Does It Cost More to Use an Insurance Agent? We Asked Brannon
It's one of the most searched insurance questions in Georgia, and almost nobody asks it out loud when they're actually on the phone with an agent. So we sat down with Brannon East and asked it directly, along with a few of the follow-up questions people usually think but don't say.
Let's start with the big one. Does it cost more to buy insurance through you instead of going straight to a company like GEICO or Progressive?
No. Flat out, no. I probably get some version of this question once a week, usually from someone who's a little embarrassed to ask it. The rate you'd get calling the carrier directly and the rate I get you from that same carrier are the same rate. The carrier pays me a commission out of their own overhead for bringing them the business. It's not added to your premium.
If the price is identical, why does anyone go direct at all?
Honestly, a lot of people just don't know there's another option, or they assume shopping around themselves is good enough. And for some people, it is. If you've got twenty minutes and you enjoy calling four different companies and comparing quotes line by line, more power to you. Most people don't have that kind of time, or they call two companies, get tired, and just pick one.
So what are you actually doing that a person couldn't do themselves?
Scale, mostly. I've got relationships with 20-plus carriers. When you come to me, I'm not calling two companies, I'm running your information against all of them and bringing back whichever ones are actually competitive for your specific situation. Your age, your driving record, your car, your zip code, all of that changes which carrier is cheapest, and it changes from person to person. A company that's a great deal for your neighbor might not be a great deal for you.
What if someone already has insurance and it seems fine? Why would they even bother switching?
Rate creep is the biggest one. Carriers raise renewal rates over time, and most people never re-shop, they just pay it. I've had clients come to me paying $140 a month for coverage I got them for $89 with a different carrier, same coverage. That's not because their old carrier did anything wrong, it's just that pricing shifts every year and nobody's calling to tell you when a better option shows up. That's the job I actually do.
If it doesn't cost the client anything extra, what's actually in it for you?
The same thing the carrier gets: keeping you as a happy client. I get paid by the carrier when I place your policy, and honestly, my whole business runs on referrals and people staying with me year after year. If I put you in a bad policy or ignored you after the sale, you'd leave, and you'd tell your neighbors not to call me. So the incentive lines up pretty well, I do right by you, or I don't have a business.
What actually happens if I have a claim? Does an agent do anything at that point, or am I on my own with the insurance company?
This is honestly where the value shows up the most, and it's the part people don't think about until they need it. If you call an 800 number, you're one ticket in a queue. If you call me, I already know your policy, I know your carrier, and I can push on your behalf if something's moving slowly or if you're not sure what's covered. I'm not the one paying the claim, but I'm the person in your corner while it's happening.
Any downside to going through an agent instead of buying online?
Honestly, the only real trade-off is you're talking to a person instead of clicking through a website at 11pm. Some people prefer that speed. But if you want an actual comparison instead of one company's number, and you want someone to call when something goes sideways, that's what an agent is for.
Ready to see what an actual comparison looks like for your situation? Get a free quote and Brannon will shop 20+ carriers to find your best option, at no extra cost to you.