To find a good Chapel Hill agent, we recommend you start your search by comparing prices online rather than looking in the yellowpages. The chances are good that not only do you want a professional agent, but you also want to find the lowest possible price.
With insurance companies like Allstate, Farmers, State Farm and many independent agents having offices in Chapel Hill, it can be hard to know which auto insurance agent will have the lowest rates and best service. To begin, consumers can use online quoting to build a list of agencies from which to choose.
Quote online, buy local
Insurance agents can answer important questions and help in the event of a claim. One of the great benefits of comparing rates online is you can get the best rates and still have an agent to talk to. Supporting local agencies is important particularly in Chapel Hill.
For easy comparison, once you complete this form (opens in new window), the coverage information is submitted to insurance agents in Chapel Hill who will return price quotes for your business. You don’t have to even leave your home as quotes are delivered directly to your email. How cool is that?!
The difference between Chapel Hill insurance agencies
When looking for a reputable insurance agent or broker, you need to know there are two different types of agents that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Insurance agencies in Chapel Hill are classified as either captive or independent (non-captive). While both can properly insure your vehicles, but it’s worth learning the difference between them since it may influence the type of agent you choose
Independent Insurance Agents
Independent agents are not employed by any specific company so they have the ability to put coverage with many different companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If you are not satisfied with one company, the business is moved internally without you having to go to a different agency. When comparison shopping, it’s recommended you get quotes from multiple independent agents to ensure the widest selection of prices.
The following is a list of independent insurance agents in Chapel Hill that may be able to provide comparison quotes.
Liberty Mutual Insurance – 300 Meadowmont Village Cir – Chapel Hill, NC 27517 – (919) 932-9552
Ted B Seagroves Agency – 1506 E Franklin St # 100 – Chapel Hill, NC 27514 – (919) 942-8733
Mark Vitali Agency – 201 S Estes Dr – Chapel Hill, NC 27514 – (919) 942-6863
Liberty Mutual Insurance – 300 Meadowmont Village Cir 316 – Chapel Hill, NC 27517 – (919) 932-9552
W Don Cox Agency – 73 S Elliott Rd – Chapel Hill, NC 27514 – (919) 942-3366
Captive Agents
Captive agencies are contracted to one company like American Family, Liberty Mutual and AAA. They are unable to provide prices from multiple companies so they have to upsell other benefits. They are well schooled on their company’s products which helps them compete with independent agents.
The following is a short list of captive insurance agents in Chapel Hill that can give you rate quotes.
Liberty Mutual Insurance – 300 Meadowmont Village Cir 316 – Chapel Hill, NC 27517 – (919) 932-9552
State Farm Insurance – 6118 Farrington Rd # I – Chapel Hill, NC 27517 – (919) 489-4846
Allstate Insurance Co – 117 Timberhill Pl – Chapel Hill, NC 27514 – (919) 929-1000
Farm Bureau Insurance – 141 Providence Rd # 140 – Chapel Hill, NC 27514 – (919) 403-8987
To view a complete directory of Chapel Hill captive insurance agencies, please click here.
Picking an insurance agency should depend on more than just a low price. Agents should be asked these questions:
- What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?
- Are they full-time agents?
- Is the agency involved in supporting local community causes?
- How many years of experience in personal lines insurance coverages do they have?
- Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
- Do the companies they represent have a solid financial rating?
Once you have received good answers to your questions and an affordable coverage quote, it’s possible that you found an insurance agent that meets your needs to provide auto insurance coverage.
Keep your options open
Car insurance agents are important, but North Carolina car insurance can also be bought direct from companies online. Certain auto insurance companies, such as State Farm, Allstate and Farmers, who have local Chapel Hill agents additionally provide the ability to buy a policy online, and that can save time if you want to do it yourself.
If you’re apprehensive about not having an agent to talk to when buying car insurance direct, this is a normal reaction for first-time shoppers. Online insurance companies provide access to licensed agents for getting the best coverage. You may also access 24/7 live help and a car insurance FAQ section to help with the buying process.
Is online auto insurance cheaper? That is a tough question to answer since there may be dozens of rate factors that determine your policy premium. Common sense would say that buying online saves money because there is no commission. For most online online companies, however, getting their brand in front of customers is expensive so the rates may be similar to buying from an agent.
If you have the time, the only way to find out where you can get the lowest rate, either online or from agents, is to get free quotes from both and compare them. Lots of times people will get different prices for the identical company depending on where you get the price quote from.
A little work can save a LOT of money
As you restructure your insurance plan, do not reduce needed coverages to save money. In many instances, consumers will sacrifice liability limits or collision coverage only to discover later that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your focus should be to get the best coverage possible at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.
Consumers change insurance companies for a variety of reasons including questionable increases in premium, policy cancellation, denial of a claim and even delays in responding to claim requests. Whatever your reason, finding a new company is pretty easy and you might even save some money in the process.
For more information
Additional auto insurance information can be read on the website for the North Carolina Department of Insurance located here. Consumers can learn about specific coverages, find out industry alerts, and download brochures.
