Insurance questions, answered

An independent insurance agency represents many different insurance carriers rather than selling for just one. We can compare quotes from 20+ companies and choose the best fit for each client, whereas a captive agent (like State Farm or Allstate) can only sell their one company's products.

Our office is at 4301 S. Baldwin Rd, Lake Orion, Michigan 48359. We're licensed throughout the state of Michigan and serve clients from across the state.

We've been family-owned and operated since 1981. Founder Jeff Jacobs started the agency, and his son Joseph Jacobs has run it since 2014.

We write Personal Lines: auto, home, condo, renters, life, umbrella, boat, motorcycle, RV, ATV, collector car, flood, mobile home, pet, high net worth. And Commercial Lines: general liability, commercial property, commercial auto, workers compensation, BOP, professional liability, restaurant, cannabis, fitness, contractors, builders risk, bonds, cyber liability, and more.

Step 1: Fill out our online quote form (takes 2-15 minutes depending on detail). Step 2: We shop your coverage across our markets — typically 4-20+ carriers for personal lines, more for commercial. Step 3: A licensed agent reviews the options with you, you pick what you like, and we bind coverage. The entire process can be same-day for simple personal lines and 1-2 weeks for complex commercial accounts.

Yes, throughout the entire state of Michigan. While our office is in Lake Orion (Oakland County), most of our work is done by phone, email, and online. We have clients in metro Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Traverse City, the Upper Peninsula, and everywhere in between.

Our personal lines carriers include Citizens, Cincinnati Insurance, Progressive, Frankenmuth, Foremost, Liberty Mutual, Wolverine Mutual, Michigan Millers Mutual, Hagerty, American Modern, AAA of Michigan, The Hartford, Hastings Mutual, Hanover, and Hiscox. Our commercial markets include Accident Fund, Cincinnati, Frankenmuth, Hastings, Liberty Mutual, Hanover, Hiscox, Progressive, and 40+ others. See our full carrier list.

In recent years, broad market increases have hit Michigan due to: rising replacement costs (labor and materials), severe weather losses, reinsurance market pressure, and tightened underwriting. Your individual rate is also affected by your claims history, credit-based insurance score, neighborhood loss trends, and roof age (for home). The good news: not all carriers raise rates at the same time — we'll re-shop yours.

Under Michigan No-Fault, if you're injured in an auto accident, your own auto insurance pays your medical bills and lost wages regardless of who caused the crash. Since the 2020 reform, drivers can choose their PIP medical coverage level — from $50,000 up to unlimited — based on what their health insurance covers.

If you're in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area, your mortgage lender will require it. Even if you're not in a designated flood zone, flooding is the most common natural disaster in the U.S. — and standard homeowners policies do not cover it. We write flood through the NFIP and through private flood markets.

Yes, for almost every Michigan employer. Specifically: any private employer with one or more employees working 35+ hours per week for 13+ weeks per year, or three or more employees at any one time. Sole proprietors and partners can opt out, but employees still need coverage.

Each carrier has its own claim center. The fastest way is usually their 1-800 claims line, listed in your policy documents. If you're a current J. Jacobs client and you're not sure where to start, call us at (248) 693-6455 — we'll walk you through it and stay involved through the claim.

Almost always, yes. Multi-policy discounts range from 10-25% depending on carrier and state. We almost always quote both lines together and compare bundled vs. separate pricing across our markets.

Once we bind your new coverage, we coordinate with your previous carrier to cancel — usually backdated to your new policy's effective date so you don't pay double. You don't need to do anything yourself; we handle it.

Yes. Most carriers offer monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual payment options. Many also offer paid-in-full and autopay discounts (typically 5-10% off). We'll set up whatever billing frequency works for you.