“Insurance Web site Ratenow.com today announced the launch of Insurance Quote Marketplace, an open and transparent insurance quoting request marketplace for most types of insurance, offering consumers or business an anonymous and hassle-free way to request custom insurance quotes directly from registered insurance agents/brokers. In turn, agent/brokers can respond to an unlimited number of insurance quote requests directly from consumers or business – for free. Insurance Quote Marketplace extends Ratenow into another crucial facet of insurance comparitive quoting, and includes the industry’s first-ever insurance public feedback system where consumers rate the insurance they choose to contact."

Ratenow developed Insurance Quote Marketplace to add information and transparency to what has traditionally been a confusing process for consumers and businesses. Ratenow Insurance Quote Marketplace gives consumers greater control and more information to help them find, research and select the right agent/broker and insurance company.

“It’s clear from our customer research and from reading today’s headlines that consumers need a better way to research and shop for insurance needs,” said Earl Asmus,  founder of Ratenow.com. “Insurance shoppers tell us they want real quotes – not just teaser rates – when doing their research online,  they want to control who and when they contact by shopping anonymously until they are ready to talk. There is an obvious need for a transparent, free marketplace, and with this in mind, we are pleased to enter a new business today with the launch of Ratenow Insurance Quote Marketplace.”

To access Ratenow Insurance Quote Marketplace, simply click on the new “Request My Quote” tab on Ratenow.com. Consumers can then request customized insurance quotes by filling out a selected insurance request form. Consumers do not provide any personally identifiable information to the agent/broker – no last name, address, phone number or Social Security number. While identity is omitted, agent/brokers are provided enough detail to generate quotes with real rates, customized to the consumer’s circumstances. Once the consumer submits a request, any agent/broker visiting Ratenow can browse among outstanding requests and view competing quotes offered by other agent/brokers. However, only agent/brokers who have registered on Ratenow and been confirmed as licensed insurance professionals may participate in Insurance Quote Marketplace and submit quotes.

Ratenow does not limit the number of quotes a consumer can receive and offers a standardized quote form to make comparing these quotes — along with each companies rates and feedback — easy. The Insurance Quote Marketplace quote form requires agent/brokers to disclose all fees upfront and estimated payment options. This makes it easier for consumers to compare insurance quotes on an apples-to-apples basis, note differences and better evaluate overall affordability. The consumer decides which agent/broker(s) they want to contact, if any, maintaining complete control of the process. Only when a consumer contacts a agent/broker will their identity be revealed. In addition, consumers can request additional quotes at any time in the future without re-entering their information.