Q: What kind of insurance agent in Houston TX should I use?

A: There are two types of insurance agent in Houston TX, and you need to know what your goals are with your agent before you can know which one is right for you. The two types we will be looking at here are the captive insurance agent and the independent agent. Both charge fees for their services, and in some cases this is added directly to your premium, while in others you pay the insurance agent in Houston TX separately.

• Captive agent.

A captive agent works for a certain company–say GEICO, or Progressive–but only for one. Captive agents are for handling your quote and policy and claim concerns once you have already chosen a car insurance company to buy your policy from. I don’t recommend captive agents; you might as well buy direct, since it’s cheaper and takes around the same amount of time.

• Independent agent.

An independent agent has a working relationship with five to seven companies, and they can get you quotes from those companies. If you are undecided, then an independent agent can help you choose the best company for you from their selection, help you decide what kind of coverage you need, and so on.