Within a few years, 90 percent of us will be using the Internet to research our auto insurance purchases. That's the prediction of a 2007 report from Celent, which says that "Web-influenced" auto insurance purchases will grow from 70 percent in 2007 to 90 percent in 2011.

Research from LIMRA International, a life insurance trade research group, shows that the higher your education and income, and the younger your age, the more likely you are to use the Internet to research purchases, including insurance.

But while many of us are clicking and researching, only a relatively small percent complete the purchase online, according to LIMRA's 2007 report, "Optimizing Opportunities with Online Consumers." Among those who purchased individual life insurance or an annuity in the last two years, 6 percent did so online, while others chose more traditional routes:

• 51 percent purchased in person
• 17 percent purchased at work
• 13 percent purchased by mail
• 7 percent purchased directly from a company by phone

Online auto insurance purchases will outpace other online insurance buying. Celent estimates that almost 30 percent of auto insurance sales will take place online by 2011, compared with 10 percent of individual life insurance sales and more than 50 percent of individual health insurance sales.

LIMRA's research shows that online-buying trends will continue to make inroads. Asked where they would purchase their insurance next time, 23 percent of term life insurance buyers and 15 percent of whole life insurance said they'd go to online to make the purchase. Sixteen percent of long term care insurance buyers and 13 percent of annuity buyers said they'd buy online next time, too.