If you’re looking to buy auto insurance, finding the best New Jersey car insurance agent is more difficult than just driving to the closest agent’s office. We’re guessing you’re wanting a highly trained agent, but also the lowest possible price.
With companies like State Farm, Allstate and many independent agents all competing for business in Newark, it can be hard to know which will provide you with the best rates, service and coverage. To begin, you can use insurance quotes online to get a list of insurance agents to choose from.
Quote online but still have a local agent
Educated insurance agents can answer important questions and help submit paperwork. The biggest benefit of price shopping on the web is you may find the lowest rates and still choose a local agent. And supporting small agencies is important particularly in Newark.
After completing this quick form, your coverage information is emailed to local insurance agents who will compete to get your business. There is no reason to leave your house due to the fact that quote results will go to your email. How cool is that?! It’s the lowest rates AND an agent nearby.
Different types of Newark car insurance agents
When finding a good Newark insurance agent, you must know there are a couple types of agencies that you can select. Agencies in Newark are categorized either captive or independent.
Independent Insurance Agents
Independent agencies do not work for one specific company so they can insure your vehicles with multiple insurance companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. To move your coverage to a new company, they simply move the coverage in-house and you don’t have to find a new agent. When comparing rates, it’s a good idea to include price quotes from multiple independent agents to ensure the widest selection of prices. Many write coverage with smaller regional carriers who may have lower rates.
Listed below is a list of independent insurance agents in Newark that are able to give rate quotes.
- Massey Agency – 46 Lyons Ave – Newark, NJ 07112 – (973) 926-6300
- N J Insurance Underwriting – 744 Broad St # 11 – Newark, NJ 07102 – (973) 622-3838
- Milwaukee Insurance Co – 10 Park Pl – Newark, NJ 07102 – (973) 648-3000
- Ed Young Agency – 942 S Orange Ave – Newark, NJ 07106 – (973) 375-0003
- F J Della Fera Agency – 208 1st Ave W – Newark, NJ 07107 – (973) 482-5858
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive agencies can only place business with one company and some examples include Allstate, AAA, Liberty Mutual and State Farm. These agents are not able to shop your coverage around so they have to upsell other benefits. They are well schooled on their company’s products which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums. Consumers sometimes buy from captive agents partially due to the brand legacy and solid financial strength.
Shown below are captive insurance agents in Newark that can give you price quote information.
- State Farm Insurance – 17 Academy St – Newark, NJ 07102 – (973) 286-2870
For a full directory of Newark captive agents, visit this site.
Picking an insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just a low price. These questions are important to ask:
- What insurance company do they write the most business with?
- How many years of experience in personal lines insurance coverages do they have?
- How are claims handled?
- Will their companies depreciate repairs to your car based on the mileage?
- Do they receive special compensation for putting your coverage with one company over another?
- How long has their agency been in business in Newark?
- Does the agency have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau?
- Does the agent have professional designations like CIC, CPCU or AIC?
After receiving positive feedback to these questions in addition to an acceptable price estimate, you may have just found an insurance agent that will properly insure your vehicles.
Can you save money by buying online?
Car insurance agents are indespensible for some people, but you also have the option of buying New Jersey car insurance directly from online companies. Some specific companies who sell through agents in Newark also give you the ability to buy online, and that is helpful if you’re trying to lower your rates.
If you’re worried about choosing your own coverages, that should not be a issue. Online companies that require consumers to choose their own coverages have customer service departments for getting questions answered. You can also use online education and live help anytime that you can use if you have questions.
Can you save money buying online? It’s difficult to say for sure since there are so many factors that determine your policy premium. Common logic is that shopping online for auto insurance reduces premiums because there is no agent. For most companies selling online, however, advertising and marketing take a lot of money and this tends to eat up any savings.
Do the work, save more money
Budget-conscious auto insurance is available both online and also from your neighborhood Newark agents, and you should be comparing both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some auto insurance companies may not provide the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.
As you shop your coverage around, make sure you don’t buy poor coverage just to save money. Too many times, an insured dropped full coverage only to regret at claim time they didn’t have enough coverage. Your goal should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at a price you can afford.
Learn more about auto insurance in New Jersey
More information can be read on the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance website located here. Consumers can report car insurance fraud, read state legal mandates and laws, and find a variety of consumer forms.
