If you’re trying to find a good insurance agent in Tacoma, Washington, you can always do an initial search on the internet in order to save time. There is a good chance you not only want a decent agent, but also the lowest possible price.
With companies like Allstate, Farmers and State Farm as well as independent agents all competing for business in Tacoma, it can be hard to know which one will provide the lowest rates and best service. To begin, you can use online price quotes to assemble a group of insurance agents and price estimates.
Comparing prices from Tacoma agents
Educated insurance agents can help determine the best coverages and help file insurance claims. One of the best bonuses of comparing insurance prices online is you may find better rates and still choose a local agent. Supporting local businesses is definitely important in Tacoma.
Upon completion of this short form, your insurance coverage information is immediately sent to local insurance agents who will give you bids for your insurance coverage. You won’t need to even leave your home as quotes are delivered to the email address you provide. How cool is that?! You can find the lowest rates AND a local agent.
What types of insurance agencies are in Tacoma?
If you’re trying to find a good insurance agency, you need to know there are two types of insurance agents to choose from. Insurance agencies in Tacoma are either independent or captive.
Independent Agents
Independent agents are not locked into one company so they have the ability to put coverage with any number of different companies depending on which coverage is best. To move your coverage to a new company, they simply move the coverage in-house and you won’t have to switch agencies.
When comparison shopping, it’s recommended you get quotes from several independent insurance agents to ensure the widest selection of prices.
The following is a short list of independent insurance agents in Tacoma willing to provide competitive price quotes.
Insurance Pro Inc – 766 S 38th St – Tacoma, WA 98418 – (253) 471-8922
Pacific Northwest Insurance – 12525 Bridgeport Way SW # C1 – Tacoma, WA 98499 – (253) 752-5187
Agency Insurance – 5825 Tacoma Mall Blvd # 101 – Tacoma, WA 98409 – (253) 925-2255
Matt Hall Agency – – Tacoma, WA 98424 – (253) 896-4255
Ray Larson Agency – 535 Dock St # 113 – Tacoma, WA 98402 – (253) 383-2777
Captive Insurance Agents
This type of agents write business for a single company and some examples include American Family, State Farm and Allstate. Captives cannot shop your coverage around so they have no alternatives for high prices. Captive agents are very knowledgeable in insurance sales which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums.
The following is a list of captive agents in Tacoma willing to provide rate quotes.
Allstate Insurance – 6450 Tacoma Mall Blvd – Tacoma, WA 98409 – (253) 475-4410
Farmers Insurance Group – 2112 N 30th St – Tacoma, WA 98403 – (253) 572-1888
State Farm Insurance – 2602 N Proctor St # 202 – Tacoma, WA 98407 – (253) 756-0270
For a full directory of Tacoma captive insurance agencies, click here to link.
Selecting a car insurance agent should depend on more than just the price. Some important questions to ask are:
- How many years of experience in personal lines insurance coverages do they have?
- Do they make recommendations based only on price?
- How much can you save by raising your physical damage deductibles?
- If you are a high risk driver, do they have special markets for your coverage?
- Are claims handled at the agent’s location?
- Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
After receiving good answers to your questions and a good coverage price, you have narrowed it down to a car insurance agent that is a good match to insure your vehicles.
Does buying direct online save money because there is no agent?
Local insurance agents are important to many people, but Washington car insurance can also be bought direct over the internet. Some car insurance companies, such as Farmers Insurance and State Farm, who have local Tacoma agents also permit you to buy direct on their websites, so this should also be taken into consideration if you are the do-it-yourself type.
If you’re worried about not having an insurance agent’s advice, that is quite common when buying online the first time. Online companies that require consumers to choose their own coverages provide customer service for getting advice on proper coverages. In addition, they usually offer live help and 24/7 access to help you make a buying decision.
Is it cheaper to buy online? That question is hard to answer due to the large number of individual components that can increase policy rates. It’s often assumed that a customer who purchases direcly from an online company prevents the agent from taking a cut. But that assumption is generally incorrect because there are very high advertising costs and that can quickly cost more than paying an agent.
More resources for learning
Additional car insurance information can be found on the website for the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner located here. Washington consumers can find out industry alerts, find disaster information, learn about insurance regulations, and read consumer alerts.
And the best car insurance company is…
Low-cost car insurance is definitely available on the web in addition to many Tacoma insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some companies do not provide online quoting and these smaller companies work with independent agents.
As you shop your coverage around, don’t be tempted to skimp on coverage in order to save money. There have been many cases where an insured dropped comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to discover later that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your aim should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.
