Tips for Finding a Rockford Car Insurance Agent

Finding good auto insurance in Rockford can be challenging since you have many choices and picking a good Illinois auto insurance agent is not as easy as just making a phone call. There is a good chance you’re not only searching for a good agent that listens to you, but you also want the lowest possible price.

With insurance companies like State Farm, Allstate and Farmers Insurance all competing for business in Rockford, it’s hard to tell which one will have the best service and rates. To begin, you can use online quoting to build a list of insurance agents and price estimates.

Your local neighborhood insurance agent

Agents can help determine the best coverages and give you someone to call. The best thing about comparing insurance prices online is you may find the best rates and still choose a local agent. And supporting local insurance agencies is especially important in Rockford.

After completing this simple form, your insurance data is transmitted to local insurance agents who will compete to get your business. There is no need to leave your house due to the fact that quote results will go directly to your email. It doesn’t get any easier!

The different types of insurance agents

When researching a good insurance agency, you must know there are a couple types of insurance agents that you can select. Agencies in Rockford are categorized either captive or independent (non-captive). Both properly insure your vehicles, but it’s worth learning how they are different since it may influence your agent selection.

Independent Agents (or Brokers)

Independent insurance agents are not required to write business for one company but rather can write business with many different companies depending on which coverage is best. To move your coverage to a new company, an independent agent can move your coverage and that require little work on your part.

When comparing rates, it’s a good idea to get quotes from several independent insurance agents to have the most options to choose from.

Below is a short list of independent insurance agents in Rockford who can help you get competitive price quotes.

Larry Lang Agency – 5411 E State St # 201 – Rockford, IL 61108 – (815) 229-1071
Dean Hill Agency – 6072 Brynwood Dr # 100 – Rockford, IL 61114 – (815) 633-3150
Spectrum Insurance – 5301 E State St # 201 – Rockford, IL 61108 – (815) 229-4040
Heisel Agency – 4753 Manhattan Dr – Rockford, IL 61108 – (815) 227-4047
Midwest Security Insurance – 2550 Charles St # 2 – Rockford, IL 61108 – (815) 381-9000

Captive Insurance Agents

This type of agents work for only one company like Allstate, State Farm and Farmers Insurance. Captives cannot compare other company’s rates so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. Captives are well schooled on the products they sell which can be an advantage.

Shown below is a list of captive insurance agencies in Rockford who can help you get price quotes.

Farmers Insurance Group – 7479 Walton St # 2 – Rockford, IL 61108 – (815) 399-1415
Liberty Mutual – 3729 N Trainer Rd – Rockford, IL 61114 – (815) 877-8332
Allstate Workplace Div – 3202 Kentwood Pkwy – Rockford, IL 61109 – (815) 399-9433
State Farm Insurance – 110 S Alpine Rd # 105 – Rockford, IL 61108 – (815) 397-7775
American Family Insurance – 1946 Daimler Rd – Rockford, IL 61112 – (815) 398-3908

For a full directory of auto insurance agents in Rockford, visit this site.

Choosing a car insurance agent should depend on more than just the premium amount. Ask your prospective agent these questions:

• Do they receive special compensation for putting your coverage with one company over another?
• Do they have advanced training designations such as CPCU, AAI, AIC, or CIC?
• Do clients work directly with the agent or are most inquiries handled by a CSR?
• Can glass repairs be made at your home?
• Which members of your family are coverage by the policy?
• Is vehicle mileage a factor when determining depreciation for repairs?
• Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
• Do they carry Errors and Omissions coverage?

After receiving satisfactory answers to your questions in addition to an acceptable price estimate, you’ve probably found an insurance agency that is a good match to adequately provide auto insurance.

Include online companies when price shopping

Auto insurance agents serve a purpose, but you can also buy Illinois car insurance direct from companies that only sell online. Certain companies like State Farm and Allstate who employ agents also allow consumers to quote and buy online, and online price comparisons are easy.

If you’re apprehensive about not getting proper coverage when buying car insurance direct, don’t let it bother you. Online car insurance companies all have toll-free customer service to walk you through the process.

Do customers save by switching to an online company? It’s difficult to provide an answer because there are a lot of things that impact your premium. Common logic is that shopping direct cuts out the middleman. But in most cases, promoting brand recognition is pricey and those expenses can offset most of the savings by selling direct.

For price-conscious consumers, the only way of knowing if car insurance prices are lower online or from agents is to get price quotes for both. It’s not unheard of to actually get different prices from the same car insurance company when they use both methods.

More information can be read on the website for the Illinois Department of Insurance. Click here for link. Consumers can learn about insurance regulations, view agent and company licensing information, find out industry alerts, and download brochures.

Smart shoppers get results

Drivers leave their current company for a number of reasons such as policy cancellation, questionable increases in premium, delays in paying claims and even unfair underwriting practices. It doesn’t matter what your reason, finding the right auto insurance provider can be easier than you think.

While you’re price shopping online, you should never sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There have been many situations where an accident victim reduced full coverage and discovered at claim time they didn’t have enough coverage. Your goal should be to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.