• July 6, 2010

San Francisco-based Esurance has unveiled an enhanced iPhone application for both its customers and car insurance shoppers.

Available free in Apple's App Store, the Esurance mobile app enables customers to manage their policy. It's also one of the first iPhone apps to provide car insurance quote estimates. Esurance customers can already use the online repair monitoring feature on all other mobile devices, and now this  feature is extended to an iPhone app.

For anyone shopping for car insurance, the Esurance mobile app offers online quote functionality in an iPhone app. Shoppers can receive a quote estimate in approximately two minutes. The iPhone app saves the quote, allowing the customer to purchase over the phone.

Current Esurance customers can access ID cards, view their coverage and make payments. In a claim situation, the app can provide preferred repair shops in the customer's neighborhood, using Google maps. The app also allows customers to report some claims entirely through their iPhone.

The Esurance car insurance app also provides a one-of-a-kind repair monitoring feature. Customers with a car in the shop are able to see daily photos of their repairs throughout the process. These photos can be shared instantly, and customers can contact the repair facility directly via email or phone with any questions. They'll also be able to contact their dedicated claims rep right from the app.--Tanya Irwin