Dallas, TX Auto Insurance Agents – Which is Right for You?

Selecting a car insurance company in Dallas, TX can be time consuming since finding the best Texas car insurance agent is harder than just randomly choosing from the yellow pages. You require a professional licensed agent, and also cheap rates.

You have so many insurance agencies to insure vehicles with, and even though it’s nice to have multiple companies, having more insurance agencies makes it harder to find the best rates for your vehicles.

When might I need the advice of an agent?

When it comes to choosing the right insurance coverage, there really is not a “best” method to buy coverage. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs.

Here are some questions about coverages that can aid in determining if you would benefit from professional advice.

• Do I need medical payments coverage since I have good health insurance?
• Do all my vehicles need collision coverage?
• Is my vehicle covered by my employer’s policy when using it for work?
• Should I buy additional glass protection?
• How much liability do I need to cover my assets?
• When should I not file a claim?
• What discounts do I qualify for?
• If my vehicle is totaled, can I afford another vehicle?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but you know they apply to you, you may need to chat with a licensed agent.

Neighborhood insurance agents

Licensed agents can answer important questions and help submit paperwork. The best thing about comparing insurance prices online is you can get better rates but also keep your business local.

To help locate an agent, after submitting this simple form, the coverage information is immediately sent to agents in your area who will give you bids for your coverage. There is no need to drive around because quoted prices will be sent straight to your inbox. Now that’s easy!

Picking an insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just the bottom line cost. These are valid questions to ask:

• Do they have adequate Errors and Ommissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.
• How many years of experience in personal lines insurance coverages do they have?
• Is assistance available after office hours?
• How are they compensated?
• If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?
• How much can you save by raising your physical damage deductibles?
• Are they properly licensed to sell insurance in Texas?

Insurance agencies in Dallas come in two varieties

If you’re trying to find local Dallas agents, you must know there are a couple different agency structures from which to choose. Dallas agents are classified as either independent (non-captive) or captive. Either one can properly insure your vehicles, but it’s good to learn the difference between them because it can impact buying decisions.

Captive Insurance Agents

Captive agents work for only one company and examples are Allstate, AAA, Liberty Mutual and State Farm. These agents are not able to provide prices from multiple companies so they have to upsell other benefits. Captives are well schooled on the products they sell and that can be a competitive advantage. Some people will only purchase coverage from captives primarily because of the prominence of the brand and strong financial ratings.

Shown below is a short list of captive agents in Dallas willing to provide price quote information.

• Texas Farm Bureau – 9560 Skillman St – Dallas, TX 75243 – (214) 340-8394
• Liberty Mutual Insurance – 9400 N Central Expy # 111 – Dallas, TX 75231 – (214) 987-2275
• Allstate Insurance – 1201 Main St # P160 – Dallas, TX 75202 – (214) 742-6500
• State Farm Insurance – 3500 Oak Lawn Ave # 570 – Dallas, TX 75219 – (214) 528-8833
• Farmers Insurance Group – 5151 Belt Line Rd # 826 – Dallas, TX 75254 – (972) 233-8826

Independent Agents

Independent agents are not employed by any specific company but instead can place your coverage with many different companies depending on which coverage is best. To move your coverage to a new company, the agent simply finds a different carrier without you having to go to a different agency. When comparison shopping, you should always include price quotes from at least one independent agent for the best price selection. They also have the ability to place coverage with lesser-known insurance companies which can be an advantage.

Below is a list of independent insurance agencies in Dallas that can give you price quotes.

• George WYNN Agency Inc – 3465 Highland Rd – Dallas, TX 75228 – (214) 660-1331
• David Rembert Agency – 8325 Douglas Ave – Dallas, TX 75225 – (214) 368-1445
• Bob Calvert Agency – 9319 Lbj Fwy # 100 – Dallas, TX 75243 – (972) 918-2400
• James O’Connor Insurance – 4100 Spring Valley Rd # 700 – Dallas, TX 75244 – (972) 991-8711
• A-Max Auto Insurance – 5334 Ross Ave # 500 – Dallas, TX 75206 – (214) 826-7400

For a complete listing of insurance agents in Dallas, please click here.

Upon receiving reasonable responses to your questions and locked in a price quote, you may have just found a car insurance agent that will service your policy.

Also keep in mind buying direct

Local insurance agents serve a purpose, but you also have the option of buying Texas car insurance directly from online companies. Certain auto insurance companies that are more known for using agents, additionally provide the ability to quote and buy online, so that should be considered if you prefer to buy online.

If you’re uncomfortable with not having an agent to talk to when buying online, this really isn’t an issue. Online car insurance companies that allow you to purchase coverage all have client service departments for customer questions. Consumers also can use 24/7 live help and a car insurance FAQ section to make it easier to purchase.

Does coverage cost less online? A lot of shoppers won’t buy anywhere else, but it’s impossible to say due to the large number of individual components that influence how your policy is priced. Common logic is that buying directly from the company saves the cost of an agent commission. But the fact is, online and traditional media advertising are expensive and this drives up their premium costs.

More Texas car insurance resources

More detailed Texas car insurance information is available at the Texas Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to learn about insurance regulations, file complaints about a company, and view agent and company licensing information.

These articles may also be worth reading.

• Methods for Lowering Your Dallas Texas Auto Insurance Rates

Do the work, save more money

The cheapest car insurance is definitely available on the web and also from your neighborhood Dallas agents, so you should compare both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some companies may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and these small, regional companies work with independent agents.

When trying to cut insurance costs, you should never skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There have been many situations where someone sacrificed uninsured motorist or liability limits only to find out they didn’t have enough coverage. Your goal should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.