When We Tell People to Go Elsewhere (And Why That Builds Trust)
Last Updated: January 2026
Reading Time: 5 minutes
Most insurance agencies will take anyone's business. If you're breathing and have a checkbook, they'll write you a policy.
We don't.
Several times a month, we tell potential clients: "We're not the right fit for you. Here's where you should go instead."
This surprises people. Why would an insurance agency turn down business?
Because taking on clients we can't serve well wastes everyone's time, sets unrealistic expectations, and ultimately damages trust. This article explains exactly when we send people elsewhere—and why that honesty is the foundation of how we do business.
When We Say "Go Elsewhere"
1. You Only Care About the Absolute Lowest Price
The Conversation:
Client: "I need insurance. Who's cheapest?"
Us: "We focus on finding the best value—proper coverage at a fair price. If you only care about the lowest number regardless of coverage quality, we're not the right fit. Try Geico, Progressive, or The General. They specialize in price-focused customers."
Why We Do This:
We can't compete with direct-to-consumer carriers on price alone. They have lower overhead, automated underwriting, and minimal service. If price is your only metric, they'll beat us.
But we know that the cheapest policy often becomes the most expensive when you have a claim and discover what wasn't covered. We're not willing to sell inadequate coverage just to win your business.
What Usually Happens:
About 30% of these clients come back after getting online quotes and realizing they don't understand what they're buying. They appreciate that we were honest upfront instead of wasting their time.
2. You Want State Minimum Coverage and Won't Consider More
The Conversation:
Client: "I just need Alabama's minimum—25/50/25 liability. That's it."
Us: "We can write that, but we need you to understand the risk. If you cause a serious accident, $25,000 won't cover it. You could lose your house, savings, everything. We strongly recommend at least 100/300/100. If you're set on minimums and won't consider better coverage, you should go to a direct carrier who'll sell it without pushback."
Why We Do This:
We've seen clients lose everything because they had inadequate coverage. We can't in good conscience sell you a policy we know is dangerous without at least trying to educate you.
If you're determined to buy minimums despite our advice, we'd rather you go elsewhere than have you blame us when disaster strikes.
What Usually Happens:
About 50% of these clients upgrade to better coverage once they understand the risk. The other 50% go elsewhere—and we're okay with that.
3. You Have Multiple DUIs or Extremely High-Risk Factors
The Conversation:
Client: "I have two DUIs and three at-fault accidents in the past two years. Can you help?"
Us: "We can try, but honestly, you need a specialist in high-risk insurance. Agencies like The General, Acceptance Insurance, or SafeAuto focus exclusively on non-standard markets and will get you better rates than we can. Here's their contact info."
Why We Do This:
We work with standard and preferred carriers. High-risk drivers need non-standard markets with different underwriting. We could force a square peg into a round hole and charge you more than you should pay—or we can be honest and send you to specialists.
What Usually Happens:
These clients appreciate the honesty and referral. Many come back 3-5 years later when their record is clean and we can save them significant money.
4. You Need Specialty Insurance We Don't Handle
The Conversation:
Client: "I need insurance for my classic 1967 Mustang / aviation policy / exotic car collection."
Us: "That's outside our specialty. You need an agency that focuses on [specialty area]. Try Hagerty for classic cars, AOPA for aviation, or Chubb for high-value collections. They'll serve you far better than we can."
Why We Do This:
Specialty insurance requires deep expertise and carrier relationships we don't maintain. We could fumble through it and do a mediocre job, or we can refer you to experts who'll do it right.
What Usually Happens:
These clients often come back for their standard insurance needs (regular auto, home, life) because they remember we were honest about our limitations.
5. You're Outside Alabama and Want Local Expertise
The Conversation:
Client: "I'm moving to Colorado. Can you handle my insurance there?"
Us: "We can write policies in other states, but our expertise is Alabama—tornado zones, flood coverage, local carriers, state regulations. You'll get better service from an independent agent in Colorado who knows that market. Want a referral?"
Why We Do This:
We could keep your business and provide mediocre service in a state we don't specialize in. Or we can be honest about our limitations and help you find someone better.
What Usually Happens:
If they move back to Alabama, they remember we prioritized their needs over our commission.
Why This Approach Works
1. It Builds Trust
When you know we'll tell you "no" when we're not the right fit, you trust us more when we say "yes, we can help."
If we took everyone's business regardless of fit, you'd wonder: "Are they saying this because it's true, or because they want my money?"
2. It Sets Realistic Expectations
We'd rather lose a client upfront than take them on, fail to meet their expectations, and have them leave angry.
When we say "we're a good fit for you," you know we mean it.
3. It Attracts the Right Clients
People who value honesty, expertise, and long-term relationships appreciate this approach. People who just want a transaction go elsewhere—and that's fine.
We'd rather have 500 clients who trust us than 1,000 clients who are constantly shopping for $20 savings.
4. It Creates Referrals
When you tell someone "I'm not right for you, but here's who is," they remember that. They tell their friends. They come back when their situation changes.
Honesty is the best marketing.
What Other Agencies Do
Most agencies take a different approach:
Captive Agents (State Farm, Allstate):
They'll try to fit you into their one company's products whether it's the best fit or not. They can't send you elsewhere because they only represent one carrier.
Commission-Focused Agencies:
They'll take anyone's business, sell whatever closes the deal, and hope you don't have problems later.
Online Aggregators:
They'll show you quotes from anyone willing to pay for the lead, regardless of whether those carriers are right for you.
We're not saying these approaches are wrong—they're just different. We've chosen to prioritize fit over volume.
Real Examples of "Go Elsewhere" Conversations
Example 1: The Price Shopper
Client: "I'm paying $650/6 months with Geico. Can you beat it?"
Us: "Let me quote you with 10 carriers and see. [Runs quotes] Your best option with us is $720/6 months with better coverage. Geico's price is hard to beat for your profile. If that extra $70 isn't worth better coverage and local service, stick with Geico."
Result: Client stayed with Geico. No hard feelings. He referred his brother to us three months later because he appreciated the honesty.
Example 2: The High-Risk Driver
Client: "I have a DUI from last year and two accidents. What can you do?"
Us: "I can get you coverage, but it'll be expensive—probably $2,400/6 months. You should call The General and Acceptance Insurance first. They specialize in high-risk and will likely beat my price by 20-30%. If they can't help, come back and I'll write you."
Result: Client got coverage for $1,900/6 months with The General. Saved $500. Came back to us four years later when his record cleaned up. We saved him $800/year at that point.
Example 3: The Specialty Need
Client: "I need insurance for my 1955 Chevy Bel Air that I only drive to car shows."
Us: "That's a classic car policy, which isn't our specialty. Call Hagerty—they're the gold standard for classic cars. They'll give you agreed value coverage, spare parts coverage, and show coverage that we can't match."
Result: Client insured the classic with Hagerty, then came back and bundled his daily driver and home insurance with us.
When We DO Take Your Business
If we say "yes, we're a good fit," here's what that means:
- We believe we can get you better coverage, better price, or better service than your alternatives
- We have the expertise to handle your specific situation
- We have carrier relationships that match your risk profile
- We're confident we can serve you well long-term
When we take you on as a client, it's because we genuinely believe we're your best option—not just because you're willing to pay.
The Bottom Line
We'd rather be honest and lose a sale than take your business and fail you later.
This isn't altruism—it's smart business. Trust is our only real competitive advantage. If we lose that by taking clients we can't serve well, we lose everything.
So when we say "we're not the right fit," we mean it. And when we say "we can help you," you can trust that too.
Are We a Good Fit for You?
If you're looking for:
- Honest advice, even when it costs us a sale
- Expertise in Alabama insurance markets
- Multiple carrier options (10+)
- Long-term relationship over transactional service
- Proper coverage at fair prices
...then we're probably a great fit.
Let's Find Out → [blocked]
About TCDS Insurance Agency: We're an independent insurance agency serving Birmingham, Pelham, and Cullman, Alabama. We represent 10+ carriers and have the freedom to tell you "no" when we're not the right fit. That honesty is why our clients trust us—and why they refer their friends and family.