many insurance companies offer discounts if you don’t have an accident or speeding tickets during your policy term. Some providers allow you to install a device in your car to record your driving habits, which may get you even more of a discount.

How to maximize your savings with The Zebra

Car insurance can be expensive — according to a report by The Zebra, the average policy costs $1,548 — so every dollar you can save counts. The good news is that the best way to save money is to shop around, and The Zebra’s comparison tool is an excellent way to do that.

As you go through the process, there are several other ways you save money on car insurance. Some ideas include:

• Set up autopay. Insurers benefit when you set up automatic payments from your credit card or bank account, so they often add an incentive to do so. According to The Zebra, you can save up to $24 per policy period for doing this simple task. What’s more, it ensures you don’t forget to pay, which can cause your policy to lapse.
• Open your policy online. Many insurance companies hire insurance agents to provide quotes and set people up with new policies, but that arrangement is expensive. As a result, you’ll typically get an average discount of $12 by completing the entire process online with an e-signature.
• Pay upfront. Paying monthly may seem like it’s more affordable because it breaks up your policy premium over six or 12 months. But if you can afford to pay in full every policy period, you’ll save an average of $85.
• Purchase a policy in advance. Waiting until the last minute before your current policy expires could be a big mistake because it adds urgency to the situation. What’s more, it can increase your costs. According to The Zebra’s report, people who purchase a policy at least 10 days in advance of when they need it can save $51, on average. Note, however, that some insurers may offer this discount with a seven-day advance notice instead of 10 days.
• Bundle your policy. If you need more than one type of insurance, getting multiple policies from the same insurer could spell huge savings. For example, if you bundle your auto policy with a homeowners or renters policy, you’d save an average of $119.
• Improve your credit score. You may think your credit score impacts only your loans and credit cards, but it’s also used by auto and homeowners insurance companies in most states to calculate rates — California, Hawaii, and Massachusetts don’t allow the practice. Fortunately, many states don’t allow insurers to hike your rates solely because you have bad credit, but they can if there are other negative variables that could impact your rates. Improve your credit rating by one level (such as bad to fair or fair to good), and you could save a whopping $386 on average.
• Don’t let your coverage lapse. Your insurance rates are based on how much of a risk you pose to the insurer. If you haven’t been insured for very long, or you’ve allowed your coverage to lapse at times, the company has less information to work with, which could result in a higher rate. So 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. Every insurance company has its own set of discounts, and some offer more than others. You’ll typically get discounts based on the drivers on your policy, the vehicle and its features, and how you drive. One discount with great potential is the use of telematics. Insurers allow you to install a device on your vehicle or use a mobile app to track your driving. If you prove yourself to be a safe driver, it could reflect positively on your premium.

If you’re looking to learn how to lower your car insurance premiums, these are the best places to start.

FAQs about The Zebra insurance

How to get started with The Zebra

When you visit thezebra.com, the first thing you’ll see is the car insurance quote engine. Here’s how to get car insurance through the comparison website.

You’ll begin by entering your zip code into the field and clicking the “Start” button — and remember, you can also get home insurance, but that’s not required to get a car insurance rate quote.

There are three pages you’ll need to work through before you can get to the quote page. There, you'll be able to compare real-time quotes from different insurance carriers. You’ll be asked about the following information in order:

• Whether you’re currently insured
• Whether you rent or own your residence
• Why you’re shopping for insurance today
• The address where your vehicle is parked
• Your full name and date of birth
• Your vehicles’ year, make, and model (it may be populated automatically based on your address)
• Whether you own or lease the vehicle
• What you mostly use your vehicle for (i.e. commuting, pleasure, etc.)
• How many miles you drive per year
• Your gender and marital status
• Your credit score range
• Your highest level of education
• How long you’ve been continuously insured
• Your current insurance provider
• Whether you’ve had any at-fault accidents or tickets in the past three years
• Your email address
• Potential discounts you qualify for

Once you get to the quote page, the first thing you’ll see is the monthly auto insurance rates, but you’ll also be able to click on each insurer and get an idea of how much coverage you’re getting, so you can compare apples to apples.

At the top of the screen, you can also adjust the type of coverage you’re looking for, which will update the quotes on the main page. Take some time to figure out how much car insurance coverage you need before you pick a company.

Once you pick an insurer, you’ll be directed to its website to complete the purchase process. Note that once you submit an official application, the insurance company will dig more into your driving record, credit report, and other areas to give you a final quote, which may or may not be different than the initial one. This is a normal part of the process that isn’t unique to The Zebra.

After you’ve finished the process with the insurance company, you can choose to accept or decline the policy, then move forward from there.

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 be leaving 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 make changes to my coverage or other aspects of the policy because each company prices things differently than the others. 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.