When shopping for auto insurance, you have many choices and picking a good Alaska insurance agent is more difficult than just using the same insurance agency as your neighbor. You need a decent agent, but also need competitive auto insurance rates.
Because you have many choices, it can be diffult for consumers to locate the lowest price insurer.
Palmer agents and online quotes
Insurance agents can answer important questions and help file insurance claims. One of the best bonuses of comparing insurance prices online is you may find better rates and still have an agent to talk to.
After completing this short form, your coverage information is submitted to agents in your area who will battle for your coverage. You don’t have to drive around as quotes are delivered straight to your inbox. How cool is that?! You’ll get the best rates AND a local agent.
Deciding on a car insurance agent requires more thought than just a cheap price. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:
- Do they assist clients in filing claims?
- How much can you save by raising your physical damage deductibles?
- Do you have coverage for a rental car if your vehicle is in the repair shop?
- Is working in the agency their full-time job?
- How long has their agency been in business in Palmer?
Captive or Independent: There is a difference
When researching an insurance agent, you need to know there are two different agency structures to choose from. Agents are categorized either captive or independent.
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive agencies have only one company to place business with such as State Farm, AAA, Farmers Insurance or Allstate. These agents are not able to provide prices from multiple companies so they have to upsell other benefits. Captives are very knowledgeable in insurance sales which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums. Some consumers prefer to purchase coverage from captives primarily because of the prominence of the brand and the convenience of having all coverages with one company.
Below is a short list of captive insurance agencies in Palmer who may provide you with price quotes.
- Allstate Insurance – Mile 3.2 Palmer Wasilla Hwy – Palmer, AK 99645 – (907) 746-0505
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
Independent agents are not locked into one company so they have the ability to put coverage with lots of companies and potentially find a lower price. To transfer your coverage to a different company, the agent simply finds a different carrier without you having to go to a different agency.
When searching for an agent, it’s a good idea to include price quotes from at a minimum one independent agency to have the most options to choose from. They also have the ability to place coverage with smaller companies who may have lower rates.
The following is a short list of independent insurance agents in Palmer that can give you price quotes.
- Country Insurance and Financial – 1032 S Bailey St – Palmer, AK 99645 – (907) 745-6027
- Valley Insurance Svc – 10913 N Palmer Fishhook – Palmer, AK 99645 – (907) 746-7374
To view a complete directory of Palmer insurance agents, please click here.
Upon receiving satisfactory answers to all your questions and a low price estimate, chances are good that you have found an insurance agency that will properly insure your vehicles.
But what about buying insurance online?
Local insurance agents can be invaluable at times, but you also have the option of buying Alaska car insurance direct from companies that only sell online. Some companies like State Farm and Allstate who employ agents also permit you to buy a policy online, and that is helpful to possibly find a better rate.
If you’re uncomfortable with choosing your own coverages when buying direct, this is expected but don’t let that bother you. Companies that require consumers to choose their own coverages provide phone numbers and online resources you can use to get advice on coverages.
Is car insurance cheaper online? That question is hard to answer since there may be dozens of rate factors which can raise or lower premium rates. It’s often assumed that a customer who purchases direcly from an online company lowers rates due to not having any agent compensation. But in reality, online and traditional media advertising are expensive so rates may not be all that different from traditional agents.
Additional consumer information websites
More tips and info about auto insurance is located at the Alaska Division of Insurance website. Consumers can read state legal mandates and laws, read industry bulletins, download brochures, and file complaints about a company.
Other related articles:
- Top 9 Ways to Save on Car Insurance in Palmer
- Shop For Palmer Car Insurance for the Lowest Rate With These Tricks
Buy online or local, you save
As you restructure your insurance plan, it’s not a good idea to reduce needed coverages to save money. In many instances, an accident victim reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits and discovered at claim time that the savings was not a smart move. Your aim should be to purchase plenty of coverage at an affordable rate while not skimping on critical coverages.
Cheaper auto insurance can be found from both online companies as well as from independent agents in Palmer, and you should be comparing both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance providers don’t offer the ability to get a quote online and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.
