There are two main kinds of insurance agents. Captive agents represent one insurance company. Independent agents, like Robert Wilson Insurance, represent several.
Captive agents
A captive agent sells policies from a single insurance company. Many large national brands work this way. A good captive agent can know that company's products very well.
The limitation is simple: if that company's price is high for your situation, or it will not insure something you own, the agent has nowhere else to take you. You end up shopping on your own by calling other agents.
Independent agents
An independent agent is contracted with multiple insurance companies. We take your information once, quote it with several carriers, and show you the options side by side.
That matters because carriers price risk very differently. One company may be expensive for a 1920s house but competitive on auto. Another may want your older home but not your teenage driver. An independent agent can mix and match, or find the one carrier that handles everything well.
Side by side
| Captive agent | Independent agent | |
|---|---|---|
| Companies represented | One | Several |
| Quotes compared for you | One company's options | Multiple carriers at once |
| If your rate jumps at renewal | Same company or start over elsewhere | We re-shop it for you |
| Hard-to-place risks | Limited to one company's appetite | More options, including specialty carriers |
What happens when your rate goes up
This is where the difference shows most. Rates across the industry have climbed in recent years. With a captive agent, a big renewal increase often means starting over. With an independent agent, it means a phone call: we re-shop your policies across our carriers and bring you the options.
Claims help works the same way
When you file a claim, the insurance company pays it. But your agent is still your advocate. We help you document the loss, communicate with the carrier, and push for a fair, prompt settlement. Clients tell us that having a local person in their corner is what they value most.
Is independent always cheaper?
Not always, and anyone who promises that is overselling. What an independent agent guarantees is a comparison. Sometimes the best option is the carrier you already have, and we will tell you that too.
Robert Wilson Insurance has been an independent agency in Terre Haute since 1975. Call (812) 234-0766 for a no-obligation comparison, or take our 2-minute Coverage Checkup first.
This guide is general information, not a statement of coverage. Every policy's terms, limits, and exclusions differ by carrier and by state filing. Talk with a licensed agent about your specific situation before making coverage decisions.