Comparing auto insurance companies in South Burlington, VT can be challenging because you have many choices and picking a good Vermont auto insurance agent takes more work than just making a phone call. Consumers require a competent insurance agent, but also need cheap rates.
Drivers have so many auto insurance agents to insure vehicles with, and even though it’s nice to have a selection, it can be more challenging to find the best rates for your vehicles.
Your insurance agent down the street
Agents can answer important questions and give you peace of mind. The biggest benefit of price shopping on the web is that you can obtain the best rates but also keep your business local.
To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this quick form, your insurance data gets sent to local insurance agents who will compete to get your business. There is no reason to leave your house as quotes are delivered immediately to your email address. How’s that for easy!
Deciding on a car insurance agent should depend on more than just the bottom line cost. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:
- How many years of experience in personal lines insurance coverages do they have?
- Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
- Do they receive special compensation for putting your coverage with one company over another?
- Do they have advanced training designations such as CPCU, AAI, AIC, or CIC?
- Are they full-time agents?
- Do they have adequate Errors and Ommissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.
Do you need an independent or captive insurance agent?
If you’re trying to find local South Burlington agents, there are two different agency structures that you can select. Agencies in South Burlington are categorized either captive or independent. Both types can properly insure your vehicles, but it’s worth mentioning the difference between them because it can impact your agent selection.
Agency Captives
Captive agents write business for a single company and examples are AAA, Allstate, State Farm, Farmers Insurance or Liberty Mutual. They usually cannot place coverage with different providers so it’s a take it or leave it situation. Captive agents are usually quite knowledgeable on the products they sell which helps them compete with independent agents. Some people will only purchase coverage from captives mostly because of high brand loyalty and strong financial ratings.
Listed below are captive insurance agencies in South Burlington that can give you rate quotes.
- State Farm Insurance – 100 Dorset St – South Burlington, VT 05403 – (802) 657-3500
- Allstate Insurance – 205 Dorset St – South Burlington, VT 05403 – (802) 862-8620
Independent Insurance Agents
Independent agencies are not required to write business for one company but rather can write business with lots of companies and potentially find a lower price. If your agent finds better pricing, an independent agent can move your coverage and you don’t have to find a new agent.
When comparing rates, it’s a good idea to include at a minimum one independent agency to have the most options to choose from. They also have the ability to place coverage with lesser-known insurance companies which may provide better rates.
Listed below is a list of independent insurance agencies in South Burlington that can give you price quotes.
- Acadia Insurance Co – 1775 Williston Rd – South Burlington, VT 05403 – (802) 658-0722
- Northeast Insurance Broker Svc – 620 Hinesburg Rd # 3d – South Burlington, VT 05403 – (802) 862-4865
- Citro Agency – 20 Kimball Ave # 307 – South Burlington, VT 05403 – (802) 864-3939
To view a full list of South Burlington insurance agents, click here to link.
Upon getting good answers to your questions and a low price estimate, it’s possible that you found an insurance agency that is a good match to properly service your auto insurance policy.
Are online companies an option?
Professional insurance agents are perfect for certain consumers, but you can also find affordable Vermont auto insurance direct online. Some car insurance companies, such as State Farm, Allstate and Farmers, that are more known for using agents, also give you the option to buy direct on their websites, and that is helpful.
If you’re anxious about not getting advice from an agent when buying online, that should not be a issue. All companies provide customer service to help you decide which coverages are appropriate.
Are car insurance rates lower online? The answer to that question is complicated because there are many components that are calculated into your premium. It would make sense to think that purchasing direct online saves money because there is no commission. For the majority of companies, however, getting their brand in front of customers is expensive and that can cost more than having to pay agents.
A tidy conclusion
Affordable auto insurance can be bought both online in addition to many South Burlington insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. There are still a few companies who do not provide the ability to get a quote online and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.
When shopping online for auto insurance, it’s not a good idea to buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. In too many instances, consumers will sacrifice liability coverage limits only to regret at claim time that it was a big error on their part. Your goal should be to purchase plenty of coverage at an affordable rate while not skimping on critical coverages.
Even more information can be read at the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation website. Vermont consumers can report car insurance fraud, read consumer alerts, learn about insurance regulations, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.
The articles below may also help you learn more about auto insurance in South Burlington