Finding good car insurance in Brookline can be challenging since there are a lot of options and picking a good Massachusetts insurance agent is not as easy as just driving to the closest agent’s office. Consumers require a competent insurance agent, and also the best possible rates.
Lots of insurance agencies contend for your business, and it can be difficult to compare rates and get the best coverage at the best rate
How to compare Brookline car insurance rates
Insurance agents can help determine the best coverages and help in the event of a claim. The biggest benefit of getting online price quotes is the fact that you can find better rates and still choose a local agent.
After filling out this form (opens in new window), your coverage information is emailed to local insurance agents in Brookline who will compete for your coverage. You never need to drive around since price quotes are sent to your email. It doesn’t get any easier! Get lower rates AND a local agent.
Picking a car insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just a low price. Some important questions to ask are:
- Do they feel the quoted coverages are adequate?
- Does the agency have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau?
- Is assistance available after office hours?
- If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?
- How often do they review policy coverages?
- Can glass repairs be made at your home?
- Can they provide you with a list of referrals?
- Will your rates increase after a single accident?
Auto insurance agents in Brookline come in two varieties
If you’re trying to find a good insurance agency, you need to know there are two types of insurance agents to choose from. Agencies in Brookline are categorized either independent (non-captive) or captive.
Agency Captives
These agents are contracted to one company such as Allstate, State Farm and Farmers Insurance. These agents are unable to give you multiple price quotes so keep that in mind. These agents are well schooled in insurance sales which helps them compete with independent agents.
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
These agents are not locked into one company but rather can write business with multiple insurance companies and potentially find a lower price. If you are not satisfied with one company, your agent can switch companies without you having to go to a different agency.
When comparing rates, it’s a good idea to get quotes from at least one independent agent for the best price selection.
The following is a list of independent agents in Brookline that are able to give rate quotes.
Albert Sidd Insurance – 1330 Beacon St # 346 – Brookline, MA 02446 – (617) 232-9100
Village Insurance – 37 Harvard St – Brookline, MA 02445 – (617) 734-1776
To view a full list of licensed insurance agents in Brookline, go to this page.
Once you have received reasonable responses to any questions you have and a low price estimate, chances are good that you have found an auto insurance agent that will properly service your car insurance policy.
Online car insurance providers
Professional insurance agents are important, but you also have the option of buying Massachusetts car insurance direct online. Some specific companies like Allstate and State Farm who have local Brookline agents additionally provide the ability to quote and buy online, so this should also be taken into consideration if you don’t want to take the time to contact agents.
If you’re worried about selecting your own policy coverages when buying car insurance direct, don’t sweat it. All companies that require consumers to choose their own coverages provide options to answer your questions. Additionally, most companies also offer help pages and frequently asked questions you can access prior to buying.
Is it cheaper to buy car insurance online? Whether or not you’ll save is impossible to say since there are so many factors that influence your rates. It’s a common assumption that purchasing direct online reduces premiums because there is no agent. But that assumption is generally incorrect because marketing expenses are significant and that can cost more than having to pay agents.
The best approach to find out who has the best rates, online companies or local insurance agents, is to make apples-to-apples comparisons of both. It’s even possible to receive different pricing when getting a price from both an agent and online for the same auto insurance company. It’s difficult to tell where the best price is unless you actually compare identical quotes both ways.
Learn more about Massachusetts car insurance
Additional detailed information can be found at the Massachusetts Division of Insurance website. Consumers can discover disciplinary actions, find a variety of consumer forms, and report car insurance fraud.
The following information may also be useful.
Better coverage you can count on
As you restructure your insurance plan, it’s not a good idea to skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. In many cases, an insured dropped full coverage and found out when filing a claim they didn’t purchase enough coverage. The proper strategy is to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate while still protecting your assets.
People switch companies for many reasons like an unsatisfactory settlement offer, not issuing a premium refund, extreme rates for teen drivers and denial of a claim. No matter why you want to switch, finding a new company can be pretty painless.
