# Independent vs. Captive Insurance Agents
When you buy insurance, you're usually working with one of two kinds of agent — independent or captive. The difference decides how many companies get to compete for your business.
Captive agents
A captive agent represents a single insurance company. Many brand-name agency offices are captive — the agent can only quote that one carrier's products.
- Pro: deep knowledge of one company's products.
- Con: if that carrier is expensive for your situation, a captive agent can't shop it — you either take their rate or start over somewhere else.
Independent agents
An independent agent represents many insurance companies — often dozens. They shop your risk across all of them and place you where you fit best.
- Pro: one agent compares multiple carriers for you, so you're more likely to land the right coverage at the right price.
- Pro: if your rate jumps at renewal, they can re-shop it across carriers *without* you switching agents.
- Pro: independents are typically multi-line — auto, home, life, farm, and commercial in one place. (What is a multi-line agency?)
How are agents paid — and does it cost you more?
Both independent and captive agents are paid mostly by commission from the insurance company, usually a percentage of your premium. A few things worth knowing:
- You don't pay the agent's commission as an extra fee — it's built into the carrier's rate whether you use an agent or buy direct.
- Commission rates vary by line and carrier (commonly around 10–15% on many personal lines, and often higher on commercial lines).
- Because an independent agent isn't tied to one company's payout, they're free to place you with the carrier that fits *you* best.
The takeaway: using an independent agent generally doesn't cost you more than going direct — and it can save you money, because someone is shopping the whole market on your behalf.
We're independent
InsureToday24 (BNW Services LLC) is an independent agency representing 60+ carriers across Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Colorado. We shop your rate across many companies instead of pushing one — and we write every major line under one roof.
Want your rate shopped across carriers? Call 573-594-5148 for Lucy, or get a free quote.
References
- Insurance Information Institute (iii.org) — how insurance is sold; agents versus brokers
- National Association of Insurance Commissioners (naic.org) — insurance producer licensing
- IRMI Glossary (irmi.com) — definitions of independent agent, captive agent, and commission