When buying car insurance in Marshall, finding the best Texas insurance agent is not as easy as just calling the closest agent. For the sake of this article, we’ll assume you require not only a highly trained agent, but you also want the lowest possible price.
With State Farm, Allstate and Farmers Insurance all competing for your business, it’s difficult to determine which will give you the cheapest rates and the best coverage. To begin, it’s easy to use online quotes to build a list of agents to choose from.
Buying car insurance from a local Marshall agent
Professional agents can point out coverage gaps and help submit paperwork. One of the best bonuses of comparing rates online is you can get better rates but still work with a licensed agent. And providing support for small agencies is especially important in Marshall.
For easy comparison, once you complete this short form, your coverage information is transmitted to companies in Marshall who will return price quotes for your coverage. You don’t have to leave your house because quoted prices will be sent directly to your email. Now that’s easy! You’ll get the best rates AND a local agent.
The different types of insurance agents
When finding a good insurance agency, you must know there are a couple different agency structures to choose from. Agents are classified as either independent (non-captive) or captive.
Independent Agencies or Brokers
Independent insurance agents are not locked into one company so they have the ability to put coverage with any number of different companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. To move your coverage to a new company, the business is moved internally and you won’t have to switch agencies. When comparing rates, we recommend you get quotes from at a minimum one independent agency to have the most options to choose from.
Listed below is a short list of independent agencies in Marshall that are able to give pricing information.
Nationwide Insurance – 903 E End Blvd S – Marshall, TX 75670 – (903) 927-1511
Mc Brayer Agency – 314 S Lafayette St – Marshall, TX 75670 – (903) 938-9991
Affordable Insurance – 610 E End Blvd N – Marshall, TX 75670 – (903) 935-0959
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive agents can only place business with one company and examples are Allstate, AAA, Liberty Mutual and State Farm. They usually cannot compare other company’s rates so they have no alternatives for high prices. They are trained well on their company’s products which helps them compete with independent agents.
The following is a short list of captive insurance agencies in Marshall that are able to give price quotes.
State Farm Insurance – 1606 E End Blvd N – Marshall, TX 75670 – (903) 938-7888
Farmers Insurance Group – 215 E Travis St – Marshall, TX 75670 – (903) 935-2015
Allstate Insurance – 401 W Grand Ave # C – Marshall, TX 75670 – (903) 935-1865
Farm Bureau Insurance – 705 E Pinecrest Dr – Marshall, TX 75670 – (903) 935-3291
To view a full list of captive agencies in Marshall, visit this link.
Choosing an insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just the bottom line cost. Agents should be asked these questions:
- What insurance companies do they recommend if they are an independent agent?
- Will their companies depreciate repairs to your car based on the mileage?
- Do they review policy coverages at every renewal?
- Do the companies they represent have a solid financial rating?
- How much will you save each year by using a higher deductible?
- Can glass repairs be made at your home?
- Do they assist clients in filing claims?
After receiving good answers to your questions and an acceptable price quote, you’ve probably found an insurance agency that can provide car insurance coverage.
Isn’t it cheaper to buy direct online?
Licensed agents are indespensible for some people, but you also have the option of buying Texas car insurance direct from companies online. Even companies who sell through agents in Marshall also allow consumers to buy online, so this should also be taken into consideration if the lowest rate is your goal.
If you’re anxious about having to choose coverages yourself when buying online, this is normal but is quickly overcome. Online car insurance companies that allow you to purchase coverage give you access to trained agents that you can contact for information.
Is online auto insurance cheaper? Many people think so, but it’s hard to say for sure since companies use quite a few components that impact your final bill. You may think that buying car insurance online prevents the agent from taking a cut. But the fact is, the cost of constant advertising is expensive so this can offset any savings.
If the lowest price is important, the best way to know if agents have better prices than online companies is making fair comparisons of each of their rates. It’s possible to get different rates using an online quote and an agent quote for the identical company. But you can’t find out where you can get the lowest rates until after you compare the same coverages each way.
To learn more about car insurance in Texas
Additional information is located on the website for the Texas Department of Insurance. Click here for link. Consumers can read state legal mandates and laws, find disaster information, find out which companies have the most complaints, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.
Other useful links include Auto Insurance 101 and this list of insurance agents in Marshall.
Final thoughts
Consumers switch companies for any number of reasons including extreme rates for teen drivers, an unsatisfactory settlement offer, lack of trust in their agent and even not issuing a premium refund. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, switching car insurance companies can be easier than you think.
While you’re price shopping online, don’t be tempted to sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. In too many instances, someone sacrificed comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to regret at claim time that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The ultimate goal is to purchase plenty of coverage at the best price while still protecting your assets.