Is Best Buy Insurance Legit? Understanding This Auto Insurance Provider

When searching for car insurance, you may come across Best Buy Insurance and wonder – is this provider legit? With multiple locations in California, Best Buy sells policies from various insurance carriers. However, they have concerning reviews and BBB alerts that bring their business practices into question.

This guide examines Best Buy Insurance to help you determine if they are the right option for your auto coverage. We’ll look at:

• Company background and licensing
• Types of insurance offered
• Pricing and fees
• Customer complaints and reviews
• Whether Best Buy Insurance is reputable
• Alternate providers to consider

Overview of Best Buy Insurance

Best Buy Insurance was established in California in 2001 and operates over 3 locations in the Inland Empire region. They are licensed brokers selling car insurance policies from multiple insurance carriers.

Some key facts about Best Buy Insurance:

• Licensed in CA: License #0M95184 issued by the California Department of Insurance
• Locations: Main office in Etiwanda, CA with branches in Fontana and Ontario
• Offerings: Auto insurance from various insurance companies
• Contact: 909-822-2500

As a licensed agency, Best Buy Insurance can legally sell insurance in California. However, they have concerning alerts and reviews that bring their reputation into question.

Insurance Offered by Best Buy

As an independent insurance broker, Best Buy Insurance has access to auto policies from many large insurance carriers. The specific companies they sell from may change over time.

Types of car insurance sold by Best Buy Insurance include:

• Liability coverage
• Collision and comprehensive
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist
• Medical payments
• Rental reimbursement
• Roadside assistance

In addition to standard coverages, they may offer add-ons like accident forgiveness or new car replacement.

By working with Best Buy Insurance, you gain access to rates from multiple insurers through one agency. However, you can likely get those same rates directly from each carrier as well.

Is Best Buy Insurance Expensive?

Independent agents like Best Buy Insurance make money through commissions on new policies and renewals. These commissions get baked into your premiums. This can result in higher pricing compared to buying direct.

We can’t definitively say whether Best Buy Insurance is expensive across the board. Pricing will vary based on your situation and the specific insurer they sell you.

However, some concerning factors indicate pricing may be inflated:

• Numerous fees and charges in addition to base premiums
• Allegations of misleading rate quotes and excessive fees
• Large commissions not fully disclosed upfront

Shopping around is the only way to know if their pricing is competitive. Be wary of fees tacked onto your base rate.

Concerning Complaints Against Best Buy Insurance

While every insurer will have some complaints, Best Buy Insurance has accumulated concerning alerts and reviews that indicate problematic business practices.

Key issues raised by past clients include:

• Misleading rate quotes – Actual premiums much higher than initially quoted
• Excessive fees – Large, undisclosed broker fees and charges added
• Refusal to refund fees – Keeping large commissions after policy cancellation
• Lack of responsiveness – Not returning calls or emails to resolve issues

On BBB, Best Buy Insurance has an F rating. Out of 4 total complaints, 3 focus on misleading quotes, excessive fees, or refusal to refund cancelled policies.

These types of issues point to a pattern of concerning conduct by Best Buy Insurance when attracting and signing new clients.

Is Best Buy Insurance a Reputable Provider?

So is Best Buy Insurance a legit insurance provider? They are legally licensed to sell policies from top insurance carriers in California. However, their business practices are questionable based on reviews, complaints, and BBB alerts.

Signs that Best Buy Insurance may not be reputable:

• Pattern of overcharging clients with hidden fees
• F rating from BBB with unresolved complaints
• Lack of transparency around commissions and non-refundable fees
• Allegations of refusing to refund cancelled policies
• Failure to respond to client complaints

While they can legally provide insurance, Best Buy seems to use high-pressure and misleading tactics to make sales. This makes their trustworthiness as an advisor highly suspect.

Alternate Insurance Providers to Consider

If you want personalized service through an independent insurance agent, there are more reputable options than Best Buy Insurance. We recommend considering:

• Farmers Insurance: Large insurer with local agents and strong financial ratings
• Allstate: Established national carrier with highly-rated service
• State Farm: Top insurer with community agents across California
• GEICO: Direct provider with award-winning claims process and competitive pricing

Agents who clearly explain all costs and fees upfront are better choices to trust with your insurance needs. Or consider direct carriers like GEICO who have no commissions baked into pricing.

The Bottom Line – Is Best Buy Insurance Legit?

Best Buy Insurance is a licensed brokerage that can legally provide car insurance quotes in California. However, their concerning reviews and alerts indicate they may use misleading sales tactics and overcharge clients.

While Best Buy Insurance is a legitimate business on paper, their practices appear suspect based on complaints. We encourage finding a more transparent and reputable provider for your auto insurance needs. An ethical agent or insurer who clearly explains costs and policies is best positioned to help you make informed decisions.