When trying to find a licensed insurance agent in Costa Mesa, you can always do the preliminary legwork for an agent online rather than picking up the phone. It’s highly likely you not only want a decent agent, but you also want the best rates possible.
With insurance companies like State Farm, Allstate, Farmers and independent agents all competing for business in Costa Mesa, it can be hard to know which car insurance agent will provide you with the best service and rates. To begin, you can use insurance quotes online to build a list of insurance agents from which to choose.
How to find Costa Mesa insurance agents online
Good agents can point out coverage gaps and help file insurance claims. One of the best bonuses of price shopping on the web is that you can obtain the lowest rates but still work with a licensed agent. Supporting local insurance agencies is important particularly in Costa Mesa.
To help locate an agent, after submitting this form (opens in new window), the coverage information is emailed to local insurance agents in Costa Mesa who will give you bids for your business. You don’t have to leave your house because quoted prices will be sent directly to your email. How cool is that?! You’ll get the best rates without the usual hassles of price shopping.
The type of insurance agent you choose is important
When researching a reliable agent, there are a couple of different types of agents that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agencies in Costa Mesa are classified as either independent (non-captive) or captive.
Independent Insurance Agents
Independent insurance agents are not employed by any specific company so they can insure your vehicles with many different companies depending on which coverage is best. To move your coverage to a new 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 at least one independent agent to get the best comparison. Many write coverage with smaller regional carriers which can save you money.
Shown below are Costa Mesa independent insurance agents willing to provide comparison quotes.
- Herrero Agency – 811 W 19th St – Costa Mesa, CA 92627 – (949) 650-6843
- American Quest Insurance Svc – 1525 Mesa Verde Dr E – Costa Mesa, CA 92626 – (714) 557-7558
- One Stop Auto Insurance Inc – 2200 Harbor Blvd – Costa Mesa, CA 92627 – (949) 574-9262
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive agents can only place business with one company like Allstate, Farmers Insurance, State Farm and AAA. They are unable to shop your coverage around so keep that in mind. These agents are usually quite knowledgeable on their company’s products which can be an advantage. Consumers sometimes choose to use a captive agent mainly due to high brand loyalty and strong financial ratings.
The following are captive agents in Costa Mesa who can help you get price quote information.
- Farmers Insurance Group – 660 Baker St # 357 – Costa Mesa, CA 92626 – (714) 424-6030
- American Family ADM Fnncl – 2706 Harbor Blvd – Costa Mesa, CA 92626 – (714) 437-1776
- State Farm Insurance – 1518 Newport Blvd – Costa Mesa, CA 92627 – (949) 553-1115
- Allstate Insurance – 1503 S Coast Dr # 311 – Costa Mesa, CA 92626 – (714) 754-1330
For a full directory of Costa Mesa captive insurance agents, simply jump to this page.
Selecting an insurance agency shouldn’t rely on just the bottom line cost. These questions are important to ask:
- Are you getting all the discounts the company offers?
- How long have they worked with personal auto insurance coverage?
- What insurance company do they write the most business with?
- Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in California?
- Do clients work directly with the agent or are most inquiries handled by a CSR?
- How much will you save each year by using a higher deductible?
After getting acceptable answers and an acceptable price quote, most likely you have located a car insurance agent that is a good match to service your policy.
Keep your options open
Professional insurance agents are important to many people, but California drivers can also buy direct from companies online. Even companies like Allstate and State Farm who sell through the agent channel also allow consumers to get quotes and purchase online, and consumers should do that if you are the do-it-yourself type.
If you’re uneasy about not receiving proper advice, that is quite common when buying online the first time. Online insurance companies that require consumers to choose their own coverages provide options to walk you through the process.
Will auto insurance cost less online? That question is hard to answer due to the fact that there are multiple individual factors that determine the price you pay. It’s often assumed that a customer who purchases direcly from an online company saves money because there is no agent involvement. In reality, online and traditional media advertising are expensive and that can cost more than having to pay agents.
Cheaper insurance is a realistic goal
Lower-priced car insurance can be sourced online as well as from independent agents in Costa Mesa, so you should compare both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. A few companies don’t offer online price quotes and usually these small insurance companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.
Insureds leave their current company for any number of reasons including poor customer service, delays in responding to claim requests, lack of trust in their agent or even unfair underwriting practices. Regardless of your reason, finding a new car insurance company is pretty simple and you could end up saving a buck or two.
More information can be read on the California Department of Insurance website located here. Visitors are able to file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, read consumer alerts, get help finding coverage, and find disaster information.
Other informative sites include this page for car insurance in California and this page of insurance agents in Costa Mesa.
