When shopping for car insurance, picking a good New York insurance agency is not as easy as just using the same insurance agent as your neighbor. Chances are you’re wanting a highly trained agent, but you also want to find great rates as well.
With companies like State Farm, Allstate and Farmers Insurance having offices in New York, consumers have a hard time knowing which one will give you the best service and rates. To begin, you can use online quotes to build a list of agencies and price estimates.
Agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help you file claims. One of the best bonuses of getting online price quotes is you may find better rates but also keep your business local. Supporting local businesses is important particularly in New York.
To find an agent, once you fill out this simple form, the coverage information gets sent to local insurance agents who will battle for your coverage. There is no reason to drive around because quoted prices will be sent immediately to your email address. It doesn’t get any easier!
When searching for a good insurance agency, you must know there are a couple types of agencies that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. New York agents are either captive or independent (non-captive). While both can insure your vehicles, but it’s worth mentioning the difference between them because it can impact the selection process.
These agents are not locked into one company but rather can write business with multiple insurance companies depending on which coverage is best. If you are not satisfied with one company, they simply move the coverage in-house and you don’t have to find a new agent.
When comparing rates, it’s recommended you contact at a minimum one independent agency to ensure the widest selection of prices.Many can place coverage with lesser-known insurance companies which can be an advantage.
Below is a list of independent insurance agencies in New York willing to provide price quotes.
Captive agencies write business for a single company such as Allstate, Farmers Insurance or State Farm. Captives cannot compare other company’s rates so it’s a take it or leave it situation. They are trained well on the products they sell which helps them compete with independent agents. Some people will only purchase coverage from captives primarily because of the prominence of the brand and the convenience of having a single billing for all their coverages.
The following are New York captive insurance agencies willing to provide price quote information.
To view a complete directory of captive insurance agents in New York, view this link.
Deciding on a car insurance agent should depend on more than just the premium amount. Any agent should have no problem answering these questions:
Upon getting reasonable responses to these questions and a low price estimate, chances are good that you have found an insurance agency that can service your policy.
Insurance agents are perfect for certain consumers, but you can also find affordable New York auto insurance from companies direct over the internet. Certain auto insurance companies who have local New York agents additionally provide the ability to buy online, and that can save time if the lowest rate is your goal.
If you’re apprehensive about not getting advice from an agent when buying online, don’t let it bother you. Auto insurance companies that allow you to purchase coverage provide customer service to answer your questions. You may also access live help and an extensive research center so you can feel comfortable buying online.
Is it cheaper to buy online? It’s difficult to provide an answer because there are many factors that influence your rates. It would make sense to think that a shopper who purchases direct reduces premiums because there is no agent. For the majority of companies, however, online and traditional media advertising are expensive and this tends to eat up any savings.
Additional information can be found on the New York Department of Financial Services website. Click here for link. Consumers can discover disciplinary actions, find out which companies have the most complaints, and get help finding coverage.
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When shopping online for car insurance, it’s very important that you do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many situations where someone dropped physical damage coverage only to regret that it was a big mistake. The aim is to purchase plenty of coverage for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.
Affordable car insurance can be purchased both online and with local New York insurance agents, and you should be comparing both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some car insurance companies do not offer you the ability to get quotes online and many times these small, regional companies only sell through independent insurance agents.