When most people think of insurance, they think of companies like Nationwide, Allstate, State Farm, and some of the other groups, but what about those like Mercury Insurance who are classified as broker/agent? What does this mean? It means that not only can they write a policy for Mercury Insurance and Mercury Auto Insurance, they have a option to place your policy with another company as well either for a better rate or because Mercury insurance will not underwrite your insurance for any number of reasons. When you go to a company such as Nationwide, Allstate, or State Farm, if they are unable to insure you, the only other alternative you have is the Selected Risks category, which is quite expensive. Certainly, that doesn't mean that if a broker/agent underwrites other companies, that you are guaranteed not to have to be placed in the risk group, but at least you will have other options first.

Because each state requires that all vehicles be insured, all insurance companies operating within each of the fifty states must write a certain number of "risk" policies. What is meant by that are people who do not meet the criteria for a standard auto policy based on too many points on their driving record, being too long without automobile insurance, or any number of other reasons, For these people, a broker/agent company like Mercury Insurance fits them well. Dealing with a company who underwrites for more than one company means they don't have to keep calling insurance companies for quotes and/or being told they do not qualify; much like one stop shopping when you go to the SuperWalmart in your town.

Although Mercury Insurance may not be licensed in your state, that doesn't mean all is lost. There is always the option to ask the closest office to consider becoming licensed in your state, and if enough interest is generated, it can happen. Though based on California, Mercury insurance also has offices on the East Coast in New York, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey just as a sampling. This says the need existed and as a result new agents were licensed who had the credentials and proper state requirements to begin selling insurance in those states.

Of course, for your own peace of mind, you want to check out the information on Mercury Insurance for yourself. Just go to their website at https://quote.mercuryinsurance.com and browse. While preparing this article, this writer did just that and found it to be full of good information for those looking for automobile insurance as well as free online quotes. There are pages worth of information on their website, including their 2004 annual report which can be downloaded if you so desire. It is always good policy to know as much as possible about any company before you give them your business, and this is especially important when it comes to automobile insurance since it is something that we may not need often, but it must be what we expected when we are in need of its services. After all, you certainly don't want to have an accident, assume the policy has a rental car provision and find it doesn't. Be sure of everything your policy covers BEFORE you need to use it.