The following is a guest post. Enjoy!
When searching for auto insurance, the actual insurance agent you will be dealing with may be more important than the name of the company holding the policy. This agent will be the person you deal with on a regular basis. If you have a question about your policy or are trying to make a claim, the agent assigned to your account is the one with whom you will be in contact with. That is why it is important to find a good agent that has expert knowledge and years of experience in the insurance industry.
Finding an Agent
One of the best ways to find an agent is to ask the people you know. Your friends and family can give you the referrals that they have had good experiences with. They can also give you a heads up on which insurance companies and agents to avoid. Another option is to do a quick search online for local agents and read the reviews posted by pervious and current clients. A good agent will need to be trustworthy and someone with who you feel comfortable talking and interacting with. To know if you feel comfortable with a particular agent simply talk to them for a few minutes. He or she will be learning some very private information about yourself so being comfortable and trusting them should be a huge factor in your decision.
The vice president of Navion Insurance Associates, Chad Bitterlich, says that consumers looking for an agent should seek out those who have experience outside of the sales portion of the auto insurance industry, such as claims or underwriting. Mr. Bitterlich also warns consumers to beware of agents who merely want to give you a cheap price quote since the agent should be more concerned about the amount of coverage needed over the actual price of the coverage.
Remember to always check with your state’s insurance department to make sure the agent has a valid license with good standing. And always keep copies of all proposals, applications, quotes and other documents you receive from the agent.
Captive Vs Independent Agents
Captive agents are those who only work with one carrier while independent agents can represent multiple carriers and offer a wide selection of quotes and coverage that a captive agent cannot offer. If you are interesting in shopping around at different insurance carriers, an independent agent is the way to go. They can provide you with multiple quotes from various insurance carriers to help ensure you are getting the best coverage available for a great price.
