Comparing auto insurance companies in Princeton, West Virginia can be challenging because finding the best West Virginia auto insurance agent is not as easy as just making a phone call. It’s assumed you want a friendly agent, but you also need affordable coverage.
With companies like Farmers, Allstate, and independent agents all competing for business in Princeton, it can be hard to know which will give you the lowest rates and best service. To help decide, consumers can get online quotes to assemble a group of insurance agents to choose from.
Car Insurance from Princeton insurance agents
Licensed agents can point out coverage gaps and help in the event of a claim. One of the great benefits of price shopping on the web is you may find better rates and still have an agent to talk to. And supporting local agencies is definitely important in Princeton.
To find an agent, once you fill out this form (opens in new window), the quote information is emailed to participating agents in Princeton who will battle for your coverage. You never need to visit any agencies since price quotes are sent immediately to your email address. Now that’s easy! You’ll get the best rates AND a local agent.
Two types of car insurance agents
If you’re trying to find a reliable agent, there are a couple of types of agencies that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agents are categorized either independent or captive.
Independent Insurance Agents
These agents are not employed by any specific company so they can insure your vehicles amongst many companies and potentially find a lower price. To transfer your coverage to a different company, they simply move the coverage in-house without you having to go to a different agency. When comparison shopping, we recommend you include multiple independent agents to ensure the widest selection of prices.
Below are independent insurance agencies in Princeton that can give you competitive price quotes.
Sam Baker Agency – 127 Brick St – Princeton, WV 24740 – (304) 431-7283
Sam Baker Agency – 5-Star Food Mark – Princeton, WV 24740 – (304) 425-7283
Shumate Insurance – 2207 Stafford Dr – Princeton, WV 24740 – (304) 425-6768
Paula’s Insurance – 601 Thorn St – Princeton, WV 24740 – (304) 487-6373
Captive Agents
These agents can only place business with one company such as Allstate, Farmers Insurance, State Farm and AAA. They generally cannot give you multiple price quotes so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. Captive agents are well schooled on the products they sell which can be an advantage.
Below is a list of captive insurance agents in Princeton willing to provide comparison quotes.
Allstate Insurance – 200 S Walker St – Princeton, WV 24740 – (304) 425-1076
State Farm Insurance – 908 Harrison St – Princeton, WV 24740 – (304) 425-8069
For a full directory of Princeton captive insurance agencies, view this link.
Picking an insurance agent should depend on more than just the price. These questions are important to ask:
- Do the companies they represent have a solid financial rating?
- Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?
- What insurance company do they write the most business with?
- Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?
- Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
- Who is covered by the car insurance policy?
- Do they have advanced training designations such as CPCU, AAI, AIC, or CIC?
After receiving reasonable responses as well as a affordable price, you have narrowed it down to an insurance agent that will provide auto insurance coverage.
Do online insurance companies have lower rates?
Professional insurance agents are important, but you also have the option of buying direct from companies online. Some companies that are more known for using agents, additionally provide the ability to buy direct on their websites, and that can save time if you prefer not to work with an agent.
If you’re apprehensive about having to choose coverages yourself when shopping online, that is quite common when buying online the first time. Online companies that allow you to purchase coverage all have client service departments for getting questions answered. They also offer live help and 24/7 access that you can use if you have questions.
Do people save by buying online? That question is hard to answer since companies use quite a few components that influence how your policy is priced. Common sense would say that buying online saves money because there is no agent involvement. For most online online companies, however, there are very high advertising costs so this can offset any savings.
Cheaper insurance is a realistic goal
Lower-priced auto insurance can be found online as well as from independent agents in Princeton, so compare prices from both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some insurance providers don’t offer online price quotes and these small insurance companies work with independent agents.
While you’re price shopping online, it’s a bad idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. In too many instances, drivers have reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to discover later that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your focus should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.
Additional resources for West Virginia consumers
More information is located on the website for the West Virginia Insurance Commission through this link. West Virginia drivers can read state legal mandates and laws, read consumer alerts, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.
Additional helpful sites include this site for rates in West Virginia and this page on QuoteClickInsure.com.
