How to Find a Good Car Insurance Provider in Santa Clara California

Finding good car insurance in Santa Clara can be challenging since choosing the right Santa Clara car insurance agent is harder than just making a phone call. You need a decent agent, but also need cheap rates.

Multiple auto insurance agents compete for your business, so it’s not easy to compare every insurance agency to get the lowest cost out there.

You may need specialized coverage

When it comes to choosing the best car insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a “perfect” insurance plan. Each situation is unique.

For example, these questions may help you determine if your insurance needs would benefit from an agent’s advice.

  • When would I need additional glass coverage?
  • Will my vehicle be repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
  • Are split liability limits better than a combined single limit?
  • Do I need motorclub coverage?
  • Should I sign the liability waiver when renting a car?
  • I don’t drive much so do I pay less?
  • Can I afford low physical damage deductibles?
  • Do I qualify for additional discounts?
  • Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?

If you can’t answer these questions but a few of them apply then you might want to talk to an insurance agent.

Quote online but still have a local agent

Insurance agents can help determine the best coverages and help submit paperwork. The biggest benefit of price shopping on the web is you can get better rates but also keep your business local.

To help locate an agent, after submitting this form (opens in new window), your insurance coverage information is transmitted to companies in Santa Clara who will give you bids for your business. You don’t have to even leave your home since price quotes are sent to your email. How cool is that?!

Selecting an insurance agency requires more thought than just a low price. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:

  • Do they make recommendations based only on price?
  • Do they specialize in personal lines coverage?
  • Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
  • Does the agency have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau?
  • Can glass repairs be made at your home?
  • If they are an independent agency, which companies do they recommend?
  • Can they provide you with a list of referrals?
  • If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?

Pick the best car insurance agent in Santa Clara for you

If you’re trying to find a good insurance agency, there are a couple of different types of agents from which to choose. Insurance agencies in Santa Clara can either be captive or independent. Both write coverage properly, but it’s important to know the differences since it may influence your agent selection.

Captive Agents

These agents are contracted to one company and examples are AAA, Allstate, State Farm, Farmers Insurance or Liberty Mutual. They generally cannot provide prices from multiple companies so keep that in mind. Captive agents are usually quite knowledgeable on their company’s products which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums. Consumers often buy insurance from these agents mainly due to loyalty to the company and the convenience of having a single billing for all their coverages.

Listed below are Santa Clara captive agents that can give you price quotes.

  • Farmers Insurance Group – 3044 Scott Blvd – Santa Clara, CA 95054 – (408) 654-0170
  • State Farm Insurance – 3330 El Camino Real # 206 – Santa Clara, CA 95051 – (408) 249-4920
  • Allstate Insurance – 341 Lafayette St # 106 – Santa Clara, CA 95050 – (408) 260-2179
Independent Agents

Independent insurance agents do not work for one specific company so they can insure your vehicles with lots of 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 don’t have to find a new agent. When searching for an agent, it’s recommended you contact at least one independent agent to get the best comparison. They also have the ability to place coverage with different regional companies which may provide better rates.

Below is a list of independent agents in Santa Clara willing to provide price quotes.

  • Les Mezei Insurance – 4675 Stevens Creek Blvd – Santa Clara, CA 95051 – (408) 615-9600
  • Melita-Mc Donald Insurance Svc – 1885 DE LA Cruz Blvd – Santa Clara, CA 95050 – (408) 882-0800

To view a complete directory of licensed insurance agents in Santa Clara, visit this site.

Once you have satisfactory answers to your questions and locked in a price quote, you have narrowed it down to a car insurance agent that meets your needs to insure your vehicles.

Alternatives to buying locally

Auto insurance agents are a valuable resource, but California car insurance can also be bought direct from companies online. Some companies that sell primarily through agents also let you buy direct on their websites, so this should also be taken into consideration if you’re trying to lower your rates.

If you’re anxious about having to choose coverages yourself when buying car insurance direct, this is expected but don’t let that bother you. All companies provide customer service for customer questions. Additionally, most companies also offer live help and 24/7 access to clarify any questions you may have.

Can online rates save money? That is a tough question to answer since there are so many factors that determine your policy premium. Common logic is that buying directly from the company saves by not paying a commission. For most online online companies, however, marketing expenses are significant and that can cost more than having to pay agents.

More detailed California car insurance information is located at the California Department of Insurance website. California drivers can view agent and company licensing information, find out which companies have the most complaints, get help finding coverage, and view a list of available companies.

One last thing

Drivers switch companies for a number of reasons such as high prices, extreme rates for teen drivers, being labeled a high risk driver and even poor customer service. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch finding the right car insurance provider is not as hard as you think.

Santa Clara car insurance agents

Cheaper car insurance is possible online in addition to many Santa Clara insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best rate selection. There are still a few companies who do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.