How to Get the Best Price from Milwaukee, WI Car Insurance Companies

When pricing car insurance in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, you have many choices and finding the best Wisconsin auto insurance agent is harder than just using the same car insurance agent as your neighbor. Most likely that not only do you want an excellent agent, but you also need the best rates possible.

With companies like American Family, Allstate, State Farm and independent agents all competing for business in Milwaukee, it can be hard to know which will give you the best rates, service and coverage. To help decide, it’s easy to use online quotes in order to build a list of insurance agents to choose from.

Shop online but buy locally

Good agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help in the event of a claim. The best thing about comparing rates online is the fact that you can find lower rates and still choose a local agent. And providing support for small agencies is important especially in Milwaukee.

By using this simple form, your insurance data is emailed to local insurance agents in Milwaukee who will return price quotes for your business. There is no need to leave your computer due to the fact that quote results will go to the email address you provide. How cool is that?! Get lower rates and work with a local agent.

Compare rates from both independent and captive insurance agents

When looking for a reputable insurance agent or broker, you must know there are a couple different types of agents that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Milwaukee agents are classified as either captive or independent.

Independent Agencies or Brokers

Independent agencies are not required to write business for one company but rather can write business amongst many companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If your agent finds better pricing, your agent can switch companies and that require little work on your part. When comparison shopping, you should always include at least one independent agent to have the most options to choose from.

Below are Milwaukee independent agencies willing to provide price quotes.

Langer Agency – 2433 N Mayfair Rd # 102 – Milwaukee, WI 53226 – (414) 302-1740
Leggett Insurance – 6520 W Layton Ave – Milwaukee, WI 53220 – (414) 282-2320
Frank Marchan Agency – 3647 S Chase Ave – Milwaukee, WI 53207 – (414) 744-2400
Robinson Insurance – 320 E Buffalo St – Milwaukee, WI 53202 – (414) 727-7064
Andreoni Agency – 2371 S 107th St – Milwaukee, WI 53227 – (414) 000-1111

Captive Insurance Agents

This type of agents can only write with one company such as Liberty Mutual, Allstate, Farmers Insurance or State Farm. They are unable to provide prices from multiple companies so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. These agents are usually quite knowledgeable in insurance sales which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums.

Shown below is a list of captive agents in Milwaukee that can give you price quote information.

Allstate Insurance – 3801 W Fond Du Lac Ave – Milwaukee, WI 53216 – (414) 445-2558
Farmers Insurance Group – 331 N 61st St # A – Milwaukee, WI 53213 – (414) 771-1688
State Farm Insurance – 11226 W Greenfield Ave # 100 – Milwaukee, WI 53214 – (414) 771-1700
American Family Insurance – 930 E Knapp St – Milwaukee, WI 53202 – (414) 277-7772

For a full directory of Milwaukee captive agents, click here to link.

Choosing an insurance agent shouldn’t rely on just the price. Here are some questions to ask:

  • Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?
  • If you have an accident, are you able to get your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice?
  • Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?
  • Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?
  • How often do they review policy coverages?
  • If you are a high risk driver, do they have special markets for your coverage?
  • Are they properly licensed to sell insurance in Wisconsin?

After receiving positive responses to any questions you have and a low price estimate, most likely you have located a car insurance agent that will adequately provide car insurance.

There’s no such thing as the perfect policy

When it comes to buying coverage, there really is no “best” method to buy coverage. Every situation is different and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. Here are some questions about coverages that can aid in determining if your situation might need an agent’s assistance.

  • Can I pay claims out-of-pocket if I buy high deductibles?
  • Where can I get insurance after a DUI in Wisconsin?
  • Do I need higher deductibles?
  • What are the best liability limits?
  • How do I file an SR-22 for a DUI in Wisconsin?
  • When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
  • Are there companies who specialize in insuring high-risk drivers?
  • Should I buy more coverage than the required Wisconsin minimum liability coverage?
  • Should I sign the liability waiver when renting a car?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions, you may need to chat with a licensed agent.

But what about GEICO, Esurance and Progressive?

Insurance agencies serve a purpose, but you can also find affordable Wisconsin auto insurance directly from online companies. Even companies that sell primarily through agents also give you the ability to get quotes and purchase online, so this should also be taken into consideration if you want to do it yourself.

If you’re uncomfortable with not having an agent to talk to, that is quite common when buying online the first time. Auto insurance companies that allow you to purchase coverage all have client service departments to help you decide which coverages are appropriate. They also have online help and live chat to help you answer questions.

Does it save money buying online? It’s difficult to provide an answer because there are a lot of things which can raise or lower premium rates. Some people think that buying direct saves the cost of an agent commission. For the majority of companies, however, there are high advertising and marketing costs and this drives up their premium costs.

Wisconsin auto insurance

One last thing

When trying to cut insurance costs, make sure you don’t reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many situations where an accident victim reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to find out that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your strategy should be to purchase plenty of coverage at an affordable rate while still protecting your assets.

Low-cost car insurance can be bought both online and also from your neighborhood Milwaukee agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best selection. Some car insurance companies may not provide online price quotes and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.

Much more information about car insurance in Wisconsin is available on the website for the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance located here. Consumers can file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, read consumer alerts, and read industry bulletins.