Comparing auto insurance rates in Eau Claire can be a lot of work since choosing the right Eau Claire insurance agency is more difficult than just picking up the phone. It’s likely that not only do you want a professional agent, but also the lowest possible price.
With State Farm, Allstate and Farmers Insurance having offices in Eau Claire, consumers have a hard time knowing which auto insurance agent will provide the best service and rates. To help decide, you can use online price quotes to assemble a group of agencies from which to choose.
Local Eau Claire auto insurance agents
Agents can answer important questions and help in the event of a claim. The best thing about price shopping on the web is you may find the best rates but still work with a licensed agent. Buying from local insurance agencies is definitely important in Eau Claire.
To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this form (opens in new window), the quote information is submitted to companies in Eau Claire who will give you bids for your coverage. There is no need to even leave your home due to the fact that quote results will go immediately to your email address. How’s that for easy! It’s the lowest rates and a licensed agent to work with.
The different types of insurance agents
When searching for a local agent, there are a couple of different types of agents to choose from. Eau Claire agents are either independent or captive.
Independent Agents
Independent insurance agents are not required to write business for one company but rather can write business with any number of different companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If your agent finds better pricing, an independent agent can move your coverage and you won’t have to switch agencies. When comparison shopping, it’s a good idea to include several independent insurance agents for the best price selection.
Below is a list of independent agencies in Eau Claire who may be able to give you price quote information.
Chumas Agency – 1812 Brackett Ave # 7 – Eau Claire, WI 54701 – (715) 835-3889
Daniel J Flynn Agency – 1903 Keith St # 2 – Eau Claire, WI 54701 – (715) 839-7346
Cayo Agency – 336 Water St – Eau Claire, WI 54703 – (715) 839-0019
Mc Cumber Insurance Marketing – 3102 Rudolph Rd – Eau Claire, WI 54701 – (715) 552-3798
Sentry Insurance Co – 3610 Oakwood Mall Dr # 101 – Eau Claire, WI 54701 – (715) 835-1611
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive agencies are contracted to one company and examples are AAA, Allstate, State Farm, Farmers Insurance or Liberty Mutual. These agents are unable to shop your coverage around so always compare other rates. Captives receive extensive training on their company’s products which helps them compete with independent agents.
Shown below is a list of captive agents in Eau Claire who can help you get rate quotes.
American Family Insurance – 3119 Golf Rd – Eau Claire, WI 54701 – (715) 834-6626
State Farm Insurance – 4714 Commerce Valley Rd – Eau Claire, WI 54701 – (715) 834-2904
Farmers Insurance Group – 3321 Golf Rd – Eau Claire, WI 54701 – (715) 834-8123
To view a complete directory of captive insurance agents in Eau Claire, please view this page.
Picking an insurance agency requires more thought than just the bottom line cost. Agents should be asked these questions:
- Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in Wisconsin?
- What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
- Did they already check your driving record and credit reports?
- Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?
- If you have an accident, are you able to get your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice?
- Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?
- Are claim adjusters local or do you have to take your car somewhere else?
After getting reasonable responses to your questions and an acceptable price quote, chances are good that you have found a car insurance agent that meets your needs to service your policy.
What if I want to compare online rates?
Auto insurance agents are important, but Wisconsin car insurance can also be bought from companies direct over the internet. Even companies who have local agents in Eau Claire also allow you to get a quote and buy online, so this should also be taken into consideration.
If you’re concerned about not getting proper coverage, that is normal but is not a big issue. Online companies that require consumers to choose their own coverages give you access to trained agents to answer your questions.
Is car insurance cheaper online? It’s difficult to say for sure due to the fact that there are multiple individual factors that impact your final bill. It would make sense to think that buying directly from the company cuts out the agent as a middleman. For the majority of companies, however, online and traditional media advertising are expensive so there may not be significant savings.
When trying to find the best rates, the only way to determine who has the best deal, local agents or online insurance companies, is making fair comparisons of each of their rates. You may actually get a different price when getting a price from both an agent and online from the same company.
Online resources for education
More information can be found on the website for the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance through this link. Visitors are able to view agent and company licensing information, view a list of available companies, read consumer alerts, and read industry bulletins.
The following articles may also be useful.
More quotes mean more savings
Drivers change insurance companies for many reasons like denial of a claim, policy cancellation, unfair underwriting practices and even not issuing a premium refund. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, switching auto insurance companies can be pretty painless.
As you prepare to switch companies, it’s not a good idea to skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. In many cases, an insured dropped physical damage coverage to discover at claim time they didn’t purchase enough coverage. Your focus should be to purchase plenty of coverage at the best price.
