No matter what state you live in, if you drive a car, you are required by law to carry at minimum liability and sometimes full coverage insurance. Choosing from the vast pool of auto insurance brokers, however, can be confusing. You may not feel like you know who to trust.
First thing to understand is the difference between an agent and a broker. An agent works for an insurance company. He is usually the person you speak to when you ask for rates, about policies, cancel or extend your policy, etc. The agent writes policies for the customer on behalf of…the broker! An auto insurance broker, however, can write policies himself on behalf of the customer. Basically, the broker has more experience and sometimes more licensing. He often hires agents to work under him. That’s why you speak to the agents on the phone, and not the broker.
One way to determine the insurance company’s quality is by experience. Auto insurance brokers in the business for a good number of years can generally attest to great experience. They will gladly tell you how long they’ve been doing what they’ve been doing, so finding out this information is pretty easy. Another easy thing to do is look the company up on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) online. You’ll have instant access to general information about the company, ratings, complaints filed, and whether or not the company is BBB accredited.
Of course, then you want to compare policy quotes. To find cheap auto insurance brokers nowadays, all you have to do is log in to a comparison website. Typing in some basic information about yourself and the car you want to insure can quickly call up a series of quotes from different insurance companies. The more details your provide, the closer the quote will be to reality. Of course, your driving history will also affect policy rates, so keep in mind the quote can’t be accurate without this personal information.
When selecting a broker, don’t let yourself get pulled into unnecessary add on’s. For example, if you or your family have access to multiple cars, you probably don’t need vehicle rental insurance, which gives you a free rental while your primary car is being repaired. However, do always ask about policy discounts. It is possible to attain discounts if you get homeowner’s or renter’s insurance from the same agency writing your car insurance policy. Especially if you are fully satisfied with your agency, this is a great option. Lastly, if you ever see that an agency has complaints filed against the, seriously reconsider using them for your insurance policies.
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