E-mail beat out all other shopping methods including online, in-person with a local agent or over the phone.

Similarly, the J.D. Power and Associates “2008 Insurance New Buyer Study” found that last year, 21% of new customer insurance sales were processed entirely on the Web.

On the other hand, however, only 2% of the survey respondents preferred shopping strictly online.

"Shopping online without agent interaction may be too impersonal for some auto insurance shoppers, as they are sometimes apprehensive about binding themselves into a policy without consultation," says Mike Pesackis, licensed agent for AutoInsuranceQuotes.com.

Purchasing via e-mail allows customers to utilize the Internet for convenience, yet it also requires that they will be working with a live agent to purchase their insurance policy. E-mail shoppers seem to appreciate the convenience of Web-based shopping, but also seem to find value in working with a licensed agent.

"Customers who work with a licensed agent before purchasing their auto insurance policy have a better chance of finding the right coverage and qualifying for all available discounts," says Jana Bell, director of business operations at another site. "State and lender requirements vary per customer and a licensed consultant is there to ensure you get the most appropriate coverage for your needs."