Captive vs Independent Agents

Posted on June 22, 2019August 31, 2023 by Shield Insurance Agency

Shield Insurance Blog | Captive vs Independent Agents |

Written by Shield Insurance Agency on Apr 11, 2018

Captive vs Independent Agents

Hello Friends, Family, Clients, Potential Clients.

I am writing this Blog Entry today, because my Dad, Andy, the owner of the Agency, is asking me to. We believe that a website with Blog entries every so often will get more views than one that has none. We are always looking for ways to get our Business more Business, and if a Blog is one, then we will have a Blog!

I was struggling very hard on what to write about for this blog, as I am not exactly a person who just writes for fun by any means. I thought that I would tackle the thought process of buying from an Independent Agency, versus Buying from a Captive Agency. Not a lot of people know the difference, and not a lot of people even know there IS a difference.

First, let me explain the Difference between Independent Agency and a Captive Agency. A Captive Agency is an agency that can only sell one single Insurance Company Product. For example; State Farm, Farm Bureau, Farmers. These type of Captive Agents sell their Customers that specific companies Products, and then after the Policy renews, they renew with that Specific company. Year after year the customer stays with that specific company no matter what happens to the Price or coverage because that Captive Agency only sells that company. Captive Agencies have the Majority of Personal lines, customers, in the United States, but I personally think that is because of the Marketing these captive Agencies do.

An Independent Agency sells many company’s products to their customers. Shield Insurance is an Independent Agency, we sell 8 different Home and Auto Companies to our Customers. Here is the List; Wolverine Mutual Insurance, Fremont Insurance, State Auto Insurance, Foremost Specialty Insurance, Progressive Insurance, AAA Insurance, Safe-co Insurance, Grange Insurance. When an Independent Agency Writes a policy for a client, they quote all of their companies to figure out which one is going to give that client the lowest price, with the best coverage, and that is who they put the client with. After 6 months when the Policy Renews, the agent will evaluate the Price, and if there is any sort of Increase, the agent will check all of the Other companies they Represent, and see if any of them have a cheaper price, and if they do, they will present that to their Client, and save them money on the renewal. (Some agencies don’t check, but we do!).

This is the Process of a Captive Agency, Versus an Independent Agency. The Independent Agent Shops for you, Year after Year. The Captive agent, keeps you as a Client Year after year, while your Policies are stuck with one Company. Obviously, I am a bit bias being an Independent Agent, but just think about the Thought process, would someone want to go somewhere they can only receive the same quote, or would they want to go somewhere that shops for them, and find the best price for them. I have yet to find More Benefits to being with a Captive Agency, versus an Independent Agency, but if anyone knows any, feel free to email me about it! Thanks for reading my Blog Entry today Folks, Hope everyone has a wonderful day.

submitted by TJ

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Roadside assistance is a great buy for your wallet and also your peace of mind.

Posted on June 22, 2019August 28, 2021 by Shield Insurance Agency

There are many situations you may find yourself in need of roadside assistance. Even if you feel you are prepared for potential problems, like a flat tire, knowing that you can call someone in an emergency may give you some peace of mind. With most auto insurance companies, it can cost as little as $1/ month to add roadside assistance to your auto policy and services are available 24/7. The savings of having roadside assistance can add up really quickly with just one service provided. Here are a list of the services that roadside assistance can help with:

Lockout Service

Most cars come with two keys but in many situations, the “spare” key isn’t available. Having roadside assistance on your policy could save you a lot of time and money. The cost to have a locksmith unlock your vehicle is between $50-$100 depending on the year of your vehicle.

Flat Tire

Flat tires are one of the most common reasons to call for roadside assistance. Changing a flat tire yourself is generally quick and easy as long as you have a spare and jack available. But if you’ve never done it before, then it’s probably best to just call for help. With roadside assistance, help is just a phone call away.

Dead Battery

Jumper cables are a great thing to keep in your vehicle and many people do. But if you’re alone, it is almost always better to call for help than to flag down another motorist, which could be dangerous. If your battery is completely dead or the temperature is too low, even jumper cables might not help. Roadside assistance becomes very handy in this situation.

Towing

If you break down or are in an accident, you’ll need to get your vehicle off the road and into a repair shop. Most towing companies will charge you between $75-$200, depending on the number of miles being towed. This fee is due at the time of service and unfortunately might not fit into your budget. With roadside assistance, you can just call your insurance company who will then dispatch an approved tow provider to your location and you won’t see a bill.

Out of Gas

Most basic roadside service plans include emergency fuel delivery because running out of gas is such a common problem for motorists. This saves you the time and energy of walking to the nearest gas station. Especially if you’re traveling with small children, pets, or in inclement weather. Knowing that this service is available can give anyone great peace of mind!

***As always, it’s recommended to check with your agent to make sure which services are available with your current insurance companies roadside assistance.***

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Ways To Keep Your Auto Insurance Premiums Down - Shield Insurance Agency Blog

Ways To Keep Your Auto Insurance Premium Down

Posted on June 22, 2019August 31, 2023 by Shield Insurance Agency

Shield Insurance Blog | Auto Insurance Premium | Start a Quote Today!

Auto Insurance is something we must all have and how much we pay is different from person to person. Although we each pay something different there are ways to help keep your premium lower.

Here are a few examples:

Control your speed- every speeding ticket you get raises your insurance rates. Never drink and drive- getting a ticket for drinking and driving will greatly increase your premium. For many companies, it affects your premium longer than a normal speeding ticket and some companies may not even accept your policy.

Take advantage of discounts- Most companies offer discounts for different things. Using email, shopping at Spartan stores, having home and auto together, multiple cars, and being claims-free are just a few examples of discounts.

Talk to your agent to see if you qualify for any discounts. Double-check your coverage- Make sure the coverage you have fits your vehicle. For example, if you have a really old car with full coverage maybe look at increasing the deductibles or removing the full coverage altogether.

These are just a few examples of steps you can take to help save money on your auto insurance premium.

Auto Insurance Premium

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How Much Coverage Do You Really Need for Your Vehicle - Shield Insurance Agency Blog

How Much Vehicle Coverage Do You Really Need?

Posted on June 22, 2019August 30, 2023 by Shield Insurance Agency

Shield Insurance Blog | Vehicle Coverage | Auto Insurance | Start A Quote Today

This is a question that I have been asked often and while I can list all the amazing coverages offered to you, the answer really depends on your personal needs and assets.

Let’s start with PLPD coverage only. As most people know, PLPD (Personal Liability, Property Damage) is the minimum coverage needed to drive your vehicle on the road legally. Yet, what a lot of people don’t realize is that PLPD has so many different coverage options on its own.

The dreaded state minimum requirement for Bodily Injury Liability Limits is $20,000 per person up to $40,000 per accident.

If someone else were to be injured in an auto accident that was your fault (or worse, a whole family with multiple kids), that is the coverage you have to offer. That doesn’t mean that the injured person can stop suing you for money after $20,000 or $40,000, it just means that you are on your own to pay anything over that. So you could be paying tens to hundreds of thousands out of your own pocket!

The saddest thing about this incredibly LOW coverage is that better coverage is CHEAP!!! I have seen someone with 1 vehicle & 1 driver have the state minimum and to upgrade to $100,000 per person up to $300,000 per accident was only $25 more for a whole 6-month policy. That’s less than $5 extra a month for more than QUADRUPLE the coverage!

Vehicle Coverage

Then there’s Full Coverage, which means comprehensive (~acts of God coverage) and collision coverage added to PLPD. This is where it all depends on where you are at financially and what your vehicle is worth.

My husband and I do not have loans on our vehicles. Mine is an old beater van that isn’t worth much. According to Kelley Blue Book, (www.kbb.com) the actual cash value is only $1,500. Based on this, it wasn’t worth paying the higher premium for full coverage when that is all the money I would get if it was a total loss in an accident.

Now, my husband’s truck, on the other hand, is worth closer to $6000 actual cash value, and if that truck were to be totaled tomorrow, I would not have a spare $6000 to throw at another vehicle. If I did have enough cash handy to purchase a new/used vehicle tomorrow, I would take off the full coverage (but I don’t) so that truck will stay on full coverage until I do.

It was worth my time and effort to figure out what our vehicles were worth, that way I am insured correctly and not paying more premium than I should!

submitted by Melissa

10 Safety Tips To Follow During Halloween – Shield Insurance Agency Blog

Halloween Safety

Posted on June 22, 2019August 29, 2021 by Shield Insurance Agency

If a survey asked what the most celebrated holiday in the fall season is, the answer would most likely be Halloween. Every year on this day, kids dress up in the most unimaginable characters walking around town with their parents getting candy from decorated houses, attending Halloween parties, or meeting up and going through haunted houses or haunted corn mazes.

If your house is one of the “popular” houses to go to, you’ll want to make sure your house and yard are safe and hospitable for Halloween. Before trick or treaters come to your doorstep take the necessary precautions to decrease your chances of having an unfortunate accident happen.

The following list are some pointers in making sure your house is a harmless place for kids and parents!

Clean up for Halloween Safety.

As much as we would like kids to just walk on the sidewalk and not all over our yard, that is not going to happen on Halloween! Make sure to clean up your entire yard free of debris such as tools and toys. Even take precautions against natural elements such as tree roots, plants, and gaps in your sidewalk, put yard light on, and block off hazardous areas.

Watch out for pets.

Most owners know if their pets are friendly or if they do NOT invite strangers close to their homes. If you are going to offer goodies to trick or treaters, make sure you have your pet in a secure place in your home. You would not want your dog or cat to get loose and bite a little kid or parent-even if they are just thinking they’re protecting you.

Be respectful.

Parents and kids should treat the houses they go to, as they would want their home to be treated. It’s easy to get caught up in the “Halloween” mood and want to celebrate this holiday with tricks and pranks. Just remember, vandalism is a crime. Plus, you wouldn’t want other people to be harmed by your mischief.

At Shield Insurance Agency, we hope you have a safe but enjoyable Halloween, with no tricks and lots of treats!

Let Halloween Safety be your number one priority!

Visit our Shield Agency Blog for some more great Halloween Articles!

Recent Blog Articles

Halloween Driving Tips For Safety

Posted on June 22, 2019August 29, 2021 by Shield Insurance Agency

Halloween Driving Tips

At a glance: Help protect trick-or-treaters by following these Halloween driving tips, or on the night your community hosts Halloween activities.

Be especially careful between 4 and 8 p.m., when most severe vehicle/young pedestrian collisions happen.

Drive slowly, and don’t pass stopped vehicles. The driver might be dropping off children.
Park your mobile phone. Avoid distractions by waiting until you’ve stopped to call, text, or surf.
Watch for children darting into the street. Kids can cross the street anywhere, and most young pedestrian deaths happen at spots other than intersections.
Yield to young pedestrians. Children might not stop, either because they don’t see your vehicle approaching or don’t know how to safely cross the street.
Communicate with other drivers. Always use your turn signals. And if you have to pull over to drop off or pick up your kids, turn on your hazard lights.

And, to keep your own trick-or-treaters safe on Halloween:

Teach them how to safely cross streets. They should look both ways and cross only at corners and crosswalks.

Consider indoor community Halloween programs for younger kids. Some communities also offer to help you inspect your kids’ treats to make sure they’re safe to eat.

Brighten them up. Give them flashlights and glow sticks, and/or use reflective tape on their costumes, so drivers can see them.

BROUGHT to you by PROGRESSIVE

If In An Auto Accident: Who ya gonna call? Where ya gonna tow?

Posted on June 22, 2019August 25, 2023 by Shield Insurance Agency

Auto Accident | Shield Insurance Agency Blog | Start A Quote Today!

What would you do?

Have you ever thought about who you want to fix your car and who you want to tow it if you were in an auto accident?

77% of auto accidents occur within 15 miles of your house. So, it would be a good idea to figure out who you want working on your vehicle before the accident happens instead of trying to figure it out while on the side of the road. If you have full coverage, many insurance companies will have a preferred vendor list. However, you’re going to have the freedom to choose any reputable repair shop.

This is especially important if you don’t have full coverage and/or no towing coverage. You wouldn’t want to pay for your broken car towed home then end up with another bill to tow it to a repair shop.

— Joe