If you are attempting to find the lowest cost auto and homeowners insurance, going with a local independent insurance agent is normally your best choice. Although there are many companies that say they offer the lowest rates, independent insurance agents represent multiple insurance companies and have access to policy information from many companies to find you the best coverage at the best price. In these very tight economic times, saving money on your insurance is something that makes sense.
Something to consider when you are shopping for insurance, is that certain companies won’t let you just buy insurance off their website. You will need to work directly with an independent agent in those cases, so to get a complete quote you would need to find an agent you trust. Remember that trust needs to be earned, so get an idea of what is being offered to you before you sign anything.
One of the advantages of working with an independent insurance agent is that when they collect your information they can compare it against options from different companies. While they are looking over the different policies available, they will be considering your unique requirements. Unlike the online “quote” systems that claim to compare insurance, the independent insurance agent will actually compare your unique data against policies from multiple companies to provide you with the best quotes. This ability to compare coverages from multiple companies enables them to get you the lowest cost insurance.
There is something else to you need keep in mind. The independent insurance agent will also know the rating policies of each of the companies they represent. How much they increase rates for drivers who have tickets and other moving violations. For example, if you have a DUI, some insurance companies won’t cover you, while others will charge you a lot of money. An independent agent though will be able to select the company that has the least amount of penalties to provide you with the lowest cost option for your auto insurance.
Make sure the insurance agent you select is always thinking of your best interests, not theirs or their insurance companies. In every local area there are many insurance agents to choose from. A captive agents will gladly take your money and let you pay whatever their company charges. On the other hand the independent agent will look at options from many companies to make sure they are providing you the best rates and coverage. If they do that, they can expect to keep you as a customer for many years to come.
Don’t ever settle on an insurance agent that pushes you into a plan. This usually means they don’t have your best interest at heart. Keep your eyes open for an agent that allows you time to review your options before you make a decision. If they didn’t think a plan was going to work for you, they wouldn’t have offered the information after all.
When filling out applications, make sure you answer every question honestly. Although you might think lying or fudging the truth will save you money, most insurance systems will dig up information based on your social security number and driver’s license information. Trust goes both ways. You want an agent you can trust so be straightforward and honest with your agent about any issues you had in the past.
The ability to find cheap insurance is easy when you have an independent insurance agent in your local area that you can trust. Take some time to research a few different agents and settle on the one you feel you can trust to find you the best and cheapest insurance. It will be worth your time in the long run.
Dave Erickson is an Independent Insurance Agent in Ventura, California. His company, Ventura County Insurance has served the residents of Camarillo for over 20 years. To get a free car insurance quote visit Dave Erickson Insurance and Barlocker/Coastal States Insurance.