When buying car insurance in Waltham, selecting the best Waltham auto insurance agent for your needs is harder than just picking up the phone. For the sake of this article, we’ll assume you want a professional licensed agent, but you also want affordable coverage.
With insurance companies like State Farm, Allstate and Farmers Insurance having offices in Waltham, it can be hard to know which provider will provide the lowest rates and best service. To begin, it’s easy to use online price quotes to build a list of agencies and thier coverage prices.
Local Waltham agents and car insurance
Insurance agents can help determine the best coverages and help file insurance claims. One of the best bonuses of comparing rates online is that you can obtain better rates but still work with a licensed agent. Buying from local businesses is important especially in Waltham.
To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this short form, the quote information gets sent to participating agents in Waltham who will battle for your coverage. You don’t have to visit any agencies because quoted prices will be sent to the email address you provide. It doesn’t get any easier!
The different types of insurance agents
When finding local Waltham agents, there are two types of insurance agents that you can select. Waltham agents are either independent or captive. Both do a good job, but it’s good to learn how they differ since it can impact the selection process.
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
Independent insurance agents do not work for one specific company so they can insure your vehicles with any number of different companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If you are not satisfied with one company, an independent agent can move your coverage without you having to go to a different agency.
When shopping rates, you should always include at least one independent agent for maximum quote selection.Most can insure with different regional companies which may provide better rates.
Listed below are Waltham independent agents that are able to give price quotes.
- Robinson Insurance Inc – 55 Moody St – Waltham, MA 02453 – (781) 893-2300
- Duffy Insurance – 675 Main St – Waltham, MA 02451 – (781) 647-3149
- David J Coyle Agency – 3 University Park # 420 – Waltham, MA 02453 – (781) 891-1100
Captive Agents
Captive insurance agents work for only one company like State Farm, Allstate and AAA. They generally cannot give you multiple price quotes so it’s a take it or leave it situation. These agents are usually quite knowledgeable in insurance sales which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums. Some consumers prefer to buy from captive agents mainly due to high brand loyalty and the convenience of having a single billing for all their coverages.
Selecting an auto insurance agent shouldn’t rely on just a cheap price. Some important questions to ask are:
- Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
- Do they feel the quoted coverages are adequate?
- What insurance companies do they work with?
- Can they provide you with a list of referrals?
- Is the agency involved in supporting local community causes?
- Did they already check your driving record and credit reports?
- Are they properly licensed to sell insurance in Massachusetts?
After receiving answers to your satisfaction to your questions and a good coverage price, most likely you have located an insurance agent that meets your needs to service your policy.
Can you find lower rates by buying online?
Local insurance agents are perfect for certain consumers, but you can also buy Massachusetts car insurance direct online. A few companies, such as Farmers Insurance and State Farm, who have local agents in Waltham also permit you to get a quote and buy online, so that should be considered.
If you’re uneasy about not getting advice from an agent, don’t let it bother you. Online car insurance companies provide toll-free numbers for answering any questions you have. You may also access online help and live chat to help with the buying process.
Are online rates lower? It’s difficult to provide an answer because there are many factors that influence how your policy is priced. Some people will tell you that buying direct reduces premiums because there is no agent. But in reality, promoting brand recognition is pricey so this can offset any savings.
Additional resources for Massachusetts consumers
Additional car insurance information can be read on the Massachusetts Division of Insurance website located here. Consumers can view agent and company licensing information, view a list of available companies, and find disaster information.
Other useful links include this page for car insurance prices in Massachusetts and this page where you can research Waltham insurance agents.
Cheaper insurance is a realistic goal
As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, you should never buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There are a lot of situations where an accident victim reduced collision coverage only to regret at claim time they didn’t purchase enough coverage. The ultimate goal is to purchase a proper amount of coverage at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.
Low-cost car insurance is attainable both online and with local Waltham insurance agents, so compare prices from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance providers do not offer online quoting and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.
