If you’re looking for a good insurance agent in San Benito, Texas, you can always begin your search by comparing prices online rather than looking in the yellowpages. It’s likely you want an excellent agent, but you also want to find the best rates possible.
With American Family, Allstate, State Farm and Farmers having offices in San Benito, consumers have a hard time knowing which one will give you the best service and rates. Thankfully, it’s easy to use online quotes to get a list of agencies and price estimates.
Online quotes help locate San Benito agents
Educated insurance agents can point out coverage gaps and help file insurance claims. The best thing about comparing rates online is you may find lower rates and still choose a local agent. Supporting small agencies is important especially in San Benito.
Once you complete this simple form, the quote information gets sent to local insurance agents who will give you bids for your coverage. There is no need to leave your house because quoted prices will be sent straight to your inbox. How cool is that?!
Do you need an independent or captive auto insurance agent?
When searching for a good San Benito insurance agent, there are two types of insurance agents that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agents are either captive or independent (non-captive). Both types can do a good job, but it’s good to learn the difference between them because it can influence the selection process.
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
Independent insurance agents are not employed by any specific company but rather can write business with any number of different companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. To transfer your coverage to a different company, they simply move the coverage in-house and that require little work on your part.
When shopping rates, it’s recommended you get quotes from several independent insurance agents to get the best comparison. They also have the ability to place coverage with smaller regional carriers which can save you money.
Shown below is a list of independent insurance agents in San Benito that may be able to provide price quotes.
- Shelton Wilson Insurance – 341 N Williams Rd – San Benito, TX 78586 – (956) 399-5001
- Paul Gonzales Insurance – 101 S Sam Houston Blvd – San Benito, TX 78586 – (956) 399-9404
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive agents write business for a single company and examples are American Family, State Farm and Allstate. They are unable to provide prices from multiple companies so they have no alternatives for high prices. Captives are trained well on their company’s products which can be an advantage. Some consumers prefer to purchase coverage from captives partially due to the brand legacy and solid financial strength.
Listed below is a list of captive agencies in San Benito who can help you get price quotes.
- Allstate Insurance – 811 N Sam Houston Blvd – San Benito, TX 78586 – (956) 361-9170
- Farmers Insurance Group – 335 N Williams Rd – San Benito, TX 78586 – (956) 399-8183
To view a complete directory of captive insurance agents in San Benito, click here to link.
Choosing a car insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just a low price. Ask your prospective agent these questions:
- Does the agent have professional designations like CIC, CPCU or AIC?
- Is the agency involved in supporting local community causes?
- If they are an independent agency, which companies do they recommend?
- Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?
- Do you have coverage for a rental car if your vehicle is in the repair shop?
After getting satisfactory answers to these questions as well as a affordable price, it’s possible that you found an auto insurance agent that will adequately provide car insurance.
Alternatives to local insurance agents
Licensed agents can be invaluable at times, but you also have the option of buying Texas car insurance from companies direct over the internet. Some companies who sell through agents in San Benito also give you the ability to buy online, and online price comparisons are easy if you’re trying to lower your rates.
If you’re anxious about not having someone to ask questions when buying online, this is expected but don’t let that bother you. Insurance companies all provide contact methods for getting the best coverage.
If you have the time, the only way to find out whether online companies or local agents have lower rates is to get price quotes for both. It’s even possible to receive different pricing from the same company when using both online and agent quotes.
Is auto insurance cheaper online? Many people swear by it, but it’s difficult to answer because there are a lot of things which can adversely affect your policy premium. You may think that a customer who purchases direcly from an online company saves the commission normally paid to an agent. But in reality, advertising budgets are huge and that can quickly cost more than paying an agent.
Additional car insurance information is available on the Texas Department of Insurance website found here. Visitors are able to learn about insurance regulations, read industry bulletins, view a list of available companies, and find disaster information.
Other useful links include this site for car insurance rates in Texas and this link where you can get more info about San Benito car insurance.
In Summary
Consumers leave their current company for a number of reasons such as extreme rates for teen drivers, poor customer service, high prices or even high rates after DUI convictions. Regardless of your reason, finding a great new company is actually quite simple.
When trying to cut insurance costs, you should never skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. In many cases, drivers have reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to find out that it was a big error on their part. Your aim should be to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate while still protecting your assets.