When buying car insurance in Kermit, you have many choices and picking a good Texas car insurance agent is not as easy as just driving to the closest agent’s office. It’s highly likely you’re not only searching for a professional agent, but also affordable coverage.
With insurance companies like American Family, Allstate, State Farm and Farmers having local Kermit offices, it’s hard to tell which one will provide you with the lowest rates and best service. Thankfully, it’s easy to use insurance quotes online to get a list of insurance agencies and price estimates.
How to compare Kermit car insurance rates
Insurance agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and give you someone to call. The biggest benefit of comparing rates online is the fact that you can find better rates but still work with a licensed agent. Supporting local insurance agencies is especially important in Kermit.
To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this form (opens in new window), the coverage information is instantly submitted to agents in your area who will battle for your coverage. You never need to leave your computer since price quotes are sent to your email. Now that’s easy!
Is a captive or independent car insurance agent right for you?
If you’re trying to find a good insurance agency, there are a couple of different types of agents that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agencies in Kermit are either captive or independent (non-captive). Both properly insure your vehicles, but it’s worth learning how they differ since it can impact buying decisions.
Independent Insurance Agents
Independent insurance agents are not required to write business for one company but rather can write business amongst many companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If you are not satisfied with one company, the agent simply finds a different carrier and you won’t have to switch agencies.
When comparison shopping, it’s recommended you include at a minimum one independent agency to get the best comparison. They often place coverage with lesser-known insurance companies which can be an advantage.
Listed below are independent agencies in Kermit that may be able to provide price quote information.
- Mc Carty Insurance Inc – 124 N Oak St – Kermit, TX 79745 – (432) 586-3446
- Jerry Phillips Insurance – 108 S Oak St – Kermit, TX 79745 – (432) 586-3798
Captive Agents
Captive agencies can only place business with one company like Allstate, State Farm and Farmers Insurance. These agents are unable to place coverage with different providers so they have to upsell other benefits. Captives are well schooled on their company’s products which can be an advantage. Some consumers prefer to choose to use a captive agent mostly because of the brand legacy and the convenience of having all coverages with one company.
Selecting a car insurance agent requires more thought than just the premium amount. Ask your prospective agent these questions:
- Are they able to influence company decisions when a claim is filed?
- If you have an accident, will your rates go up?
- Who is covered by the car insurance policy?
- If you have an accident, are you able to get your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice?
- If they are an independent agency, which companies do they recommend?
Once you have positive feedback for all questions you ask and a low price estimate, chances are good that you have found an insurance agent that will provide car insurance coverage.
The online companies promise big savings
Insurance agents are important to many people, but you also have the option of buying Texas car insurance directly from online companies. Some specific companies, such as State Farm, Allstate and Farmers, that are more known for using agents, also let you get a quote and buy online. This is something to consider.
If you’re concerned about having to choose coverages yourself when buying direct, that is normal but is not a big issue. Companies that require consumers to choose their own coverages give you access to trained agents for customer questions.
Is it cheaper to buy online? It’s difficult to say for sure since there may be dozens of rate factors that impact your final bill. It would make sense to think that shopping direct prevents the agent from taking a cut. But that assumption is generally incorrect because marketing their products costs a lot of money so the rates may be similar to buying from an agent.
Online resources for education
Much more information about car insurance in Texas can be found on the Texas Department of Insurance website through this link. Consumers can learn about insurance regulations, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, view a list of available companies, and report car insurance fraud.
Quote often and quote early
When you buy insurance online, you should never sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There have been many situations where someone dropped collision coverage only to discover later that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. The proper strategy is to purchase a proper amount of coverage for the lowest price.
Discount car insurance is possible from both online companies and with local Kermit insurance agents, so you should compare both to have the best selection. Some insurance providers do not offer online quoting and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.