Posted by Car insurance shopping can be a herculean task, especially when you know nothing about car insurance. You can employ a car insurance agent to avoid the puddles in car insurance shopping. Car insurance agents help you find the insurance policy that meets your exact insurance needs, this service is rendered to you at no cost whatsoever.
Shopping for car insurance policies involves getting quotes and deciding on the best coverage needed, car insurance agents can help make this a walk in the park.
They are an intermediary between car insurance companies and drivers shopping for car insurance coverage options.
Insurance agents do not necessarily work for you but for the insurance companies they represent because you do not pay them for their services.
They get their pay from receiving commission and a percentage from the premium whenever they sell a policy.
Types of Car Insurance Agents
The help of car insurance agents cannot be overemphasized. However, there are two types of car insurance agents, as explained below:
Captive Agents
Captive agents work directly with one insurance company, therefore selling insurance policies from that insurance company only.
They are paid for every policy they sell with a certain percentage. In other words, the captive agents provide information on the company they work for.
Captive agents help you get personalized help as you understand the company’s coverage options.
Independent Agents
Independent agents work with several insurance companies; therefore, they can help you find information on several insurance companies.
They shop from one insurance company to another to find the best insurance policy that suits your circumstances.
Independent agents give you a complete browsing experience. They help you get all the information you need from several sources.
They show you what companies have to offer to influence an informed choice on the company and coverage you are going for.
However, it is essential to note that independent agents have contracts with a specific set of insurers and can only offer you insurance products and services from those companies.
FAQs
How Do I Get a Car Insurance Agent?
Getting a car insurance agent is not as difficult as it seems. Follow the tips below to get a car insurance agent of your choice:
- Search online for the independent agents in your area
- Look around for a local agent; you can check the website of a national network of independent agents
- Ask for referrals from friends and families
If you want an agent from a specific company, you can visit the company’s website to find any of their agents.
The larger the company, the more agents they will have, so if you need an agent from a large company, you get to choose an agent from their agents.
If you still cannot make an informed decision after you get in touch with an agent, you can go on to other agents from other companies to start shopping and comparing quotes again.
Getting in touch with them doesn’t bind you to purchase from them.
What are the Downsides of Using Car Insurance Agents?
Using car insurance agents to go insurance shopping is not always rosy. Below are some of the downsides:
- The policy options you get are available only from the companies the agents work with and nothing more.
- Agents sometimes want to sell policies you do not need by convincing you otherwise to get their percentage from the purchase.
What are the Benefits of Using Car Insurance Agents?
Car insurance agents can be very beneficial as they relieve stress. Below are some of the benefits of using car insurance agents:
- They open you up to a wide range of knowledge
- They show you lots of options to choose from
- They offer personal customer experience whenever you have a question
- They can open you up to available discounts you can get
- They can introduce you to small insurance companies that can do so much for you, companies you wouldn’t have looked at otherwise.
Why Should I use a car Insurance Agent?
You can use a car insurance agent if you feel too lazy to shop yourself. They can help you find the best car insurance for your needs. The fantastic part is that you do not have to pay a dime for this, as insurance agents are paid by their insurance companies.
Check Out:
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