Comparing car insurance rates in Live Oak can be a lot of work since you have many choices and finding the best Texas auto insurance agent takes more work than just using the same car insurance agent as your neighbor. It’s highly likely you want a good professional insurance agent, but also affordable coverage.
With companies like American Family, Allstate, State Farm and independent agents having local Live Oak offices, consumers have a hard time knowing which will provide the cheapest rates and the best coverage. Fortunately, consumers can get online price quotes in order to build a list of insurance agencies to choose from.
Shop online but buy locally
Professional agents can point out coverage gaps and help you file claims. The best thing about comparing insurance prices online is you can get the best rates but still work with a licensed agent. And supporting small agencies is important especially in Live Oak.
After completing this short form, the quote information gets sent to participating agents in Live Oak who will battle for your business. There is no reason to leave your computer as quotes are delivered to the email address you provide. How’s that for easy!
Live Oak auto insurance agents come in two flavors
When researching a reputable insurance agent or broker, you need to know there are two types of agencies from which to choose. Insurance agencies in Live Oak are either independent (non-captive) or captive. Either one can properly insure your vehicles, but it’s worth learning the difference between them because it can influence the selection process.
Independent Agencies or Brokers
Independent agents are not employed by any specific company so they can insure your vehicles with many different companies depending on which coverage is best. If your agent finds better pricing, your agent can switch companies and you don’t have to find a new agent. When comparing rates, it’s a good idea to get quotes from several independent insurance agents to get the best comparison.
Below is a list of independent insurance agents in Live Oak who can help you get price quote information.
Robert C Pollentier Insurance – 11901 Toepperwein Rd # 1101 – Live Oak, TX 78233 – (210) 590-1000
Don S Newby Insurance – 11901 Toepperwein Rd # 1101 – Live Oak, TX 78233 – (210) 637-1178
Captive Agents
Captive insurance agents can only place business with one company and some examples include Allstate, Farmers Insurance, State Farm and AAA. Captives cannot provide prices from multiple companies so they have no alternatives for high prices. They are trained well on their company’s products and that can be a competitive advantage.
Below is a short list of captive agencies in Live Oak willing to provide price quotes.
State Farm Insurance – 12315 Judson Rd # 302 – Live Oak, TX 78233 – (210) 654-9533
For a complete listing of captive agencies in Live Oak, visit this site.
Selecting an insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just the premium amount. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:
- Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
- Who are their largest clients?
- Do they review policy coverages at every renewal?
- Will their companies depreciate repairs to your car based on the mileage?
- Are there any discounts that you might be missing?
- If you are a high risk driver, do they have special markets for your coverage?
- Can they provide you with a list of referrals?
- Is the agency involved in supporting local community causes?
After getting satisfactory answers to all your questions and an affordable coverage quote, most likely you have located an auto insurance agent that can properly service your car insurance policy.
But what about Progressive, GEICO and other online companies?
Insurance agents serve a purpose, but you can also find affordable Texas auto insurance direct from companies online. Some companies who have local Live Oak agents additionally provide the ability to get a quote and buy online, so that should be considered.
If you’re uncomfortable with not having an insurance agent’s advice when shopping online, don’t sweat it. Online car insurance companies have toll-free phone numbers and other options you can use to get advice on coverages. You may also access live help and 24/7 access to help you answer questions.
Are online rates lower? A lot of shoppers won’t buy anywhere else, but it’s impossible to say because there are so many things that can increase policy rates. Many people think that a customer who purchases direcly from an online company prevents the agent from taking a cut. For most online online companies, however, advertising and marketing take a lot of money so there may not be significant savings.
Much more information about car insurance in Texas can be read on the website for the Texas Department of Insurance through this link. Consumers can read consumer alerts, find out industry alerts, report car insurance fraud, and read industry bulletins.
Shop smart and save
Affordable car insurance is definitely available from both online companies as well as from independent agents in Live Oak, so you should compare both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some car insurance companies don’t offer online quoting and many times these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agents.
As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it’s very important that you do not buy poor coverage just to save money. In many instances, consumers will sacrifice liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. The ultimate goal is to find the BEST coverage at an affordable rate.