They should teach Florida students how to buy insurance, don’t you think? We’re not blaming teachers, they already have too much on their plates! But shopping for insurance is a real-life task that everyone will undoubtedly encounter in their lifetime, and it’s imperative that you have some understanding of the concept before you start Googling “insurance near me.” Spoiler alert: there’s some type of insurance agency on every corner and they are not all created equally.
If you’ve shopped for Florida auto or home insurance, then you know that it can be a stressful and time-consuming task. There are some items that cannot be overlooked and we want to share what you should and should not avoid in the shopping process:
Tips for Buying Insurance:
- Do not jump at the lowest price- When comparing two (or more) proposals you cannot jump down to the bottom line for your decision. It’s almost impossible to compare insurance “apples to apples.” One highly trained Agent could prepare five proposals for any given property in Florida and they would come up with five different rates every single time because every company has their own systems and algorithms for rating and place emphasis on varying factors.
- Don’t settle for bare minimum coverage- A good example for this is when people call asking for the “state minimum car insurance.” For one, Florida has the lowest requirements compared to any other state. And two, the state minimum isn’t enough to take care of you and your passengers in the event of an accident. What about after an accident? Have you considered what your family would do if you had to be out of work for an extended period of time?
- Use an Independent Agent- Remember when we said not all agencies were created equal? Independent Agencies like Harris Insurance are a broker of sorts and work on your behalf (with NO added cost) with multiple Insurance Companies. You want to request your quotes from an Agent who is going to look at every possible market for your insurance needs and put energy and effort into crafting the most affordable proposal possible. At Harris Insurance, we promise exactly that when we shop and compare over 150 companies to propose the best price without sacrificing important coverages.
- Research the company- Independent Agencies work with companies that might not spend advertising dollars to reach the general public so you might not have ever heard of the company that is proposed to you. Take the time to lookup their Financial Stability Rating.
- Check Reviews- Check reviews for the Agency and the Agent that is going to work for you. At Harris Insurance, we are proud to have over 550 Perfect Reviews on Google!
This is just the “Cliff Notes” Version. Did you know that we actually taught an Insurance 101 Class at Fort Walton Beach High School in 2019?
In continuing our mission to help everyone Rethink Insurance, we taught Fort Walton Beach High School’s students about the insurance they’re already utilizing and introduced concepts that they will undoubtedly use in their lifetime.
Topics discussed with students:
- What is Insurance?
- Why do I need it?
- Types of Insurance & Real-life Applications
- Requesting REAL Quotes & Providing Feedback
We are thankful for the opportunity to present Insurance 101 to Fort Walton Beach’s best & brightest students. If you have any questions or would like our team to start working on your quote, please click here or email service@harrisinsurance.com.
LEGAL DISCLAIMER
Views expressed here do not constitute legal advice. The information contained herein is for general guidance of matter only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. Discussion of insurance policy language is descriptive only. Every policy has different policy language. Coverage afforded under any insurance policy issued is subject to individual policy terms and conditions. Please refer to your policy for the actual language.
