How do you make sure that the car insurance company you sign on with is going to be reliable? When we say "reliable," we're referring to how the insurer treats you, the customer. Most importantly, how will the company deal with you when you file a claim?

1) Visit your state's department of insurance Web site. Although you may not be familiar with it, your state, and every state, has a department of insurance. Most departments have Web sites, and many publish "consumer complaint ratios" for all of the insurance companies that sell policies in their state. This ratio tells you how many complaints a car insurance company received per 1,000 claims filed.

Some experts recommend that consumers use complaint ratios to screen prospective insurers.Just because they're a big name doesn't mean that they'll be a good provider.

When you've done your homework, you should  have a list of car insurance companies with the lowest premium quotes. Then you should write down the companies with the lowest (or best) complaint ratios. Then, compare your two lists — the companies that rank best on both lists merit your strongest consideration.

If you can't find complaint ratios for your state, examine the complaint ratios published by other states. Keep in mind that a single insurance company's practices can vary significantly from state to state — a subpar ratio in one state doesn't necessarily mean the situation is the same in your state. But watch for general trends. If an insurer is getting a lot of complaints in several other states, you probably don't want to do business with this company. The I-CAN Web site provides links and contact information for every state's department of insurance.

Also note that insurance department Web sites often provide basic rate comparison surveys. These can give you a rough idea of which insurers might interest you on a financial basis without the hassle of typing in all your personal information (as you must when you use one of the online quote sites).

2) Find out which insurers collision shops recommend. One of the best ways to find reliable insurers, is to contact local body shops that you trust and ask for their recommendations. Body shop managers have a unique perspective to offer, since they regularly interact with insurance adjusters. They know which companies have the smoothest claim processes, which affects how quickly the work can be completed on a damaged vehicle. And they know which companies are pushing aftermarket parts, in stead of genuine original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts, to cut costs.

3) Check the J.D. Power Ratings. J.D. Power and Associates collects data from individual policyholders nationwide and rates them according to coverage options, price, claims handling, satisfaction with company representatives and the overall experience.

4) Consider insurers' financial strength ratings. As a final check, you can take a look at the A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's ratings. Both companies publish financial strength ratings for all insurance companies — these "measure" an insurance company's ability to pay out a claim (they have nothing to do with the way a company treats its customers).Insurers with the highest ratings receive a rating of AAA (S&P) or Aa3 (Moody's). These are often called triple-A ratings. It's a good idea to find an insurer that has at least a single-A rating.

5) If you are still confused, consider working with an insurance agent. It used to be that everyone purchased auto insurance from an agent, but now, car insurance companies like Amica, Esurance, Geico and others allow you to purchase insurance directly — over the phone from a customer service representative or online. Still, many of the major players have preserved their national networks of local agents — even if you use State Farm's or Allstate's Web site, you will still be assigned a local agent.

There are two kinds of agents:

a) the captive agent, who represents only one insurance company (major carriers like AAA, Allstate and State Farm sell policies through captive agents).

b) the independent agent, also referred to as a broker, who represents several insurance companies and as such does not have a vested interest in selling you a policy from one particular company.

The main advantage in having your own agent is that this person has a vested interest in keeping you happy. Accordingly, he can become familiar with your situation and guide you toward a suitable policy.  An independent agent would become aware of less advantageous conditions with one company and help you move to another. You can change insurance companies without changing your agent. You should develop a relationship with your agent.

Never feel pressured by a broker or an agent. Take the time to talk with an agent or a broker, as well as do your online research. You may not need an agent — you may find a better deal with a company that operates direct.

Independent agents sometimes charge a fee for their services, but that may be negotiable. You should agree upon any fee in writing before making a purchase. Look for agents who are certified by Independent Insurance Agents of America (Big "I") or Professional Insurance Agents (PIA).

 You probably have better things to do with your time than think about car insurance. Realistically, most people won't be able to do everything on this list before choosing an insurance carrier. But if you feel that you've been burned during the claims process in the past, consider at least one or two of these suggestions — you'll thank yourself if you're ever involved in another auto accident.