When finding a good insurance agent in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, it’s recommended you start your research on the internet instead of making phone calls. Chances are you require not only a good agent, but also great rates as well.
With insurance companies like Allstate, Farmers, State Farm and many independent agents all competing for business in Pittsburgh, consumers have a hard time knowing which auto insurance agent will give you the best service and rates. Fortunately, consumers can use online quotes in order to build a list of insurance agents from which to choose.
Quote online but work with a neighborhood agent
Good agents can help determine the best coverages and help file insurance claims. The best thing about price shopping on the web is you can get the lowest rates and still choose a local agent. Supporting local businesses is especially important in Pittsburgh.
Upon completion of this form (opens in new window), your information is transmitted to companies in Pittsburgh who will battle for your business. There is no reason to even leave your home due to the fact that quote results will go straight to your inbox. How’s that for easy! You can find better rates AND an agent nearby.
Two types of Pittsburgh car insurance agents
When researching an insurance agent, you need to know there are two types of insurance agents that you can select. Agents can either be independent (non-captive) or captive.
Independent Agencies or Brokers
Independent agencies are not required to write business for one company so they have the ability to put coverage amongst many companies and potentially find a lower price. To transfer your coverage to a different company, an independent agent can move your coverage and that require little work on your part. When comparison shopping, it’s a good idea to include price quotes from several independent insurance agents for the best price selection.
Below is a list of independent insurance agencies in Pittsburgh that can give you competitive price quotes.
Church Mutual Insurance Co – 300 Penn Center Blvd # 204 – Pittsburgh, PA 15235 – (412) 829-1950
Liberty Insurance Corp – 8650 Babcock Blvd – Pittsburgh, PA 15237 – (412) 635-9095
Ronald C Dunn Agency – 124 Ingram Ave – Pittsburgh, PA 15205 – (412) 922-1126
Garland Agency – 6401 Penn Ave – Pittsburgh, PA 15206 – (412) 678-8868
John Ryce Agency – 9401 Mcknight Rd # 304b – Pittsburgh, PA 15237 – (412) 364-6420
Captive Agents
Captive insurance agents are contracted to one company like Allstate, Farmers Insurance or State Farm. They generally cannot give you multiple price quotes so always compare other rates. These agents are trained well in insurance sales which helps them compete with independent agents.
The following are Pittsburgh captive agencies willing to provide comparison quotes.
Liberty Mutual Insurance – 4 N Shore Ctr – Pittsburgh, PA 15212 – (412) 321-9211
Allstate Insurance – 1074 Greentree Rd – Pittsburgh, PA 15220 – (412) 306-7457
State Farm Insurance – 2101 Greentree Rd # A1075 – Pittsburgh, PA 15220 – (412) 279-9575
For a full directory of captive insurance agents in Pittsburgh, go to this page.
Selecting an insurance agency should depend on more than just the bottom line cost. Here are some questions to ask:
- Do they have advanced training designations such as CPCU, AAI, AIC, or CIC?
- How much will you save each year by using a higher deductible?
- If your car is totalled, how to they determine the replacement cost?
- What are the financial ratings for the companies they represent?
- Are claim adjusters local or do you have to take your car somewhere else?
- Will vehicle repairs be made with aftermarket parts or OEM replacement parts?
Once you have received positive feedback to any questions you have in addition to an acceptable price estimate, you’ve probably found an auto insurance agent that will properly insure your vehicles.
Can you find lower rates by buying online?
Local insurance agents are indespensible for some people, but you also have the option of buying from online companies direct. A few companies who sell through agents in Pittsburgh additionally provide the ability to buy online, so keep that in mind if the lowest rate is your goal.
If you’re apprehensive about not having an insurance agent’s advice when buying direct, that should not be a issue. Auto insurance companies give you access to trained agents to walk you through the process. They also offer extensive coverage information and 24/7 assistance you can access prior to buying.
Does coverage cost less online? It’s difficult to provide an answer because there are many factors that impact your final bill. Some people think that a customer who purchases direcly from an online company cuts out the middleman. But truthfully, marketing their products costs a lot of money so this can offset any savings.
The only method to determine if local insurance agents or online providers are cheaper is getting rates for as many of both types of providers as possible. It’s not unheard of to actually get different prices comparing agents to online prices from the same insurance company. But it’s difficult to know which way will be cheaper unless free rate quotes are compared from both ways.
Additional consumer information websites
Additional information is available on the website for the Pennsylvania Insurance Department found here. Visitors are able to find out industry alerts, get help finding coverage, and read industry bulletins.
Other informative sites include this resource for Pennsylvania car insurance prices and this link where you can get more info about Pittsburgh car insurance.
Final considerations
When you buy insurance online, make sure you don’t skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. In many cases, an accident victim reduced collision coverage and learned later that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. The aim is to purchase plenty of coverage at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.
People switch companies for a number of reasons such as high prices, unfair underwriting practices, policy non-renewal and even extreme rates for teen drivers. It doesn’t matter what your reason, finding a new car insurance company is not as hard as you think.
