Buying Auto Insurance Baltimore MD

An insurance agent is a person who makes his or her living connecting motorists with auto insurance companies. Sometimes called an insurance broker, insurance agents act as a go-between and receive a commission from auto insurance companies when they set up a policy for individual drivers or companies. Many well known auto insurance companies, such as Allstate and State Farm, are actually insurance agencies that deal with companies, rather than the insurers themselves. This produces part of the confusion for people buying insurance, because often there is no specific differentiation between auto insurance companies and agencies.

Insurance agents can be either independent or exclusive. Independent insurance agents shop around to a number of different insurance companies in order to find the best deals for their clients, while exclusive insurance agents have established relationships with a few insurance companies, which allows them to get better deals than the average client. Both independent and exclusive insurance agents have advantages, and neither is really the better of the two.

Buying insurance directly means just what it seems to mean: you, as a motorist, deal directly with an insurance company to purchase, maintain, and administer your auto insurance policy. Companies that are direct auto insurance providers include names such as Progressive, Liberty Mutual, MetLife Auto, and The Hartford. Direct auto insurance policies eliminate the go-between person, which is neither good nor bad, depending on what you need from an insurance policy.

As with insurance agents, there are different types of auto insurance companies. Typically, there are few extremely local insurance companies (those that cover only a city and its suburbs, or a county), as this would mean a much smaller customer base. Most insurance companies are either statewide or nationwide. Part of the reason for this is that it’s often just as easy for the insurance company to insure motorists all across the state, because the motor vehicle laws are consistent. Multi-state, or national, auto insurance companies have regional offices in many different locations in order to better meet the various state driving and insurance laws.

Both insurance agents and buying direct have advantages. The benefits of buying an auto insurance policy through an insurance agent include such things as personalized service, convenience, and competitive rates. Of course, the benefits will vary between individual insurance agents and agencies – some may offer better personalized service, while others might have better rates or greater convenience for motorists.

Personalized service may be the biggest reason that drivers choose to go through an insurance agent for their auto insurance. With an insurance agent or agency, you are able to meet with your agent face-to-face and discuss the best auto insurance policy for you and your needs as a motorist. You will also have lower hold times when calling an insurance agent, because the agency only deals with their clients instead of all policy holders at a given insurance company. Finally, insurance agents and agencies can help you understand how your coverage works and what you can expect from your insurance company in terms of claims response and accident assistance.

In some cases, an insurance agent or agency will be able to get you a lower rate, especially if you have a good driving record. This often depends on whether the agent is independent or exclusive as well. Another benefit that may be included in this category is the ability to switch insurance carriers without penalty or a lapse in coverage if you are dissatisfied with your auto insurance policy, and without going through the hassle of contacting another insurance company yourself.

The ability to switch insurance carriers is also a convenient benefit of insurance agents and agencies. In terms of convenience, you may be able to work with your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles faster with an insurance agent, since you will not have to wait for your insurance documentation to be mailed or faxed to you – the insurance agent will provide the necessary paperwork on the day you purchase your new policy. Some insurance agencies have weekend hours, which is another added convenience that may allow you to pay your premiums at the office location.