When finding a good Houston agent, you can always do the preliminary legwork by getting online comparison quotes to save yourself time. You require a great agent that can assess your needs, but also need cheaper auto insurance prices.
Companies like Geico and Progressive continually hit you with ad campaigns and it is challenging if not impossible to see through the cute green geckos and mayhem and find the best price available.
Online quotes help locate Houston agents
Professional agents can point out coverage gaps and give you peace of mind. The biggest benefit of comparing insurance prices online is the fact that you can find the lowest rates but also keep your business local.
Once you complete this short form, your insurance coverage information is sent to local insurance agents who will compete for your business. There is no reason to leave your house as quotes are delivered directly to your email. How cool is that?! You can find the lowest rates and an insurance agent to talk to.
Deciding on a car insurance agent shouldn’t rely on just the price. Agents should be asked these questions:
- Do the companies they represent have a solid financial rating?
- Can they give you a list of client referrals?
- What insurance companies do they work with?
- If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?
- Are claim adjusters local or do you have to take your car somewhere else?
- How are claims handled?
- Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
- Who is covered by the car insurance policy?
The type of insurance agent you choose is important
If you’re trying to find an insurance agent, you must know there are a couple different agency structures that you can select. Insurance agencies in Houston can either be independent (non-captive) or captive.
Agency Captives
Captive insurance agents can only place business with one company and examples are Allstate, AAA, Liberty Mutual and State Farm. They are unable to place coverage with different providers so it’s a take it or leave it situation. Captives are usually quite knowledgeable on the products they sell which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums. Some people will only purchase coverage from captives partially due to high brand loyalty and strong financial ratings.
Shown below is a short list of captive agents in Houston who can help you get comparison quotes.
- Farmers Insurance Group – 7171 Harwin Dr – Houston, TX 77036 – (713) 787-9090
- Farm Bureau Insurance – 15302 Stuebner Airline Rd – Houston, TX 77069 – (281) 440-8067
- Allstate Insurance – 9235 Katy Fwy # 390 – Houston, TX 77024 – (713) 468-3366
- Liberty Mutual Insurance – 13201 Northwest Fwy # 400 – Houston, TX 77040 – (713) 460-4650
- State Farm Insurance – 9100 Southwest Fwy # 203 – Houston, TX 77074 – (713) 988-3333
- American Family Insurance – 10603 Grant Rd # 210 – Houston, TX 77070 – (281) 955-7332
Independent Agents
Independent insurance agents are not required to write business for one company so they can insure your vehicles with multiple insurance companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. To move your coverage to a new company, your agent can switch companies without you having to go to a different agency.
When shopping rates, we recommend you include several independent insurance agents for maximum quote selection.Most can insure with lesser-known insurance companies which may provide better rates.
Shown below are independent agencies in Houston willing to provide price quotes.
- Leicht General Agency – 1160 Dairy Ashford St # 200 – Houston, TX 77079 – (281) 496-1100
- Investors Mutual Agency Inc – 1800 Augusta Dr # 340 – Houston, TX 77057 – (713) 781-8655
- Bestway Insurance – 8909 Knight Rd – Houston, TX 77054 – (713) 770-0222
- Agency Yu – 10610 Northwest Fwy – Houston, TX 77092 – (713) 263-1491
- Allen Larry Insurance – 9111 Katy Fwy – Houston, TX 77024 – (281) 477-6535
To view a complete directory of Houston insurance agents, view this link.
After getting positive feedback as well as a affordable price, it’s possible that you found a car insurance agent that meets your needs to properly service your auto insurance policy.
Keep your options open
Professional insurance agents are indespensible for some people, but you also have the option of buying direct online. Some specific companies like Allstate and State Farm that sell primarily through agents also allow you to buy direct on their websites, so keep that in mind and can also potentially find you lower rates.
If you’re uneasy about not getting advice from an agent when buying online, this really isn’t an issue. Online insurance companies that require consumers to choose their own coverages give you access to trained agents to walk you through the process. They also have 24/7 live help and a car insurance FAQ section so you can feel comfortable buying online.
If you’re trying to save the most money, the best approach to discovering if car insurance prices are lower online or from agents is to set aside time to compare rates from both. It’s not unheard of to actually get different prices when quoting both agents prices and online prices for the same auto insurance company. You won’t discover if the company’s rates are lower online or from an agent unless free rate quotes are compared using both methods.
Do online companies have better rates? Whether or not you’ll save is impossible to say because there are many factors that impact your final bill. It’s logical to say that purchasing direct online cuts out the middleman. But the reality is advertising budgets are huge so the lack of a commission may be a wash.
Even more information can be found at the Texas Department of Insurance website. Consumers can learn about insurance regulations, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and learn about specific coverages.
Other informative sites include this Car Insurance FAQ and this link where you can get more info about Houston auto insurance.
Best coverage at the best price
Drivers leave their current company for many reasons like policy non-renewal, not issuing a premium refund, poor customer service or even being labeled a high risk driver. Whatever your reason, finding a new auto insurance company is pretty easy and you might even save some money in the process.
When buying insurance coverage, make sure you don’t skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. In many cases, someone sacrificed collision coverage and learned later that the savings was not a smart move. Your strategy should be to buy the best coverage you can find at a price you can afford while not skimping on critical coverages.
