Comparing car insurance companies in Clearwater, FL can be challenging because choosing the right Clearwater insurance agent takes more work than just calling the closest agent. Consumers require a friendly agent, and also the best car insurance prices in Clearwater.
Big-name insurance companies like State Farm, Farmers Insurance, Geico and Allstate constantly bombard you with ad campaigns and consumers find it hard to avoid their marketing magic and take the time to shop coverage around.
Price shop online but buy from a local Clearwater agent
Licensed agents can answer important questions and give you someone to call. The best thing about comparing rates online is you can get better rates but also keep your business local.
Upon completion of this quick form, your coverage information is sent to agents in your area who will compete for your coverage. There is no reason to drive around since price quotes are sent immediately to your email address. How’s that for easy! It’s the lowest rates without the usual hassles of price shopping.
Picking an insurance agency shouldn’t rely on just a cheap price. Here are some questions to ask:
- Is assistance available after office hours?
- Do they assist clients in filing claims?
- How much will you save each year by using a higher deductible?
- Does the company allow you to choose your own collision repair facility?
- What insurance companies do they recommend if they are an independent agent?
The difference between Clearwater car insurance agents
When searching for a local agent, there are two different agency structures from which to choose. Clearwater agents are either captive or independent.
Captive Agents
This type of agents write business for a single company like State Farm, Allstate and AAA. These agents are not able to give you multiple price quotes so always compare other rates. These agents are very knowledgeable on their company’s products and that can be a competitive advantage. Some people will only buy from captive agents primarily because of the prominence of the brand and the convenience of having all coverages with one company.
Shown below is a list of captive insurance agencies in Clearwater that are able to give rate quotes.
- Allstate Insurance – 1465 S Fort Harrison Ave # 104 – Clearwater, FL 33756 – (727) 441-2100
- State Farm Insurance – 2744 Summerdale Dr – Clearwater, FL 33761 – (727) 797-9508
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
These agents are not locked into one company so they have the ability to put coverage with many different companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. To transfer your coverage to a different company, the agent simply finds a different carrier and you don’t have to find a new agent. When searching for an agent, you should always contact multiple independent agents to have the most options to choose from. Most have the option of insuring with different regional companies which can be an advantage.
The following are independent agencies in Clearwater who can help you get price quotes.
- Valery Insurance – 2113 Gulf Blvd – Clearwater, FL 33767 – (727) 517-8888
- Anne Wiley Insurance – 1444 S Belcher Rd # C – Clearwater, FL 33764 – (727) 530-3621
- LA Plante Agency – 2715 State Road 580 – Clearwater, FL 33761 – (727) 796-8566
- Independent Agency Svc LLC – 2536 Countryside Blvd # 6 – Clearwater, FL 33763 – (727) 726-0726
For a complete listing of insurance agents in Clearwater, visit this site.
Upon receiving positive feedback to any questions you have in addition to an acceptable price estimate, most likely you have located an insurance agency that meets your needs to adequately provide car insurance.
How do online company rates compare?
Auto insurance agents can be invaluable at times, but Florida consumers also have the option to buy direct over the internet. Even companies, such as State Farm, Allstate and Farmers, who sell through agents in Clearwater also allow you to get a quote and buy online. This is something to consider.
If you’re worried about not getting advice from an agent when shopping online, this is a normal reaction for first-time shoppers. Online car insurance companies that require consumers to choose their own coverages give you access to trained agents you can use to get advice on coverages. They also have the ability to chat online live with a sales rep and online research to help you make a buying decision.
If the best price is important to you, the most effective way to determine where you can get the lowest rate, either online or from agents, is to compare price quotes from both. Even though it sounds odd, people frequently get different pricing when comparing agent prices to online quotes for the identical company.
Will buying online save you money? The answer is complex because there are so many things that influence your rates. It’s often assumed that buying car insurance online lowers rates due to not having any agent compensation. But the fact is, there are high advertising and marketing costs and this tends to eat up any savings.
Quote more, save more
As you shop your coverage around, you should never sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. Too many times, an insured cut collision coverage to discover at claim time that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your goal should be to purchase plenty of coverage at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.
Insureds leave their current company for many reasons like not issuing a premium refund, an unsatisfactory settlement offer, unfair underwriting practices and even high prices. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch choosing a new insurance company is not as hard as you think.
Informative consumer insurance sites
More detailed Florida car insurance information can be read at the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation website. Consumers can view agent and company licensing information, find disaster information, learn about specific coverages, and discover disciplinary actions.
