If you’re looking for an insurance agent in El Dorado, Arkansas, we recommend you start your research by comparing rates online to save yourself time. For this article’s sake, it’s assumed you’re not only searching for a highly trained agent, but you also want to find the best rates possible.
With companies like State Farm, Allstate and Farmers Insurance having offices in El Dorado, it’s hard to tell which will have the lowest rates and best service. Fortunately, consumers can use online quoting to get a list of agencies to choose from.
Online price comparisons from El Dorado agents
Professional agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help submit paperwork. One of the great benefits of getting online price quotes is you may find the lowest rates and still choose a local agent. And providing support for small agencies is especially important in El Dorado.
To help locate an agent, after submitting this simple form, the coverage information is instantly submitted to local insurance agents who will battle for your business. You won’t need to visit any agencies as quotes are delivered to the email address you provide. It doesn’t get any easier! You’ll get the best rates and an insurance agent to talk to.
Types of insurance agents
When finding a reliable agent, you must know there are a couple different agency structures that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agencies in El Dorado can either be captive or independent.
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
Independent agencies do not work for one specific company so they have the ability to put coverage amongst many companies depending on which coverage is best. To transfer your coverage to a different company, your agent can switch companies and you won’t have to switch agencies. When shopping rates, it’s a good idea to get quotes from multiple independent agents to have the most options to choose from.
Below are El Dorado independent insurance agencies who can help you get pricing information.
Direct General Ins Agency – 702 N West Ave – El Dorado, AR 71730 – (870) 864-0850
Merchant and Planters Agency – 410 S Main – El Dorado, AR 71730 – (870) 309-9950
A-Plus Insurance Inc – 611 N College Ave – El Dorado, AR 71730 – (870) 862-6600
CMI Insurance – 100 W Peach St – El Dorado, AR 71730 – (870) 862-1313
Direct General Ins Agency – 1239 W Hillsboro St – El Dorado, AR 71730 – (870) 862-4499
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive agencies work for only one company such as State Farm, AAA, Farmers Insurance or Allstate. They generally cannot give you multiple price quotes so they have no alternatives for high prices. These agents are very knowledgeable in insurance sales which helps them compete with independent agents.
The following is a short list of captive agents in El Dorado willing to provide comparison quotes.
State Farm Insurance – 600 W Main St – El Dorado, AR 71730 – (870) 863-8278
Farm Bureau Insurance – 1911 W Hillsboro St – El Dorado, AR 71730 – (870) 863-4592
Allstate Insurance Co – 508 N West Ave – El Dorado, AR 71730 – (870) 862-2233
Farmers Insurance Group – 114 E Grove St – El Dorado, AR 71730 – (870) 864-9000
Shelter Insurance – 501 N College Ave – El Dorado, AR 71730 – (870) 862-2881
To view a complete directory of auto insurance agents in El Dorado, please view this page.
Choosing an insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just the price. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:
- Do the companies they represent have a solid financial rating?
- Are you getting all the discounts the company offers?
- Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
- Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?
- Are claim adjusters local or do you have to take your car somewhere else?
- Do they have any clout with companies to ensure a fair claim settlement?
- How often do they review policy coverages?
Once you have positive feedback for all questions you ask and a low price estimate, it’s possible that you found a car insurance agent that will adequately provide auto insurance.
Aren’t online insurance companies like Geico cheaper?
Insurance agents serve a purpose, but you also have the option of buying Arkansas car insurance direct over the internet. Certain companies, such as Farmers Insurance and State Farm, that sell primarily through agents also allow consumers to buy online, so that should be considered if you want to do it yourself.
If you’re uneasy about whether or not you’ll have guidance when buying car insurance direct, that is quite common when buying online the first time. All companies provide phone numbers and online resources to walk you through the process.
Will auto insurance cost less online? That question is hard to answer because of the number of factors which can raise or lower premium rates. Common logic is that a customer who purchases direcly from an online company reduces premiums because there is no agent. For most companies selling online, however, getting their brand in front of customers is expensive and this drives up their premium costs.
The only way to determine where you can get the lowest rate, either online or from agents, is to take the time to compare rates from both. It’s fairly common that you receive different coverage costs from agents as you do online from the same car insurance company. You won’t discover which has the best rates unless you get rate quotes from both.
In Summary
As you restructure your insurance plan, it’s not a good idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. In many cases, an insured dropped full coverage only to regret at claim time that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The proper strategy is to purchase a proper amount of coverage for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.
Drivers who switch companies do it for any number of reasons including high rates after DUI convictions, delays in responding to claim requests, denial of a claim or even questionable increases in premium. Regardless of your reason, switching auto insurance companies is less work than it seems.
Much more information about auto insurance in Arkansas is located on the website for the Arkansas Insurance Department found here. Arkansas consumers can learn about specific coverages, get help finding coverage, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.
