Stockton California Insurance Agencies – How to Choose Wisely

To find a good Stockton agent, you can begin your search on the internet rather than looking in the yellowpages. For the sake of this article, we’ll assume you’re looking for a decent agent, but you also need great rates as well.

With companies like independent agents, Allstate and State Farm all competing for business in Stockton, it’s hard to tell which one will provide you with the best service and rates. To begin, it’s easy to use insurance quotes online to get a list of insurance agents and price estimates.

Quote online but still have a local agent

Agents can help determine the best coverages and help in the event of a claim. The best thing about comparing rates online is that you can obtain the lowest rates and still have an agent to talk to. And supporting small agencies is especially important in Stockton.

After completing this short form, the coverage information is submitted to participating agents in Stockton who will compete for your business. There is no reason to leave your computer since price quotes are sent to the email address you provide. How cool is that?!

Insurance agent types

When researching a good insurance agency, you need to know there are two types of agencies to choose from. Agents are categorized either independent (non-captive) or captive. Both insure your vehicles, but it’s good to learn the difference between them because it can influence the type of agent you choose

Independent Agencies or Brokers

These agents are not required to write business for one company but instead can place your coverage with many different companies and potentially find a lower price. To move your coverage to a new company, your agent can switch companies and you won’t have to switch agencies.

When comparing rates, we recommend you include price quotes from at least one independent agent to get the best comparison.

Listed below is a list of independent insurance agencies in Stockton that are able to give competitive price quotes.

Cuevas Insurance – 504 E Charter Way – Stockton, CA 95206 – (209) 939-1718
Leland D Beigel Insurance – 522 N Lincoln St – Stockton, CA 95203 – (209) 475-6900

Captive Agents

Captive agencies work for only one company and some examples include Allstate, AAA, Liberty Mutual and State Farm. These agents are unable to place coverage with different providers so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. They are very knowledgeable in insurance sales which can be an advantage.

The following is a list of captive agencies in Stockton who can help you get comparison quotes.

Allstate Insurance – 5904 N El Dorado St # F – Stockton, CA 95207 – (209) 473-4403
Farmers Insurance Group – 2027 Grand Canal Blvd # 27 – Stockton, CA 95207 – (209) 951-5822
State Farm Insurance – 1111 W Robinhood Dr # A – Stockton, CA 95207 – (209) 477-4881

For a full directory of car insurance agents in Stockton, simply jump to this page.

Choosing a car insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just the price. These questions are important to ask:

  • Who is covered by the car insurance policy?
  • Do they have advanced training designations such as CPCU, AAI, AIC, or CIC?
  • Can glass repairs be made at your home?
  • How much will you save each year by using a higher deductible?
  • If you have an accident, are you able to get your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice?
  • Do they regularly work with personal auto policies?
  • Do they feel the quoted coverages are adequate?
  • Do they have adequate Errors and Ommissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.

Upon getting answers to your satisfaction to any questions you have and locked in a price quote, it’s possible that you found an auto insurance agent that meets your needs to service your policy.

Does buying direct online save money?

Insurance agencies serve a purpose, but California car insurance can also be bought from companies direct over the internet. A few companies who sell through agents in Stockton also give you the option to quote and buy online, and consumers should do that if you prefer not to work with an agent.

If you’re apprehensive about not having someone to ask questions when buying car insurance direct, that is quite common when buying online the first time. All companies have customer service departments for getting questions answered. They also have online education and live help anytime to help you answer questions.

Is car insurance cheaper online? Many people swear by it, but it’s difficult to answer since there are many things that influence how your policy is priced. Many people think that buying directly from the company cuts out the middleman. In many cases, there are high advertising and marketing costs so the rates may be similar to buying from an agent.

More comparisons equals lower rates

While you’re price shopping online, never buy poor coverage just to save money. In many instances, an accident victim reduced physical damage coverage only to regret that it was a big error on their part. Your goal should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the best price while still protecting your assets.

Find Stockton CA insurance agent

Discount car insurance can be bought both online and with local Stockton insurance agents, so you should compare both to have the best selection. Some insurance companies do not offer online price quotes and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

Additional car insurance information can be read on the website for the California Department of Insurance found here. Visitors are able to get help finding coverage, find disaster information, and read state legal mandates and laws.

The following information may also be useful.