Comparing car insurance rates in Tea can be a lot of work since you have many choices and choosing the right Tea insurance agency is not as easy as just using the same car insurance agent as your neighbor. Consumers need a good agent that listens to you, but also need the cheapest rates you can possibly find.
Insurance companies such as Progressive, Geico and Farmers Insurance all promote huge savings with catchy ads and consumers find it hard to ignore the flashy ads and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.
Local Tea car insurance agents
Educated insurance agents can answer important questions and help you file claims. The biggest benefit of comparing insurance prices online is that you can obtain the best rates and still choose a local agent.
To find an agent, once you fill out this form (opens in new window), your information gets sent to agents in your area who will return price quotes for your insurance coverage. You never need to leave your computer since price quotes are sent directly to your email. It doesn’t get any easier!
Choosing an insurance agency requires more thought than just a cheap price. These questions are important to ask:
- Do they have advanced training designations such as CPCU, AAI, AIC, or CIC?
- Is assistance available after office hours?
- If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?
- Will their companies depreciate repairs to your car based on the mileage?
- What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
- Do they regularly work with personal auto policies?
- Are claim adjusters local or do you have to take your car somewhere else?
Is a captive or independent insurance agency right for you?
When finding a reliable agent, there are a couple of different types of agents from which to choose. Insurance agencies in Tea can either be captive or independent (non-captive). Both types can insure your vehicles, but it’s worth learning the difference between them since it can impact your agent selection.
Captive Agents
Captive agencies are contracted to one company like Liberty Mutual, Allstate, Farmers Insurance or State Farm. They generally cannot compare other company’s rates so they have to upsell other benefits. They are very knowledgeable on their company’s products which can be an advantage. Some consumers prefer to buy from captive agents mostly because of loyalty to the company and the convenience of having a single billing for all their coverages.
Independent Insurance Agents
These agents do not work for one specific company so they can insure your vehicles with many different companies and potentially find a lower price. If your agent finds better pricing, your agent can switch companies without you having to go to a different agency. When searching for an agent, you should always include at least one independent agent for the best price selection. Most have the option of insuring with different regional companies which may provide better rates.
The following are independent agencies in Tea that can give you price quotes.
- Riverview Insurance and Invest – 801 E Ryan Dr # D – Tea, SD 57064 – (605) 498-0305
- Tea Insurance – 410 E Martha St – Tea, SD 57064 – (605) 498-1200
To view a full list of insurance agents in Tea, view this link.
Once you have reasonable responses to your questions and an acceptable price quote, it’s possible that you found an insurance agent that can provide car insurance coverage.
Aren’t companies like Geico cheaper than local agents?
Insurance agents can be invaluable at times, but you can also find affordable South Dakota auto insurance from companies direct over the internet. Certain companies like Allstate and State Farm who sell through agents in Tea also give you the ability to buy a policy online. This is something to consider.
If you’re uncomfortable with not having an agent to talk to when shopping online, don’t sweat it. Companies that allow you to purchase coverage provide access to licensed agents for getting advice on proper coverages. In addition, they usually offer online help and live chat to help with the buying process.
Are online rates lower? The answer to that question is complicated since companies use quite a few components that impact your premium. It’s a common assumption that a customer who purchases direcly from an online company saves money because there is no commission. But in reality, there are very high advertising costs so there may not be significant savings.
Summing up your car insurance search
Cheaper car insurance is attainable online in addition to many Tea insurance agents, and you should be comparing both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance providers do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and many times these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agents.
When shopping online for car insurance, you should never skimp on coverage in order to save money. There have been many cases where an insured cut comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to regret at claim time that it was a big error on their part. Your aim should be to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.
Even more information is located at the South Dakota Division of Insurance website. South Dakota drivers can download brochures, learn about specific coverages, find out industry alerts, and read industry bulletins.
The following information may also be useful.
