When searching for a licensed insurance agent in Framingham, we recommend you do the preliminary legwork using online quotes instead of calling around. You require an excellent agent, and also cheaper auto insurance prices.
Online insurance companies like State Farm, Geico and Farmers Insurance all claim big savings with advertising and it can be hard to ignore the promise of big savings and do the work needed to find the best deal.
Buying auto insurance from a local Framingham agent
Agents can help determine the best coverages and help you file claims. One of the best bonuses of getting online price quotes is you may find the best rates but also keep your business local.
To help locate an agent, after submitting this form (opens in new window), your information gets sent to local insurance agents in Framingham who will battle for your coverage. You won’t need to visit any agencies due to the fact that quote results will go straight to your inbox. How cool is that?!
Picking an insurance agency needs to be determined by more than just the premium amount. Agents should be asked these questions:
- Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?
- What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
- What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?
- If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?
- Are they able to influence company decisions when a claim is filed?
- Do they have adequate Errors and Ommissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.
Insurance agent types
When looking for a reliable agent, you must know there are a couple different types of agents to choose from. Agents are categorized either independent or captive. Both types can write coverage properly, but it’s important to know how they are different because it can impact your agent selection.
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive insurance agents are contracted to one company and examples are Allstate, AAA, Liberty Mutual and State Farm. Captives cannot provide prices from multiple companies so keep that in mind. Captive agents are trained well on their products and sales techniques which helps them compete with independent agents. Consumers often choose to use a captive agent primarily because of the brand legacy and the convenience of having a single billing for all their coverages.
Listed below is a short list of captive agencies in Framingham that can give you price quote information.
- Liberty Mutual Insurance – 405 Cochituate Rd – Framingham, MA 01701 – (508) 875-6955
Independent Insurance Agents
Independent agents do not work for one specific company so they have the ability to put coverage with lots of companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If you are not satisfied with one company, the business is moved internally and that require little work on your part. When searching for an agent, it’s recommended you contact several independent insurance agents to have the most options to choose from. They often place coverage with smaller companies which may provide better rates.
The following is a short list of independent agencies in Framingham who can help you get price quote information.
- Daniel Bernard Insurance – 280 Worcester Rd – Framingham, MA 01702 – (508) 620-9060
- Richard S Winer Insurance – 33 Carter Dr – Framingham, MA 01701 – (508) 877-9900
For a complete listing of licensed insurance agents in Framingham, click here to link.
Upon getting good answers to any questions you have and locked in a price quote, it’s possible that you found an auto insurance agent that can properly insure your vehicles.
Don’t exclude online companies
Insurance agents are perfect for certain consumers, but Massachusetts consumers also have the option to buy direct online. Even companies who have local Framingham agents also allow consumers to quote and buy online, so keep that in mind.
If you’re concerned about not having an insurance agent’s advice when buying online, this really isn’t an issue. Car insurance companies that require consumers to choose their own coverages provide phone numbers and online resources to answer any questions you may have.
If you’re not set on any one company, the best way to find out where you can get the lowest rate, either online or from agents, is to make apples-to-apples comparisons of both. It’s possible to get different rates for the exact same company depending on if you quote online or with their agents. You won’t discover where you can get the lowest rates without getting separate quotes both ways.
Can online rates save money? Whether or not you’ll save is impossible to say since there are many things that impact your final bill. Some people will tell you that shopping direct prevents the agent from taking a cut. In reality, it’s expensive to advertise so this can offset any savings.
One last thing about your coverage
When buying insurance coverage, it’s a bad idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. There have been many situations where an accident victim reduced liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your strategy should be to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price.
Consumers who switch companies do it for any number of reasons including extreme rates for teen drivers, delays in responding to claim requests, questionable increases in premium and even policy non-renewal. Whatever your reason, finding a great new company can be easy and end up saving you some money.
More detailed Massachusetts auto insurance information can be found at the Massachusetts Division of Insurance website. Massachusetts drivers can find out industry alerts, find out which companies have the most complaints, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.
