Are insurance agents a thing of the past?

Question

With State Farm, I have NEVER, EVER seen an agent in over 10 years as a customer. Recently, I've been grossly overcharged by by my agent and found that my $2400 policy can be had for $1000 thru GEICO. Has anyone had any bad experiences with online car insurance?

Answer 1

I would get insurance directly from the carrier and never from the broker even when there was no internet. Back then it was not so easy to find a carrier that dealt directly with the consumers but they did exist.

So personally I have NEVER needed an agent in about a million motoring miles over 35 driving years (some of them as a professional driver) driving all type of vehicles through the whole of Europe.

So, FOR ME at least, agents and middle men in general have always been a thing to avoid.

Online websites are just there to make it easy for you to go through the signing up and quoting process but in essense, nothing has changed over the years.

Answer 2

I've had State Farm insurance for 25 years. My agent's office is 1 mile from my house. There are a number of State Farm agents with five miles. That's why I have State Farm, I have an agent to talk to if I need him. He does not know be by name, and mostly likely would not recognize me on the street, but I want and Insurance Agent, not a friend.

Maybe you should find a State Farm agent and ask for a policy review. I do it every few years. Geico, Esurance, and the others can't touch my rate, I look at them every time I renew, and State Farm beats them hands down every time.

And, no, I am not a State Farm agent.  

Answer 3

The majority of the questions asked here are because someone doesn't have a local agent to talk to or get help from, and it's difficult when all you have is a web page and perhaps an 800 number that gets you someone different each time you call.

Answer 4

As long as you never have a problem -- then no agent is a cheap alternative.

But if there is a problem with your policy, coverage or claim - a good agent is a thing to have.