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To get online car insurance quotes ten years ago, you would have to call an agent who would send a quote to you via email. This process was an advance on having the agent send you a pile of papers through the mail, but it still required at least a telephone conversation and often a personal appointment with the agent.

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.

That has changed recently, as website sales have replaced an even larger share of agents. This change has been driven by young, urban customers who prefer to do as much of their business over the web as possible. This results in less and less business for agents, who become less effective. That in turn results in forcing older and less sophisticated customers to start using the web as well, since companies are spending more and more effort on web sales.

Recent trends have shown an increase in people getting their car insurance quotes online. Everyone's life is getting more hectic as new activities are filling their limited time and more purchases are made without ever meeting a salesperson. At the same time, potential clients are more aware of the various insurance terms and options and now expect better self-service for their dollar.

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.