Top Tips to Find an Auto Insurance Agent in Simi Valley

Finding good auto insurance in Simi Valley can be challenging since you have many choices and selecting the best Simi Valley car insurance agent for your needs is more difficult than just using the same auto insurance agent as your neighbor. You need a good professional insurance agent, but also decent rates too.

Many car insurance agents compete for your hard-earned dollar, so it’s not easy to compare every insurance agency to get the lowest rate possible.

Insurance agents can help

When buying the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a one size fits all plan. Everyone’s situation is unique.

For example, these questions could help you determine whether you could use an agent’s help.

What should my uninsured motorist coverage limits be in California?
What are the financial responsibility laws in California?
Does my insurance cover my expensive audio equipment?
Does my policy cover me when driving someone else’s vehicle?
Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?
Is my babysitter covered when using my vehicle?
Can my teen driver be rated on a liability-only vehicle?
What can I do if my company won’t pay a claim?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but a few of them apply then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent.

Your insurance agent down the street

Agents can answer important questions and help file insurance claims. One of the best bonuses of comparing rates online is you can get better rates but also keep your business local.

To find an agent, once you fill out this form (opens in new window), the quote information is instantly submitted to local insurance agents in Simi Valley who will battle for your insurance coverage. You won’t need to leave your computer since price quotes are sent immediately to your email address. It doesn’t get any easier!

Picking an auto insurance agent requires more thought than just a cheap price. These questions are important to ask:

Does the agent have professional designations like CIC, CPCU or AIC?
Can they give you a list of client referrals?
Are you getting all the discounts the company offers?
If they are an independent agency, which companies do they recommend?
How many years of experience in personal lines insurance coverages do they have?
How long has their agency been in business in Simi Valley?

Different types of car insurance agents in Simi Valley

When researching a good Simi Valley insurance agent, there are two types of agencies that you can select. Agents can either be captive or independent. Both types can properly insure your vehicles, but it’s worth mentioning how they differ since it can impact your agent selection.

Captive Agents

These agents write business for a single company like Liberty Mutual, State Farm, Allstate and AAA. Captives cannot give you multiple price quotes so always compare other rates. These agents are well schooled on their company’s products which helps them compete with independent agents. Some people will only buy from captive agents partially due to loyalty to the company and strong financial ratings.

Below is a short list of captive agents in Simi Valley willing to provide comparison quotes.

Allstate Insurance – 1716 Erringer Rd # 114 – Simi Valley, CA 93065 – (805) 584-3511
Farmers Insurance Group – 5775 E Los Angeles Ave # 123 – Simi Valley, CA 93063 – (805) 526-3800
State Farm Insurance – 1781 Erringer Rd – Simi Valley, CA 93065 – (805) 526-6459

Independent Agencies or Brokers

Independent agents do not work for one specific company so they can insure your vehicles with any number of different companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If you are not satisfied with one company, the agent simply finds a different carrier and you won’t have to switch agencies.

When searching for an agent, it’s a good idea to include price quotes from at a minimum one independent agency to ensure the widest selection of prices. Most have the option of insuring with lesser-known insurance companies which can be an advantage.

Below is a short list of independent agents in Simi Valley willing to provide price quote information.

Jerry Doolittle Insurance – 4225 Valley Fair St # 101 – Simi Valley, CA 93063 – (805) 584-1111
Simi Valley Insurance – 737 E Los Angeles Ave – Simi Valley, CA 93065 – (805) 527-1414

To view a complete directory of Simi Valley insurance agents, simply jump to this page.

After getting positive responses and a good coverage price, most likely you have located a car insurance agent that can adequately provide auto insurance.

You have the option to buy car insurance direct online

Local insurance agents are perfect for certain consumers, but you also have the option of buying California car insurance directly from online companies. Even companies who sell through the agent channel also give you the ability to buy online, so this should also be taken into consideration and can also potentially find you lower rates.

If you’re concerned about having to choose coverages yourself when buying car insurance direct, this is normal but is quickly overcome. Car insurance companies have customer service departments you can use to get advice on coverages. Also available are live help and 24/7 access that you can use before buying.

Do customers save by switching to an online company? Whether or not you’ll save is impossible to say because there are many factors which can raise or lower premium rates. Some people will tell you that buying car insurance online saves money by not requiring a commission. But that assumption is generally incorrect because promoting brand recognition is pricey so there may not be significant savings.

For more California car insurance information

More tips and info about auto insurance can be read at the California Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to report car insurance fraud, find out industry alerts, read state legal mandates and laws, and read industry bulletins.

What is YOUR best insurance company?

Consumers change insurance companies for many reasons like being labeled a high risk driver, high rates after DUI convictions, not issuing a premium refund and even high prices. No matter why you want to switch, choosing a new company is pretty easy and you might even save some money in the process.

Discount auto insurance can be sourced both online in addition to many Simi Valley insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture. There are still a few companies who do not provide online quoting and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.