When pricing car insurance in Meridian, ID, you have many choices and selecting the best Meridian insurance agency for your needs is not as easy as just using the same car insurance agent as your neighbor. Consumers need a competent insurance agent, and also the best car insurance prices in Meridian.
Many insurance agencies compete for your insurance dollar, and because of this it can be hard to compare auto insurance agents and uncover the absolute lowest rate possible.
Quote online but still have a local agent
Professional agents can point out coverage gaps and help in the event of a claim. The best thing about comparing insurance prices online is the fact that you can find better rates but still work with a licensed agent.
To find an agent, once you fill out this quick form, the coverage information is transmitted to insurance agents in Meridian who will give you bids for your business. There is no reason to drive around due to the fact that quote results will go to your email. Now that’s easy! You can find better rates and an insurance agent to talk to.
Deciding on an auto insurance agent shouldn’t rely on just the bottom line cost. Some important questions to ask are:
- Do they have advanced training designations such as CPCU, AAI, AIC, or CIC?
- Who are their largest clients?
- Which members of your family are coverage by the policy?
- How long has their agency been open in Meridian?
- What insurance companies do they recommend if they are an independent agent?
- Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
- Are you getting all the discounts the company offers?
The difference between Meridian auto insurance agents
When finding a reliable agent, you must know there are a couple types of agencies that you can select. Agents can either be captive or independent.
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive agents can only place business with one company like Allstate, AAA, Liberty Mutual and State Farm. Captives cannot provide prices from multiple companies so keep that in mind. These agents are usually quite knowledgeable in insurance sales which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums.
Shown below is a list of captive agents in Meridian who can help you get rate quotes.
American Family Insurance – 1551 W Cherry Ln – Meridian, ID 83642 – (208) 884-5249
Farmers Insurance Group – 1560 N Crestmont Dr – Meridian, ID 83642 – (208) 884-0072
State Farm Insurance – 540 W Cherry Ln – Meridian, ID 83642 – (208) 888-1711
Allstate Insurance – 2000 S Eagle Rd – Meridian, ID 83642 – (208) 288-1690
Independent Agencies or Brokers
These agents are not required to write business for one company so they can insure your vehicles with multiple insurance companies depending on which coverage is best. If you are not satisfied with one company, an independent agent can move your coverage and you won’t have to switch agencies.
When searching for an agent, it’s a good idea to include several independent insurance agents to get the best comparison.
Listed below are Meridian independent agents who can help you get rate quotes.
Mark Parkin Agency – 1406 N Main St # 112 – Meridian, ID 83642 – (208) 288-0636
Santi Insurance – 63 W Willowbrook Dr – Meridian, ID 83642 – (208) 884-3024
Maurer Agency – 4074 W Blue Creek Dr – Meridian, ID 83642 – (208) 855-2112
Rick Mannlein Insurance – 7903 S Mclintock Pl – Meridian, ID 83642 – (208) 846-9622
To view a full list of insurance agents in Meridian, view this link.
After getting positive feedback to your questions and an acceptable price quote, you have narrowed it down to a car insurance agent that is a good match to adequately provide car insurance.
Do online insurance companies save me money?
Local insurance agents can be invaluable at times, but you also have the option of buying Idaho car insurance from online companies direct. Certain auto insurance companies like State Farm and Allstate who have local agents in Meridian also let you buy a policy online, so this should also be taken into consideration.
If you’re apprehensive about not getting proper coverage when shopping online, this is normal but is quickly overcome. Online car insurance companies all have client service departments for customer questions.
Does buying online save money? That is a tough question to answer due to the large number of individual components that determine the price you pay. It’s a common assumption that shopping direct saves money by not requiring a commission. But truthfully, there are high advertising and marketing costs so rates may not be all that different from traditional agents.
The best way to determine where you can get the lowest rate, either online or from agents, is to compare price quotes from both. You can actually get different rates when comparing agent prices to online quotes from the exact same provider. It’s difficult to tell if the company’s rates are lower online or from an agent until you actually compare rates each way.
Additional Idaho consumer information
More tips and info about car insurance can be read at the Idaho Department of Insurance website. Idaho consumers can read industry bulletins, discover disciplinary actions, and find a variety of consumer forms.
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Smart consumers save more
When shopping online for car insurance, it’s a bad idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. There are too many instances where someone sacrificed liability coverage limits to discover at claim time they didn’t purchase enough coverage. The ultimate goal is to buy the best coverage you can find at the best price while still protecting your assets.
Consumers who switch companies do it for a variety of reasons including questionable increases in premium, unfair underwriting practices, delays in paying claims and denial of a claim. Whatever your reason, choosing a new insurance company can be pretty painless.
