• October 1, 2009

One in two people (50%) have been with their current auto insurance provider for more than five years and another 21% have a two- to five-year history with their present company, according to a survey from Mintel Comperemedia.

Customers aren't just loyal, they're happy. Chicago-based Mintel asked survey respondents whether they'd recommend their current auto insurer to friends and family, and half (49%) said they definitely would. Another 31% said they'd probably recommend the company.

Six in 10 adults (62%) said they comparison shop for auto insurance less than once a year, with 29% saying they never shop around. Getting a bill is the top reason people compare auto insurance companies: 48% of those who've shopped around say they did so upon receiving a bill and thinking they might be able to find a better rate or coverage elsewhere. People also consider customer service and agent accessibility important.

Half (51%) say they would comparison shop if they were dissatisfied with customer service, while 45% say they'd do so if their current agent wasn't accessible enough. Among people who have comparison shopped for auto insurance, 25% did so in response to a TV ad and 23% did so in response to direct mail.--Tanya Irwin