When pricing car insurance in Waterbury, Connecticut, you have many choices and finding the best Connecticut car insurance agent is more difficult than just making a phone call. We’re guessing you not only want a great agent that can assess your needs, but you also want to find great rates as well.
With companies like American Family, Allstate, State Farm and independent agents all competing for your business, it’s difficult to determine which will have the best rates, service and coverage. Thankfully, consumers can use online quoting to build a list of agents to choose from.
Local Waterbury car insurance agents
Insurance agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and give you peace of mind. The best thing about comparing rates online is the fact that you can find better rates and still choose a local agent. Supporting local agencies is especially important in Waterbury.
After completing this quick form, your insurance data is sent to participating agents in Waterbury who will give you bids for your business. You don’t have to drive around since price quotes are sent to your email. Now that’s easy!
Waterbury insurance agents come in two flavors
When looking for an insurance agent, there are two types of agencies from which to choose. Agencies in Waterbury are classified as either independent or captive. Both types can write coverage properly, but it’s worth mentioning the differences because it can influence the selection process.
Independent Agents
These agents are not required to write business for one company but rather can write business with lots of companies depending on which coverage is best. If you are not satisfied with one company, the business is moved internally and you don’t have to find a new agent. When comparison shopping, we recommend you get quotes from at a minimum one independent agency for the best price selection. Most have the option of insuring with smaller regional carriers which may provide better rates.
Shown below are independent agencies in Waterbury willing to provide comparison quotes.
- O’Brien Russo Quint Agency Inc – 27 Holmes Ave – Waterbury, CT 06710 – (203) 597-9313
- Boiano Insurance – 349 Homestead Ave – Waterbury, CT 06705 – (203) 575-1224
- Payne Agency Of New England – 473 Piedmont St – Waterbury, CT 06706 – (203) 756-0751
- Metropolitan Insurance – 625 Wolcott St # 8 – Waterbury, CT 06705 – (203) 757-7062
- Montagno Agency – 344 Robbins St – Waterbury, CT 06708 – (203) 574-5211
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive agents work for only one company and some examples include Allstate, State Farm and Farmers Insurance. They generally cannot shop your coverage around so always compare other rates. These agents are trained well on their company’s products which can be an advantage. Consumers frequently purchase coverage from captives partially due to loyalty to the company and solid financial strength.
Listed below is a short list of captive agencies in Waterbury who can help you get price quotes.
- State Farm Insurance – 551 Wolcott St # 2 – Waterbury, CT 06705 – (203) 757-6300
- Allstate Insurance – 581 Wolcott St – Waterbury, CT 06705 – (203) 757-9601
To view a full list of captive agents in Waterbury, please go to this site.
Picking an insurance agent should depend on more than just the bottom line cost. These are valid questions to ask:
- Do they make recommendations based only on price?
- How long have they worked with personal auto insurance coverage?
- What insurance companies do they work with?
- What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
- Are glass claims handled on-site or do you have to take your vehicle to a repair shop?
After receiving satisfactory answers to these questions and locked in a price quote, you have narrowed it down to an auto insurance agent that can provide car insurance coverage.
When might I need an agent?
When choosing the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a single plan that fits everyone. Each situation is unique.
These are some specific questions might help in determining if your insurance needs would benefit from an agent’s advice.
- Are my tools covered if they get stolen from my vehicle?
- Does my insurance cover my expensive audio equipment?
- Am I covered when driving someone else’s vehicle?
- Will I lose any money if I cancel my policy before it expires?
- Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
- Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver in Waterbury?
- Do I need roadside assistance coverage?
- Can I pay claims out-of-pocket if I buy high deductibles?
If you’re not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent.
Does buying direct online cost less?
Licensed agents can be invaluable at times, but Connecticut drivers can also buy from companies direct over the internet. Certain auto insurance companies, such as Farmers Insurance and State Farm, who sell through agents in Waterbury also give you the ability to get quotes and purchase online, so this should also be taken into consideration if you are the do-it-yourself type.
If you’re concerned about not having someone to ask questions when shopping online, that is normal but is not a big issue. Auto insurance companies provide options for getting the best coverage. They also make available live help and 24/7 access that you can use before buying.
The best way to determine if prices are better online or from an agent is getting rates for as many of both types of providers as possible. It’s even possible to receive different pricing from the same insurance company when they get quotes from both. You won’t know where you can get the lowest rates unless you actually compare identical quotes from both ways.
Will you save money buying auto insurance online? It’s hard to say exactly because there are many factors which can raise or lower premium rates. It’s a logical assumption that shopping direct cuts out the agent as a middleman. For most companies selling online, however, it’s expensive to advertise so rates may not be all that different from traditional agents.
Better coverage you can count on
When buying insurance coverage, do not reduce needed coverages to save money. In many cases, drivers have reduced physical damage coverage and learned later they didn’t purchase enough coverage. Your focus should be to get the best coverage possible at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.
People leave their current company for a variety of reasons including an unsatisfactory settlement offer, policy non-renewal, questionable increases in premium or lack of trust in their agent. It doesn’t matter what your reason, switching companies is less work than it seems.
Additional information is located on the Connecticut Insurance Department website found here. Visitors are able to read consumer alerts, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, read state legal mandates and laws, and find out which companies have the most complaints.
