Selecting a auto insurance company in Kennewick, Washington can be time consuming since you have many choices and choosing the right Kennewick insurance agency is not as easy as just using the same insurance agent as your neighbor. For this article’s sake, it’s assumed you not only want a great agent that can assess your needs, but also the lowest possible price.
With insurance companies like Allstate, Farmers and State Farm as well as independent agents all competing for business in Kennewick, consumers have a hard time knowing which auto insurance agent will give you the lowest rates and best service. Thankfully, consumers can use online quotes to assemble a group of insurance agents from which to choose.
Buying car insurance locally
Professional agents can help determine the best coverages and help submit paperwork. The biggest benefit of getting online price quotes is that you can obtain lower rates but still work with a licensed agent. Supporting small agencies is important especially in Kennewick.
Upon completion of this simple form, your insurance coverage information is transmitted to agents in your area who will battle for your business. You never need to even leave your home because quoted prices will be sent immediately to your email address. How cool is that?!
What types of auto insurance agents are in Kennewick?
When finding a good Kennewick insurance agent, you need to know there are two types of agencies from which to choose. Kennewick agents are either captive or independent. Both types can write coverage properly, but it’s worth learning the differences since it may influence the type of agent you choose
Independent Insurance Agents
Independent agencies do not work for one specific company so they can insure your vehicles with many different companies depending on which coverage is best. To move your coverage to a new company, the business is moved internally without you having to go to a different agency. When comparing rates, you should always include price quotes from at a minimum one independent agency to have the most options to choose from.
The following is a short list of independent insurance agencies in Kennewick who may be able to give you competitive price quotes.
Gallant Insurance Inc – 7535 W Kennewick Ave # H – Kennewick, WA 99336 – (509) 734-3200
Jarrett Insurance – 3030 W Clearwater Ave # 210 – Kennewick, WA 99336 – (509) 783-1100
Becky Hogan Agency – 8382 W Gage Blvd # L – Kennewick, WA 99336 – (509) 735-8438
Associated Agency Group – 6722 W Kennewick Ave # A – Kennewick, WA 99336 – (509) 783-5435
Rich Carver Agency – 7511 W Arrowhead Ave # C – Kennewick, WA 99336 – (509) 736-1572
Agency Captives
Captive insurance agents have only one company to place business with like State Farm, Allstate and AAA. These agents are unable to place coverage with different providers so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. Captive agents are usually quite knowledgeable in insurance sales which can be an advantage.
Below is a list of captive agencies in Kennewick that are able to give price quote information.
Allstate Insurance – 3321 W Kennewick Ave # 130 – Kennewick, WA 99336 – (509) 735-3456
Farmers Insurance Group – 4711 W Clearwater Ave – Kennewick, WA 99336 – (509) 735-3600
State Farm Insurance – 8203 W Quinault Ave # 900 – Kennewick, WA 99336 – (509) 737-8586
For a full directory of captive insurance agencies in Kennewick, go to this page.
Picking an insurance agency should depend on more than just the price. Ask your prospective agent these questions:
- What insurance companies do they work with?
- How are claims handled?
- Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?
- Are claim adjusters local or do you have to take your car somewhere else?
- Do you have coverage for a rental car if your vehicle is in the repair shop?
- How long have they worked with personal auto insurance coverage?
- Do they make recommendations based only on price?
After receiving acceptable answers to your questions as well as a affordable price, chances are good that you have found an auto insurance agent that is a good match to service your policy.
Buying direct is an option
Insurance agents serve a purpose, but Washington consumers also have the option to buy directly from online companies. Even companies, such as Farmers Insurance and State Farm, who sell through agents in Kennewick also let you get a quote and buy online, so this should also be taken into consideration if you are the do-it-yourself type.
If you’re concerned about not having someone to ask questions when buying car insurance direct, this is expected but don’t let that bother you. Online car insurance companies all have toll-free customer service to answer your questions. In addition, they usually offer online help and live chat that you can use before buying.
Do customers save by switching to an online company? Whether or not you’ll save is impossible to say because there are many factors that impact your final bill. Common sense would say that shopping direct lowers rates due to not having any agent compensation. But the reality is there are high advertising and marketing costs and that impacts the rates consumers pay.
Final considerations
Cost effective auto insurance can be sourced both online and also from your neighborhood Kennewick agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best selection. There are still a few companies who may not provide online price quotes and many times these regional insurance providers only sell through independent insurance agents.
When trying to cut insurance costs, it’s a bad idea to skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There have been many situations where consumers will sacrifice uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that it was a big mistake. The proper strategy is to purchase plenty of coverage at the best price while still protecting your assets.
Much more information about auto insurance in Washington can be found on the website for the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner found here. Washington drivers can find out which companies have the most complaints, report car insurance fraud, and discover disciplinary actions.
