Finding good car insurance in North Tonawanda can be challenging since selecting the best North Tonawanda auto insurance agent for your needs is not as easy as just randomly choosing from the yellow pages. For the sake of this article, we’ll assume that not only do you want a good agent, but also affordable coverage.
With insurance companies like Allstate, Farmers and State Farm as well as independent agents all competing for your business, consumers have a hard time knowing which provider will provide you with the best service and rates. Fortunately, it’s easy to use insurance quotes online to get a list of agents and thier coverage prices.
Compare online but buy from a local North Tonawanda agent
Good agents can help determine the best coverages and help file insurance claims. One of the great benefits of comparing insurance prices online is you may find lower rates but also keep your business local. Buying from local insurance agencies is especially important in North Tonawanda.
By using this form (opens in new window), your insurance data is emailed to companies in North Tonawanda who will compete to get your business. You never need to leave your house due to the fact that quote results will go to the email address you provide. Now that’s easy! You can find the lowest rates AND an agent nearby.
What types of car insurance agents are in North Tonawanda?
When searching for a reliable agent, you need to know there are two different types of agents to choose from. North Tonawanda agents are categorized either captive or independent.
Independent Insurance Agents
Independent agents are not locked into one company so they can insure your vehicles with any number of different companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. To transfer your coverage to a different company, the business is moved internally without you having to go to a different agency.
When shopping rates, it’s recommended you include at a minimum one independent agency to have the most options to choose from. Most have the option of insuring with lesser-known insurance companies which may provide better rates.
Below is a short list of independent insurance agencies in North Tonawanda that may be able to provide comparison quotes.
- Elzer Agency Inc – 3200 Niagara Falls Blvd – North Tonawanda, NY 14120 – (716) 694-5186
- Sentz-Carlson Agency Inc – 84 Sweeney St # 4 – North Tonawanda, NY 14120 – (716) 695-2400
- Foremost Insurance – 5378 Irish Rd – North Tonawanda, NY 14120 – (716) 625-9590
- Woodward Insurance Inc – 233 Fillmore Ave – North Tonawanda, NY 14120 – (716) 693-1586
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive agencies can only write with one company like Farmers Insurance or State Farm. They usually cannot place coverage with different providers so it’s a take it or leave it situation. Captive agents are very knowledgeable on the products they sell and that can be a competitive advantage. Some people will only buy from captive agents partially due to loyalty to the company and solid financial strength.
The following are captive agencies in North Tonawanda that are able to give comparison quotes.
- Allstate Insurance Co – 3571 Niagara Falls Blvd – North Tonawanda, NY 14120 – (716) 692-2688
- State Farm Insurance – 84 Sweeney St – North Tonawanda, NY 14120 – (716) 693-3800
To view a full list of captive insurance agents in North Tonawanda, visit this link.
Choosing an auto insurance agent should depend on more than just the premium amount. These questions are important to ask:
- What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?
- If you have an accident, are you able to get your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice?
- Did they already check your driving record and credit reports?
- Will vehicle repairs be made with aftermarket parts or OEM replacement parts?
- How long have they worked with personal auto insurance coverage?
- Who is covered by the car insurance policy?
Upon getting satisfactory answers to these questions and an affordable coverage quote, you may have just found an auto insurance agent that meets your needs to insure your vehicles.
You have the option to buy direct online
Insurance agencies are important, but you also have the option of buying from companies direct over the internet. Some companies like Allstate and State Farm that are more known for using agents, additionally provide the ability to get quotes and purchase online, so this should also be taken into consideration if finding the best price is important.
If you’re concerned about choosing your own coverages when shopping online, that is quite common when buying online the first time. Companies provide toll-free numbers to answer any questions you may have. Also available are the ability to chat online live with a sales rep and online research you can access prior to buying.
Does coverage cost less online? Whether or not you’ll save is impossible to say since there are so many components that influence how your policy is priced. Common sense would say that shopping direct cuts out the agent as a middleman. For the majority of companies, however, marketing their products costs a lot of money and this tends to eat up any savings.
Much more information about car insurance in New York is available on the New York Department of Financial Services website. Click here for link. Consumers can read industry bulletins, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and find out which companies have the most complaints.
Shop smart and save
When you buy insurance online, you should never buy poor coverage just to save money. In many cases, an insured dropped collision coverage only to discover later they didn’t have enough coverage. The ultimate goal is to purchase plenty of coverage at a price you can afford while not skimping on critical coverages.
Cheaper car insurance can be sourced from both online companies and with local North Tonawanda insurance agents, so compare prices from both so you have a total pricing picture. Some insurance providers do not offer you the ability to get quotes online and usually these smaller companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.
