When trying to find a good Amherst agent, we recommend you do the preliminary legwork for an agent online rather than looking in the yellowpages. You need a professional agent, but also the best possible rates.
Numerous insurance agencies battle for your business, so it’s not easy to compare every insurance agency and get the best coverage at the best rate
Buying car insurance locally
Insurance agents can answer important questions and help you file claims. The biggest benefit of price shopping on the web is you can get lower rates and still choose a local agent.
To find an agent, once you fill out this quick form, your information is emailed to local insurance agents in Amherst who will give you bids to get your business. There is no need to leave your house since price quotes are sent straight to your inbox. How cool is that?!
Picking an insurance agency requires more thought than just a cheap price. Some important questions to ask are:
- Does the agency have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau?
- If you have an accident, are you able to get your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice?
- Do they carry Errors and Omissions coverage?
- Do they assist clients in filing claims?
- Are claim adjusters local or do you have to take your car somewhere else?
- What insurance companies do they work with?
- What are the financial ratings for the companies they represent?
- Is assistance available after office hours?
Below is a short list of auto insurance agents in Amherst that may be willing to give price quote information.
Sam Bitar Insurance – 656 N French Rd # 1, Amherst, NY 14228 – (716) 213-0555
Civin Agency Inc – 4554 Bailey Ave, Amherst, NY 14226 – (716) 832-3336
Allstate Insurance Co – 3140 Sheridan Dr # 3, Amherst, NY 14226 – (716) 837-3000
Teachers Insurance & Annuity – 100 Corporate Pkwy, Amherst, NY 14226 – (716) 834-3907
Once you have positive responses for all questions you ask and a good coverage price, you have narrowed it down to an auto insurance agent that can properly service your car insurance policy.
Aren’t online insurance companies like Geico cheaper?
Licensed agents are important, but you can also find affordable New York auto insurance direct from companies that only sell online. Some companies, such as Farmers Insurance and State Farm, who employ agents additionally provide the ability to quote and buy online, so this should also be taken into consideration.
If you’re concerned about not receiving proper advice when buying direct, that is normal but is not a big issue. Car insurance companies that require consumers to choose their own coverages have customer service departments to help you decide which coverages are appropriate. They also have the ability to chat online live with a sales rep and online research to help you make a buying decision.
Does buying online save money? Many people swear by it, but it’s difficult to answer because of the number of factors that influence the price you pay. It’s a logical assumption that buying online prevents the agent from taking a cut. But in most cases, the cost of constant advertising is expensive so rates may not be all that different from traditional agents.
For price-conscious consumers, the only way of knowing if car insurance prices are lower online or from agents is comparing rate quotes from both. It’s even possible to receive different pricing from the exact same provider when they use both methods. You won’t know which has the best rates unless you compare quotes for identical coverages utilizing both methods.
Smart consumers save more
People change insurance companies for many reasons like delays in paying claims, unfair underwriting practices, being labeled a high risk driver and extreme rates for teen drivers. Regardless of your reason, choosing a new insurance company can be pretty painless.
When buying insurance coverage, do not buy less coverage just to save a little money. There are a lot of situations where someone dropped collision coverage only to find out they didn’t purchase enough coverage. Your focus should be to purchase plenty of coverage at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.
Additional detailed information is available at the New York Department of Financial Services website. Consumers can discover disciplinary actions, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, read consumer alerts, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.
