Smart Shoppers Guide to Finding an Auto Insurance Agent in San Jose California

Selecting a auto insurance company in San Jose, CA can be time consuming since there are a lot of options and finding the best California auto insurance agent is harder than just picking up the phone. Consumers need a highly trained agent, and also want to find the cheapest rates you can possibly find.

Online insurance companies like GEICO, Farmers Insurance and State Farm continually bombard you with advertising and it can be hard to avoid their marketing magic and find the best price available.

Quote online, buy local

Educated insurance agents can answer important questions and give you peace of mind. The biggest benefit of comparing insurance prices online is you can get the lowest rates but still work with a licensed agent.

Once you complete this form (opens in new window), your information is transmitted to participating agents in San Jose who will compete for your coverage. You don’t have to drive around because quoted prices will be sent straight to your inbox. It doesn’t get any easier! You can find the lowest rates without the usual hassles of price shopping.

Deciding on an insurance agent requires more thought than just a low price. These questions are important to ask:

  • Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in California?
  • Does the agency have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau?
  • Do they have adequate Errors and Ommissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.
  • Do they have any clout with companies to ensure a fair claim settlement?
  • Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
  • Will their companies depreciate repairs to your car based on the mileage?
  • Are claim adjusters local or do you have to take your car somewhere else?
  • Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?

Below are San Jose insurance agents that are able to give price quote information.

Allstate Insurance – 4950 Hamilton Ave # 103, San Jose, CA 95130 – (408) 378-0834
Liberty Mutual Insurance – 2550 N 1st St, San Jose, CA 95131 – (408) 577-1191
State Farm Insurance – 360 Kiely Blvd # 125, San Jose, CA 95129 – (408) 247-6800
David Pinheiro Insurance – 5406 Thornwood Dr, San Jose, CA 95123 – (408) 229-2500
Alice Chan Agency – 1590 Oakland Rd # B209, San Jose, CA 95131 – (408) 453-8831
Farmers Insurance Group – 1414 Meridian Ave, San Jose, CA 95125 – (408) 266-6076
Akin Dequine Insurance – 6472 Camden Ave # 103, San Jose, CA 95120 – (408) 268-2546

Once you have received answers to your satisfaction for all questions you ask and locked in a price quote, you may have just found an auto insurance agent that can insure your vehicles.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When buying coverage, there is no “perfect” insurance plan. Each situation is unique so this has to be addressed. Here are some questions about coverages that can help discover whether your personal situation would benefit from an agent’s advice.

  • Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
  • Is my vehicle covered by my employer’s policy when using it for work?
  • Am I covered when renting a car or should I buy coverage from the car rental agency?
  • When do I need to add a new car to my policy?
  • Why am I be forced to buy a membership to get insurance from some companies?
  • Does liability extend to a camper or trailer?
  • What discounts do I qualify for?
  • Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
  • At what point should I drop full coverage?
  • What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed agent.

But what about online car insurance?

Licensed agents are important to many people, but you also have the option of buying California car insurance direct online. Some car insurance companies like Allstate and State Farm who have local agents in San Jose additionally provide the ability to get a quote and buy online. This is something to consider if the lowest rate is your goal.

If you’re concerned about not having someone to ask questions when buying direct, this really isn’t an issue. Companies all provide contact methods to answer your questions. Consumers also can use help pages and frequently asked questions that you can use before buying.

Can online rates save money? The answer is complex because of the fact that insurance companies use many factors that determine your policy premium. It’s a logical assumption that buying online saves the cost of an agent commission. But that assumption is generally incorrect because it’s expensive to advertise so rates may not be all that different from traditional agents.

Summing up your auto insurance search

Drivers change insurance companies for any number of reasons including delays in paying claims, policy non-renewal, denial of a claim or even an unsatisfactory settlement offer. No matter why you want to switch, finding a great new company is easier than you think.

Budget-conscious auto insurance is definitely available from both online companies and also from your neighborhood San Jose agents, so you should compare both to get a complete price analysis. Some auto insurance companies may not provide online quoting and many times these small, regional companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

Additional detailed information can be read at the California Department of Insurance website. Consumers can read state legal mandates and laws, find out which companies have the most complaints, and view agent and company licensing information.

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