Find a Local Insurance Agent: 7 Important Questions on Car Insurance!

7 Important Questions to Ask Your Local Insurance Agent Before Purchasing Car Insurance in 2022 

Q 1. What Type of Coverage Should I Purchase through a Local Insurance Agent? 

Ans: The state mandates a certain level of coverage. Therefore,  most jurisdictions require liability insurance at a minimum, which covers the costs of injury, death, car damage, property damage, and legal fees resulting from an accident. However, depending on where you live and your unique circumstances, you may want to consider purchasing car insurance coverage than the suggested level. As a result, let’s have a look at some optional coverage you might consider: 

Collision: This covers repairs to your car following an accident, regardless of who was at fault. So, you pay the deductible, and your insurance covers the balance. Finally, collision coverage is vital, but only for newer cars, as older cars will not provide a good return on investment. 

Comprehensive: Comprehensive coverage pays for damage to your car not caused by a collision, such as weather-related damage or theft. Hence, you can add this coverage if you live in a location that is prone to bad weather conditions.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Protects if someone hits you without insurance or if their limits are too low to cover the costs of your injuries. 

Personal Injury Protection: This type of insurance pays for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damage resulting from a car accident. Furthermore, it will also cover your medical fees if you are hurt while riding in someone else’s car. 

Q 2. What Type of Discounts Can I Ask My Local Insurance Agent? 

Ans: Almost every insurance company offers a variety of discounts, but don’t expect your local insurance agent to apply for the ones you qualify for automatically. Hence, make inquiries about the discounts, commonly referred to as credits by agents. Moving on, discounts that you may be eligible for: 

• Firstly, Safety Device in Your Car Discount 
• Secondly, New Customer Discount 
• State Mandated Discounts 
• Various Insurance Bundling Discount 
• Electric Car Discounts or Green Discount 
• Good Student with B Average in School Discount 
• Loyalty Discounts 
• Lastly, Clean Driving Record 

Q 3. What is the Amount of My Deductible? 

Ans: Your deductible is the amount of money you must pay out of pocket before the insurance company will pay anything. Furthermore, you will choose your deductible with the insurance carrier. 

How does it work: A deductible is only effective if your car is covered by collision, comprehensive, or both types of coverage. Hence, if you merely have liability insurance, the deductible won’t be applied. 

How to save money: Raising your deductible can help you save money on your insurance premiums. This is because you may never be in a car accident, carrying a larger deductible in return for a reduced insurance rate can be a smart option. 

Q 4. What is the Procedure for Filing a Claim? 

Ans: Many people purchase an insurance policy and then forget about it. However, you’ll have to do some legwork when you need to file a claim. So, make sure that you know the procedure before an accident occurs so that you can act quickly should your car get damaged or stolen. 

The Documents You’ll Need to File a Car Insurance Claim: 

• Firstly, Completed claim form 
• Car insurance policy copy 
• Car insurance policy copy 
• RC book and a copy of your driver’s license 
• Original repair invoices if you plan to use the refund service 
• Finally, Medical receipts in the event that physical injuries occur 

Is 24-hour claim service available: Make sure you choose an insurance company that allows you to report claims 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, via a toll-free hotline or online. Furthermore, most insurance companies offer 24-hour claim service. 

Q 5. What are the Different Payment Options? 

Ans: One lump sum payment per year, monthly payments, quarterly payments, and even two payments every six months are all options. 

How to Avail yourself of a Discount: There may be a surcharge or a discount if you pay it all at once. However, most insurance companies will give you a discount if you pay your yearly bill at once. 

What Happens If I Miss My Payment: Well, that all depends on the insurance company; some may be accommodating and work with you to arrange a payment plan that works for you, while others may cancel your policy right immediately. As a result, inquire about missed payments and the company’s repercussions. 

Q 6. What are Risk Assessments, and How is it Calculated? 

Ans: Several criteria are taken into account while determining insurance rates. Therefore, your “risk assessment” is the result of this mix of elements. The insurance company decides the likelihood that you will file a claim. So, the bigger the risk, the higher the premium. 

Data Insurance Carriers Use to Determine Risk Assessment: 

• Firstly, Age 
• Sex 
• Driving record 
• Credit rating 
• Criminal record 
• Lastly, Location 

Q 7. When should I Renew My Policy, and What are the Policy’s Exclusions? 

Ans: Your insurance company should give you a renewal notice through email or regular mail, but the renewal is automated. Moreover, renewals are also an excellent time to shop the market. So, as your renewal period approaches, take advantage of the opportunity to research car insurance rates to check whether you’re still getting the best deal for your needs. 

Exclusions are instances in which your insurance policy does not apply. Therefore, you can find most of the exclusions in your contract. However, there may be exclusions in other parts that you are unaware of. As a result, make the sensible decision of inquiring about all of your policy’s exclusions with your local insurance agent. 

Local Insurance Agent Near Me:

The Bottom-Line for Car Insurance

These are a few questions you should ask before purchasing car insurance. Hence, by asking the right questions, you can save money and ensure that your policy will be beneficial in an accident. Every year, ask your agent these 7 questions to ensure that your coverage is up to date, suits your needs, and saves you money. 

Find the best local insurance agents near you using our proprietary platform and get the best car insurance at unbeatable prices. Our insurance experts will help you throughout your insurance journey and provide support at every step. Moreover, we guarantee expert guidance right from comparing quotes to settling down insurance claims.  

Furthermore, get home insurance, trucking insurance, commercial insurance, and more using our state-of-the-art insurance technology to stay covered at all times. 

So, contact us if you’re searching for local insurance agents to help purchase car insurance or have further queries. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What does a local insurance agent do?

Life, health, property, and other types of insurance are sold and negotiated by insurance brokers to meet the needs of their clients.

2. How do I find a local insurance agent?

• Language Locator for Agents  
• Make a direct phone call to the company. 
• Agent information can be found on the company’s website or on social networking sites. 
• Make contact with the Agents’ Association. 

3. How much do local insurance agents make?

As of 2018, an insurance agent earned an average of $50,600 a year, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.