Comparing car insurance companies in Belton, Missouri can be challenging because there are a lot of options and choosing the right Belton auto insurance agent is not as easy as just calling the closest agent. For this article’s sake, it’s assumed you’re looking for a professional licensed agent, but you also want to find affordable coverage.
With insurance companies like Farmers, Allstate, and independent agents having offices in Belton, consumers have a hard time knowing which auto insurance agent will give you the lowest rates and best service. To begin, consumers can use online quotes to assemble a group of agencies from which to choose.
Buying car insurance locally
Insurance agents can point out coverage gaps and give you peace of mind. The best thing about comparing insurance prices online is you may find the best rates and still choose a local agent. Supporting local businesses is important especially in Belton.
To help locate an agent, after submitting this quick form, your information is immediately sent to agents in your area who will compete for your insurance coverage. You never need to even leave your home because quoted prices will be sent straight to your inbox. It doesn’t get any easier! You can find better rates and a licensed agent to work with.
Car insurance agents in Belton come in two varieties
When researching a reputable insurance agent or broker, there are a couple of different types of agents that you can select. Insurance agencies in Belton can either be captive or independent (non-captive).
Independent Insurance Agents
These agents are not employed by any specific company but rather can write business amongst many companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. To transfer your coverage to a different company, your agent can switch companies without you having to go to a different agency. When comparing rates, it’s a good idea to include at least one independent agent to get the best comparison.
Listed below is a short list of independent agencies in Belton that may be able to provide competitive price quotes.
Linda Hocker Agency Inc Ins – 8017 E 171st St – Belton, MO 64012 – (816) 331-5800
Ria Agency – 1102 Main St – Belton, MO 64012 – (816) 965-8808
American National Insurance Co – 521 N Scott Ave – Belton, MO 64012 – (816) 322-4136
Insurance Specialists – 107 Bradford Ln – Belton, MO 64012 – (816) 331-4144
Captive Insurance Agents
These agents can only write with one company like State Farm, Allstate and AAA. These agents are not able to compare other company’s rates so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. Captive agents are trained well on the products they sell which helps them compete with independent agents.
Shown below are captive agents in Belton that can give you price quotes.
American Family Insurance – 8019 E 171st St – Belton, MO 64012 – (816) 331-7700
State Farm Insurance – 8009 E 171st St – Belton, MO 64012 – (816) 331-4288
Farmers Insurance Group – 553 N Scott Ave – Belton, MO 64012 – (816) 331-2020
Shelter Insurance – 112 Congress St – Belton, MO 64012 – (816) 331-0241
To view a complete directory of captive insurance agencies in Belton, please click here.
Selecting an insurance agency should depend on more than just the bottom line cost. Agents should be asked these questions:
- What insurance company do they write the most business with?
- Do they carry Errors and Omissions coverage?
- Does the company allow you to choose your own collision repair facility?
- Does the agency support the community they serve?
- Do you have coverage for a rental car if your vehicle is in the repair shop?
- Are they properly licensed to sell insurance in Missouri?
- Which members of your family are coverage by the policy?
- Will your rates increase after a single accident?
Once you have reasonable responses to any questions you have as well as a affordable price, it’s possible that you found a car insurance agent that will service your policy.
Can you find lower rates by buying online?
Local insurance agents are important, but you also have the option of buying Missouri car insurance from online companies direct. Certain companies, such as Farmers Insurance and State Farm, that sell primarily through agents also give you the ability to buy online, and that is helpful if you don’t want to take the time to contact agents.
If you’re uneasy about not receiving proper advice when buying car insurance direct, this is expected but don’t let that bother you. All companies have toll-free phone numbers and other options for getting questions answered. Consumers also can use help pages and frequently asked questions to help you make a buying decision.
Can online rates save money? Many people think so, but it’s hard to say for sure because there are many factors that impact your premium. Some people will tell you that buying directly from the company saves money because there is no agent involvement. But in reality, the cost of constant advertising is expensive so there may not be significant savings.
The best approach to find out if local insurance agents or online providers are cheaper is to make apples-to-apples comparisons of both. It’s even possible to receive different pricing from online quotes as compared to agent rates from the SAME company.
Missouri insurance information
More information can be found on the website for the Missouri Department of Insurance found here. Missouri drivers can find out industry alerts, discover disciplinary actions, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.
Better coverage you can count on
People change insurance companies for any number of reasons including delays in responding to claim requests, poor customer service, extreme rates for teen drivers and even denial of a claim. Whatever your reason, finding a new company is not as difficult as it may seem.
When you buy insurance online, make sure you don’t sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There have been many cases where an insured cut physical damage coverage only to regret that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your focus should be to purchase plenty of coverage at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.