When buying auto insurance in East Ridge, selecting the best East Ridge auto insurance agent for your needs is harder than just calling the closest agent. You need a professional agent, but also cheap rates.
With consumers having so many insurance companies to choose from, it can be hard to locate the most cost effective insurer.
Your local neighborhood insurance agent
Agents can help determine the best coverages and help submit paperwork. The biggest benefit of comparing insurance prices online is the fact that you can find better rates and still choose a local agent.
After completing this form (opens in new window), the coverage information is transmitted to agents in your area who will give you bids for your insurance coverage. You won’t need to visit any agencies as quotes are delivered straight to your inbox. Now that’s easy! You can find better rates without the usual hassles of price shopping.
Choosing an auto insurance agent should depend on more than just the bottom line cost. These questions are important to ask:
- Is vehicle mileage a factor when determining depreciation for repairs?
- If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?
- Are there any discounts that you might be missing?
- Can they give you a list of client referrals?
- Will vehicle repairs be made with aftermarket parts or OEM replacement parts?
- How long have they worked with personal auto insurance coverage?
- Are they full-time agents?
Different types of East Ridge auto insurance agents
When searching for local East Ridge agents, there are two types of insurance agents that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agents are either captive or independent (non-captive).
Captive Insurance Agents
These agents have only one company to place business with like Farmers Insurance or State Farm. These agents are unable to give you multiple price quotes so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. They are well schooled on their products and sales techniques which helps them compete with independent agents.
The following is a list of captive insurance agencies in East Ridge who may provide you with comparison quotes.
Allstate Insurance Co – 400 S Moore Rd # A – East Ridge, TN 37412 – (423) 899-3140
Independent Insurance Agents
Independent insurance agents are not locked into one company so they have the ability to put coverage amongst many companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If your agent finds better pricing, your agent can switch companies and you won’t have to switch agencies.
When searching for an agent, it’s a good idea to include price quotes from at a minimum one independent agency to ensure the widest selection of prices.
The following are East Ridge independent insurance agents who can help you get price quotes.
Tucker Williams Insurance – 4143 Ringgold Rd # B – East Ridge, TN 37412 – (423) 622-2206
Lawhorn and Assoc Insurance – – East Ridge, TN 37412 – (423) 867-3232
Barton-Burrows Agency – 4159 Ringgold Rd # 101 – East Ridge, TN 37412 – (423) 622-7651
For a complete listing of auto insurance agents in East Ridge, simply jump to this page.
Upon getting answers to your satisfaction and an affordable coverage quote, most likely you have located an insurance agency that can insure your vehicles.
Can you buy online and save?
Insurance agencies serve a purpose, but you can also find affordable Tennessee auto insurance from online companies direct. Some companies, such as Farmers Insurance and State Farm, that sell primarily through agents also allow you to buy online, and online price comparisons are easy to possibly find a better rate.
If you’re uncomfortable with not getting advice from an agent, don’t let it bother you. Online insurance companies that require consumers to choose their own coverages all provide contact methods for getting the best coverage.
Can online rates save money? That question is hard to answer since there are many things which can adversely affect your policy premium. Common logic is that buying direct saves money by not requiring a commission. For the majority of companies, however, promoting brand recognition is pricey and this drives up their premium costs.
If you’re not set on any one company, the best way to find out if local insurance agents or online providers are cheaper is to take the time to compare rates from both. It’s fairly common that you receive different coverage costs when comparing quotes online and from an agent for the exact same company.
Additional Tennessee consumer information
Additional detailed information can be read at the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance website. Visitors are able to find a variety of consumer forms, get help finding coverage, find out which companies have the most complaints, and find out industry alerts.
Keep this in mind
People who switch companies do it for many reasons like extreme rates for teen drivers, lack of trust in their agent, denial of a claim or not issuing a premium refund. No matter why you want to switch, choosing a new company is easier than you think.
While you’re price shopping online, make sure you don’t reduce coverage to reduce premium. Too many times, someone dropped full coverage only to find out that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your strategy should be to find the BEST coverage at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.
