If you’re looking to buy car insurance, selecting the best Penitas auto insurance agent for your needs is more difficult than just picking up the phone. Most likely that not only do you want a professional licensed agent, but you also need great rates as well.
With companies like State Farm, Allstate, Farmers and independent agents all competing for your business, it can be hard to know which provider will provide the best service and rates. Thankfully, it’s easy to use online price quotes to get a list of agents and thier coverage prices.
Compare online but buy from a local Penitas agent
Licensed agents can point out coverage gaps and give you someone to call. One of the great benefits of comparing rates online is that you can obtain the lowest rates and still choose a local agent. Buying from small agencies is definitely important in Penitas.
To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this simple form, the coverage information is transmitted to local insurance agents in Penitas who will give you bids for your business. You don’t have to leave your computer as quotes are delivered straight to your inbox. It doesn’t get any easier!
How to choose the best insurance agency in Penitas
When looking for a reliable agent, you need to know there are two types of agencies that you can select. Agents are classified as either independent or captive. Both do a good job, but it’s important to know how they differ since it may influence buying decisions.
Independent Agencies or Brokers
Independent agents are not employed by any specific company so they have the ability to put coverage with any number of different companies and potentially find a lower price. To transfer your coverage to a different company, they simply move the coverage in-house without you having to go to a different agency.
When comparison shopping, it’s a good idea to include price quotes from at a minimum one independent agency to get the best comparison.Many can place coverage with smaller companies which can be an advantage.
Shown below is a list of independent insurance agents in Penitas that can give you competitive price quotes.
- Pena Insurance – Tom Gil and Buena Vista – Penitas, TX 78576 – (956) 487-7787
- David Penna Insurance – Highway 83 – Penitas, TX 78576 – (956) 583-8790
Agency Captives
Captive agents work for only one company and some examples include Liberty Mutual, State Farm, Allstate and AAA. These agents are unable to compare other company’s rates so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. They are trained well on their products and sales techniques which can be an advantage. Consumers sometimes purchase coverage from captives mostly because of the brand legacy and the convenience of having all coverages with one company.
Choosing an auto insurance agent shouldn’t rely on just a low price. Some important questions to ask are:
- Do they review policy coverages at every renewal?
- Do they regularly work with personal auto policies?
- Will your rates increase after a single accident?
- Which insurance companies are they affiliated with?
- Do they have adequate Errors and Ommissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.
- Is assistance available after office hours?
- Does the company allow you to choose your own collision repair facility?
- Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?
Upon receiving satisfactory answers and an affordable coverage quote, it’s possible that you found an insurance agent that can service your policy.
Isn’t it cheaper to buy direct online?
Insurance agents can be invaluable at times, but you also have the option of buying Texas car insurance direct from companies online. Even companies like State Farm and Allstate that sell primarily through agents also give you the ability to buy direct on their websites, so this should also be taken into consideration and can also potentially find you lower rates.
If you’re uneasy about whether or not you’ll have guidance when buying direct, this is a normal reaction for first-time shoppers. Car insurance companies all have toll-free customer service that you can contact for information. Most companies also provide a frequently asked questions page to make it easier to purchase.
When trying to find the best rates, the only way to determine who has the best rates, online companies or local insurance agents, is making fair comparisons of each of their rates. You may actually get a different price for the same auto insurance company when they get quotes from both.
Is auto insurance cheaper online? That is a tough question to answer because there are so many things that impact your rate calculation. It would make sense to think that buying car insurance online saves money because there is no agent involvement. But the fact is, advertising budgets are huge so there may not be significant savings.
Affordable insurance is out there
While you’re price shopping online, do not skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. Too many times, an accident victim reduced liability limits or collision coverage to discover at claim time that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your aim should be to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate.
Insureds change insurance companies for many reasons like questionable increases in premium, extreme rates for teen drivers, an unsatisfactory settlement offer and denial of a claim. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch switching car insurance companies is not as hard as you think.
More information is located on the Texas Department of Insurance website. Click here for link. Consumers can find disaster information, learn about specific coverages, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, and file complaints about a company.
Other informative sites include this online resource for free quotes in Texas and this page for help finding agents in Penitas, TX.