How to Get the Best Price from Elizabeth Auto Insurance Agents

When finding a good Elizabeth agent, it’s recommended you start your research using online quotes to save yourself time. You require a good agent, and also want to find the best price on auto insurance.

Numerous insurance agencies battle for your insurance dollar, and it can be difficult to compare rates and uncover the absolute best rates possible.

Shop online but buy locally

Agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and give you peace of mind. One of the best bonuses of getting online price quotes is you may find the lowest rates but still work with a licensed agent.

After filling out this short form, the quote information is instantly submitted to local insurance agents who will give you bids for your insurance coverage. There is no reason to leave your house as quotes are delivered to the email address you provide. Now that’s easy!

Deciding on an insurance agency shouldn’t rely on just the bottom line cost. Here are some questions to ask:

  • Which company do they place the most coverage with?
  • Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
  • Are you getting all the discounts the company offers?
  • Do they assist clients in filing claims?
  • Do the companies they represent have a solid financial rating?
  • Do they have adequate Errors and Ommissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.
  • Are they able to influence company decisions when a claim is filed?

The different types of insurance agents

When looking for a good insurance agency, you need to know there are two types of insurance agents that you can select. Agents are categorized either captive or independent (non-captive). Either one can write coverage properly, but it’s important to know the differences because it can influence buying decisions.

Captive Agents

Captive insurance agents write business for a single company such as Liberty Mutual, State Farm, Allstate and AAA. They usually cannot provide prices from multiple companies so they have to upsell other benefits. They are usually quite knowledgeable on their company’s products and that can be a competitive advantage. Some people will only buy insurance from these agents primarily because of the prominence of the brand and the convenience of having a single billing for all their coverages.

Independent Insurance Agents

Independent insurance agents are not locked into one company so they can insure your vehicles with lots of companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. To transfer your coverage to a different company, the business is moved internally and you won’t have to switch agencies. When comparing rates, it’s a good idea to contact several independent insurance agents to ensure the widest selection of prices.Many can place coverage with smaller companies which can be an advantage.

Listed below is a list of independent agents in Elizabeth that are able to give rate quotes.

  • P and P Agency – 1106 Magnolia Ave – Elizabeth, NJ 07201 – (908) 289-4900
  • Nova Insurance – 41 Jefferson Ave – Elizabeth, NJ 07201 – (908) 355-9111
  • Hal Rose Agency – 118 Elmora Ave – Elizabeth, NJ 07202 – (908) 354-1000
  • Firstamericano Insurance Inc – 450 Route 1 – Elizabeth, NJ 07202 – (908) 355-0747
  • Chapman Agency – 435 Elizabeth Ave – Elizabeth, NJ 07206 – (908) 354-0918

To view a full list of Elizabeth insurance agents, visit this link.

Upon receiving positive feedback to all your questions and a low price estimate, you have narrowed it down to an auto insurance agent that can insure your vehicles.

There’s no such thing as the perfect policy

When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage, there is no best way to insure your cars. Everyone’s situation is a little different.

Here are some questions about coverages that could help you determine whether your personal situation will benefit from professional help.

  • What is the minimum liability in New Jersey?
  • Does my policy pay for OEM or aftermarket parts?
  • Does my vehicle need full coverage?
  • Exactly who is provided coverage by my policy?
  • Do I need roadside assistance coverage?
  • Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
  • At what point should I drop full coverage?
  • Is rental equipment covered for theft or damage?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with an insurance agent.

Online companies should be compared

Insurance agents can be invaluable at times, but New Jersey car insurance can also be bought from online companies direct. Certain auto insurance companies who employ agents also give you the ability to get quotes and purchase online, and online price comparisons are easy.

If you’re anxious about not receiving proper advice, that is quite common when buying online the first time. Online insurance companies provide phone numbers and online resources to walk you through the process. In addition, they usually offer 24/7 live help and a car insurance FAQ section to help with the buying process.

Do people save by buying online? That is a tough question to answer due to the fact that there are multiple individual factors that influence the price you pay. It’s often assumed that purchasing direct online saves by not paying a commission. But the fact is, marketing their products costs a lot of money so the rates may be similar to buying from an agent.

Final thoughts

As you shop your coverage around, it’s not a good idea to skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are a lot of situations where drivers have reduced liability limits or collision coverage to discover at claim time that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your focus should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.

Low-cost auto insurance can be found online as well as from independent agents in Elizabeth, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best selection. There are still a few companies who don’t offer online quoting and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.

More tips and info about auto insurance is available at the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance website. New Jersey consumers can read state legal mandates and laws, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, read industry bulletins, and discover disciplinary actions.

Also read more on this Car Insurance FAQ and this list of agents in Elizabeth, NJ.