The Zebra is a free online tool that allows you to compare auto insurance rates from some of the top companies on the market. The policy aggregator is one of the most comprehensive in the business, pulling quotes from over 200 providers, from large names like GEICO, Allstate, and Progressive, to smallers ones like The General and Metromile. And The Zebra doesn’t just aggregate auto insurance, either — it also compares rate for homeowners as well as renters insurance. Rating Breakdown Overall: 4.5 Comparison Options: 5.0 Customer Service: 4.0 Background Started in 2012 in an effort to simplify consumers’ search for insurance, The Zebra bills itself as the nation’s “leading insurance comparison site.” That may be true, given its large network of partners and relatively high-profile status. The company has received backing from several well-known tech figures, including investor Mark Cuban, and frequently appears in national roundups of the top insurance aggregators on the market. As of 2019, The Zebra provided over 1,800 car insurance products from more than 200 national insurers, saving consumers an average of $368 a year. The Zebra offers more than just auto insurance, too. The company recently began offering home and renters insurance aggregation through its site, and has announced that it will soon branch into RV, boat, and motorcycle insurance. Its headquarters are in Austin, Texas. How It Works Like other insurance comparison sites, The Zebra uses proprietary software and partnerships with hundreds of providers to let consumers search and compare rates in real-time. Through the company’s free online form, users begin by inputting details about their personal background and vehicle ownership, including their name, birthday, and make and model of their car. The form also automatically checks for discounts, such as those for active military members or full-time workers. Other information the company asks for includes: Your zip code Whether you’re currently insured Whether you own a home (most insurance providers offer discounts for homeowners or those who bundle their homeowner’s insurance with their auto or other policies) Where you park your vehicle overnight Whether you own or lease your vehicle How you use your car How many miles you drive a year From there, The Zebra checks this information against its database of partner providers — which features companies from State Farm and Progessive to USAA and Chubb — then automatically sends you a list of quotes based on the results. Some of these companies will provide quotes up front, while others will force you to visit their site and provide more information. The whole process only takes about four minutes, which is slightly longer than other comparison sites — but also worth it, since it delivers a more accurate and comprehensive picture of your coverage options. Ways to Compare The Zebra offers a plethora of ways to compare auto insurance options. After receiving their rate quotes, users can vet policies based on insurance type, including liability, comprehensive, collision, or underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage. (The Zebra groups these policies in three categories: minimum, basic, better, and best). The site also allows you to search policies based on location, breaking down availability and costs in each state, as well as by age, credit score, and vehicle type. There is even a guide to the cheapest insurance companies on the market. Various types of insurance that are available include: Liability — covers typical actions you might be liable for as a driver, including bodily injury and property damage. Comprehensive — covers weather, theft, vandalism and other events beyond your control. Collision — covers damage to your car resulting from an accident, regardless of fault. Uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage — covers personal injury and vehicle damage caused by a driver without insurance. Medical payments and personal injury — covers medical expenses, lost wages, or other costs resulting from an accident, regardless of fault. And unlike many of its competitors, The Zebra doesn’t just compare auto insurance rates. The site also features comparison tools for homeowner insurance and renters insurance, as well as detailed guides to finding the right policy for you. Benefits Of Using An Insurance Comparison Site There are literally hundreds of auto insurance providers out there, each with their own coverage offerings, discount options, and metrics for determining premiums for individual customers. Add to that a litany of other rules and requirements that may vary from driver to driver and state to state, and it all makes choosing the right policy an almost mind-bogglingly difficult task. This is where insurance comparison sites come in. Much like aggregation sites in other industries, such as KAYAK.com for flights or Trivago.com for hotels, these online tools aren’t insurance providers in and of themselves; rather, they round up the best options on the market and help you tailor your search to fit your needs, thereby greatly simplify the process of finding coverage. Sites like InsureMyCarNow and Auto Web Quote let users search dozens of partner providers at the same, offer tips and advice on how to pick the right insurance, and keep professional agents on standby to help guide them through the process. Most are free to use, too, though you may get inquiries from the companies’ partner providers after signing up. The Zebra represents one of the most comprehensive comparison sites available today. Not only will drivers who use the site benefit from the company’s sizeable network of insurance partners, which is much larger than any other comparison site out there, but they’ll also be able to take advantage of many other tools and guides designed to help make sense of the market. And because The Zebra’s rate tool is one of the most thorough in the business, you’re sure to get the best deal possible. Other Tools & Tips In addition to being home to a great online rate tool and guides to buying insurance, The Zebra is also a wealth of industry research and statistics. The company conducts regular studies on market trends and developments, authoring reports on such topics as personal finance, driving habits, and homeownership rates — all of which are free to view. It also publishes an industry-wide study, The State of Auto Insurance, which analyzes more than 73 million car insurance rates across the country.