When shopping for auto insurance, there are a lot of options and finding the best Texas insurance agent is more difficult than just driving to the closest agent’s office. We’re guessing you’re looking for a professional licensed agent, but you also need the best rates possible.
With companies like Allstate, Farmers, State Farm and many independent agents having local Austin offices, it can be hard to know which will provide you with the best rates, service and coverage. Thankfully, consumers can get insurance quotes online to assemble a group of insurance agencies to choose from.
Licensed agents can answer important questions and help in the event of a claim. One of the best bonuses of comparing insurance prices online is you can get lower rates and still have an agent to talk to. And providing support for local agencies is especially important in Austin.
Once you complete this quick form, the quote information gets sent to participating agents in Austin who will return price quotes for your insurance coverage. You never need to even leave your home since price quotes are sent directly to your email. How’s that for easy!
When searching for a good Austin insurance agent, there are two types of insurance agents that you can select. Insurance agencies in Austin are either captive or independent (non-captive). Either one can properly insure your vehicles, but it’s worth learning the differences since it may influence the selection process.
These agents are not employed by any specific company but rather can write business with any number of different companies and potentially find a lower price. To move your coverage to a new company, they simply move the coverage in-house without you having to go to a different agency. When comparison shopping, it’s recommended you contact at least one independent agent for the best price selection. They also have the ability to place coverage with smaller companies which can save you money.
Shown below is a list of independent agents in Austin who may be able to give you pricing information.
Captive agencies write business for a single company such as State Farm, AAA, Farmers Insurance or Allstate. They generally cannot give you multiple price quotes so always compare other rates. These agents are trained well on the products they sell and that can be a competitive advantage. Consumers frequently purchase coverage from captives mainly due to loyalty to the company and solid financial strength.
The following are captive insurance agencies in Austin willing to provide price quotes.
For a complete listing of Austin captive agents, please click here.
Selecting an insurance agent requires more thought than just the premium amount. Any agent should have no problem answering these questions:
Upon getting answers to your satisfaction to your questions as well as a affordable price, you may have just found an insurance agency that meets your needs to adequately provide auto insurance.
Insurance agencies serve a purpose, but Texas consumers also have the option to buy directly from online companies. Some specific companies like Allstate and State Farm that are more known for using agents, also let you get a quote and buy online, and online price comparisons are easy if you prefer to buy online.
If you’re concerned about choosing your own coverages, don’t let it bother you. Companies that allow you to purchase coverage provide options to walk you through the process. In addition, they usually offer online education and live help anytime that you can use before buying.
The only way to know who has the best deal, local agents or online insurance companies, is to set aside time to compare rates from both. It’s even possible to receive different pricing from the SAME company depending on where you get the price quote from. But you can’t find out which method provides the best price without quoting coverages from both.
Will buying online save you money? The answer is complex because there are many components that determine your policy premium. Common sense would say that a shopper who purchases direct saves the cost of an agent commission. For the majority of companies, however, marketing expenses are significant so the rates may be similar to buying from an agent.
Insureds switch companies for many reasons like delays in paying claims, extreme rates for teen drivers, high prices or even policy non-renewal. Regardless of your reason, switching auto insurance companies is not as hard as you think.
As you shop your coverage around, never buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There have been many cases where consumers will sacrifice full coverage and learned later that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your goal should be to buy the best coverage you can find at an affordable rate.
More information is available on the Texas Department of Insurance website found here. Texas drivers can read industry bulletins, learn about insurance regulations, view a list of available companies, and read state legal mandates and laws.
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