When trying to find a licensed insurance agent in Orangeburg, it’s recommended you do the preliminary legwork by comparing prices online instead of calling around. It’s assumed you require not only a decent agent, but you also want affordable coverage.
With companies like Allstate, Farmers and State Farm as well as independent agents having offices in Orangeburg, consumers have a hard time knowing which will provide the best service and rates. To help decide, you can use online price quotes to build a list of agencies to choose from.
Shop online but buy locally
Agents can answer important questions and help in the event of a claim. One of the great benefits of price shopping on the web is you may find lower rates but still work with a licensed agent. And providing support for local insurance agencies is definitely important in Orangeburg.
After filling out this form (opens in new window), the coverage information is emailed to companies in Orangeburg who will battle for your business. You never need to drive around since price quotes are sent directly to your email. How’s that for easy!
What types of insurance agencies are in Orangeburg?
If you’re trying to find a good insurance agency, you need to know there are two different agency structures to choose from. Agents can either be independent (non-captive) or captive. Either one can properly insure your vehicles, but it’s worth mentioning how they differ since it may influence the selection process.
Independent Insurance Agents
Independent agents do not work for one specific company but instead can place your coverage with any number of different companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. To move your coverage to a new company, an independent agent can move your coverage and that require little work on your part. When comparison shopping, you should always include price quotes from at least one independent agent to have the most options to choose from.
The following is a list of independent agents in Orangeburg that can give you comparison quotes.
Santee Insurance Ctr – 1998 Carolina Ave – Orangeburg, SC 29115 – (803) 535-3002
Nash Agency Inc – 1180 Boulevard St # C – Orangeburg, SC 29115 – (803) 533-1800
Edisto Insurance – 1259 Amelia St – Orangeburg, SC 29115 – (803) 531-4103
William W Sutcliffe Agency Inc – 1540 Russell St – Orangeburg, SC 29115 – (803) 534-8520
Reynolds Agency – 900 Chestnut St NE – Orangeburg, SC 29115 – (803) 536-5860
Agency Captives
Captive agents write business for a single company such as Allstate, Farmers Insurance, State Farm and AAA. These agents are unable to provide prices from multiple companies so keep that in mind. Captive agencies are well schooled in insurance sales which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums.
Listed below is a short list of captive agencies in Orangeburg willing to provide rate quotes.
Allstate Insurance – 1388 Broughton St – Orangeburg, SC 29115 – (803) 536-3190
State Farm Insurance – 2720 North Rd – Orangeburg, SC 29118 – (803) 535-0911
To view a complete directory of captive insurance agents in Orangeburg, visit this link.
Choosing an insurance agent requires more thought than just the price. These questions are important to ask:
- If they are an independent agency, which companies do they recommend?
- Do they receive special compensation for putting your coverage with one company over another?
- If you have an accident, will your rates go up?
- Do they carry Errors and Omissions coverage?
- Are glass claims handled on-site or do you have to take your vehicle to a repair shop?
- How are claims handled?
- Do they have advanced training designations such as CPCU, AAI, AIC, or CIC?
Once you have acceptable answers for all questions you ask and a good coverage price, you’ve probably found an auto insurance agent that meets your needs to adequately provide auto insurance.
You have the option to buy auto insurance direct online
Licensed agents can be invaluable at times, but South Carolina consumers also have the option to buy direct over the internet. Some specific companies that sell primarily through agents also permit you to get quotes and purchase online, so keep that in mind if you are the do-it-yourself type.
If you’re apprehensive about not having an insurance agent’s advice when buying online, don’t sweat it. Online insurance companies provide phone numbers and online resources to answer your questions.
Will auto insurance cost less online? A lot of shoppers won’t buy anywhere else, but it’s impossible to say due to the large number of individual components that influence your rates. It’s a logical assumption that buying directly from the company lowers rates due to not having any agent compensation. In many cases, promoting brand recognition is pricey so the rates may be similar to buying from an agent.
If you’re not set on any one company, the best way to find out if the cheapest policy comes from an agent or online is comparing prices for both of them. Lots of times people will get different prices from exactly the same company when comparing online quotes to a quote from an agent. It’s just impossible to know which way will be cheaper unless you compare quotes for identical coverages each way.
Final thoughts
Drivers switch companies for a number of reasons such as high prices, poor customer service, delays in paying claims or even policy cancellation. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, choosing a new company is less work than it seems.
As you restructure your insurance plan, it’s very important that you do not buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There have been many cases where an insured cut liability limits or collision coverage only to regret at claim time they didn’t purchase enough coverage. Your focus should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at a price you can afford while not skimping on critical coverages.
Consumer auto insurance information in South Carolina
Additional auto insurance information is available on the website for the South Carolina Department of Insurance located here. Visitors are able to find out which companies have the most complaints, read industry bulletins, and get help finding coverage.
