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Auto insurance brokers in Kitchener, and Ontario as a whole, exist primarily to help customers like you save money on their car insurance. They shouldn’t, however, be confused with auto insurance agents and quote comparison websites since there are several differences between the three. Read on to find out what they are.
Auto insurance brokers are just one of many options that you as a consumer can use to find an insurance policy. Brokers work for you, and their job is to find and research insurance quotes from a variety of providers. The best part is that they are not tied to any one provider, so the information you get is usually unbiased, meaning they don’t upsell one product or provider over another.
Once a broker finds the option that works best for you, you can opt for that policy. What’s great about this is that you only pay the premium to the insurance company, not the broker. The auto insurance broker is paid by the insurance company – and is usually a percentage of the annual premium you have agreed to beforehand.
While both brokers and agents sell insurance, they are not the same. That’s why before contacting one or the other, you should first understand how they differ.
Unlike an auto insurance broker, an insurance agent works only for one company and is paid by that company. An agent offers no research on other companies or compares their quotes. Thus, their products and services are limited. Usually, insurance agents are paid a base salary, combined with a fee or commission from the sale. Sometimes they are strictly paid a commission.
Because you are essentially dealing directly with the auto insurance company, there may be an opportunity to save money. Administrative or other costs can be handed down to you as savings, theoretically, especially if it can help them sell you a policy. In other words, there is room for negotiations.
Auto insurance broker work for you, the consumer. And since they act as independents, they are not bound to any one insurance company. As a result, they are free to research and provide information on a large variety of insurance companies.
Variety means options, and likely, better rates for you. You can also work with brokers to customize your insurance policy (to a point), so that it matches your driving needs exactly.
Now that we’ve compared auto insurance brokers to auto insurance agents, it’s time to compare the two side by side to quote comparison websites.
Broker | Agent | Comparison website |
---|---|---|
Act as independent operators, representing multiple companies. | Only represent one company. | Gathers and compares the cheapest rates from multiple providers in just a few clicks. |
Brokers are compensated by insurance companies. They receive fees based on the annual premium you end up paying. | Receive a base salary and commission of the policy they sell. Sometimes they only receive a commission. | Comparison sites are paid by insurance “partners” after you connect with them through the site. |
Works for you and represents multiple auto insurance companies (and sometimes other types of insurance as well). | Works for the insurance provider. | Works for you and connects you to a broker who can discuss your specific needs during the comparison process. |
Brokers help save you money by representing and offering you rates from a variety of insurance companies. | Agents sell auto insurance from one provider. They do not offer research or comparisons to other companies. | Comparison sites help save you money by comparing rates from several insurance companies at once. RATESDOTCA, for example, is partnered with over 50 top providers in the industry. |
Company name | Company type | Phone number | Address |
---|---|---|---|
Josslin Insurance |
Insurance broker |
519-893-7008 |
1082 Weber St. E, Kitchener, ON, N2A 1B8 |
KW Insurance Brokers |
Insurance broker |
519-744-4190 |
112-501 Krug St., Kitchener, ON, N2B 1L3 |
Quotes comparison |
1-855-821-7312 |
225 King St W, Suite 1000, Toronto, ON, M5V 3M2 |
|
Quotes comparison |
1-855-487-6911 |
401-1910 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4S 3B2 |
|
Marsh Canada Ltd |
Insurance broker |
1-800-265-2196 |
200-4273 King St. E, Kitchener, ON, N2P 2E9 |
Medallion Insurance |
Insurance broker |
1-800-339-9935 |
604 Belmont Ave. W, Kitchener, ON, N2M 1N5 |
Quotes comparison |
1-844-726-0907 |
225 King St W, Suite 1000, Toronto, ON, M5V 3M2 |
|
Regal Insurance Broker |
Insurance broker |
519-578-7170 |
2-428 Gage Ave., Kitchener, ON, N2M 5C9 |
Reliable Insurance Brokers |
Insurance broker |
519-498-9958 |
10 Overlea Dr., Kitchener, ON N2M 1T1 |
Insurance broker |
1-866-456-6620 |
22-300 Lincoln St, Welland, ON L3B 4N4 |
Need more information on Kitchener auto insurance brokers? We got you covered.
According to the 2023 RATESDOTCA Insuramap, the average car insurance premium in Kitchener is $1,654 per year. That’s about 5.5% lower than the Ontario average of $1,744.
Choosing the right way to shop for auto insurance in Kitchener is a personal decision.
Using an insurance broker gives you access to someone who does the work for you and can help you navigate the many policy options available. It’s a fairly simple process that requires little from you – other than contacting the broker and then choosing the policy option that fits your needs. Because a broker’s work involves comparing different insurers, there are more ways to find a cheaper rate than when simply working with one provider or agent.
No. Insurance brokers are paid a commission by the insurance company that they are representing and that you end up signing with.
Insurance brokers, once you commit to one of the providers they’ve offered, will receive a fee from that provider. Usually, a percentage is calculated from the annual premium you end up paying.
Generally not. Auto insurance brokers can find competitive prices from a variety of insurance companies. Agents, on the other hand, only represent one company – the one they work for. There is far less room for negotiations with agents than with brokers.
RATESDOTCA makes it easy for consumers to find auto insurance quotes online. It only takes a few clicks to be matched with a range of quotes from Canada’s top insurance providers. It’s also free.
RATESDOTCA also owns the Welland-based Scoop Insurance brokerage (formerly Kanetix Ltd.).
In Ontario, all brokers are licensed by the Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario (RIBO). RIBO is a self-regulatory body established in 1981. It manages the licensing, professional competence, ethical conduct and insurance-related financial obligations of all independent general insurance brokers in the province. Learn more about RIBO now.
It all depends on your needs, location and how well you research the insurance companies in your area. The best place to start your research is on sites like RATESDOTCA, which offer the cheapest quotes, from the top providers in just a few clicks. The service is free and easy to use.
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