There is a major shift going on in the insurance industry. For over a century, most people have bought their policies through agents and brokers. Now our television sets are flooded with commercials from direct insurers that sell coverage online. This brings up the debate, who has better rates? Many choose Freeway Insurance who are known for low cost auto insurance. Let’s take a closer look at both methods of buying car insurance and compare the results.
Getting Online Auto Insurance Quotes is Easy
The easiest way to secure an insurance quote for your vehicle is online. At sites like goodtogoinsurance.org you can compare up to 10 quotes in about 5 minutes. Think about that for a minute. All you need to do is enter some basic information about like your car model, location and you will be given multiple quotes. There is no need to call several agents for quotes when you go direct. After all, that could take hours. You can get quoted in the comfort of your home, even in your pajamas while drinking a cocktail. You are in control of the entire process and can remain totally anonymous.
Another big reason why people like getting online quotes is privacy. Most people don’t like aggressive salespeople trying to sell “padded” policies with a commission in mind. The other big advantage to buying car insurance direct is cost. In study after study, direct rates are about 10% cheaper than agents and brokers. Direct providers like goodtogoinsurance.org can offer these lower rates because they don’t have to pay an army of expensive agents to sell their policies. If you know the exact type of cheap coverage and have an internet connection, getting very cheap car insurance with no deposit can be your first choice.
The drawback to direct quotes is often not buying enough coverage. Many people only focus on price and not the amount of insurance they need to get adequately covered. An agent can analyze a person’s income and vehicle, then make recommendations about the insurance limits needed. This one on one advice is also really valuable to many people that are not well versed with insurance.
Getting Auto Insurance Quotes from Agents
lf you want a professional insurance advisor, then call an agent or broker. The quoting process will be a bit longer than an online quote form, but you will get a detailed analysis from a pro. Agents are essentially a “middleman” and represent the company they work for. So a State Farm agent will give you exclusive quotes from State Farm and a Farmers agent will do the same. This is why going the agent route is so time-consuming. You need to call several company agents and answer the same questions over and over again. When you apply for online quotes with direct carriers like goodtogoinsurance.org, your information is sent to multiple providers, and quotes are provided in just a few minutes.
The main advantage of using an agent is free consultation. It is like having a personal insurance advisor that helps you find a plan and coverage that is best for you. Many people form long term relationships with their agents. When a claim is filed, most people prefer to talk to someone they trust, that already knows their profile. It does not always happen, but agents sometimes find deals for their clients that save them more than direct insurers.
What is the Best Option for Buying Auto Insurance?
lf you need a policy fast and are on a tight budget, I would go the direct route. Check out goodtogoinsurance.org and get a free quote. There is no obligation to buy a policy and you don’t even need to talk to anyone. Make sure you compare at least 10 online rates. After that, do not buy a policy yet. This may or possibly might not be the best price for the coverage you want especially if you’re classified as a high-risk driver. You might also want to check out sr22 quotes Florida or from other states if you need an additional endorsement for your insurance.
The next step is to call up an agent. Select the best direct quote you are thinking of buying and ask the agent if they can match that price. This will give you all the leverage and show that you have done your homework. Agents are in business to make sales and they will usually go out of their way to match your price. If they can’t, then call up another agent. Make at least 5 agent phone calls to see if they can match of even beat the direct rate.
Next, it all boils down to pricing and customer service. If you find an agent that gives you a rate that is about equal to the online companies then go for it, if you need that extra professional support. If you do not want any consultation and don’t like talking to agents, then go online and buy direct. The choice is yours, but make sure you get the best coverage at the lowest possible price.