Comparing auto insurance companies in College Station, TX can be challenging because you have many choices and choosing the right College Station car insurance agent is harder than just picking up the phone. Consumers require a good professional insurance agent, and also want to find affordable rates.
Because you have many choices of insurance companies, it’s difficult to choose the most cost effective car insurance company.
Compare College Station agent rates online
Good agents can answer important questions and help submit paperwork. One of the best bonuses of getting online price quotes is you may find the lowest rates but still work with a licensed agent.
Once you complete this short form, your insurance data is emailed to companies in College Station who will battle for your insurance coverage. You never need to leave your computer due to the fact that quote results will go directly to your email. How cool is that?!
Selecting an insurance agency requires more thought than just the premium amount. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:
- Do they carry Errors and Omissions coverage?
- What insurance company do they write the most business with?
- Can glass repairs be made at your home?
- Can they give you a list of client referrals?
- Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
- Who is covered by the car insurance policy?
Types of insurance agents in College Station
When looking for a reputable insurance agent or broker, you must know there are a couple different agency structures to choose from. College Station agents are classified as either captive or independent (non-captive). Both types can do a good job, but it’s worth mentioning how they differ because it can impact your selection of an agent.
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive insurance agents can only write with one company and some examples include State Farm, AAA and Liberty Mutual. Captives cannot compare other company’s rates so keep that in mind. They are trained well on their company’s products which can be an advantage. Some people will only buy from captive agents mainly due to the brand legacy and strong financial ratings.
Listed below is a short list of captive agencies in College Station willing to provide rate quotes.
- Farm Bureau Insurance – 3800 Harvey Rd – College Station, TX 77845 – (979) 776-8789
- Farmers Insurance Group – 2700 Earl Rudder Fwy S – College Station, TX 77845 – (979) 694-3100
- Allstate Insurance – 1055 Texas Ave S # 106 – College Station, TX 77840 – (979) 764-1500
Independent Insurance Agents
Independent agencies are not employed by any specific company so they can insure your vehicles with lots of companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If your agent finds better pricing, they simply move the coverage in-house and you don’t have to find a new agent. When shopping rates, it’s a good idea to include price quotes from at least one independent agent for the best price selection. They often place coverage with smaller regional carriers which can save you money.
Shown below is a short list of independent insurance agents in College Station who can help you get price quotes.
- Williams Insurance Agency – 3811 Old College Rd Bryan – College Station, TX 77840 – (979) 268-7569
- Beal Insurance – 1500 University Dr E # 101 – College Station, TX 77840 – (979) 268-1500
- Service Insurance Group – 111 University Dr E # 150 – College Station, TX 77840 – (979) 260-6320
For a complete listing of licensed insurance agents in College Station, please click here.
Once you have received acceptable answers to any questions you have and an affordable coverage quote, most likely you have located an auto insurance agent that will properly insure your vehicles.
Buying auto insurance direct is an option
Local insurance agents serve a purpose, but you can also find affordable Texas auto insurance direct from companies online. Some specific companies like Allstate and State Farm who sell through the agent channel also give you the option to buy direct on their websites, so this should also be taken into consideration if you want to do it yourself.
If you’re worried about not having an insurance agent’s advice when buying direct, this really isn’t an issue. Online companies give you access to trained agents to answer your questions. You can also use live help and an extensive research center that you can use if you have questions.
The only way to determine whether prices are lower online or from agents is to set aside time to compare rates from both. Lots of times people will get different prices for the same auto insurance company when they get quotes from both.
Does it save money buying 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 impact your final bill. It’s a common assumption that buying online saves the cost of an agent commission. But in most cases, getting their brand in front of customers is expensive so the rates may be similar to buying from an agent.
Additional detailed information can be read at the Texas Department of Insurance website. Consumers can find out which companies have the most complaints, download brochures, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.
Other informative sites include this online resource for free quotes in Texas and this link which helps you find a College Station agent.
Final thoughts
While you’re price shopping online, you should never reduce needed coverages to save money. There have been many situations where someone sacrificed comprehensive coverage or liability limits and found out when filing a claim that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. The proper strategy is to buy a smart amount of coverage at an affordable rate.
Insureds change insurance companies for many reasons like questionable increases in premium, delays in paying claims, poor customer service and even lack of trust in their agent. No matter why you want to switch, switching companies is actually quite simple.
