Google Compare is currently operating in California with plans to expand throughout the U.S.
While not a story that involves the Commonwealth per se, we still thought Massachusetts insurance professionals would want to know that USAA has announced that it is now partnering with Google Compare in California. As of last week, California drivers shopping online for auto insurance with Google Compare can now receive quotes and coverage information from USAA.
USAA says that it is piloting the program in California to explore new ways in which to reach some of the 60 million Americans who are technically eligible to buy USAA insurance products.
For those unfamiliar with USAA, this could provide another way for potential members to discover USAA and learn about our competitive products and exceptional customer service,” said Jon-Michael Kowall, assistant vice president, innovation, USAA Property and Casualty Insurance Group.
According to USAA, certain questions will be posed to Google auto insurance shoppers in order to determine potential eligibility with USAA. If a customer indicates that they may be eligible, USAA quotes will automatically be included in that customers search results for auto insurance quotes. USAA notes that the quotes appearing on Google Compare will mirror those provided on usaa.com or the USAA Mobile App.
While Google Compare has not yet launched in Massachusetts, the company has laid down the groundwork for Google Compare to enter into the Commonwealth at some point. In announcing the launch of Google Compare in March of this year, Jerry Dischler, Vice President of Product Management, AdWords expanded on the ideas behind the creation of Google Compare.
“Google Compare for car insurance provides a seamless, intuitive experience for connecting with your customers online. Whether you’re a national insurance provider or one local to California, people searching for car insurance on their phone or computer can find you along with an apples-to-apples comparison of other providers — all in as little as 5 minutes. You can highlight what makes your business unique, whether that’s an “A” rating in customer service or better discounts for safe drivers. And when users adjust their deductible or add additional cars to their quote, you can show updated pricing that matches their needs. They can then buy their policy online or over the phone through one of your agents.”
As always, we’ll keep you posted on any further developments from Google Compare and its plans for Massachusetts.
