When trying to find a good insurance agent in Saco, Maine, you can do an initial search by comparing rates online instead of calling around. For this article’s sake, it’s assumed you require not only a highly trained agent, but you also want the best rates possible.
With State Farm, Allstate and many independent agents having local Saco offices, it’s hard to tell which auto insurance agent will have the lowest rates and best service. Fortunately, you can use online quoting to build a list of insurance agencies from which to choose.
How to compare Saco auto insurance rates
Agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help in the event of a claim. The biggest benefit of comparing rates online is that you can obtain lower rates and still choose a local agent. And providing support for local businesses is important particularly in Saco.
Upon completion of this quick form, your coverage information is instantly submitted to local insurance agents who will give you bids for your insurance coverage. You won’t need to visit any agencies since price quotes are sent straight to your inbox. How cool is that?!
Two different types of insurance agents
When looking for a reliable agent, you need to know there are two different agency structures that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Saco agents can either be independent (non-captive) or captive. Either one can write coverage properly, but it’s important to know how they differ since it may influence your agent selection.
Independent Agents
Independent insurance agents are not required to write business for one company but instead can place your coverage with lots of companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If you are not satisfied with one company, the agent simply finds a different carrier without you having to go to a different agency. When comparison shopping, it’s recommended you get quotes from at a minimum one independent agency to ensure the widest selection of prices.
Shown below is a list of independent insurance agents in Saco that are able to give competitive price quotes.
Anderson-Watkins Insurance – 172 Main St – Saco, ME 04072 – (207) 284-4514
Foy Insurance Group – 23 Water St # 1 – Saco, ME 04072 – (207) 282-5756
Captive Insurance Agents
This type of agents work for only one company and examples are AAA, Allstate, State Farm, Farmers Insurance or Liberty Mutual. They are unable to provide prices from multiple companies so it’s a take it or leave it situation. These agents are very knowledgeable in insurance sales and that can be a competitive advantage.
Selecting an insurance agency requires more thought than just a cheap price. Any agent should have no problem answering these questions:
- Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
- Are they able to influence company decisions when a claim is filed?
- What insurance companies do they recommend if they are an independent agent?
- If you have an accident, will your rates go up?
- How are claims handled?
- Do they review policy coverages at every renewal?
After receiving satisfactory answers to all your questions and an affordable coverage quote, you have narrowed it down to a car insurance agent that meets your needs to adequately provide auto insurance.
What if I want to shop online?
Insurance agencies serve a purpose, but Maine car insurance can also be bought direct from companies that only sell online. Certain auto insurance companies who sell through agents in Saco also let you quote and buy online, and that can save time if finding the best price is important.
If you’re worried about not getting advice from an agent, don’t let it bother you. All companies provide access to licensed agents for getting advice on proper coverages. They also make available 24/7 live help and a car insurance FAQ section that you can use before buying.
Can you find lower rates online? It’s difficult to say for sure since companies use quite a few components that are calculated into your premium. It would make sense to think that a shopper who purchases direct cuts out the middleman. But in reality, there are high advertising and marketing costs and that can quickly cost more than paying an agent.
When trying to find the best rates, the only way to determine if local insurance agents or online providers are cheaper is comparing rate quotes from both. It’s fairly common that you receive different coverage costs from the exact same provider depending on where you get the price quote from.
More consumer information in Maine
Additional auto insurance information is located on the website for the Maine Bureau of Insurance located here. Maine consumers can read industry bulletins, download brochures, and get help finding coverage.
Summing up your auto insurance search
When trying to cut insurance costs, it’s very important that you do not skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are a lot of situations where someone sacrificed collision coverage only to find out they didn’t have enough coverage. Your aim should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.
People who switch companies do it for a number of reasons such as poor customer service, unfair underwriting practices, high rates after DUI convictions or high prices. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, finding a new company can be easy and end up saving you some money.
