Editorial Guidelines & Standards
Last Updated on February 13, 2026
Our Mission: Making Insurance Black and White
At Insurance Panda, our mission is simple: to help drivers navigate auto insurance with clarity and confidence. We believe insurance information should be accessible, unbiased, and free of confusing jargon.
Our editorial team is committed to publishing accurate, practical guidance that puts consumers first—whether you’re buying your first policy, shopping around at renewal, or trying to lower your premium without losing important protection.
How We Create and Review Content
Insurance rules and pricing vary by state and can change quickly. To keep our content reliable, we follow a repeatable editorial workflow designed to prioritize accuracy, transparency, and usefulness.
Our Review Workflow
| Step | What Happens | What We Check |
|---|---|---|
| Research | We collect requirements, definitions, and consumer guidance. | State rules, regulatory guidance, policy terminology. |
| Draft | We write in plain English with real-world examples. | Clarity, completeness, and actionable steps. |
| Fact-Check | Key statements are verified against reliable sources. | Limits, definitions, legal/claims process accuracy. |
| Expert Review | Complex topics receive subject-matter review when appropriate. | Coverage mechanics, underwriting, claims, compliance. |
| Copyedit | We tighten language and improve scannability. | Readability, consistency, internal style rules. |
| Publish & Monitor | We publish and revisit content as conditions change. | Regulatory updates, industry changes, reader feedback. |
Quick tip: If you want to double-check a rule in your state, start with your state insurance department’s consumer pages and bulletins—then compare what you see to your policy declarations page and contract language.
Sources We Rely On
Whenever possible, we use primary sources and authoritative consumer guidance. Common source types include:
- Regulators: State insurance departments and other official state agencies.
- National Standards: NAIC (National Association of Insurance Commissioners) consumer education and model guidance.
- Policy Documents: Carrier forms, endorsements, declarations pages, and coverage definitions (when publicly available or provided by readers).
- Verified Industry References: Reputable education resources used by agents and adjusters, when they align with state rules and policy language.
Accuracy and Fact-Checking Standards
In insurance, small details can change outcomes—especially during claims. We aim to be precise about coverage, exclusions, and how policies typically respond, while also noting that carrier rules and state laws differ.
- State-Specific Sensitivity: When a rule can vary, we write in evergreen terms and clearly state that requirements differ by state.
- Plain-English Definitions: If we use a technical term (like “subrogation” or “limits”), we explain it in everyday language.
- No Unverifiable Numbers: If a statistic, premium figure, or “average cost” can’t be reliably verified, we avoid the number and focus on what actually drives pricing.
Editorial Independence and Monetization
Trust is our most valuable asset. Our editorial content is produced independently of business relationships.
- No Pay-to-Play: Insurance companies cannot pay to be featured in our editorial coverage, reviews, or comparisons.
- Affiliate Disclosure: We may earn a commission when readers click certain links or request quotes. That compensation does not influence our opinions, evaluations, or the way we explain coverage.
- Reader-First Standards: If a carrier, product, or process has meaningful drawbacks—such as poor claims handling or confusing exclusions—we say so.
When we discuss companies or products, our goal is to explain what a typical shopper should look for (coverage options, complaint patterns, claims experience, and value), not to push a specific purchase.
Expert Review and Accountability
Some topics—like liability limits, uninsured motorist coverage, SR-22 filings, claim disputes, and cancellation rules—require extra care. When appropriate, we seek review from licensed insurance professionals or experienced industry veterans, including our founder, James Shaffer.
We also work to make authorship clear by maintaining author pages and bios, and by updating content when the insurance landscape changes.
Updates and Corrections Policy
We strive for accuracy, but if something is wrong, we want to fix it quickly and transparently.
- Routine Audits: We periodically review our content library to keep guidance current.
- Timely Updates: When laws, common practices, or market conditions shift, we revise affected sections.
- Corrections Notes: If we correct a factual error, we will update the article and may add a note at the bottom explaining what changed and when.
To report an error, please email us at editorial@insurancepanda.com.
Quick tip: When reporting a potential error, include the page URL and a screenshot or quote of the exact sentence—plus the source you’re using—so we can verify and resolve it faster.
Our Quality Standards
Every piece published on Insurance Panda is expected to meet these core standards:
- Actionable: We explain the “what” and the “how,” including practical next steps for shopping, switching, or strengthening coverage.
- Clear (The Black And White Standard): We minimize jargon and define technical terms in plain English.
- Balanced: We present pros and cons to help readers make choices that match their budget and risk.
- Transparent: We disclose monetization, cite the kinds of sources we rely on, and distinguish general guidance from state-specific rules.
Important note: Our content is educational and not legal advice. Always confirm details with your insurer, agent, or your state’s insurance department—especially before making coverage changes.