Consumer Information for Researching a Huntington Beach, CA Car Insurance Agent

To find a good insurance agent in Huntington Beach, California, you can always do an initial search on the internet to save time. The chances are good you not only want a competent insurance agent, but you also need affordable coverage.

With American Family, Allstate, State Farm and Farmers all competing for business in Huntington Beach, it’s hard to tell which will provide the lowest rates and best service. Thankfully, it’s easy to use online price quotes to build a list of insurance agents to choose from.

Online quotes help locate Huntington Beach agents

Insurance agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help submit paperwork. The best thing about getting online price quotes is you can get lower rates and still have an agent to talk to. And supporting local insurance agencies is important especially in Huntington Beach.

Upon completion of this form (opens in new window), the quote information is submitted to agents in your area who will give you bids for your insurance coverage. You don’t have to drive around as quotes are delivered directly to your email. Now that’s easy! You’ll get the best rates and an insurance agent to talk to.

What type of Huntington Beach car insurance agent is right for you?

When researching a good Huntington Beach insurance agent, you need to know there are two types of agencies from which to choose. Agencies in Huntington Beach can either be independent (non-captive) or captive.

Independent Insurance Agents

Independent agents do not work for one specific company so they can insure your vehicles with multiple insurance companies and potentially find a lower price. If your agent finds better pricing, the agent simply finds a different carrier and you don’t have to find a new agent. When shopping rates, it’s a good idea to include several independent insurance agents to have the most options to choose from.

Below are Huntington Beach independent agents that can give you pricing information.

Farmers Agency Huntington – 16033 Bolsa Chica St # 102 – Huntington Beach, CA 92649 – (714) 840-0445
Biss Insurance – 16897 Algonquin St – Huntington Beach, CA 92649 – (714) 377-1321
Grosse Insurance – 18685 Main St # A355 – Huntington Beach, CA 92648 – (714) 847-0084

Captive Insurance Agents

This type of agents are contracted to one company and examples are American Family, Liberty Mutual and AAA. These agents are unable to compare other company’s rates so they have no alternatives for high prices. These agents are trained well on their company’s products and that can be a competitive advantage.

Shown below is a short list of captive insurance agencies in Huntington Beach that are able to give price quote information.

Allstate Insurance – 16691 Gothard St # J – Huntington Beach, CA 92647 – (714) 557-7060
Farmers Insurance Group – 1120 Pacific Coast Hwy # E – Huntington Beach, CA 92648 – (714) 374-0355

For a full directory of auto insurance agents in Huntington Beach, simply jump to this page.

Choosing an insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just the price. Any agent should have no problem answering these questions:

  • Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?
  • Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?
  • Will their companies depreciate repairs to your car based on the mileage?
  • If they are an independent agency, which companies do they recommend?
  • If you have an accident, are you able to get your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice?
  • How are they compensated?
  • How much will you save each year by using a higher deductible?
  • Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in California?

After receiving positive responses to all your questions and locked in a price quote, you have narrowed it down to an insurance agency that will insure your vehicles.

Buying direct is an option

Local insurance agents are important, but California drivers can also buy direct over the internet. Even companies that are more known for using agents, also allow consumers to buy a policy online, so that should be considered.

If you’re apprehensive about not receiving proper advice when shopping online, that is quite common when buying online the first time. Online insurance companies provide access to licensed agents for answering any questions you have.

Are car insurance rates lower online? The answer is complex since there are many things that impact your rate calculation. It’s a logical assumption that shopping direct saves money by not requiring a commission. But that assumption is generally incorrect because promoting brand recognition is pricey so this can offset any savings.

Keep this in mind

While you’re price shopping online, do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many instances, someone dropped liability limits or collision coverage and learned later that it was a big mistake. The aim is to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price.

Cheaper auto insurance can be found online in addition to many Huntington Beach insurance agents, and you need to price shop both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. There are still a few companies who do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and many times these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

Additional information can be read on the website for the California Department of Insurance located here. California consumers can view agent and company licensing information, find out industry alerts, find disaster information, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.

Other useful links include this page for auto insurance prices in California and this link where you can get more info about Huntington Beach auto insurance.