Salinas California Auto Insurance Agents – There is a Difference

To find an insurance agent in Salinas, CA, it’s recommended you do the preliminary legwork online in order to save time. You need a professional licensed agent, and also want to find the cheapest rates you can possibly find.

Online insurance companies like GEICO, Progressive and Allstate increase brand awareness with fancy advertisements and it can be hard to ignore the promise of big savings and do the work needed to find the best deal.

Car Insurance from Salinas insurance agents

Good agents can help determine the best coverages and help you file claims. One of the great benefits of comparing insurance prices online is you can get lower rates but also keep your business local.

Upon completion of this short form, your insurance data is transmitted to agents in your area who will give you bids for your coverage. You don’t have to visit any agencies due to the fact that quote results will go immediately to your email address. How’s that for easy! It’s the lowest rates and a licensed agent to work with.

Deciding on an auto insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just a cheap price. These questions are important to ask:

• Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?
• How many years of experience in personal lines insurance coverages do they have?
• Do they review policy coverages at every renewal?
• Are you getting all the discounts the company offers?
• How long has their agency been in business in Salinas?

Salinas auto insurance agents come in two flavors

When finding a good insurance agency, there are two types of insurance agents that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Insurance agencies in Salinas are either independent (non-captive) or captive.

Captive Insurance Agents

This type of agents can only place business with one company and examples are State Farm, Allstate and AAA. They generally cannot give you multiple price quotes so it’s a take it or leave it situation. Captive agencies are trained well on their company’s products and that can be a competitive advantage. Consumers often buy from captive agents mainly due to high brand loyalty and the convenience of having a single billing for all their coverages.

Below are Salinas captive agencies that are able to give rate quotes.

• State Farm Insurance – 560 E Alisal St – Salinas, CA 93905 – (831) 758-4664
• Farmers Insurance Group – 838 S Main St # D – Salinas, CA 93901 – (831) 424-0829
• Allstate Insurance – 975 W Alisal St # A – Salinas, CA 93901 – (831) 422-7401

Independent Agents

Independent agents are not employed by any specific company so they can insure your vehicles with any number of different companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If your agent finds better pricing, the business is moved internally without you having to go to a different agency.

When shopping rates, it’s a good idea to include price quotes from several independent insurance agents to ensure the widest selection of prices.Most can insure with smaller regional carriers who may have lower rates.

Listed below are Salinas independent agencies that can give you price quotes.

• Gene Ritter Insurance – 32 E Alisal St # 205 – Salinas, CA 93901 – (831) 424-3839
• Toscano Agency – 342 San Juan Grade Rd – Salinas, CA 93906 – (831) 443-9571
• Glyn Johnson Insurance – 30 E San Joaquin St # 202 – Salinas, CA 93901 – (831) 759-2485

To view a complete directory of licensed insurance agents in Salinas, please view this page.

Upon getting positive responses to any questions you have in addition to an acceptable price estimate, you have narrowed it down to an auto insurance agent that is a good match to insure your vehicles.

Do online insurance companies have lower rates?

Auto insurance agents are perfect for certain consumers, but you also have the option of buying direct over the internet. A few companies who sell through the agent channel also permit you to buy direct on their websites, and consumers should do that if you are the do-it-yourself type.

If you’re worried about whether or not you’ll have guidance when shopping online, this is normal but is quickly overcome. Online insurance companies that require consumers to choose their own coverages provide phone numbers and online resources for customer questions. You can also use a frequently asked questions page to make it easier to purchase.

Does it save money buying online? A lot of shoppers won’t buy anywhere else, but it’s impossible to say because there are so many things which can adversely affect your policy premium. Many people think that going direct saves by not paying a commission. In many cases, advertising budgets are huge so there may not be significant savings.

Quote often and quote early

Affordable car insurance is available from both online companies and also from your neighborhood Salinas agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. A few companies may not provide online price quotes and many times these regional insurance providers only sell through independent insurance agents.

As you prepare to switch companies, it’s not a good idea to skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There have been many cases where consumers will sacrifice comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to regret at claim time they didn’t purchase enough coverage. The proper strategy is to buy a smart amount of coverage at a price you can afford.

Even more information is located at the California Department of Insurance website. Consumers can read industry bulletins, learn about insurance regulations, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.