Comparing car insurance rates in Asheville can be a lot of work since selecting the best Asheville car insurance agent for your needs is not as easy as just randomly choosing from the yellow pages. Consumers need a decent agent, but also decent rates too.
Big companies like Geico, Farmers Insurance and State Farm all promote huge savings with ads and it is difficult to ignore the flying pigs and cute green geckos and find the best price available.
Local Asheville agents and car insurance
Good agents can help determine the best coverages and give you someone to call. One of the best bonuses of getting online price quotes is the fact that you can find the lowest rates and still choose a local agent.
By using this simple form, your insurance coverage information is submitted to participating agents in Asheville who will give you bids for your insurance coverage. There is no need to visit any agencies due to the fact that quote results will go immediately to your email address. Now that’s easy!
Selecting an auto insurance agent should depend on more than just a low price. These are valid questions to ask:
- Are glass claims handled on-site or do you have to take your vehicle to a repair shop?
- Do they specialize in personal lines coverage?
- If they are an independent agency, which companies do they recommend?
- What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
- How are claims handled?
- If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?
Captive and independent Asheville insurance agencies
When searching for a good insurance agency, there are two different types of agents to choose from. Asheville agents can either be independent (non-captive) or captive. While both can write coverage properly, but it’s worth learning how they differ because it can influence buying decisions.
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive agencies write business for a single company and examples are Allstate, State Farm and Farmers Insurance. They are unable to shop your coverage around so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. They are usually quite knowledgeable on their company’s products which helps them compete with independent agents. Some people will only choose to use a captive agent primarily because of the prominence of the brand and strong financial ratings.
Shown below are Asheville captive agents that are able to give comparison quotes.
- Allstate Insurance Co – 1550 Hendersonville Rd – Asheville, NC 28803 – (828) 277-7818
- Farm Bureau Insurance – Ih 26 Exit 2 Brevard Rd – Asheville, NC 28801 – (828) 225-5134
- State Farm Insurance – 660 Merrimon Ave # C – Asheville, NC 28804 – (828) 252-8222
- Farmers Insurance Group – 4 Hickory Dr – Asheville, NC 28806 – (828) 252-0022
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
These agents are not employed by any specific company so they can insure your vehicles with lots of companies and potentially find a lower price. If you are not satisfied with one company, the business is moved internally and you don’t have to find a new agent.
When searching for an agent, it’s recommended you contact several independent insurance agents to have the most options to choose from.Many can place coverage with smaller regional carriers who may have lower rates.
Shown below are independent agencies in Asheville willing to provide comparison quotes.
- James R Smith Agency – 70 Woodfin Pl # 320 – Asheville, NC 28801 – (828) 254-3742
- Tim P Queen Agency – 70 Weaverville Rd – Asheville, NC 28804 – (828) 255-0956
- Jeffords Agency – 1293 Hendersonville Rd # 13 – Asheville, NC 28803 – (828) 274-9117
- Appalachian Insurance Svc – 191 Haywood Rd – Asheville, NC 28806 – (828) 251-5089
- Allcar Insurance – 88 Westgate Pkwy # A – Asheville, NC 28806 – (828) 251-0790
For a complete listing of insurance agents in Asheville, click here to link.
After receiving reasonable responses to your questions in addition to an acceptable price estimate, chances are good that you have found a car insurance agent that can insure your vehicles.
Can you find lower rates by buying online?
Car insurance agents are perfect for certain consumers, but you also have the option of buying North Carolina car insurance direct over the internet. Certain companies, such as Farmers Insurance and State Farm, who have local agents in Asheville also give you the option to get a quote and buy online, and online price comparisons are easy if you are the do-it-yourself type.
If you’re anxious about not having an agent to talk to, don’t let it bother you. Companies that allow you to purchase coverage all provide contact methods for customer questions.
Is online auto insurance cheaper? It’s difficult to provide an answer since there may be dozens of rate factors that are calculated into your premium. It’s logical to say that purchasing direct online saves by not paying a commission. But that assumption is generally incorrect because promoting brand recognition is pricey and that can cost more than having to pay agents.
More comparisons equals lower rates
Budget-conscious car insurance can be bought on the web and also from your neighborhood Asheville agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best selection. Some insurance companies may not provide online quoting and usually these small insurance companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.
While you’re price shopping online, never reduce needed coverages to save money. In many instances, consumers will sacrifice liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The aim is to buy the best coverage you can find for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.
More tips and info about car insurance is available at the North Carolina Department of Insurance website. Consumers can learn about specific coverages, learn about insurance regulations, find disaster information, and report car insurance fraud.
