For Wisconsin drivers, having car insurance is not an option, it’s the law. And you’ve already heard that car insurance is a financial tool that can help protect yourself, your vehicle, and so on, and so on. What you may not know is that where you choose to purchase your car insurance is almost as important as the type of coverage you buy. Continue reading to learn 4 quick tips when shopping for a local car insurance policy.
1. Use an Agent
This is perhaps the most important tip for buying local car insurance. Today’s technology makes it possible to quickly purchase an insurance policy on the Internet or even over the phone. With that said, purchasing insurance by yourself online can prove to be quite costly. The primary reason for that, is you don’t have a licensed agent to help you figure out what type, and how much coverage you need.
If you cause a major accident but only have enough liability to meet state standards, you might find yourself on the hook for tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages. An agent is trained to identify gaps in your coverage and help you evaluate your potential risk.
2. Make Sure Your Agent Is an Independent Agent
All insurance agents in Wisconsin are licensed, but not all agents work the same way. There are two types of insurance agents – captive and independent. Knowing which type your agent is could be critical to the type of coverage, and the value you receive with your policy. Captive agents are those that work for a single insurance company. They can only sell one brand of insurance and are limited in their ability to facilitate customer needs within the boundaries of their brand.
Independent agents are not bound by any particular insurance brand. Instead, independent agents are affiliated with multiple insurance companies, providing more options for their clients. When you work with an independent agent, you can shop and compare similar policies from multiple carriers under one roof. If one company does not offer the type of coverage you need, an independent insurer probably has connections with another company that will.
3. Listen to Your Agent’s Advice
Your agent is trained, licensed, and experienced in finding the right coverage for drivers. You might be surprised at the insight you can gain simply by listening to the advice of the person advising you on the coverage you need. For example, you might assume you only need collision and liability insurance, but your agent may help you realize that comprehensive coverage would be necessary to repair your vehicle if you hit a deer. That’s important in a state that ranks seventh out of all 50 states for deer collisions. Sometimes it’s the smallest bits of information that make the biggest difference.
4. Shop for Local Car Insurance
Make sure you use an independent agent that is nearby when shopping for local car insurance. Though you may end up buying coverage from a major brand, the local independent agency is your gateway to personalized service not available from a stranger on the other end of a phone line. Here at Pagel & Associates Insurance Agency, we enjoy seeing the faces of our Green Bay area customers. Our team is here to answer questions, help with claims, and provide assistance in any way we can.
For more tips and information about shopping for car insurance in Wisconsin, call our office to speak with one of our helpful team members or set up an appointment with an independent agent. We look forward to serving you soon.
