If you’re looking to buy car insurance, there are a lot of options and picking a good Mississippi auto insurance agent takes more work than just using the same car insurance agent as your neighbor. Most likely you’re not only searching for a highly trained agent, but you also want to find affordable coverage.
With insurance companies like American Family, Allstate, State Farm and independent agents all competing for business in Hattiesburg, it’s difficult to determine which one will have the lowest rates and best service. Thankfully, you can use online quoting to get a list of insurance agents and price estimates.
Best way to find Hattiesburg agents
Agents can answer important questions and help file insurance claims. One of the great benefits of comparing rates online is you can get lower rates but still work with a licensed agent. And providing support for local insurance agencies is definitely important in Hattiesburg.
After filling out this short form, your coverage information is instantly submitted to insurance agents in Hattiesburg who will battle for your coverage. There is no need to drive around since price quotes are sent to the email address you provide. Now that’s easy!
Hattiesburg auto insurance agents come in two flavors
When researching local Hattiesburg agents, you must know there are a couple different agency structures that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agencies in Hattiesburg are categorized either independent (non-captive) or captive. Both types can write coverage properly, but it’s important to know how they differ because it can influence the selection process.
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
Independent agents are not employed by any specific company but rather can write business with lots of companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If you are not satisfied with one company, the business is moved internally and you don’t have to find a new agent.
When comparison shopping, we recommend you include price quotes from multiple independent agents to have the most options to choose from.
Shown below is a short list of independent agencies in Hattiesburg that are able to give rate quotes.
Brock-Wyman Insurance – 2010 Oak Grove Rd # A – Hattiesburg, MS 39402 – (601) 268-8838
USA Direct Insurance Co – 2307 Hardy St # A – Hattiesburg, MS 39401 – (601) 268-9333
Galey Agency – 115 Thornhill Dr – Hattiesburg, MS 39402 – (601) 583-0033
Nowell Agency – 6645 U S Highway 98 # 1 – Hattiesburg, MS 39402 – (601) 264-8494
Stevens Agency – 601 Bay St – Hattiesburg, MS 39401 – (601) 544-2500
Agency Captives
Captive agencies are contracted to one company like State Farm, Allstate and AAA. They are unable to shop your coverage around so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. Captive agents are very knowledgeable on their company’s products which can be an advantage.
The following is a short list of captive agents in Hattiesburg that are able to give price quotes.
State Farm Insurance – 6106 U S Highway 98 # 20 – Hattiesburg, MS 39402 – (601) 264-1117
Farm Bureau Insurance – 3 Woodstone Dr – Hattiesburg, MS 39402 – (601) 264-0330
Farmers Insurance Group – – Hattiesburg, MS 39402 – (601) 296-1180
Allstate Insurance – 6051 U S Highway 98 # 3 – Hattiesburg, MS 39402 – (601) 296-0100
Shelter Insurance – 6102 U S Highway 98 – Hattiesburg, MS 39402 – (601) 264-5412
For a full directory of captive insurance agencies in Hattiesburg, view this link.
Selecting a car insurance agent requires more thought than just the premium amount. Agents should be asked these questions:
- Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in Mississippi?
- What insurance companies do they work with?
- Which members of your family are coverage by the policy?
- Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
- If they are an independent agency, which companies do they recommend?
Once you have received acceptable answers for all questions you ask and a good coverage price, chances are good that you have found a car insurance agent that can service your policy.
Aren’t online-only companies cheaper?
Licensed agents can be invaluable at times, but you also have the option of buying from online companies direct. A few companies who sell through agents in Hattiesburg also allow you to buy direct on their websites, so this should also be taken into consideration if the lowest rate is your goal.
If you’re worried about not getting advice from an agent when buying car insurance direct, that is normal but is not a big issue. Companies all have toll-free customer service for getting the best coverage. They also offer 24/7 live help and a car insurance FAQ section so you can feel comfortable buying online.
Are online premiums lower? Many people swear by it, but it’s difficult to answer because of the fact that insurance companies use many factors that determine the price you pay. It’s a common assumption that buying directly from the company saves money by not requiring a commission. For the majority of companies, however, marketing their products costs a lot of money and that can cost more than having to pay agents.
If you’re trying to save the most money, the best approach to discovering if car insurance prices are lower online or from agents is comparing prices for both of them. Even though it sounds odd, people frequently get different pricing from the same car insurance company from their online quote form as compared to an agent.
Cheaper insurance is a realistic goal
Drivers leave their current company for any number of reasons including not issuing a premium refund, an unsatisfactory settlement offer, being labeled a high risk driver or delays in paying claims. Whatever your reason, finding a new company is pretty easy and you might even save some money in the process.
When shopping online for car insurance, never buy poor coverage just to save money. There are a lot of situations where someone dropped uninsured motorist or liability limits and learned later that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your goal should be to buy enough coverage for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.
Additional resources for Mississippi consumers
Additional car insurance information is available on the website for the Mississippi Insurance Department located here. Visitors are able to read state legal mandates and laws, get help finding coverage, view agent and company licensing information, and find out which companies have the most complaints.
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