If you’re looking to buy auto insurance, there are a lot of options and choosing the right Kent car insurance agent takes more work than just randomly choosing from the yellow pages. Consumers require a good agent, but also the best price on auto insurance.
Insurance companies such as Geico, 21st Century and Progressive all claim big savings with advertising and it can be hard to see past the geckos and flying pigs and do the work needed to find the best deal.
Car Insurance from Kent insurance agents
Educated insurance agents can point out coverage gaps and give you peace of mind. The biggest benefit of comparing rates online is you can get better rates but also keep your business local.
Upon completion of this quick form, the quote information gets sent to participating agents in Kent who will give you bids for your business. There is no reason to drive around as quotes are delivered directly to your email. It doesn’t get any easier! It’s the lowest rates AND a local agent.
Choosing an insurance agency requires more thought than just the bottom line cost. Any agent should have no problem answering these questions:
- What insurance company do they write the most business with?
- Can they give you a list of client referrals?
- Is assistance available after office hours?
- Are there any discounts that you might be missing?
- Are claim adjusters local or do you have to take your car somewhere else?
- Which members of your family are coverage by the policy?
- How much can you save by raising your physical damage deductibles?
What type of Kent car insurance agent is right for you?
If you’re trying to find local Kent agents, there are a couple of types of agencies to choose from. Agents are classified as either captive or independent.
Captive Insurance Agents
This type of agents work for only one company like Allstate, Farmers Insurance, State Farm and AAA. They usually cannot provide prices from multiple companies so they have to upsell other benefits. Captive agents are very knowledgeable in insurance sales which can be an advantage. Some people will only choose to use a captive agent partially due to high brand loyalty and strong financial ratings.
Below is a list of captive agents in Kent who can help you get rate quotes.
- Allstate Insurance – 25052 104th Ave SE # H – Kent, WA 98030 – (253) 859-4410
- Farmers Insurance Group – 409 3rd Ave S # B – Kent, WA 98032 – (253) 852-9727
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
Independent insurance agents are not locked into one company but instead can place your 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 you won’t have to switch agencies. When comparison shopping, we recommend you contact at a minimum one independent agency for maximum quote selection.Most can insure with lesser-known insurance companies which can save you money.
Listed below are Kent independent agencies willing to provide comparison quotes.
- Don Gregory Agency – 1048 W James St # 103 – Kent, WA 98032 – (253) 854-3021
- Chris Moore Insurance – 8009 S 180th St # 102 – Kent, WA 98032 – (206) 242-8850
- Carl Goodwin Insurance – 10214 SE 240th St # B – Kent, WA 98031 – (253) 859-1133
- Brinkley Family Agency – 603 Central Ave N – Kent, WA 98032 – (253) 850-9043
For a complete listing of insurance agents in Kent, visit this link.
Upon getting acceptable answers to these questions in addition to an acceptable price estimate, you have narrowed it down to a car insurance agent that is a good match to provide auto insurance coverage.
But what about Geico, Esurance and Progressive?
Local insurance agents are perfect for certain consumers, but Washington drivers can also buy direct from companies that only sell online. Some companies who employ agents also give you the ability to buy a policy online, so keep that in mind if you want to do it yourself.
If you’re apprehensive about not having someone to ask questions, that is normal but is not a big issue. Car insurance companies that allow you to purchase coverage have toll-free phone numbers and other options to help you decide which coverages are appropriate.
Do online companies provide lower prices? A lot of shoppers won’t buy anywhere else, but it’s impossible to say because of the fact that insurance companies use many factors that impact your premium. Common sense would say that a consumer who buys direct saves by not paying a commission. In many cases, marketing their products costs a lot of money and that can cost more than having to pay agents.
A tidy conclusion
The cheapest auto insurance can be bought on the web as well as from independent agents in Kent, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best selection. A few companies don’t offer you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these small insurance companies sell through independent agents.
People who switch companies do it for any number of reasons including poor customer service, not issuing a premium refund, policy non-renewal and even questionable increases in premium. No matter why you want to switch, choosing a new company is actually quite simple.
Additional reading for auto insurance information
More detailed Washington auto insurance information is available at the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner website. Washington consumers can learn about specific coverages, view agent and company licensing information, read industry bulletins, and read consumer alerts.
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