When pricing auto insurance in Stratford, Connecticut, finding the best Connecticut insurance agent is not as easy as just using the same insurance agency as your neighbor. Most likely you require not only a highly trained agent, but also affordable coverage.
With independent agents, Allstate and State Farm all competing for business in Stratford, it can be hard to know which will provide you with the lowest rates and best service. Fortunately, consumers can use insurance quotes online to assemble a group of insurance agents to choose from.
Working with a local agent
Good agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and give you peace of mind. The biggest benefit of comparing insurance prices online is the fact that you can find the best rates but also keep your business local. And supporting small agencies is especially important in Stratford.
After filling out this quick form, your coverage information is emailed to participating agents in Stratford who will battle for your insurance coverage. There is no reason to even leave your home since price quotes are sent to the email address you provide. How cool is that?!
Captive agents vs. Independent agents
When searching for a reliable agent, there are a couple of types of insurance agents from which to choose. Agencies in Stratford are classified as either independent or captive. Both do a good job, but it’s worth mentioning how they differ since it may influence your selection of an agent.
Independent Insurance Agents
These agents are not locked into one company so they can insure your vehicles with many different companies depending on which coverage is best. If you are not satisfied with one company, your agent can switch companies and you don’t have to find a new agent. When shopping rates, you should always include price quotes from multiple independent agents to ensure the widest selection of prices.
Below are independent insurance agents in Stratford that can give you competitive price quotes.
Scott Insurance – 3161 Main St – Stratford, CT 06614 – (203) 245-0072
Town Hall Insurance – 1516 Barnum Ave – Stratford, CT 06614 – (203) 378-9348
Gabriel Agency – 1516 Barnum Ave – Stratford, CT 06614 – (203) 502-5000
Thomas Edward Agency Inc – 1825 Barnum Ave # 301 – Stratford, CT 06614 – (203) 377-0405
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive agents work for only one company and examples are State Farm or Allstate. These agents are unable to shop your coverage around so keep that in mind. They receive extensive training on the products they sell and that can be a competitive advantage.
Below is a short list of captive agents in Stratford who can help you get price quote information.
Allstate Insurance – 2505 Main St – Stratford, CT 06615 – (203) 378-0391
State Farm Insurance – 305 Boston Ave # 202 – Stratford, CT 06614 – (203) 385-1108
For a full directory of Stratford captive insurance agencies, visit this site.
Picking an insurance agent should depend on more than just the price. Ask your prospective agent these questions:
- Do they receive special compensation for putting your coverage with one company over another?
- Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
- Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
- Do they regularly work with personal auto policies?
- Who is covered by the car insurance policy?
Upon getting good answers to all your questions and a low price estimate, you may have just found a car insurance agent that can properly service your auto insurance policy.
Online alternative for car insurance
Auto insurance agents are important, but you also have the option of buying Connecticut car insurance from online companies direct. Certain companies like State Farm and Allstate who have local Stratford agents also give you the option to buy direct on their websites, so this should also be taken into consideration.
If you’re uneasy about not receiving proper advice when buying car insurance direct, don’t sweat it. Online insurance companies all have toll-free customer service to answer your questions.
Is it cheaper to buy car insurance online? Many people swear by it, but it’s difficult to answer since there are so many factors that impact your premium. It’s a logical assumption that a customer who purchases direcly from an online company saves money because there is no commission. For the majority of companies, however, advertising and marketing take a lot of money and this drives up their premium costs.
Much more information about auto insurance in Connecticut can be found on the website for the Connecticut Insurance Department. Click here for link. Consumers can file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, find out industry alerts, get help finding coverage, and read industry bulletins.
Other useful links include III.org’s auto insurance page and this resource to find Stratford, CT insurance agents.
Summing up your auto insurance search
Cost effective auto insurance can be purchased both online and also from your neighborhood Stratford agents, so compare prices from both in order to have the best chance of saving money. A few companies may not provide online quoting and these small, regional companies work with independent agents.
While you’re price shopping online, you should never buy less coverage just to save a little money. In many cases, an insured dropped collision coverage and discovered at claim time that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. The ultimate goal is to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.
