[kevin]

Larry's got it right. There are less than 10 piston aircraft insurance companies. Avemco writes the insurance directly, all the others use agencies. If you use any agent, they will be getting quotes from all the available insurance companies except Avemco. All the agents would like you to think that they have some "connection" that will get you the lowest rate. Scott (Skysmith) used to have that, sortof, in that he operated a Skymaster group insurance program, but the insurance companies are not interested in those any longer, and Scott no longer has this edge.

On the other hand, a long term relationship between the agent and the underwriters *does* help in marginal situations. Aviation insurance is done quite a bit by arbitrary decisions made by the underwriters. If they get along well with the agent, and if they did not have a fight with their wife that morning or a big loss that week, you can get a slightly better rate, or maybe get a yes answer on a marginal insurance situation (low time in type for example) that you might not get otherwise.

I suggest that you contact Avemco and get a quote from them (make sure you are sitting down first, they have been thousands of dollars higher that other companies in the past, for my needs anyway). Then select a single agent based on his or her reputation, and how easy it is for you to work with that agent. They will get the quotes for you from all the other companies, and then you can make a decision.

Once in a while, you hear about somebody changing agents and getting a better quote from the new agent. Nearly always that happens because of a lack of communication (by unintentional or "intentional" mistake) about your situation. For example, if you get a quote from one agent that is high, then you change agents, and neglect to mention to the second agent that you had a gear up accident and drunk driving conviction last year, you will definitely get a better rate from the second agent. Less dramatically, if "by mistake) an agent tells an insurance company that you have a private license with 500 hours, and you only have 300, they will get you a better quote. BUT...

Insurance obtained with inaccurate information is worse than no insurance at all. The insurance companies nearly always find out the truth when and if a claim is filed, and if the mistake is large enough, it can invalidate your claim, and you get paid nothing. So you paid nice low premiums (and the agent got the commission) for insurance that is worth nothing...

If you want to have insurance, tell your agent the truth about your situation, and pick a well known agent with a good rep. Take the best quote you can get for the coverage you want, and be done with it. If you don't want to do it that way, don't buy insurance at all, you are wasting your money.

I have used Scott Smith as my agent for the last seven years, have been very happy with him, and recommend him. Before that, I used several other agents, because I didn't really understand the above information.

My two cents.

Disclaimer: The above information comes from several sources. I have been involved in a service venture that would address the aircraft insurance agents as a market, so I have spent a non-trivial amount of time chatting with insurance agents and underwriters from many of the companies involved. Also, Scott Smith has become a personal friend of mine. I believe I would recommend him even if he were not, but the friendship exists.

Kevin