Free Auto Insurance Quotes |
Many insurance companies offer auto insurance quotes. This information can be found either on-line or by calling a company directly, or by visiting a local branch office.
On-line resources include specific company websites—in other words, those that provide direct links to one certain company—and "generic" websites, which may include or mention a variety of companies. A quick search of the keywords "cheap insurance quotes" will bring up page after page after page of links to websites offering automobile insurance quotes.
Some websites will quickly tell you that the quote is free; others will tell you to call a toll-free number for information or that filling out a form in order to obtain a quote is free.
Insurance agents usually do not charge for speaking with someone over the phone. The only charges that may be incurred with using the telephone are, of course, those which you already pay for monthly phone service Driving from agency to agency may get a little expensive fuel-wise; however, most agents, again, will provide free car insurance quotes.
However, there are insurance agents, and there are insurance brokers. And, the two are not the same.
Insurance brokers do not work for one specific company, nor are they affiliated with a specific company. Further, they cannot act as an agent, nor can they perform the duties of an agent. Rather, they do the calling around or driving around or handle filling out online forms in order to get quotes.
They will get all the information you need, such as quotes and coverage information, and make it available to you so that you can make a decision. Then, if you are ready to take out a policy, they will get all the paperwork together for you to complete and sign.
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Although an insurance broker does not work for a specific agency, an insurance broker does charge insurance agencies, as well as those who take advantage of an insurance broker's services (that would be you). How much they charge is usually calculated on a percentage basis.
So, doing your own "legwork" will allow you to obtain free auto insurance quotes, although you will have expend the time and effort; allowing an insurance broker to do so may save you time, but you will have to pay a fee.
You will receive a quote from an insurance broker; however, that is all you will receive, a dollar figure. And, this figure may not include insurance discounts for which you are eligible (such as good grades, good driving record, safety and security features available on your vehicle, and other things), nor might it take into consideration your career or occupation (for example, military employees are usually eligible for reduction in rates under certain circumstances).
Engaging the services of an insurance broker is fine, if that's what you want to do, or if getting the "preliminary" work done for you was your intention. However, if it turns out that you will still have to “touch base” with an agent in order to be assured you are getting the best deal on auto insurance, why not just go ahead and take the time to do the research yourself? That way, your only “expense” is the time you "spent", and not honest-to-goodness money.
Consider this, also. When you do the research yourself, without relying on someone else, you not only make sure the agent is getting the right information, you can also go ahead and make sure the agent is getting all the information needed, at that time, in order to give you the most accurate quote. If you do this, then you will not need to make additional calls in order to determine if the quote you received is indeed the "final offer".
So, if you do the research yourself, and provide the agent(s) you speak with or companies you contact for an on-line quote (whichever way you do it), you may only need to make any follow-up contact for one purpose. And, that is to tell the agent with whom you really, really want to do business with that another agent has beat that agent's price, and can something be done so that you and that agent can do business. Chances are, the answer will be a qualified yes, or at least a, "Let me see what I can do."
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