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Over the last several years, consumers nationwide have been faced with far greater insurance costs for just about every policy they might have in their names. However, one has remained relatively stable during that time, at least in comparison with the others, and that's auto insurance. For this reason, when consumers are dismayed at the costs they may face overall, it might be important for insurance agents to highlight just how affordable auto coverage remains, while still trying to find discounts here and there that can help their clients more easily juggle their expenses.

Recent data has shown that some consumers might not be able to find the most affordable auto insurance out there, particularly if they live in low-income communities, according to a report from the Insurance Information Institute. However, the fact remains that as recently as 2011, even the poorest 20 percent of Americans were paying no more than 2 percent of their annual income on car insurance. Further, the bottom 40 percent of Americans actually saw the amount they spent on such coverage drop 14 percent from 2008 to 2012. This potentially suggests that auto plans have remained quite affordable in comparison with other types of coverage.

Where does it differ?
Overall, auto insurance coverage costs grew 10 percent from 2001 to 2011, the report said. During that same time frame, the amount of money spent on other necessities has risen far more significantly. For instance, health care costs were up 52 percent, both housing and public transportation expenditures were up 29 percent, and food outlays grew 21 percent. So by this measure as well, drivers who are fretting over their auto insurance bills can likely remain assured that what they're paying is actually rising less significantly than most other aspects of their everyday lives.

Insurance agents who can help keep their clients happy through strong customer service are likely to have the most success. Polls generally show that this kind of thing is actually more valued by consumers than even being able to find more affordable prices. Therefore, the ability of an agent to strike a reasonable balance between these two factors could see their retention rates skyrocket, while also potentially buoying the chances of their companies being recommended by those clients to other consumers, who might become more eager to sign on as well.

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