Some Issues to Consider when Buying Insurance Online Versus a Local Agent

 21^st century technology has made life a lot easier in many ways; from where you get your news, what & how you buy clothes or books, to how you connect with different types of entertainment, the internet has changed the way consumers shop and purchase goods and services.

 Buying home and auto insurance is no different. There are dozens of insurance companies, called insurance carriers, looking to show you how to save money. What is less understood is how the coverage works in the event you need it, which is the whole point of having your home or car insured in the first place. Here is an example; a pipe breaks under the slab foundation of your home; how are you covered against this type of loss? If you are involved in an auto accident, and you are not sure if you or the other party is hurt, what is the appropriate response? Your spouse leaves for work and dies unexpectedly; what plans have you made to secure your family’s financial future?

 Let’s face it; most people look for the cheapest home or auto insurance they can find, and only later realize they do not have the proper insurance to cover the loss In fact, most consumers do not even know what to ask when they purchased their insurance, and do not have an expert that can advise them adequately once an accident occurs. (And remember, no one plans on having an accident-that’s why they call it an ‘accident’.)

 So what’s a consumer to do; get that cut-rate insurance quote over the internet, and roll the dice with the hope that there won’t be a claim, or pay too much for a local agent that you will almost never use?

 The answer is neither. A local agent can give you the same, or similar, quote that an internet company can provide, while still giving you the service you need when you have questions about your coverage, your bill, or when you eventually have that car accident or weather-related loss on your home. The rates from one of the largest insurance carriers like Farmers, State Farm, and Allstate, will have similar rates to those offered by internet insurance carriers, and, most of the time, one or two of the top-three carriers will be much higher than their internet competitors!

 Which is why it pays to shop around. The rates will never be consistent with any one customer, and the reasons are too numerous to mention is this article, so the savvy consumer shops their rates every three years, and gets quotes from local agents that are both captive and independent. Then, the smart and savvy consumer makes their decision based on the ability of contacting the local agent consistently, as opposed to waiting thirty minutes, or longer, before a call-center representative answers your call, which will be the case for those internet companies.

 In short, it pays for the customer to take the time and shop their insurance, while also weighing the cost of paying a few dollars more for a quality of service that a local insurance agent is dying to give you so that they can earn your business.  Have your local insurance agent earn your business, and you will be supporting a  small business owner in your community that will appreciate your business.