Auto and Car Insurance - What are the benefits of becoming an Insurance Agent working in an autoplan selling basic car insurance?

What are the benefits of becoming an Insurance Agent working in an autoplan selling basic car insurance?

So here's the deal: I'm looking to start a career in the Insurance industry and work as an Autoplan Insurance Agent. I'm very ambitious and I feel like I can get a lot of clients coming to me as I know it's a job in very high demand. Right now I have a job as a Financial Service Advisor and to be honest, sitting in a chair for 9.5hrs a day answering phones calls minute after minute is NOT ME!!! So is working in the Insurance field flexible with hours? When it comes to, say, meeting with clients, how is that arranged? I plan to get lots. Is it possible to set my own hours? And is there a lot of money to be had here? What restrictions do I have with Level 1 opposed to Level 2? Basically, I would like to know the "ins" and "outs" of becoming an agent. Anyone who could answer me these questions it'd be EXTREMELY helpful and I'd truley appreciate it. I've already enrolled in the course (starting in late May) but I'd like an extra "tidbit" of an outline to what I'm settling into. Thanks!! :) Ok let me rephrase something. I dont expect clients to fall in my lap, I know of course I will have to get my own in order to make a decent income, but I was wondering what sort of restrictions I have with a Level 1 license opposed to a Level 2. So, what can I do with a Level 2 license that I can't do with a Level 1? Anyone???

Public Comments

OK, first of all, you're not going to make a living getting customers to go to you. You're going to have to go to them. And if you're hoping to make $50,000 a year, those first few years, you're going to have to put in 80 hour weeks to drum up that kinda business. Is it flexible? Sure. But if you don't put in the time, you're not going to make the sales, period. Most people with money to buy insurance, work, so you're going to have to sell them on the hours they aren't working - evenings and weekends. You meet with clients any way you can get them to - in your office, at McDonalds, at their house, at their library, WHERE EVER.
Insurance is a very lucrative career, the renewals at least in the Health Insurance industry are fantastic. I work probably 35-40 hours a week that I schedule and I make a fine living (greater than $60K a year) As far as getting licensed, depending on the state you are in, it is easy and you shouldn't have any problems. All you have to do is take a class and go take a test. I am licensed in 4 states and do some traveling, but it has been very lucrative thus far for me.
If you do not like to spend your days sitting in a chair answering calls and servicing clients then you're not going to be much happier as an Autoplan agent. Insurance hours are not really flexible. An agency/brokerage is open from x:xx A.M. to x:xx P.M., and you will be expected to be there to help service clients. Your only other option is to be a mobile Autoplan agent (aka Road Runner). Mobile agents go to dealerships to process auto policies for people purchasing new/used vehicles and have no plates to drive off the lot with. I personally consider Road Runners to be the bottom feeders of the insurance world, as they pretty much only have limited knowledge in Autoplan (they usually only do New vehicle registrations/New plate transactions and not much else). The dealership would usually call up the agency/brokerage that they have a prior agreement with to send over a Road Runner to do the transaction. Beyond that a person wishing to renew their Autoplan would just show up at the office to process their transaction (the vast majority of ICBC transactions cannot be done over the phone, the client has to come in to the office to show identification). As for salary, expect to make $30,000 to $35,000 to start. You can make up to $50,000 as an Autoplan manager, but you will need a huge amount of experience, a way greater knowledge base of Autoplan (including Fleets, Garage policies, specialty licensing and estate transfers) as well as a Level 2 license. While the additional business that you can bring in is always appreciated, some agencies process two hundred Autoplan transactions A DAY, so don't expect any bonuses unless you work out some sort of bonus commission with the agency you will work for. Now to answer your question about license levels. I am a level 2, soon to be a level 3. Level 1 allows you to conduct Personal lines business (Auto, Homeowner's, Tenant's, Condo, Travel, Pleasure-craft, etc). Level 2 allows you to do everything a Level 1 can plus you can also do Commercial lines business. Most insurers (not ICBC) require that Personal Lines applications and policies be signed by a Level 2. So while you would be able to do a Homeowner's quote as a Level 1, you would have to call over a Level 2 to sign the application when it comes time to place the business. A Level 3 can do everything a Level 1 and Level 2 can do plus he can be the principal of a brokerage, which means he can be the owner or general manager of an agency/brokerage (every brokerage/agency needs one).