If you’re trying to find a good Waukegan agent, we recommend you do the preliminary legwork for an agent online instead of calling around. Consumers need an excellent agent, and also want to find cheap rates.
Online insurance companies like Allstate, Progressive and Geico promote their brand names with TV and radio ads and consumers find it hard to not get sucked in by the cute commercials and take the time to shop coverage around.
Why do I need an agent?
Insurance agents can point out coverage gaps and help submit paperwork. One of the best bonuses of comparing insurance prices online is you may find better rates and still have an agent to talk to.
By using this form (opens in new window), your coverage information is transmitted to companies in Waukegan who will give you bids to get your business. You won’t need to leave your computer due to the fact that quote results will go to the email address you provide. How cool is that?!
Selecting an auto insurance agent should depend on more than just a low price. Some important questions to ask are:
- Does the company allow you to choose your own collision repair facility?
- How many years of experience in personal lines insurance coverages do they have?
- Does the agency have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau?
- Do clients work directly with the agent or are most inquiries handled by a CSR?
- What insurance companies do they work with?
- Will vehicle repairs be made with aftermarket parts or OEM replacement parts?
Types of insurance agents
When searching for an insurance agent, there are two different types of agents that you can select. Agents are either captive or independent. Both write coverage properly, but it’s important to know the difference between them because it can impact buying decisions.
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive agencies write business for a single company and some examples include Allstate, State Farm and Farmers Insurance. These agents are not able to give you multiple price quotes so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. These agents are very knowledgeable in insurance sales which helps them compete with independent agents. Some people will only buy insurance from these agents partially due to the prominence of the brand and the convenience of having a single billing for all their coverages.
Below are Waukegan captive agencies willing to provide price quotes.
- American Family Insurance – 1401 Golf Rd – Waukegan, IL 60087 – (847) 360-1021
- State Farm Insurance – 318 S Green Bay Rd – Waukegan, IL 60085 – (847) 244-0400
- Farmers Insurance Group – 1780 Sunset Ave – Waukegan, IL 60087 – (847) 249-4610
- Allstate Insurance – 944 N Green Bay Rd – Waukegan, IL 60085 – (847) 263-9600
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
These agents do not work for one specific company but rather can write business with multiple insurance companies depending on which coverage is best. If your agent finds better pricing, the business is moved internally and you won’t have to switch agencies.
When comparing rates, it’s a good idea to include price quotes from multiple independent agents to get the best comparison.Most can insure with smaller regional carriers who may have lower rates.
The following are Waukegan independent agencies willing to provide rate quotes.
- Nacional America Insurance – 2500 Grand Ave – Waukegan, IL 60085 – (847) 263-1200
- Eagle Insurance – – Waukegan, IL 60085 – (847) 336-1111
For a full directory of licensed insurance agents in Waukegan, please go to this site.
After receiving answers to your satisfaction to all your questions and locked in a price quote, you have narrowed it down to an auto insurance agent that will properly service your auto insurance policy.
Include online companies when price shopping
Insurance agents are a valuable resource, but you can also buy Illinois car insurance direct over the internet. Even companies like State Farm and Allstate who sell through the agent channel also give you the option to get quotes and purchase online, and online price comparisons are easy to possibly find a better rate.
If you’re concerned about whether or not you’ll have guidance, that shouldn’t be an issue. Online companies that require consumers to choose their own coverages provide toll-free numbers for getting advice on proper coverages. You can also use extensive coverage information and 24/7 assistance that you can use before buying.
Can online rates save money? A lot of shoppers won’t buy anywhere else, but it’s impossible to say due to the large number of individual components that influence how your policy is priced. It’s often assumed that a customer who purchases direcly from an online company saves money because there is no agent involvement. But that assumption is generally incorrect because marketing their products costs a lot of money and that can quickly cost more than paying an agent.
Summing up your auto insurance search
The cheapest auto insurance is attainable both online and also from your neighborhood Waukegan agents, and you need to price shop both so you have a total pricing picture. Some insurance providers may not provide the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.
People who switch companies do it for any number of reasons including delays in responding to claim requests, policy cancellation, high rates after DUI convictions or not issuing a premium refund. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch choosing a new company can be less work than you think.
For more information
Even more information is available at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Illinois consumers can learn about insurance regulations, read industry bulletins, and read consumer alerts.
The articles below may also help you learn more about auto insurance in Waukegan
