Selecting a car insurance company in Syracuse, New York can be time consuming since there are a lot of options and picking a good New York car insurance agent is more difficult than just picking up the phone. Chances are you’re wanting a good professional insurance agent, but you also want to find the lowest possible price.
With companies like American Family, Allstate, State Farm and Farmers having offices in Syracuse, it’s difficult to determine which one will give you the best rates, service and coverage. To help decide, it’s easy to use online quotes to assemble a group of agencies and price estimates.
Quote online but work with a neighborhood agent
Educated insurance agents can answer important questions and help in the event of a claim. One of the best bonuses of price shopping on the web is you may find the best rates and still choose a local agent. And supporting small agencies is important especially in Syracuse.
After completing this form (opens in new window), your information is immediately sent to agents in your area who will return price quotes for your insurance coverage. You won’t need to visit any agencies since price quotes are sent immediately to your email address. It doesn’t get any easier! It’s the lowest rates and an insurance agent to talk to.
Is a captive or independent car insurance agent right for you?
When looking for a good Syracuse insurance agent, there are a couple of different types of agents that you can select. Agencies in Syracuse are classified as either captive or independent (non-captive).
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
Independent agents are not employed by any specific company but rather can write business amongst many companies depending on which coverage is best. To move your coverage to a new company, the business is moved internally and that require little work on your part.
When searching for an agent, it’s recommended you include at least one independent agent to ensure the widest selection of prices.Most can insure with smaller regional carriers who may have lower rates.
Shown below is a list of independent insurance agents in Syracuse who can help you get competitive price quotes.
- Kamper Insurance – 5784 Widewaters Pkwy # 1 – Syracuse, NY 13214 – (315) 449-5685
- Shelby Insurance Co – 5788 Widewaters Pkwy – Syracuse, NY 13214 – (315) 446-1514
- Walker and Sons Agency Inc – 1759 W Genesee St – Syracuse, NY 13204 – (315) 488-2424
- Jurkiewicz Agency – 1632 W Genesee St # 1 – Syracuse, NY 13204 – (315) 488-1760
- Robert L Kelly Agency – 108 E Washington St – Syracuse, NY 13202 – (315) 425-8101
Captive Agents
Captive agents can only place business with one company such as Liberty Mutual, Allstate, Farmers Insurance or State Farm. These agents are unable to place coverage with different providers so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. Captive agencies are very knowledgeable in insurance sales which can be an advantage. Consumers frequently buy from captive agents mainly due to loyalty to the company and solid financial strength.
Shown below are captive insurance agencies in Syracuse that can give you price quote information.
- Allstate Insurance Co – 441 S Salina St # 302 – Syracuse, NY 13202 – (315) 474-1081
- State Farm Insurance – 7575 Buckley Rd # 15 – Syracuse, NY 13212 – (315) 451-4000
To view a complete directory of captive agents in Syracuse, please click here.
Deciding on a car insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just a low price. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:
- What insurance company do they write the most business with?
- Do they have any clout with companies to ensure a fair claim settlement?
- Does the agency support the community they serve?
- Does the company allow you to choose your own collision repair facility?
- Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in New York?
- Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
- Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
- If you have an accident, will your rates go up?
Once you have acceptable answers to any questions you have and a good coverage price, most likely you have located an insurance agency that can service your policy.
But what about buying from online companies?
Car insurance agents are important to many people, but New York drivers can also buy direct over the internet. Some car insurance companies, such as Farmers Insurance and State Farm, that sell primarily through agents also let you buy direct on their websites, and that can save time if you want to do it yourself.
If you’re concerned about not having an insurance agent’s advice, this is expected but don’t let that bother you. Auto insurance companies that require consumers to choose their own coverages provide phone numbers and online resources for customer questions.
Is it cheaper to buy car insurance online? A lot of shoppers won’t buy anywhere else, but it’s impossible to say since companies use quite a few components that influence how your policy is priced. Some people will tell you that a customer who purchases direcly from an online company saves money because there is no commission. For the majority of companies, however, marketing their products costs a lot of money and this drives up their premium costs.
A little work can save a LOT of money
Consumers leave their current company for a variety of reasons including unfair underwriting practices, policy cancellation, poor customer service or even high prices. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, choosing a new insurance company is easier than you think.
Cheaper car insurance is available from both online companies and with local Syracuse insurance agents, and you should be comparing both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some companies do not offer you the ability to get quotes online and many times these regional insurance providers only sell through independent insurance agents.
More information can be found on the New York Department of Financial Services website found here. New York consumers can file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, discover disciplinary actions, download brochures, and get help finding coverage.
