Things that auto insurance companies don’t tell you

As your independent insurance agent in Coppell, Texas, we want you to understand everything about your auto insurance policy before you sign on the bottom line. We are in a unique position as we act to connect you with the insurance company. In the interest of full disclosure, we earn our fees from the carriers when we sell a policy.. We also want to treat you fairly and get you the best rates possible so you will continue to do business with us.

Auto insurance companies in DFW, Coppell, and for that matter, all across the country do not readily reveal all of the information you might want to know when buying a policy. It is not that they are dishonest, but rather that they have certain proprietary information they want to protect. If you are persistent and ask the right questions, you can become very well informed about all aspects of auto insurance.

For instance, insurance companies will not tell you precisely how they calculate your premium or why they are charging you more than another customer with the same model car. Each carrier has their own methods of characterizing risk and may use factors like your credit score, the type of neighborhood you live in or any other metric that they choose.

Some independent agents will recommend a specific carrier because they earn a higher commission from that carrier and not because it offers you the best policy. Most insurers will total your vehicle if the cost of repairs due to an accident are more than 70 percent of the repaired value. They also tend to low ball the totaled amount they offer to settle the claim.

Be sure to ask what discounts an auto insurance company offers because agents do not always bother to offer such information. You must realize that insurance companies are in business to make as much money as they can for their share holders. Watch out for agents who gently try to persuade you to carry more liability coverage than you need or encourage you to get a low deductible.

Finally, if you are involved in a serious accident and your insurance agent tells you not to worry because they will take care of everything, it is reason to be concerned. If you want the best settlement, you might want to consider talking to an attorney first.