To locate a good Bloomington agent, you can start your research on the internet in order to save time. It’s highly likely you’re looking for a great agent that can assess your needs, but you also want to find the best rates possible.
With insurance companies like American Family, Allstate, State Farm and Farmers having local Bloomington offices, consumers have a hard time knowing which one will give you the lowest rates and best service. To begin, consumers can use online quotes to assemble a group of insurance agencies and price estimates.
Why do I need an agent?
Agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help file insurance claims. One of the best bonuses of comparing rates online is the fact that you can find better rates and still choose a local agent. Supporting local agencies is important particularly in Bloomington.
Once you complete this simple form, your insurance data is transmitted to insurance agents in Bloomington who will return price quotes to get your business. You don’t have to leave your house since price quotes are sent straight to your inbox. It doesn’t get any easier!
What type of Bloomington auto insurance agent is right for you?
When searching for a good Bloomington insurance agent, there are a couple of types of insurance agents that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agents are either captive or independent (non-captive). Either one can properly insure your vehicles, but it’s good to learn the difference between them since it can impact the selection process.
Independent Insurance Agents
Independent insurance agents do not work for one specific company but rather can write business with lots of companies depending on which coverage is best. To transfer your coverage to a different company, your agent can switch companies and that require little work on your part.
When comparing rates, you should always include price quotes from multiple independent agents to ensure the widest selection of prices.
The following is a list of independent agencies in Bloomington who can help you get price quotes.
Jacobs Insurance – 612 E Washington St – Bloomington, IL 61701 – (309) 829-6323
R W Gipson Agency Inc – 219 E Washington St – Bloomington, IL 61701 – (309) 827-8523
Hank Smith Agency – 2302 E Oakland Ave # 1 – Bloomington, IL 61701 – (309) 664-0058
Sun Gard Insurance Systems – – Bloomington, IL 61704 – (309) 662-6100
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive insurance agents are contracted to one company like American Family, Liberty Mutual and AAA. These agents are not able to give you multiple price quotes so it’s a take it or leave it situation. They are usually quite knowledgeable on the products they sell and that can be a competitive advantage.
Shown below is a list of captive agents in Bloomington who can help you get price quote information.
Allstate Insurance – 2310 E Oakland Ave # 4b – Bloomington, IL 61701 – (309) 663-8918
State Farm Mutual Auto Ins Co – 1 State Farm Plz – Bloomington, IL 61710 – (309) 766-2311
Farmers Insurance Group – 2101 Eastland Dr – Bloomington, IL 61704 – (309) 662-4414
Illinois Farm Bureau – 1701 N Towanda Ave – Bloomington, IL 61701 – (309) 557-2111
American Family Insurance – 514 E Locust St # A – Bloomington, IL 61701 – (309) 827-8244
For a complete listing of captive insurance agencies in Bloomington, visit this site.
Choosing a car insurance agent requires more thought than just the premium amount. Any agent should have no problem answering these questions:
- How long has their agency been open in Bloomington?
- If you have an accident, are you able to get your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice?
- What insurance companies do they recommend if they are an independent agent?
- Is assistance available after office hours?
- Are they properly licensed to sell insurance in Illinois?
- Which members of your family are coverage by the policy?
- Do they regularly work with personal auto policies?
- Do they have any clout with companies to ensure a fair claim settlement?
After getting positive feedback to these questions and an affordable coverage quote, you may have just found a car insurance agent that meets your needs to service your policy.
Don’t exclude online companies
Local insurance agents are a valuable resource, but you can also buy Illinois car insurance from online companies direct. Even companies like State Farm and Allstate that are more known for using agents, also give you the option to buy direct on their websites, and online price comparisons are easy.
If you’re concerned about not having professional advice when buying online, this really isn’t an issue. Online insurance companies have toll-free phone numbers and other options for getting the best coverage. Most companies also provide the ability to chat online live with a sales rep and online research that you can use if you have questions.
Are car insurance rates lower online? That is a tough question to answer due to the fact that there are many factors that determine the price you pay. Common logic is that buying directly from the company saves the commission normally paid to an agent. But in most cases, advertising and marketing take a lot of money and that impacts the rates consumers pay.
Illinois insurance information
Much more information about car insurance in Illinois is available on the website for the Illinois Department of Insurance found here. Consumers can view a list of available companies, find out which companies have the most complaints, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.
Other related articles:
- Learn How to Buy Bloomington Auto Insurance Like a Professional
- Learn the Secrets to Lower Bloomington Minnesota Car Insurance
- Never Compare Bloomington Car Insurance Without Knowing These Money Saving Methods
More effort can pay off
People leave their current company for many reasons like delays in paying claims, high rates after DUI convictions, policy non-renewal or being labeled a high risk driver. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch switching car insurance companies is not as hard as you think.
The cheapest car insurance is available on the web as well as from independent agents in Bloomington, so compare prices from both to have the best selection. A few companies don’t offer the ability to get a quote online and many times these regional insurance providers only sell through independent insurance agents.
