Tips for Searching for a Deer Lodge Car Insurance Agent

To locate a good insurance agent in Deer Lodge, MT, you can always do the preliminary legwork by getting online comparison quotes instead of making phone calls. You require a competent insurance agent, but also decent rates too.

With consumers having so many options, it can be hard to locate the cheapest insurer.

Deer Lodge agents and online quotes

Licensed agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help file insurance claims. The biggest benefit of price shopping on the web is you can get better rates and still have an agent to talk to.

To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this form (opens in new window), your insurance data is transmitted to insurance agents in Deer Lodge who will give you bids for your coverage. You never need to drive around as quotes are delivered to your email. How cool is that?! You can find the lowest rates and work with a local agent.

Choosing a car insurance agent requires more thought than just a cheap price. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:

  • Do they carry Errors and Omissions coverage?
  • Are glass claims handled on-site or do you have to take your vehicle to a repair shop?
  • Will your rates increase after a single accident?
  • What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
  • What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?
  • Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
  • If they are an independent agency, which companies do they recommend?

Independent or Captive: It’s your choice

When looking for a reliable agent, you must know there are a couple types of agencies from which to choose. Insurance agencies in Deer Lodge are categorized either independent or captive.

Agency Captives

Captive agents can only place business with one company and some examples include State Farm or Allstate. They generally cannot compare other company’s rates so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. They are trained well on their company’s products and that can be a competitive advantage. Consumers frequently buy insurance from these agents mainly due to the prominence of the brand and strong financial ratings.

Independent Agencies or Brokers

Independent agencies are not employed by any specific company so they can insure your vehicles with multiple insurance companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. To move your coverage to a new company, your agent can switch companies and that require little work on your part.

When searching for an agent, you should always get quotes from at least one independent agent for maximum quote selection. They often place coverage with smaller regional carriers which can be an advantage.

Listed below are Deer Lodge independent insurance agents who can help you get comparison quotes.

  • Clawson Insurance – 400 Missouri Ave – Deer Lodge, MT 59722 – (406) 846-1411

For a complete listing of Deer Lodge insurance agents, visit this site.

Once you have received satisfactory answers for all questions you ask as well as a affordable price, you may have just found an auto insurance agent that will provide auto insurance coverage.

The online company option

Licensed agents are indespensible for some people, but Montana drivers can also buy direct over the internet. Even companies, such as Farmers Insurance and State Farm, that are more known for using agents, also let you buy direct on their websites, so that should be considered.

If you’re worried about selecting your own policy coverages when buying online, that is normal but is not a big issue. Car insurance companies all have client service departments to help you decide which coverages are appropriate. Many online companies also provide online help and live chat that can help answer basic questions.

Do customers save by switching to an online company? It’s difficult to say for sure because there are a lot of things which can raise or lower premium rates. You may think that shopping online for auto insurance saves money by not requiring a commission. But truthfully, online and traditional media advertising are expensive and that can quickly cost more than paying an agent.

Montana auto insurance information

More tips and info about auto insurance can be read at the Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance website. Consumers can find a variety of consumer forms, view agent and company licensing information, read state legal mandates and laws, and find disaster information.

Other related articles:

quotes for Deer Lodge Montana insurance

The best insurance company isn’t always the cheapest

When trying to cut insurance costs, it’s very important that you do not sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. In too many instances, someone sacrificed collision coverage and found out when filing a claim that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your aim should be to buy enough coverage at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.

Affordable auto insurance can be purchased from both online companies in addition to many Deer Lodge insurance agents, so compare prices from both to have the best selection. There are still a few companies who do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.