When trying to find an insurance agent in Charlottesville, Virginia, we recommend you start your research on the web rather than looking in the yellowpages. It’s highly likely you’re looking for a good professional insurance agent, but you also want to find the best rates possible.
With Allstate, Farmers, State Farm and many independent agents all competing for business in Charlottesville, it can be hard to know which provider will have the lowest rates and best service. To begin, it’s easy to use online quoting to get a list of insurance agents and thier coverage prices.
How to compare Charlottesville auto insurance rates
Insurance agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help submit paperwork. The best thing about comparing rates online is you can get the best rates and still choose a local agent. And providing support for local businesses is especially important in Charlottesville.
After completing this short form, your coverage information is sent to agents in your area who will battle for your coverage. You won’t need to drive around due to the fact that quote results will go to your email. Now that’s easy!
Not all car insurance agents are the same
If you’re trying to find a local agent, there are a couple of types of agencies that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agents are classified as either independent (non-captive) or captive. Either one can insure your vehicles, but it’s worth learning how they differ since it can impact the selection process.
Independent Agencies or Brokers
Independent agents are not locked into one company but instead can place your coverage with any number of different companies and potentially find a lower price. If your agent finds better pricing, the agent simply finds a different carrier and you don’t have to find a new agent.
When shopping rates, you should always get quotes from several independent insurance agents for maximum quote selection.Most can insure with different regional companies which can be an advantage.
Below is a list of independent agents in Charlottesville who can help you get competitive price quotes.
- A-Able Insurance – 716 Rio Rd W # D – Charlottesville, VA 22901 – (434) 979-0814
- Hecht Insurance – 2000 Morton Dr – Charlottesville, VA 22903 – (434) 984-4800
- Mike Arnold Agency – 1116 E High St – Charlottesville, VA 22902 – (434) 295-2692
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive insurance agents can only place business with one company and examples are Allstate, AAA, Liberty Mutual and State Farm. They are unable to compare other company’s rates so keep that in mind. Captive agencies are very knowledgeable in insurance sales which helps them compete with independent agents. Consumers often buy from captive agents primarily because of the prominence of the brand and solid financial strength.
Listed below are Charlottesville captive agencies that are able to give rate quotes.
- Allstate Insurance – 1903 Commonwealth Dr – Charlottesville, VA 22901 – (434) 977-2007
- Farmers Insurance Group – 690 Berkmar Cir – Charlottesville, VA 22901 – (434) 977-5449
- Liberty Mutual At Berkmar – 688 Berkmar Cir – Charlottesville, VA 22901 – (434) 973-0225
- State Farm Insurance – 2050 Lambs Rd – Charlottesville, VA 22901 – (434) 975-1331
For a full directory of Charlottesville captive insurance agencies, visit this link.
Picking an auto insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just the premium amount. Some important questions to ask are:
- Does the agency have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau?
- Are claim adjusters local or do you have to take your car somewhere else?
- Did they already check your driving record and credit reports?
- Do they regularly work with personal auto policies?
- What insurance companies do they work with?
- Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?
- Do they carry Errors and Omissions coverage?
Once you have received reasonable responses to any questions you have in addition to an acceptable price estimate, you may have just found an auto insurance agent that will properly insure your vehicles.
How do online company rates compare?
Car insurance agents are a valuable resource, but Virginia consumers also have the option to buy direct over the internet. Certain auto insurance companies, such as State Farm, Allstate and Farmers, who sell through agents in Charlottesville also allow consumers to buy online, and that can save time and can also potentially find you lower rates.
If you’re worried about not getting advice from an agent when buying online, don’t sweat it. Online car insurance companies provide toll-free numbers for customer questions.
For price-conscious consumers, the only way of knowing if the cheapest policy comes from an agent or online is to get rates from both and compare them. Lots of times people will get different prices for the exact same company if you compare an online quote to agent rates.
Do online companies provide lower prices? That is a tough question to answer since there may be dozens of rate factors that determine the price you pay. Some people think that purchasing direct online saves by not paying a commission. But that assumption is generally incorrect because getting their brand in front of customers is expensive and this tends to eat up any savings.
Buy online or local, you save
Consumers who switch companies do it for any number of reasons including poor customer service, high prices, questionable increases in premium and even unfair underwriting practices. It doesn’t matter what your reason, choosing a new company is pretty easy and you might even save some money in the process.
When buying insurance coverage, make sure you don’t buy poor coverage just to save money. There have been many situations where someone dropped comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to discover later that the savings was not a smart move. Your focus should be to purchase plenty of coverage at an affordable rate while still protecting your assets.
More Virginia auto insurance resources
Additional information can be read on the Virginia Bureau of Insurance website found here. Visitors are able to learn about insurance regulations, get help finding coverage, and read state legal mandates and laws.
