When pricing auto insurance in Independence, MO, there are a lot of options and picking a good Missouri insurance agent is not as easy as just using the same insurance agency as your neighbor. You need a friendly agent, and also want to find cheaper auto insurance prices.
Many car insurance agents compete to insure your vehicles, so it’s not easy to compare every auto insurance agent to find the absolute lowest rate possible.
How do I know if I need professional advice?
When it comes to buying coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a single plan that fits everyone. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs and your policy should reflect that. These are some specific questions could help you determine whether your personal situation may require specific advice.
- Do I need higher deductibles?
- Should I sign the liability waiver when renting a car?
- I have good health insurance, so how much medical payments coverage do I need?
- What is high-risk coverage and where do I buy it?
- Is business equipment covered while in my vehicle?
- When should my teen driver be added to my policy?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with an insurance agent.
Online quotes help locate Independence agents
Licensed agents can answer important questions and help file insurance claims. One of the best bonuses of comparing rates online is the fact that you can find the lowest rates and still choose a local agent.
By using this short form, your information is emailed to companies in Independence who will battle for your insurance coverage. You won’t need to drive around due to the fact that quote results will go immediately to your email address. How cool is that?! Get lower rates AND a local agent.
Picking a car insurance agent shouldn’t rely on just a cheap price. Any agent should have no problem answering these questions:
- What are the financial ratings for the companies they represent?
- How much will you save each year by using a higher deductible?
- Which members of your family are coverage by the policy?
- Are you getting all the discounts the company offers?
- Who are their largest clients?
- Which insurance companies are they affiliated with?
- Did they already check your driving record and credit reports?
Do you need an independent or captive insurance agency?
When looking for a local agent, there are two types of agencies that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agents are categorized either captive or independent (non-captive).
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive agencies work for only one company and examples are AAA, Allstate, State Farm, Farmers Insurance or Liberty Mutual. They are unable to place coverage with different providers so they have to upsell other benefits. These agents receive extensive training on their company’s products and that can be a competitive advantage.
Listed below are Independence captive agencies who may provide you with comparison quotes.
American Family Insurance – 4014 S Lynn Court Dr # B – Independence, MO 64055 – (816) 478-1115
Allstate Insurance – 2900 S State Route 291 – Independence, MO 64057 – (816) 478-0055
Farmers Insurance Group – 1420 W Lexington Ave – Independence, MO 64052 – (816) 254-3939
Farm Bureau Insurance – 2112 S State Route 291 # B – Independence, MO 64057 – (816) 833-4440
State Farm Insurance – 3600 S Noland Rd # K – Independence, MO 64055 – (816) 836-0114
Shelter Insurance – 911 E 23rd St S – Independence, MO 64055 – (816) 252-5996
Independent Agents
Independent agencies are not required to write business for one company but rather can write business amongst many companies and potentially find a lower price. If your agent finds better pricing, the business is moved internally without you having to go to a different agency.
When comparison shopping, it’s recommended you include at least one independent agent to get the best comparison.
Below is a list of independent agents in Independence willing to provide price quotes.
Ted Miller Agency Inc – 615 E 23rd St S – Independence, MO 64055 – (816) 254-6800
Federated Mutual Insurance Co – – Independence, MO 64055 – (816) 373-2313
Budget Insurance – 10808 E 23rd St S – Independence, MO 64052 – (816) 252-5790
Brent Lilly Agency Inc – 3720 Arrowhead Ave # 101 – Independence, MO 64057 – (816) 795-9945
Lisa J Clay Agency – 2866 S State Route 291 # C – Independence, MO 64057 – (816) 373-0068
For a complete listing of insurance agents in Independence, please go to this site.
After getting acceptable answers to all your questions and a low price estimate, it’s possible that you found an auto insurance agent that is a good match to adequately provide auto insurance.
But what about Geico, Progressive and Esurance?
Car insurance agents are perfect for certain consumers, but you can also find affordable Missouri auto insurance direct over the internet. Certain companies that sell primarily through agents also allow you to get quotes and purchase online, so that should be considered.
If you’re uncomfortable with not having professional advice when buying car insurance direct, that shouldn’t be an issue. Car insurance companies that require consumers to choose their own coverages provide options for getting the best coverage. You can also use online education and live help anytime that you can use before buying.
Is it cheaper to buy car insurance online? Whether or not you’ll save is impossible to say because there are many components that impact your final bill. It’s a logical assumption that buying directly from the company saves money because there is no agent involvement. But the fact is, the cost of constant advertising is expensive so this can offset any savings.
Additional detailed information is located at the Missouri Department of Insurance website. Consumers can get help finding coverage, discover disciplinary actions, view agent and company licensing information, and learn about specific coverages.
Additional helpful sites include this online resource for auto insurance quotes in Missouri and this page for help finding agents in Independence, MO.
More effort can pay off
Low-cost auto insurance is available on the web as well as from independent agents in Independence, so you should compare both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance companies don’t offer online price quotes and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.
People leave their current company for a variety of reasons including lack of trust in their agent, not issuing a premium refund, delays in responding to claim requests or even extreme rates for teen drivers. Whatever your reason, finding a new auto insurance company is pretty simple and you could end up saving a buck or two.
