Every guide on Insurance Compared Daily follows the same research process. We start with a real question, check each fact against the official source for each state, label our examples clearly and date everything. This page explains each step, the sources we trust most and what we do when sources disagree.
Our research process, step by step
Here is how an article goes from idea to published guide.
- Pick a topic from real reader questions. We look for the questions people actually ask when they shop for or use insurance. For example: “What is the minimum car insurance in my state?” or “Does renters insurance cover theft from my car?”
- Research from primary sources. We go to the source that sets or publishes the rule, such as a state statute, a state insurance department, the NAIC or a federal agency. We read the source itself, not a summary of it.
- Verify state by state. Insurance is regulated mainly by the states, so rules differ across the country. When a guide covers more than one state, we check each state’s rule on its own official page.
- Add illustrative examples. Where an example makes an idea easier to understand, we write one with round, obviously hypothetical numbers and label it clearly.
- Fact-check. The editorial team checks every number, date and claim against its source. Anything we cannot confirm is removed or rewritten in general terms, with a pointer to where readers can check.
- Edit for plain language. We aim for about a US grade 8 reading level. We use short sentences, write “you” and define every insurance term the first time it appears.
- Date and publish. Each article shows its published, last-updated and last-reviewed dates.
- Review on a schedule. We review every article at least every 12 months, and sooner when a state changes a law or a minimum.
Our source hierarchy
Not all sources carry the same weight. When we research a fact, we use this order:
| Rank | Source type | Examples | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | State statutes and state regulators | State insurance codes, state insurance departments, state DMVs | They create and enforce the rules |
| 2 | NAIC | National Association of Insurance Commissioners reports and consumer guides | State regulators’ own national organization |
| 3 | III and federal agencies | Insurance Information Institute, FEMA/NFIP, NHTSA, CFPB, FTC, IRS, SSA, BLS, Census | Trusted industry education and federal data |
| 4 | Other sources | Primary research, standards bodies, IIHS studies | Useful for context, never to override ranks 1-3 |
We do not use insurer marketing pages, comparison sites, lead-generation sites or affiliate pages as sources, and we do not link to them.
How we date facts
Insurance facts change. Minimum limits go up, programs change and new laws take effect. So we date our facts carefully.
- The “as of” date goes in the same sentence as the number. For example: “As of January 1, 2025, California’s minimum liability limits are 30/60/15 (California Department of Insurance).”
- We name the source in that sentence too, so you know where the figure came from.
- Each article lists its sources with the edition or date of the data we used.
- If we cannot confirm a figure is current, we describe it in general terms and tell you where to check, rather than risk an out-of-date number.
How we handle conflicting sources
Sometimes two sources say different things. One page may be out of date, or a law may have changed recently. When that happens:
- We go to the highest-ranking source in our hierarchy, usually the state statute or the state insurance department.
- We check which source is more recent and whether a new law has taken effect.
- If the official source is clear, we use it and cite it.
- If we still cannot settle the difference, we say so plainly in the article and point you to the official place to confirm. We do not guess.
How we use illustrative examples
Examples make insurance easier to understand. Every example we use:
- Is labelled “Illustrative example, not a quote”
- Uses round, obviously hypothetical numbers
- Describes people by profile only, such as “a 40-year-old homeowner in Texas”
- Is never presented as a real price, an average or a prediction
The role of AI tools
AI tools may assist our editorial team with research and drafting. They do not decide what is true. Every fact in every article is checked by the Insurance Compared Daily Editorial Team against the primary source before publishing. Read more in our editorial policy.
What happens after publishing
Our work does not stop once an article is live.
- We review each article at least every 12 months.
- We update sooner when a state changes a law, a minimum or a program.
- We fix errors quickly and note material corrections at the bottom of the article with the date. See our corrections policy.
If you see something that looks out of date, email [email protected]. Reader reports help us keep every guide accurate.