If you’re looking to buy auto insurance, picking a good Florida car insurance agent is harder than just picking up the phone. We’re guessing you not only want a great agent that can assess your needs, but also great rates as well.
With companies like American Family, Allstate, State Farm and independent agents all competing for business in Lakeland, consumers have a hard time knowing which one will give you the best service and rates. Fortunately, consumers can use online quotes in order to build a list of insurance agents and price estimates.
Comparing prices from Lakeland agents
Good agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help in the event of a claim. The biggest benefit of price shopping on the web is the fact that you can find the lowest rates and still choose a local agent. Buying from local insurance agencies is definitely important in Lakeland.
To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this quick form, your insurance coverage information is sent to agents in your area who will give you bids to get your business. There is no reason to even leave your home due to the fact that quote results will go straight to your inbox. It doesn’t get any easier! It’s the lowest rates and a licensed agent to work with.
Best insurance agency in Lakeland
When looking for a reputable insurance agent or broker, there are two different types of agents from which to choose. Lakeland agents can either be captive or independent (non-captive).
Independent Insurance Agents
Independent agencies are not employed by any specific company but rather can write business with many different companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If your agent finds better pricing, your agent can switch companies and that require little work on your part.
When searching for an agent, it’s recommended you include price quotes from multiple independent agents to get the best comparison.Most can insure with smaller regional carriers which can be an advantage.
Shown below is a short list of independent agents in Lakeland that can give you price quotes.
- Direct General Ins Agency – 4204 S Florida Ave # G – Lakeland, FL 33813 – (863) 644-2500
- Victory Insurance Of Lakeland – 305 W Memorial Blvd – Lakeland, FL 33815 – (863) 687-4343
- Sanders Agency Inc – 202 Lake Miriam Dr # E12 – Lakeland, FL 33813 – (863) 644-0146
- David R Bowden Agency Inc – 1102 S Florida Ave – Lakeland, FL 33803 – (863) 603-7838
- Tyler Insurance Inc – 1543 Lakeland Hills Blvd – Lakeland, FL 33805 – (863) 687-4095
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive agencies have only one company to place business with and some examples include Farmers Insurance or State Farm. These agents are not able to place coverage with different providers so it’s a take it or leave it situation. Captive agents receive extensive training in insurance sales which can be an advantage. Consumers often purchase coverage from captives partially due to the brand legacy and strong financial ratings.
Below is a short list of captive agencies in Lakeland that are able to give rate quotes.
- Allstate Insurance – 3119 Us Highway 98 N – Lakeland, FL 33805 – (863) 686-5507
- Liberty Mutual Insurance – 3666 Harden Blvd – Lakeland, FL 33803 – (863) 644-7798
- State Farm Insurance – 6609 N Socrum Loop Rd – Lakeland, FL 33809 – (863) 859-5617
For a full directory of captive insurance agents in Lakeland, visit this site.
Choosing a car insurance agent requires more thought than just a cheap price. These are valid questions to ask:
- If you are a high risk driver, do they have special markets for your coverage?
- Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
- Do they make recommendations based only on price?
- Is vehicle mileage a factor when determining depreciation for repairs?
- Does the agency have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau?
- Which insurance companies are they affiliated with?
- How much will you save each year by using a higher deductible?
- Are there any discounts that you might be missing?
After getting reasonable responses and a good coverage price, it’s possible that you found an auto insurance agent that meets your needs to adequately provide auto insurance.
Do online insurance companies have lower rates?
Licensed agents serve a purpose, but Florida drivers can also buy from online companies direct. Some car insurance companies, such as Farmers Insurance and State Farm, who sell through agents in Lakeland additionally provide the ability to get quotes and purchase online, so that should be considered.
If you’re anxious about not having an insurance agent’s advice, that should not be a issue. All companies all provide contact methods for customer questions. In addition, they usually offer online education and live help anytime you can access prior to buying.
If the best price is important to you, the most effective way to determine whether prices are lower online or from agents is to get price quotes for both. You could possible even receive different price quotes using an online quote and an agent quote from exactly the same company. But you can’t find out whether the best rates are online or from an agent without quoting coverages both ways.
Do online companies provide lower prices? It’s difficult to provide an answer because there are so many things that impact your final bill. It would make sense to think that purchasing direct online lowers rates due to not having any agent compensation. In reality, getting their brand in front of customers is expensive so the rates may be similar to buying from an agent.
To find out more about Florida auto insurance
More information can be read on the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation website located here. Florida consumers can read state legal mandates and laws, download brochures, and discover disciplinary actions.
Also read more on this link for Florida coverage information and this link where you can get more info about Lakeland coverage.
More quotes mean more savings
When shopping online for auto insurance, you should never reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many cases, consumers will sacrifice uninsured motorist or liability limits to discover at claim time that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your strategy should be to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.
Drivers switch companies for many reasons like poor customer service, extreme rates for teen drivers, questionable increases in premium or even policy non-renewal. Regardless of your reason, switching auto insurance companies is easier than you think.
