Some of our customers have been prompted by TV commercials or mass-mail advertisements to consider switching their automobile insurance. Before saying “yes” to one of these proposals, we hope you will consider the following questions:

What do you know about this insurer?

Not all auto insurance companies are alike. Many support local, independent insurance agencies like ours to help with all your insurance questions or problems. Others put their resources into advertising campaigns with cute and funny animals or characters and are accessible to you only by an 800 number; chances are you will never deal with the same individual twice.

Are they really offering you the same protection?

Not necessarily. It’s easy for salespeople to quote you a lower price if they don’t give you the same amount of coverage. When looking at the details of these quick-quote offers, we often find that the protection you and your family need is often compromised in order to lower the premium quoted.

Drivers in your state can pick from numerous policy combinations consisting of various coverages and
limits. For your own protection, please let our agency go over the details of any offer you receive before accepting it. As your professional insurance agency, we offer this beneficial analysis at absolutely no cost to you.

Who will go to bat for you if you have a claim?

We will. Our customers who have had a claim against their auto policy know we pride ourselves on providing personal attention during this stressful time. We monitor your claim to promote a timely and fair settlement from the insurer. We can answer your coverage questions, explain the claim process and intervene on your behalf when appropriate. In short, we don’t just sell a policy, we follow that sale with dedicated service.

Are you sure you would get the same level of personal contact and expertise from a mass-market insurer?

Be careful of the “bait-and-switch.”

An even greater danger is that some carriers will quote and bind coverage, showing a very attractive price prior to obtaining the necessary underwriting reports. So after you pay your first installment, you receive a notice informing you that the underwriting reports obtained after the policy was
written require the insurer to greatly increase the premium from the amount previously quoted! Mass-market or direct insurers tend to take your money first and then check your driving, loss and credit history second. They are banking on the fact that once the policy is in place and it will be too much trouble to cancel, wait for the returned premium (if any) and to find coverage elsewhere. Sometimes the underwriting reports reveal information that gives the insurer the right to cancel your new policy. A cancellation on your record may make it harder the next time you apply for insurance.

Who knows you best?

We do! We take the time to get to know our customers. Your current auto insurance coverage has been crafted with your complete financial picture, driving and claims history and family circumstances in mind. There’s no way a stranger can reach that level of under-standing from a brief phone call or impersonal application form.

We want to keep you as our customer. If you receive an offer that’s “too good to be true,” it just might be. Before you accept it, give us a chance to look over the fine print.