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Yes — and many people do. For example, you might keep your auto and home with a captive carrier where you’ve built up loyalty discounts, while using an independent agent for your business policies, umbrella coverage, or specialty needs. There’s no rule requiring exclusivity on your side. Independent agents will simply work with whatever policies you bring them and shop those at renewal.

Learn more in our independent vs captive agent guide or contact Bridgeway to discuss a hybrid setup.

Commercial insurance is where the independent channel produces the biggest savings. Business owners often need general liability, commercial auto, workers compensation, property, professional liability, and cyber coverage — and the best carrier for each line is rarely the same. An independent can place each line with the carrier that prices it most aggressively, while bundling for discount where it makes sense. Captive agents are forced to bundle within one carrier’s product suite, which often leaves money on the table.

See our general liability coverage page, commercial auto coverage, and our guide to choosing an agent for business insurance.

Direct writers like GEICO, Progressive Direct, and Liberty Mutual Direct are technically a third category — they sell directly to consumers without using independent or captive agents at all. They function similarly to captive carriers in that you can only access one company’s products, but without a local agent. Many consumers prefer agent-supported buying for the advocacy and consultation, particularly on complex personal lines or any commercial coverage.

For more on the differences between direct, captive, and independent channels, see our complete agent comparison guide.

Switching is straightforward and rarely costs you anything. First, request your current declarations pages from your captive agent or download them from your carrier’s app. Next, share them with the independent agency you’re considering. The agency will obtain comparison quotes from multiple carriers, typically returning options within 1-3 business days for personal lines and 5-10 days for commercial. Once you select a new policy, the independent agent handles cancellation of the old policy and binding of the new one. There’s no penalty for canceling mid-term in most states — you’ll receive a pro-rated refund.

Ready to compare? Get a free Bridgeway quote or read our full switching guide.

Yes — and this is one of the strongest advantages of the independent channel. Independent agencies access standard market carriers, excess and surplus lines carriers, and specialty program markets that captive carriers cannot place. Examples include commercial trucking, NEMT (non-emergency medical transportation), log trucking, non-standard auto, coastal homeowners surplus lines, and surety bonds for contractors.

If you have a specialty risk, an independent agent like Bridgeway is usually the practical channel. See our complete guide on agent channels or browse our specialty coverage lines.

Bridgeway Insurance Agency is an independent agency. We represent more than 40 carriers across personal lines, commercial lines, life, health, and specialty markets in seven southeastern states (Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Georgia). As a result, we can shop your coverage across multiple carriers at every renewal rather than locking you into a single insurer.

Learn more about Bridgeway’s approach to independent insurance or read our full independent vs captive agent comparison.

Your captive agent has no alternative carrier to offer because they can only sell that one company’s policies. You’ll need to shop elsewhere — typically through an independent agent who can access multiple carriers and find a replacement before your existing coverage lapses. This is one of the most common reasons clients switch from captive to independent agents, particularly in coastal and catastrophe-prone markets where captive carriers have been pulling back.

If you’ve received a non-renewal letter, request a quote from Bridgeway. We can shop your coverage across 40+ carriers. Read our guide to switching agent channels for the full process.

No — claims are handled by the insurance carrier, not the agent, so claims service is identical whether you bought through an independent or a captive. The actual difference is advocacy. Independent agents typically serve as a buffer between you and the carrier, helping push claims through when there’s friction. Captive agents have less leverage because they cannot move your business elsewhere if the carrier mishandles the claim.

For more on how independent agencies advocate for clients, read our complete agent comparison guide or visit our claims page.

A strong independent agency for personal lines typically represents 10-20 carriers. For commercial lines, look for 25-40+ carrier appointments because business policies require more market depth. The more carriers an independent agency represents, the better positioned they are to shop your coverage and find competitive pricing across diverse risk profiles.

Bridgeway Insurance Agency represents more than 40 carriers across personal lines, commercial lines, life, health, and specialty markets. See our full guide on choosing an independent agency for evaluation criteria.

Independent and captive agents earn commissions from carriers (not direct fees from clients), so the agent cost is roughly equivalent. However, because independents shop across multiple carriers, the policies they place are often less expensive than what a single captive carrier offers for the same coverage. The savings come from carrier competition at the point of sale and again at every renewal.

To see how an independent comparison stacks up against your current captive quote, request a free comparison quote from Bridgeway. Learn more in our independent vs captive agent guide.