Selecting a car insurance company in Gastonia, North Carolina can be time consuming since you have many choices and selecting the best Gastonia auto insurance agent for your needs is not as easy as just randomly choosing from the yellow pages. It’s assumed you require not only a professional licensed agent, but you also want the best rates possible.
With companies like Allstate, Farmers and State Farm as well as independent agents all competing for your business, it’s difficult to determine which provider will have the cheapest rates and the best coverage. To help decide, you can use online quoting to build a list of agents and thier coverage prices.
Save time by quoting online
Insurance agents can point out coverage gaps and give you peace of mind. One of the best bonuses of getting online price quotes is that you can obtain the lowest rates but also keep your business local. And providing support for local insurance agencies is important particularly in Gastonia.
After completing this form (opens in new window), your insurance coverage information is submitted to local insurance agents who will compete to get your business. There is no need to leave your computer as quotes are delivered straight to your inbox. It doesn’t get any easier! It’s the lowest rates AND an agent nearby.
Gastonia auto insurance agents are either independent or captive
When researching a reliable agent, there are two different types of agents to choose from. Agencies in Gastonia are classified as either independent (non-captive) or captive.
Independent Agencies or Brokers
Independent insurance agents are not employed by any specific company but rather can write business with any number of different companies and potentially find a lower price. If your agent finds better pricing, your agent can switch companies and that require little work on your part.
When searching for an agent, it’s recommended you contact several independent insurance agents to ensure the widest selection of prices.
The following is a short list of independent agents in Gastonia willing to provide comparison quotes.
Security Plus Insurance Inc – – Gastonia, NC 28054 – (704) 864-5515
Gina Sims Agency – 2664 S New Hope Rd – Gastonia, NC 28056 – (704) 867-2699
Parnell Agency – 703 E 2nd Ave – Gastonia, NC 28054 – (704) 864-8621
Mills Insurance – 429 S York St – Gastonia, NC 28052 – (704) 865-2606
Randy Walker Agency – 2519 E Ozark Ave – Gastonia, NC 28054 – (704) 864-0270
Captive Agents
Captive agencies can only place business with one company and some examples include Farmers Insurance, American Family, State Farm and Allstate. They usually cannot shop your coverage around so keep that in mind. Captive agencies are trained well on their company’s products and that can be a competitive advantage.
Shown below are captive agents in Gastonia that can give you comparison quotes.
Farm Bureau Insurance – 1337 E Garrison Blvd – Gastonia, NC 28054 – (704) 867-5433
State Farm Insurance – 3302 S New Hope Rd # 100d – Gastonia, NC 28056 – (704) 824-2985
Allstate Insurance Co – 2080 E Franklin Blvd – Gastonia, NC 28054 – (704) 865-6017
To view a full list of captive agencies in Gastonia, please view this page.
Deciding on an auto insurance agent shouldn’t rely on just a cheap price. These are valid questions to ask:
- What insurance companies do they work with?
- What are the financial ratings for the companies they represent?
- Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
- Is assistance available after office hours?
- Do they specialize in personal lines coverage?
- Will their companies depreciate repairs to your car based on the mileage?
- Is working in the agency their full-time job?
- Does the agency support the community they serve?
Once you have received acceptable answers to any questions you have and a good coverage price, chances are good that you have found a car insurance agent that meets your needs to properly insure your vehicles.
Does buying direct online cost less?
Insurance agents are indespensible for some people, but North Carolina car insurance can also be bought direct online. Even companies like State Farm and Allstate that are more known for using agents, also give you the option to buy direct online, so keep that in mind and can also potentially find you lower rates.
If you’re worried about not getting proper coverage when buying direct, that is normal but is not a big issue. Insurance companies have toll-free phone numbers and other options for getting the best coverage.
Is online auto insurance cheaper? It’s difficult to say for sure due to the large number of individual components which can adversely affect your policy premium. Many people think that shopping online for auto insurance cuts out the agent as a middleman. But the reality is promoting brand recognition is pricey and this tends to eat up any savings.
Shop smart and save
Discount car insurance can be found both online as well as from independent agents in Gastonia, so you should compare both so you have a total pricing picture. Some insurance providers don’t offer you the ability to get quotes online and these small insurance companies work with independent agents.
As you prepare to switch companies, it’s not a good idea to buy less coverage just to save a little money. In many cases, drivers have reduced physical damage coverage to discover at claim time that they should have had better coverage. Your strategy should be to buy a smart amount of coverage for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.
Additional car insurance links
Additional car insurance information can be read on the website for the North Carolina Department of Insurance through this link. Consumers can learn about specific coverages, report car insurance fraud, read consumer alerts, and find disaster information.
Also read more on this site for rates in North Carolina and this page for help finding agents in Gastonia, NC.
