To find a licensed insurance agent in Santa Maria, you can do the preliminary legwork online instead of making phone calls. For the sake of this article, we’ll assume you want a good agent, but also affordable coverage.
With insurance companies like Allstate, Farmers, State Farm and many independent agents all competing for your business, it can be hard to know which will provide the best rates, service and coverage. Fortunately, you can use online price quotes to get a list of agents to choose from.
Local Santa Maria auto insurance agents
Good agents can answer important questions and help in the event of a claim. One of the best bonuses of getting online price quotes is the fact that you can find lower rates and still have an agent to talk to. And providing support for local agencies is especially important in Santa Maria.
To find an agent, once you fill out this form (opens in new window), the coverage information is sent to local insurance agents who will battle for your insurance coverage. You never need to leave your computer since price quotes are sent straight to your inbox. Now that’s easy! You can find the lowest rates AND an agent nearby.
The difference between Santa Maria insurance agencies
When researching an insurance agent, there are two types of agencies that you can select. Agencies in Santa Maria are categorized either captive or independent (non-captive).
Independent Agents
These agents are not locked into one company but rather can write business amongst many companies depending on which coverage is best. To transfer your coverage to a different company, an independent agent can move your coverage without you having to go to a different agency. When comparison shopping, it’s a good idea to include at least one independent agent for the best price selection.Most can insure with smaller regional carriers which can save you money.
Shown below are Santa Maria independent insurance agencies who may be able to give you price quotes.
- Hall Insurance – 930 S Broadway # 201 – Santa Maria, CA 93454 – (805) 925-0020
- Lation Service Insurance – 1244 W Main St # A – Santa Maria, CA 93458 – (805) 346-6103
Captive Insurance Agents
This type of agents can only place business with one company like American Family, State Farm and Allstate. They generally cannot shop your coverage around so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. Captive agents are very knowledgeable on their company’s products which helps them compete with independent agents. Consumers often buy from captive agents mostly because of the prominence of the brand and the convenience of having a single billing for all their coverages.
Listed below are Santa Maria captive insurance agents willing to provide price quote information.
- Farmers Insurance Group – 218 Carmen Ln – Santa Maria, CA 93458 – (805) 922-0347
- State Farm Insurance – 528 E Main St – Santa Maria, CA 93454 – (805) 922-4066
- Allstate Insurance – 112 W Jones St – Santa Maria, CA 93458 – (805) 922-5551
To view a full list of Santa Maria captive agents, please view this page.
Choosing an insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just a cheap price. Agents should be asked these questions:
- What insurance company do they write the most business with?
- Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in California?
- Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?
- Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?
- Is the agency involved in supporting local community causes?
- Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
- How much will you save each year by using a higher deductible?
Once you have positive feedback for all questions you ask and a low price estimate, it’s possible that you found an insurance agent that can service your policy.
Aren’t companies like Geico cheaper than local agents?
Car insurance agents are important to many people, but you also have the option of buying from companies direct over the internet. Certain companies that are more known for using agents, also give you the ability to get a quote and buy online. This is something to consider if you prefer not to work with an agent.
If you’re worried about not having an insurance agent’s advice when buying direct, don’t let it bother you. Insurance companies all have client service departments to answer any questions you may have.
If you’re not set on any one company, the best way to find out who has the best rates, online companies or local insurance agents, is to get rates from both and compare them. It’s possible to get different rates when comparing agent prices to online quotes for the exact same company. But you can’t find out if the lower rates are from agents or online until you actually compare rates both ways.
Do online companies provide lower prices? It’s difficult to provide an answer because there are many factors that influence your rates. It’s a logical assumption that shopping online for auto insurance saves the commission normally paid to an agent. But the reality is there are very high advertising costs and that can cost more than having to pay agents.
Quote more, save more
When shopping online for auto insurance, do not buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There have been many cases where someone sacrificed comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your goal should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.
Drivers change insurance companies for a number of reasons such as delays in responding to claim requests, delays in paying claims, poor customer service or unfair underwriting practices. Regardless of your reason, finding a new auto insurance company is pretty easy and you might even save some money in the process.
More resources for learning
Additional information can be read on the California Department of Insurance website found here. Visitors are able to view agent and company licensing information, read consumer alerts, and learn about specific coverages.
