When buying auto insurance in Lafayette, selecting the best Lafayette car insurance agent for your needs is not as easy as just making a phone call. Chances are good that not only do you want an excellent agent, but you also want the lowest possible price.
With insurance companies like independent agents, Allstate and State Farm having local Lafayette offices, it’s difficult to determine which provider will give you the best service and rates. To help decide, it’s easy to use online quotes to build a list of insurance agencies and thier coverage prices.
Car Insurance through a local Lafayette agent
Licensed agents can answer important questions and help submit paperwork. The best thing about price shopping on the web is you can get lower rates but still work with a licensed agent. Supporting local agencies is especially important in Lafayette.
Once you complete this form (opens in new window), your information is emailed to local insurance agents who will battle for your coverage. You won’t need to leave your computer since price quotes are sent directly to your email. It doesn’t get any easier! You’ll get the best rates AND an agent nearby.
Captive agents vs. Independent agents
When searching for a good insurance agency, there are a couple of types of insurance agents to choose from. Agencies in Lafayette are classified as either captive or independent (non-captive).
Independent Insurance Agents
These agents are not required to write business for one company but instead can place your coverage amongst many companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If you are not satisfied with one company, the agent simply finds a different carrier and you won’t have to switch agencies.
When shopping rates, it’s a good idea to get quotes from several independent insurance agents to have the most options to choose from. They also have the ability to place coverage with smaller regional carriers which may provide better rates.
The following is a short list of independent insurance agents in Lafayette that are able to give rate quotes.
- Charles D Bernard Agency LTD – 102 Jomela Dr – Lafayette, LA 70503 – (337) 233-2767
- Physicians Mutual Insurance Co – 100 Amaryllis Dr – Lafayette, LA 70503 – (337) 291-2969
- Direct General Ins Agency – 2037 NW Evangeline Trwy – Lafayette, LA 70501 – (337) 235-5838
- Curtis Agency – 4009 W Congress St – Lafayette, LA 70506 – (337) 981-6511
- Rosenthal Insurance – 2014 W Pinhook Rd – Lafayette, LA 70508 – (337) 235-3190
Captive Agents
Captive agencies can only place business with one company like American Family, Liberty Mutual and AAA. These agents are not able to give you multiple price quotes so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. Captives are well schooled on their products and sales techniques which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums. Some people will only buy from captive agents mostly because of high brand loyalty and solid financial strength.
Listed below are captive agencies in Lafayette that can give you price quotes.
- Allstate Insurance – 221 Southpark Rd # A5 – Lafayette, LA 70508 – (337) 837-4715
- Farmers Insurance Group – 103 Songbird Ln – Lafayette, LA 70506 – (337) 989-2335
- State Farm Insurance – 111 Energy Pkwy – Lafayette, LA 70508 – (337) 261-3400
- Farm Bureau Insurance – 3112 W Pinhook Rd # B – Lafayette, LA 70508 – (337) 234-9994
- Shelter Insurance – 100 Westmark Blvd # B – Lafayette, LA 70506 – (337) 981-4154
For a complete listing of captive insurance agents in Lafayette, please go to this site.
Choosing an auto insurance agent requires more thought than just a cheap price. These are valid questions to ask:
- If they are an independent agency, which companies do they recommend?
- Are they full-time agents?
- If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?
- What insurance company do they write the most business with?
- Does the agent have professional designations like CIC, CPCU or AIC?
- If you have an accident, are you able to get your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice?
Upon receiving satisfactory answers as well as a affordable price, chances are good that you have found an auto insurance agent that meets your needs to insure your vehicles.
Buying auto insurance direct is an option
Licensed agents can be invaluable at times, but Louisiana drivers can also buy directly from online companies. Some car insurance companies who sell through agents in Lafayette also allow consumers to buy online, and online price comparisons are easy.
If you’re concerned about not having someone to ask questions when shopping online, don’t sweat it. Auto insurance companies all have client service departments for getting the best coverage.
If you’re trying to save the most money, the best approach to discovering if agents have better prices than online companies is to make apples-to-apples comparisons of both. Even though it sounds odd, people frequently get different pricing when quoting both agents prices and online prices returned by the same company.
Are online companies cheaper? Many people think so, but it’s hard to say for sure since there may be dozens of rate factors that influence how your policy is priced. Some people think that a customer who purchases direcly from an online company saves money because there is no agent involvement. For the majority of companies, however, marketing their products costs a lot of money and that can quickly cost more than paying an agent.
Online plus local equals savings
As you restructure your insurance plan, do not skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are many occasions where consumers will sacrifice comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your aim should be to purchase plenty of coverage at the best price.
Consumers change insurance companies for a variety of reasons including an unsatisfactory settlement offer, being labeled a high risk driver, lack of trust in their agent and delays in responding to claim requests. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, finding a new company is not as hard as you think.
Additional information can be found on the Louisiana Department of Insurance website found here. Visitors are able to discover disciplinary actions, report car insurance fraud, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and read state legal mandates and laws.
