When pricing auto insurance in Portland, Oregon, picking a good Oregon insurance agent is harder than just making a phone call. The chances are good you not only want a professional agent, but you also want to find the best rates possible.
With Allstate, Farmers and State Farm as well as independent agents all competing for business in Portland, it’s hard to tell which one will have the best rates, service and coverage. To help decide, consumers can use online quoting to get a list of insurance agents and price estimates.
Quote online, buy local
Professional agents can point out coverage gaps and help submit paperwork. One of the best bonuses of comparing insurance prices online is the fact that you can find the lowest rates and still have an agent to talk to. Supporting local businesses is important particularly in Portland.
By using this quick form, the quote information is transmitted to participating agents in Portland who will battle for your coverage. You don’t have to leave your house since price quotes are sent immediately to your email address. How’s that for easy!
What type of Portland car insurance agent is right for you?
When finding a reliable agent, there are a couple of different agency structures that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Portland agents are categorized either captive or independent (non-captive). Both types can write coverage properly, but it’s good to learn the difference between them because it can impact the type of agent you choose
Independent Agencies or Brokers
Independent agents do not work for one specific company but rather can write business amongst many companies and potentially find a lower price. To transfer your coverage to a different company, an independent agent can move your coverage and that require little work on your part.
When shopping rates, we recommend you get quotes from at a minimum one independent agency for the best price selection. They often place coverage with smaller companies who may have lower rates.
Listed below is a list of independent agents in Portland willing to provide price quotes.
- Ed Malone Agency – 8005 SW Barbur Blvd – Portland, OR 97219 – (503) 244-7527
- Bieker Agency – 9828 E Burnside St # 205 – Portland, OR 97216 – (503) 252-1972
- Carmen Curtz Agency – 7223 SW Macadam Ave – Portland, OR 97219 – (503) 977-7888
- Goldenkey Insurance – 5821 SE 82nd Ave – Portland, OR 97266 – (503) 262-8600
- P R and L Insurance – 14150 SE Stark St – Portland, OR 97233 – (503) 255-3299
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive agencies are contracted to one company and examples are AAA, Allstate, State Farm, Farmers Insurance or Liberty Mutual. Captives cannot provide prices from multiple companies so they have no alternatives for high prices. They are usually quite knowledgeable on their products and sales techniques and that can be a competitive advantage. Consumers frequently choose to use a captive agent mostly because of the prominence of the brand and solid financial strength.
Shown below are captive agencies in Portland who can help you get comparison quotes.
- Farmers Insurance Group – 4926 SE Woodstock Blvd – Portland, OR 97206 – (503) 775-6700
- American Family Insurance – 11705 NE Glisan St – Portland, OR 97220 – (503) 252-5686
- State Farm Insurance – 10355 NE Halsey St # B2 – Portland, OR 97220 – (503) 252-2224
- Allstate Insurance – 215 SE 102nd Ave # 102 – Portland, OR 97216 – (503) 256-3310
For a full directory of auto insurance agents in Portland, visit this site.
Deciding on a car insurance agent shouldn’t rely on just the bottom line cost. Some important questions to ask are:
- Are they properly licensed to sell insurance in Oregon?
- Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
- Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?
- Do they carry Errors and Omissions coverage?
- Can they give you a list of client referrals?
- Is the agency involved in supporting local community causes?
Upon getting good answers to any questions you have as well as a affordable price, you may have just found an auto insurance agent that will insure your vehicles.
Your personal situation dictates your coverage
When buying coverage, there isn’t really a one size fits all plan. Every insured’s situation is different.
For instance, these questions can aid in determining if your situation would benefit from an agent’s advice.
- Do I have coverage if my license is suspended?
- Does my personal policy cover me when driving my company car?
- Should I buy more coverage than the required Oregon minimum liability coverage?
- Why am I required to buy high-risk coverage?
- Is there coverage for injuries to my pets?
- Is business property covered if stolen from my car?
- Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
- Do I need PIP (personal injury protection) coverage in Oregon?
- Should I put collision coverage on all my vehicles?
If you’re not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, then you may want to think about talking to an agent.
The online company option
Insurance agents are important to many people, but you can also buy Oregon car insurance direct over the internet. Some car insurance companies who sell through the agent channel also let you get quotes and purchase online, and consumers should do that.
If you’re concerned about not having an agent to talk to, that shouldn’t be an issue. Auto insurance companies have customer service departments to help you decide which coverages are appropriate.
If you have the time, the only way to find out if prices are better online or from an agent is to get rates from both and compare them. Lots of times people will get different prices from exactly the same company when using both online and agent quotes.
Is car insurance cheaper online? Many people think so, but it’s hard to say for sure because there are a lot of things that impact your premium. It’s a common assumption that buying online saves money because there is no commission. But in most cases, the cost of constant advertising is expensive so the rates may be similar to buying from an agent.
More quotes mean more savings
When trying to cut insurance costs, make sure you don’t buy less coverage just to save a little money. There have been many cases where someone dropped physical damage coverage only to find out that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your goal should be to find the BEST coverage for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.
Insureds leave their current company for any number of reasons including high prices, high rates after DUI convictions, denial of a claim and even an unsatisfactory settlement offer. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, finding a new auto insurance company is actually quite simple.
Much more information about auto insurance in Oregon is located on the Oregon Insurance Division website located here. Oregon drivers can learn about specific coverages, file complaints about a company, read consumer alerts, and discover disciplinary actions.
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