Top Ways to Find an Insurance Agent in San Francisco, CA

Comparing auto insurance companies in San Francisco, CA can be challenging because picking a good California car insurance agent takes more work than just making a phone call. You need a professional agent, and also want to find the cheapest rates you can possibly find.

Since consumers have many online and local companies to choose from, it is very difficult to choose the cheapest provider.

How to buy auto insurance from an agent in San Francisco

Good agents can point out coverage gaps and help you file claims. The biggest benefit of price shopping on the web is the fact that you can find the best rates and still have an agent to talk to.

After filling out this quick form, your coverage information is submitted to local insurance agents who will give you bids for your business. There is no reason to visit any agencies since price quotes are sent immediately to your email address. How cool is that?!

Selecting a car insurance agent shouldn’t rely on just the price. Agents should be asked these questions:

  • Which company do they place the most coverage with?
  • How much can you save by raising your physical damage deductibles?
  • Are claim adjusters local or do you have to take your car somewhere else?
  • Do they make recommendations based only on price?
  • What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?

Insurance agent types

When looking for a good San Francisco insurance agent, there are two types of insurance agents from which to choose. San Francisco agents are classified as either independent (non-captive) or captive. Both types can properly insure your vehicles, but it’s worth mentioning how they are different because it can impact the selection process.

Captive Insurance Agents

This type of agents work for only one company and examples are Liberty Mutual, State Farm, Allstate and AAA. These agents are unable to place coverage with different providers so it’s a take it or leave it situation. They receive extensive training on their products and sales techniques which helps them compete with independent agents.

The following are captive insurance agents in San Francisco who may provide you with price quote information.

Allstate Insurance – 1815 Balboa St – San Francisco, CA 94121 – (415) 379-6900
State Farm Insurance – 745 Clay St – San Francisco, CA 94108 – (415) 398-2563
Farmers Insurance Group – 1931 Noriega St – San Francisco, CA 94122 – (415) 731-6921

Independent Insurance Agents

Independent insurance agents are not locked into one company but rather can write business with lots of companies depending on which coverage is best. If you are not satisfied with one company, your agent can switch companies and you won’t have to switch agencies.

When searching for an agent, you should always include several independent insurance agents for maximum quote selection.

Below is a short list of independent insurance agents in San Francisco who can help you get rate quotes.

MIF Insurance – 1375 Sutter St # 100 – San Francisco, CA 94109 – (415) 247-1610
Intermediary Insurance Svc – 180 Montgomery St # 500 – San Francisco, CA 94104 – (415) 772-9835
Sam Levin Agency – 3216 Geary Blvd # B – San Francisco, CA 94118 – (415) 387-7727
Jeffrey Lee Agency – 436 Clement St – San Francisco, CA 94118 – (415) 752-1121
Leisure Werden and Terry Agency – 120 Montgomery St # 950 – San Francisco, CA 94104 – (415) 788-5858

For a complete listing of San Francisco insurance agents, go to this page.

Once you have satisfactory answers to these questions as well as a affordable price, it’s possible that you found an insurance agent that is a good match to service your policy.

Can you buy online and save?

Local insurance agents are important, but California consumers also have the option to buy from online companies direct. Certain companies like Allstate and State Farm that sell primarily through agents also permit you to buy a policy online, and consumers should do that.

If you’re uncomfortable with not getting proper coverage when buying car insurance direct, that is quite common when buying online the first time. All companies that allow you to purchase coverage provide phone numbers and online resources for customer questions.

Are car insurance rates lower online? The answer to that question is complicated due to the fact that there are multiple individual factors that are calculated into your premium. Some people think that purchasing direct online saves money because there is no agent involvement. But in reality, marketing expenses are significant and that can cost more than having to pay agents.

The only method to determine who has the best deal, local agents or online insurance companies, is to compare price quotes from both. You can actually get different rates from exactly the same company when comparing online quotes to a quote from an agent.

Smart consumers save more

As you restructure your insurance plan, make sure you don’t skimp on coverage in order to save money. There have been many situations where someone dropped collision coverage only to regret at claim time that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your aim should be to find the BEST coverage at the best price.

Consumers who switch companies do it for a variety of reasons including high rates after DUI convictions, high prices, questionable increases in premium and delays in responding to claim requests. It doesn’t matter what your reason, choosing a new company is easier than you think.

More California auto insurance resources

Additional detailed information is located at the California Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to read consumer alerts, file complaints about a company, download brochures, and view agent and company licensing information.

Other informative sites include this resource for California auto insurance prices and this link where you can get more info about San Francisco auto insurance.