Tips to Finding a Good Auto Insurance Provider in Tuscaloosa Alabama

When trying to find a licensed insurance agent in Tuscaloosa, we recommend you begin your search by comparing prices online to save yourself time. Consumers need a good agent, and also want to find cheap rates.

Because you have many options, it can be impossible to choose the right provider.

Compare Tuscaloosa agent rates online

Agents can point out coverage gaps and help file insurance claims. One of the best bonuses of comparing insurance prices online is you may find the best rates and still choose a local agent.

To find an agent, once you fill out this quick form, your information is sent to agents in your area who will give you bids for your coverage. There is no reason to leave your computer because quoted prices will be sent to the email address you provide. Now that’s easy! You can find the lowest rates and work with a local agent.

Picking an insurance agency needs to be determined by more than just the bottom line cost. Some important questions to ask are:

Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?
Are claims handled at the agent’s location?
How long have they worked with personal auto insurance coverage?
Do the companies they represent have a solid financial rating?
Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
Are they full-time agents?
Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
Who is covered by the car insurance policy?

Captive or Independent: There is a difference

When finding a local agent, you must know there are a couple types of agencies that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agents are categorized either captive or independent (non-captive).

Captive Insurance Agents

Captive agents have only one company to place business with such as American Family, State Farm and Allstate. These agents are unable to provide prices from multiple companies so they have no alternatives for high prices. They receive extensive training in insurance sales which can be an advantage. Some people will only choose to use a captive agent partially due to high brand loyalty and strong financial ratings.

The following are Tuscaloosa captive insurance agencies that can give you price quote information.

Farmers Insurance Group – 2710 Skyland Blvd E – Tuscaloosa, AL 35405 – (205) 556-5175
State Farm Insurance – 2130 Paul W Bryant Dr # A – Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 – (205) 759-5555
Allstate Insurance – 6521 Highway 69 S # B – Tuscaloosa, AL 35405 – (205) 248-0303

Independent Agents

These agents do not work for one specific company so they have the ability to put coverage amongst many companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If you are not satisfied with one company, an independent agent can move your coverage and that require little work on your part. When comparison shopping, it’s a good idea to include at least one independent agent to get the best comparison. Many write coverage with lesser-known insurance companies which can be an advantage.

Below is a short list of independent insurance agents in Tuscaloosa who can help you get price quote information.

Scott Widberg Agency – 124 University Blvd # B – Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 – (251) 344-7007
Anders Insurance Agy – 2710 Skyland Blvd E # B – Tuscaloosa, AL 35405 – (205) 556-7052
Fields Agency – 1110 15th St # K – Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 – (205) 758-4504
Woodmen Of The World Insurance – 2211 15th St E # A – Tuscaloosa, AL 35404 – (205) 752-5228
Fitts Agency Inc – 1806 6th Ave E – Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 – (205) 752-3547

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

Once you have good answers for all questions you ask and an acceptable price quote, you may have just found an insurance agency that will properly insure your vehicles.

Keep your options open

Local insurance agents are important to many people, but you can also find affordable Alabama auto insurance from companies direct over the internet. Some companies, such as State Farm, Allstate and Farmers, who employ agents also allow consumers to get quotes and purchase online. This is something to consider.

If you’re uneasy about not having professional advice when buying online, that is normal but is not a big issue. Auto insurance companies that require consumers to choose their own coverages all have toll-free customer service to walk you through the process.

If you just want to find lower premiums, the most effective way to determine who has the best deal, local agents or online insurance companies, is to get rates from both and compare them. It’s even possible to receive different pricing comparing agents to online prices returned by the same company. It’s not possible to know whether online or agents have the lower rates unless free rate quotes are compared from both ways.

Are online rates lower? It’s hard to say exactly because there are many factors which can adversely affect your policy premium. Some people will tell you that buying direct saves by not paying a commission. For most companies selling online, however, marketing their products costs a lot of money so there may not be significant savings.

Affordable insurance is out there

As you restructure your insurance plan, don’t be tempted to skimp on coverage in order to save money. In too many instances, an insured cut liability limits or collision coverage only to discover later that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The proper strategy is to buy the best coverage you can find at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.

Drivers who switch companies do it for a number of reasons such as denial of a claim, poor customer service, questionable increases in premium or even unfair underwriting practices. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch finding the right auto insurance provider can be less work than you think.

More sites with auto insurance information

More tips and info about auto insurance is located at the Alabama Department of Insurance website. Alabama consumers can file complaints about a company, read consumer alerts, find out industry alerts, and learn about insurance regulations.

The following information may also be useful.