Selecting a auto insurance company in Rochester, NY can be time consuming since there are a lot of options and selecting the best Rochester insurance agent for your needs is more difficult than just driving to the closest agent’s office. Consumers require a decent agent, but also affordable rates.
Multiple insurance agencies compete for your business, and because of this it can be hard to compare insurance agencies and uncover the absolute lowest cost out there.
Compare online but buy from a local Rochester agent
Insurance agents can answer important questions and help submit paperwork. The biggest benefit of price shopping on the web is that you can obtain lower rates but also keep your business local.
By using this quick form, the coverage information is instantly submitted to local insurance agents who will battle for your coverage. You won’t need to even leave your home since price quotes are sent immediately to your email address. How’s that for easy!
Selecting an auto insurance agent requires more thought than just a low price. Some important questions to ask are:
- Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?
- Are claims handled at the agent’s location?
- Are they able to influence company decisions when a claim is filed?
- Is vehicle mileage a factor when determining depreciation for repairs?
- Will your rates increase after a single accident?
Do you need an independent or captive auto insurance agent?
If you’re trying to find a good insurance agency, you need to know there are two types of insurance agents that you can select. Insurance agencies in Rochester are either independent or captive. Both types can insure your vehicles, but it’s important to know how they differ since it may influence your selection of an agent.
Captive Insurance Agents
This type of agents write business for a single company such as Allstate, Farmers Insurance or State Farm. Captives cannot place coverage with different providers so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. Captive agencies are very knowledgeable on their company’s products which helps them compete with independent agents.
Listed below are Rochester captive insurance agencies who can help you get comparison quotes.
Liberty Mutual Insurance – 135 Corporate Woods # 380 – Rochester, NY 14623 – (585) 424-6050
Allstate Insurance Co – 1570 Jefferson Rd – Rochester, NY 14623 – (585) 427-8500
State Farm Insurance – 3093 Ridge Rd W – Rochester, NY 14626 – (585) 225-8480
Independent Insurance Agents
Independent insurance agents are not required to write business for one company but rather can write business amongst many companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If your agent finds better pricing, an independent agent can move your coverage without you having to go to a different agency.
When comparing rates, it’s recommended you contact at least one independent agent to get the best comparison.
Listed below are independent agents in Rochester who can help you get price quote information.
Antinora Insurance Svc – 2230 Ridge Rd W – Rochester, NY 14626 – (585) 227-3500
Ochenrider and Smith Agency – 200 Winton Rd N – Rochester, NY 14610 – (585) 288-4901
Liberty Mutual Insurance – 2680 Ridge Rd W # 103 – Rochester, NY 14626 – (585) 225-4801
Andy Ocasio Agency LTD – 66 Park Ave – Rochester, NY 14607 – (585) 473-4660
Eastman Agency – 26 Corporate Woods # 18 – Rochester, NY 14623 – (585) 427-7260
For a complete listing of licensed insurance agents in Rochester, visit this link.
Upon getting good answers for all questions you ask and a low price estimate, you’ve probably found an insurance agency that is a good match to properly insure your vehicles.
Car insurance is unique, just like you
When buying proper insurance coverage, there really is not a “perfect” insurance plan. Every situation is different so this has to be addressed. For instance, these questions might help in determining if your situation would benefit from an agent’s advice.
- How many claims can I have before being cancelled?
- Should I buy more coverage than the required New York minimum liability coverage?
- Is my teen driver covered when they drive my company car?
- Am I covered when delivering products for my home-based business?
- Is business property covered if stolen from my car?
- Can my teen driver be rated on a liability-only vehicle?
If it’s difficult to answer those questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with a licensed agent.
Can I save by cutting out the agent?
Car insurance agents serve a purpose, but you can also find affordable New York auto insurance direct from companies that only sell online. Some companies like Allstate and State Farm that sell primarily through agents also give you the option to buy online, so that should be considered to possibly find a better rate.
If you’re uncomfortable with not receiving proper advice when shopping online, that is normal but is not a big issue. Online insurance companies that require consumers to choose their own coverages provide options you can use to get advice on coverages. They also make available online education and live help anytime to help you answer questions.
Does car insurance cost less online? That is a tough question to answer due to the large number of individual components that influence the price you pay. Many people think that shopping online for auto insurance saves the cost of an agent commission. But the reality is the cost of constant advertising is expensive so the lack of a commission may be a wash.
The only way to know if car insurance prices are lower online or from agents is to take the time to compare rates from both. Lots of times people will get different prices from the exact same provider depending on if you quote online or with their agents. But you can’t find out which way will be cheaper without getting separate quotes for both.
In the end, you save
Consumers leave their current company for any number of reasons including lack of trust in their agent, extreme rates for teen drivers, high rates after DUI convictions or even denial of a claim. Whatever your reason, choosing a new insurance company is actually quite simple.
When shopping online for auto insurance, it’s very important that you do not reduce needed coverages to save money. Too many times, an insured cut uninsured motorist or liability limits and discovered at claim time that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The proper strategy is to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.
More tips and info about auto insurance is available at the New York Department of Financial Services website. Consumers can get help finding coverage, find disaster information, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and learn about specific coverages.
