If you’re looking for a licensed insurance agent in Blacksburg, we recommend you start your research using online quotes to save yourself time. Chances are you’re wanting a decent agent, but also affordable coverage.
With independent agents, Allstate and State Farm having local Blacksburg offices, it’s difficult to determine which one will give you the lowest rates and best service. Thankfully, it’s easy to use online quotes to get a list of insurance agencies and price estimates.
Quote online but still have a local agent
Good agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help file insurance claims. One of the great benefits of price shopping on the web is you can get better rates but still work with a licensed agent. And supporting local businesses is especially important in Blacksburg.
By using this form (opens in new window), your information is sent to local insurance agents who will return price quotes for your insurance coverage. You never need to leave your house since price quotes are sent immediately to your email address. It doesn’t get any easier! You’ll get the best rates AND a local agent.
If you wish to view licensed agents in Blacksburg, please click here.
Picking a car insurance agent shouldn’t rely on just the bottom line cost. These questions are important to ask:
- Do they receive special compensation for putting your coverage with one company over another?
- How are claims handled?
- Do clients work directly with the agent or are most inquiries handled by a CSR?
- Are you getting all the discounts the company offers?
- Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?
- Are they able to influence company decisions when a claim is filed?
- If your car is totalled, how to they determine the replacement cost?
Upon receiving positive feedback to these questions as well as a affordable price, you’ve probably found an insurance agent that will properly service your car insurance policy.
Alternatives to buying locally
Professional insurance agents are important, but you also have the option of buying Virginia car insurance direct over the internet. Some specific companies, such as State Farm, Allstate and Farmers, who employ agents additionally provide the ability to buy direct on their websites, and online price comparisons are easy if you prefer to buy online.
If you’re worried about not having an agent to talk to when buying online, don’t be too concerned. All companies that allow you to purchase coverage provide options for getting advice on proper coverages.
The best way to determine if the cheapest policy comes from an agent or online is to get free quotes from both and compare them. It’s not unheard of to actually get different prices when using both online and agent quotes for the exact same company. You won’t know if the company’s rates are lower online or from an agent unless free rate quotes are compared both ways.
Is auto insurance cheaper online? Whether or not you’ll save is impossible to say because of the number of factors that are calculated into your premium. It’s often assumed that buying car insurance online cuts out the agent as a middleman. In many cases, there are very high advertising costs so rates may not be all that different from traditional agents.
The best insurance company isn’t always the cheapest
Consumers leave their current company for a number of reasons such as delays in responding to claim requests, policy cancellation, an unsatisfactory settlement offer and lack of trust in their agent. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, switching car insurance companies can be less work than you think.
When trying to cut insurance costs, make sure you don’t buy poor coverage just to save money. There have been many situations where someone dropped comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that it was a big mistake. The ultimate goal is to buy enough coverage at the best price while still protecting your assets.
Much more information about car insurance in Virginia can be found on the Virginia Bureau of Insurance website. Click here for link. Virginia drivers can read consumer alerts, read state legal mandates and laws, view a list of available companies, and read industry bulletins.
