Opelousas Insurance Agencies – Tips to Finding the Right One

When buying auto insurance in Opelousas, you have many choices and finding the best Louisiana auto insurance agent is not as easy as just using the same auto insurance agent as your neighbor. The chances are good you require not only a good professional insurance agent, but also great rates as well.

With companies like Farmers, Allstate, and independent agents having local Opelousas offices, consumers have a hard time knowing which will have the lowest rates and best service. To begin, consumers can use online quoting in order to build a list of insurance agencies to choose from.

Quote online but work with a neighborhood agent

Professional agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help file insurance claims. The best thing about comparing insurance prices online is that you can obtain the lowest rates and still choose a local agent. And supporting small agencies is definitely important in Opelousas.

To help locate an agent, after submitting this quick form, your information is emailed to agents in your area who will return price quotes for your coverage. There is no reason to leave your computer as quotes are delivered to the email address you provide. It doesn’t get any easier!

Car insurance agents in Opelousas come in two varieties

If you’re trying to find a good insurance agency, you need to know there are two types of insurance agents to choose from. Agents are either captive or independent (non-captive). Either one can write coverage properly, but it’s worth learning the difference between them because it can impact your agent selection.

Independent Agencies or Brokers

Independent insurance agents are not employed by any specific company so they have the ability to put coverage with multiple insurance companies depending on which coverage is best. If you are not satisfied with one company, they simply move the coverage in-house and you don’t have to find a new agent. When shopping rates, we recommend you get quotes from at a minimum one independent agency to ensure the widest selection of prices.Most can insure with smaller regional carriers who may have lower rates.

The following are independent insurance agencies in Opelousas willing to provide pricing information.

Jim Wallace Agency – 1107 Heather Dr – Opelousas, LA 70570 – (337) 942-9527
Farm Bureau Insurance – 5265 I 49 S Service Rd – Opelousas, LA 70570 – (337) 948-8259
Acadiana Insurance Inc – 9384 Highway 182 – Opelousas, LA 70570 – (337) 942-6784

Captive Agents

Captive agencies can only place business with one company and some examples include AAA, Allstate, State Farm, Farmers Insurance or Liberty Mutual. They are unable to give you multiple price quotes so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. They are well schooled in insurance sales which helps them compete with independent agents. Some people will only choose to use a captive agent mainly due to the brand legacy and solid financial strength.

The following is a list of captive agents in Opelousas willing to provide comparison quotes.

Farm Bureau Insurance – 5265 I 49 S Service Rd – Opelousas, LA 70570 – (337) 948-8259
State Farm Insurance – 5317 I 49 S Service Rd – Opelousas, LA 70570 – (337) 942-3585
Allstate Insurance – 129 S Main St – Opelousas, LA 70570 – (337) 594-0122

For a complete listing of captive insurance agencies in Opelousas, go to this page.

Deciding on an insurance agent requires more thought than just the bottom line cost. These questions are important to ask:

Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in Louisiana?
Is vehicle mileage a factor when determining depreciation for repairs?
Are you getting all the discounts the company offers?
Do they regularly work with personal auto policies?
How long has their agency been open in Opelousas?

Upon receiving positive responses and locked in a price quote, you may have just found a car insurance agent that meets your needs to properly insure your vehicles.

Does buying direct online get me lower rates?

Insurance agencies are important, but Louisiana car insurance can also be bought direct over the internet. Some specific companies like State Farm and Allstate who sell through the agent channel also let you buy direct online, and that is helpful if the lowest rate is your goal.

If you’re concerned about not receiving proper advice when buying direct, this really isn’t an issue. Companies provide options for getting questions answered. You can also use help pages and frequently asked questions to clarify any questions you may have.

If you’re not set on any one company, the best way to find out whether prices are lower online or from agents is to get price quotes for both. It’s even possible to receive different pricing for the same auto insurance company depending on if you quote online or with an agent. But you can’t find out if the lower rates are from agents or online unless free rate quotes are compared for both.

Does buying online save money? That question is hard to answer since companies use quite a few components that impact your final bill. Common sense would say that a customer who purchases direcly from an online company saves the cost of an agent commission. In many cases, marketing expenses are significant and that impacts the rates consumers pay.

Online plus local equals savings

As you prepare to switch companies, do not skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. In many instances, an insured dropped physical damage coverage and discovered at claim time that the savings was not a smart move. Your goal should be to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.

Drivers change insurance companies for any number of reasons including questionable increases in premium, high rates after DUI convictions, lack of trust in their agent or even high prices. No matter why you want to switch, choosing a new company can be pretty painless.