When looking for auto insurance we all want the same thing - to save money. This is especially true given the current economic times. However, the current trend is to scour the internet searching for the best deal in car insurance. This, while useful at times, is often confusing, time consuming and even overwhelming - it would take days to search through all the available auto agencies online. Therefore, it is often much easier and more time effective to search the old fashioned way, pull out the phone book and call local agencies for. Searching among local insurance agents often offers various benefits.
Everyone, it seems, guarantees that they will save you money on your current insurance rates. Geico promises 15% or more, Progressive promises to compare quotes for you to find you the best rate; Allstate promises "you will save more"; State Farm promises the "best rates"; and the list continues on. Undoubtedly, all these companies, and many others, honestly are interested in saving you money, they want your business and in order to get your business they have to be competitive in their pricing.
Nevertheless, almost all these companies’ websites use fairly generic information forms when generating your car insurance quotes. These estimated quotes are often much higher than what they would be if you where to actually visit these agencies in person or speak with an agent. These is because local insurance agents also want your business, often more so than a national company, and are aware of the prices online and are likely to be wiling to do whatever they can to beat any online price you may find. A good example of this is my experience with When I entered my information into Allstate’s online quote estimator the estimate was just over $1000 every six months or $180 a month. My wife and I have two cars, and have totaled one with in the last year, and have been in three other accidents (it has been a banner year). However, when I went into a local Allstate agent’s office he quoted me an insurance premium which was much less: $790 for six months or $132.38 a month. I was surprised at the difference. This may not always be the case, but often is. If you are truly looking for the best auto insurance rate available to you it would be worth your while to devote at least half of your looking efforts towards local agencies. Sometimes the best deals are with local car insurance agents who sell for a larger national company.
