When pricing car insurance in Yakima, WA, there are a lot of options and choosing the right Yakima car insurance agent is not as easy as just making a phone call. Consumers require a good professional insurance agent, and also want to find affordable rates.
Lots of auto insurance agents contend for your insurance dollar, so it can be very hard to choose a car insurance agent to discover the definitive lowest price
Save time by quoting online
Licensed agents can answer important questions and give you peace of mind. One of the great benefits of comparing insurance prices online is you can get the lowest rates and still have an agent to talk to.
To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this form (opens in new window), the coverage information is submitted to insurance agents in Yakima who will compete for your business. You won’t need to even leave your home since price quotes are sent directly to your email. Now that’s easy!
Selecting an insurance agency requires more thought than just the bottom line cost. Here are some questions to ask:
- Do they feel the quoted coverages are adequate?
- How much can you save by raising your physical damage deductibles?
- Do the companies they represent have a solid financial rating?
- Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in Washington?
- If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?
- What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?
- Is working in the agency their full-time job?
Choose the right insurance agent
When looking for a good Yakima insurance agent, there are two types of agencies to choose from. Yakima agents are either independent (non-captive) or captive. While both can write coverage properly, but it’s good to learn the differences since it may influence the type of agent you choose
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive agents write business for a single company and some examples include Farmers Insurance or State Farm. These agents are unable to shop your coverage around so they have no alternatives for high prices. Captive agents are very knowledgeable in insurance sales which can be an advantage.
Below is a short list of captive insurance agencies in Yakima that are able to give price quotes.
Allstate Insurance – 5110 Tieton Dr # 326 – Yakima, WA 98908 – (509) 966-3515
Farmers Insurance Group – 1112 W Lincoln Ave # B – Yakima, WA 98902 – (509) 452-7200
Liberty Mutual Insurance – 3902 Creekside Loop # 130 – Yakima, WA 98902 – (509) 966-6400
State Farm Insurance – 123 E Yakima Ave – Yakima, WA 98901 – (509) 248-7765
Independent Agents
Independent insurance agents are not locked into one company so they can insure your vehicles with any number of different companies and potentially find a lower price. To move your coverage to a new company, your agent can switch companies and you don’t have to find a new agent. When searching for an agent, it’s recommended you contact multiple independent agents for the best price selection.
The following is a list of independent agents in Yakima who can help you get rate quotes.
George West Agency – 1313 Browne Ave # 212 – Yakima, WA 98902 – (509) 453-1946
Terril Lewis and Wilke Insurance – 112 S 4th St – Yakima, WA 98901 – (509) 248-3515
Mel Moore Agency – 728 Summitview Ave – Yakima, WA 98902 – (509) 457-1670
Ron Mc Kinney Insurance – 2512 W Nob Hill Blvd # A – Yakima, WA 98902 – (509) 965-6833
For a complete listing of car insurance agents in Yakima, please go to this site.
Once you have satisfactory answers and locked in a price quote, it’s possible that you found an insurance agency that is a good match to service your policy.
But what about Geico and Esurance?
Licensed agents serve a purpose, but Washington drivers can also buy direct from companies that only sell online. A few companies like Allstate and State Farm who sell through the agent channel also allow consumers to buy direct on their websites, and online price comparisons are easy if you prefer not to work with an agent.
If you’re anxious about not having an agent to talk to, this is normal but is quickly overcome. Insurance companies that allow you to purchase coverage provide toll-free numbers to walk you through the process.
Do online companies have better rates? That is a tough question to answer since there are so many components that are calculated into your premium. It’s logical to say that a customer who purchases direcly from an online company saves the cost of an agent commission. For the majority of companies, however, there are high advertising and marketing costs so the lack of a commission may be a wash.
If you’re not set on any one company, the best way to find out if the best rates are online or from local agents is to compare price quotes from both. You may actually get a different price for the same auto insurance company if you compare an online quote to agent rates. It’s difficult to tell where you can get the lowest rates without quoting identical coverages both ways.
Compare but don’t skimp
While you’re price shopping online, do not skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. In many cases, an insured cut uninsured motorist or liability limits to discover at claim time that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your aim should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.
Insureds change insurance companies for any number of reasons including delays in paying claims, high rates after DUI convictions, denial of a claim or policy cancellation. It doesn’t matter what your reason, choosing a new company is easier than you think.
More detailed Washington car insurance information is available at the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner website. Washington consumers can find out industry alerts, view a list of available companies, and get help finding coverage.
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