Online Prices for Baltimore, MD Car Insurance Agents

To find a licensed insurance agent in Baltimore, we recommend you start your search for an agent online instead of making phone calls. You need a highly trained agent, and also the best car insurance prices in Baltimore.

Online insurance companies like Allstate, Progressive and GEICO all claim big savings, bombarding you with TV and radio ads and it is challenging if not impossible to separate fact from fiction and find the best price available.

When might I need help?

When choosing adequate coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a “perfect” insurance plan. Everyone’s situation is unique and your policy should reflect that. For example, these questions might help in determining whether you might need an agent’s assistance.

• Does my insurance cover damage caused when ticketed for reckless driving?
• Are rental cars covered under my policy?
• Does my medical payments coverage pay my health insurance deductible?
• Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?
• Does coverage extend to a rental car in a foreign country?
• When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you might consider talking to a licensed insurance agent.

Why do I need an agent?

Good agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and give you someone to call. One of the great benefits of comparing rates online is you can get lower rates but also keep your business local.

To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this simple form, your coverage information is emailed to local insurance agents in Baltimore who will compete for your business. There is no reason to visit any agencies since price quotes are sent directly to your email. How cool is that?!

Selecting an insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just a low price. Any agent should have no problem answering these questions:

• Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?
• What are the financial ratings for the companies they represent?
• Is assistance available after office hours?
• Does the agency support the community they serve?
• Are they able to influence company decisions when a claim is filed?
• What insurance companies do they work with?
• If you have an accident, are you able to get your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice?

Insurance agent types

If you’re trying to find a good Baltimore insurance agent, you need to know there are two different agency structures to choose from. Agencies in Baltimore can either be captive or independent (non-captive). Both types can properly insure your vehicles, but it’s worth mentioning how they are different because it can influence your agent selection.

Captive Insurance Agents

These agents are contracted to one company such as American Family, State Farm and Allstate. They usually cannot shop your coverage around so they have no alternatives for high prices. They are very knowledgeable in insurance sales which helps them compete with independent agents.

The following is a list of captive insurance agents in Baltimore who may provide you with rate quotes.

State Farm Insurance – 920 Providence Rd # 100 – Baltimore, MD 21286 – (410) 321-0101
Allstate Insurance – 2829 Odonnell St – Baltimore, MD 21224 – (410) 522-6100

Independent Agents

Independent insurance agents are not locked into one company so they have the ability to put coverage with many different companies depending on which coverage is best. 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, we recommend you include price quotes from several independent insurance agents for maximum quote selection.

The following are independent agencies in Baltimore who can help you get rate quotes.

Frank Dippel Agency – 6600 York Rd # 207 – Baltimore, MD 21212 – (410) 435-4354
Ritchey Insurance Assoc Inc – 660 Belair Rd # 2c – Baltimore, MD 21206 – (410) 319-9100
Rodgers Insurance – 6800 Holabird Ave – Baltimore, MD 21222 – (410) 282-1379

To view a full list of Baltimore insurance agents, please go to this site.

After getting acceptable answers to your questions in addition to an acceptable price estimate, most likely you have located an insurance agent that can provide car insurance coverage.

The online companies promise big savings

Professional insurance agents are important, but you also have the option of buying Maryland car insurance directly from online companies. Certain companies like State Farm and Allstate that sell primarily through agents also allow you to get quotes and purchase online, and online price comparisons are easy.

If you’re worried about not getting advice from an agent when buying direct, this really isn’t an issue. Companies that allow you to purchase coverage give you access to trained agents for getting the best coverage.

Does it save money buying online? Many people swear by it, but it’s difficult to answer because there are a lot of things that impact your rate calculation. Some people think that going direct reduces premiums because there is no agent. But in reality, marketing their products costs a lot of money so the rates may be similar to buying from an agent.

Online resources for education

Even more information can be read at the Maryland Insurance Administration website. Visitors are able to find a variety of consumer forms, read industry bulletins, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, and find disaster information.

Summing up your car insurance search

Cost effective car insurance can be bought from both online companies in addition to many Baltimore insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best rate selection. Some insurance providers do not provide online price quotes and these small, regional companies work with independent agents.

As you restructure your insurance plan, don’t be tempted to skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are many occasions where drivers have reduced liability limits or collision coverage to discover at claim time that it was a big mistake. Your aim should be to find the BEST coverage at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.