How to Get a Good Auto Insurance Provider in Bellevue

When finding an insurance agent in Bellevue, Washington, it’s recommended you begin your search by comparing rates online rather than looking in the yellowpages. We’re assuming you require not only a highly trained agent, but you also need the best rates possible.

With insurance companies like State Farm, Allstate and many independent agents all competing for business in Bellevue, it’s difficult to determine which car insurance agent will have the best service and rates. Fortunately, you can use online quoting to build a list of insurance agents from which to choose.

Buying car insurance locally

Good agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help submit paperwork. The biggest benefit of comparing insurance prices online is that you can obtain lower rates but also keep your business local. And supporting local agencies is definitely important in Bellevue.

To help locate an agent, after submitting this form (opens in new window), the coverage information is submitted to companies in Bellevue who will compete for your coverage. You won’t need to visit any agencies due to the fact that quote results will go to your email. How cool is that?! Get lower rates and work with a local agent.

Different types of Bellevue insurance agents

When researching a local agent, you need to know there are two different agency structures to choose from. Agencies in Bellevue can either be captive or independent (non-captive).

Independent Agents

Independent agencies are not employed by any specific company so they can insure your vehicles with many different companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If you are not satisfied with one company, the agent simply finds a different carrier and you won’t have to switch agencies. When searching for an agent, it’s a good idea to get quotes from multiple independent agents for the best price selection.

Below are independent agencies in Bellevue who may be able to give you pricing information.

Dale S Yamamoto Insurance – 713 110th Ave NE # 205 – Bellevue, WA 98004 – (425) 453-7165
Joe Hughes Agency – 3805 108th Ave NE # 204 – Bellevue, WA 98004 – (425) 827-8066
Independent Agency Marketing – 14042 NE 8th St – Bellevue, WA 98007 – (425) 643-2060
BISYS Insurance Svc Inc – 12301 NE 10th Pl – Bellevue, WA 98005 – (425) 637-9777

Agency Captives

These agents can only place business with one company like American Family, State Farm and Allstate. They are unable to shop your coverage around so keep that in mind. They receive extensive training on their products and sales techniques and that can be a competitive advantage.

Shown below is a short list of captive agents in Bellevue that can give you comparison quotes.

Farmers Insurance Group – 300 120th Ave NE # 2236 – Bellevue, WA 98005 – (425) 392-0609
American Family Insurance – 3180 139th Ave SE # 100 – Bellevue, WA 98005 – (425) 644-3027
Allstate Insurance – 1420 156th Ave NE # F – Bellevue, WA 98007 – (425) 562-1976

For a full directory of captive insurance agents in Bellevue, please click here.

Deciding on an insurance agency should depend on more than just the price. Ask your prospective agent these questions:

Will your rates increase after a single accident?
How long has their agency been open in Bellevue?
Is working in the agency their full-time job?
Do they make recommendations based only on price?
Can they provide you with a list of referrals?
What insurance companies do they work with?
If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?
What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?

Once you have positive feedback to any questions you have and an acceptable price quote, you have narrowed it down to a car insurance agent that meets your needs to service your policy.

Can you buy online and save?

Local insurance agents are important to many people, but Washington consumers also have the option to buy from companies direct over the internet. A few companies like State Farm and Allstate who sell through agents in Bellevue also allow consumers to buy a policy online, and that can save time and can also potentially find you lower rates.

If you’re uncomfortable with not having professional advice when buying direct, that is normal but is not a big issue. Insurance companies provide customer service for getting questions answered.

Do people save by buying online? The answer to that question is complicated because of the number of factors that can increase policy rates. Some people think that shopping online for auto insurance cuts out the agent as a middleman. For the majority of companies, however, online and traditional media advertising are expensive and this tends to eat up any savings.

Additional auto insurance information is available on the website for the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner through this link. Consumers can view a list of available companies, find out industry alerts, discover disciplinary actions, and file complaints about a company.

The articles below may also help you learn more about auto insurance in Bellevue

Best coverage at the best price

Drivers change insurance companies for many reasons like questionable increases in premium, high prices, an unsatisfactory settlement offer or even policy non-renewal. No matter why you want to switch, choosing a new insurance company is less work than it seems.

Cheaper auto insurance is definitely available both online and also from your neighborhood Bellevue agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to get a complete price analysis. A few companies may not provide online quoting and usually these smaller companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.