When finding an insurance agent in Oakland, California, we recommend you start your search by getting online comparison quotes rather than looking in the yellowpages. There is a good chance you want a professional licensed agent, but you also want the lowest possible price.
With State Farm, Allstate, Farmers and independent agents having local Oakland offices, consumers have a hard time knowing which will provide you with the best service and rates. Thankfully, consumers can use insurance quotes online to get a list of insurance agencies to choose from.
How to find Oakland insurance agents online
Licensed agents can help determine the best coverages and help you file claims. The best thing about comparing insurance prices online is you may find better rates but still work with a licensed agent. Buying from local insurance agencies is important particularly in Oakland.
After completing this short form, your insurance data is emailed to companies in Oakland who will battle to get your business. There is no need to leave your computer because quoted prices will be sent to your email. Now that’s easy! You’ll get the best rates and an insurance agent to talk to.
If you want to contact a specific insurance agent in Oakland, visit this link.
Selecting an insurance agent shouldn’t rely on just a cheap price. These are valid questions to ask:
- Can they provide you with a list of referrals?
- How long has their agency been in business in Oakland?
- Do you have coverage for a rental car if your vehicle is in the repair shop?
- Do they have advanced training designations such as CPCU, AAI, AIC, or CIC?
- Will their companies depreciate repairs to your car based on the mileage?
- Do they review policy coverages at every renewal?
- Does the agency support the community they serve?
Once you have reasonable responses to your questions and a low price estimate, most likely you have located a car insurance agent that is a good match to insure your vehicles.
What if I want to shop online?
Professional insurance agents are important to many people, but you also have the option of buying direct from companies that only sell online. Certain auto insurance companies like Allstate and State Farm who have local Oakland agents also allow consumers to get quotes and purchase online, and consumers should do that as an alternative to contacting agents.
If you’re apprehensive about not having professional advice when buying car insurance direct, this is a normal reaction for first-time shoppers. Insurance companies all provide contact methods for getting advice on proper coverages. Most companies also provide anytime access to help and a customer research section that can help answer basic questions.
Is auto insurance cheaper online? It’s hard to say exactly because of the fact that insurance companies use many factors that determine the price you pay. It’s logical to say that a consumer who buys direct saves the cost of an agent commission. For the majority of companies, however, marketing expenses are significant so rates may not be all that different from traditional agents.
If the best price is important to you, the most effective way to determine whether online companies or local agents have lower rates is to set aside time to compare rates from both. Lots of times people will get different prices from online quotes as compared to agent rates from exactly the same company. It’s difficult to tell which has the best rates unless you actually compare identical quotes from both ways.
Final considerations
People switch companies for a variety of reasons including an unsatisfactory settlement offer, questionable increases in premium, not issuing a premium refund and delays in responding to claim requests. It doesn’t matter what your reason, choosing a new insurance company is easier than you think.
When buying insurance coverage, never buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There have been many cases where consumers will sacrifice uninsured motorist or liability limits and discovered at claim time that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your aim should be to get the best coverage possible at the best price.
More information is available on the website for the California Department of Insurance found here. Consumers can learn about insurance regulations, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, and find out which companies have the most complaints.
Other informative sites include Auto Insurance 101 and see this list of insurance agents in Oakland.
