About Us

Why We Got Into This Business

We started Downes Insurance Associates because we believe insurance should feel like a relationship, not a transaction. For more than 35 years, we have been part of the Milford community – not as a branch office or a franchise, but as a locally owned agency that shows up, picks up the phone, and takes the time to understand what our clients actually need.

What keeps us in this business is the same thing that drew us to it: the interaction with people, and the ability to solve problems that matter. When someone calls us because they just got in an accident, or a business owner needs to understand what their policy actually covers, we are here. Not an 800 number. Not a hold queue. Us.

What We Do Differently

Downes Insurance Associates is an independent broker, which means we are not tied to any single carrier. We shop the market across multiple top-rated insurance companies to find the coverage that fits your situation – not the one that fits a quota. That independence is the difference between being sold a policy and being matched with the right one.

Our policies come with an agent. That is not a line on a brochure – it is the standard we hold ourselves to every day. When you work with us, you have a consistent point of contact who knows your history, understands your coverage, and is available when you need them. No transfers. No starting over. Just continuity and service.

What We Cover and Who We Serve

We offer a full range of personal and commercial insurance lines for individuals and small business owners across Milford and the surrounding 30-mile radius. Our personal lines include auto, homeowners, flood, renters, life, health, classic car, motorcycle, RV, and boat insurance. On the commercial side, we cover business owners policies, liability, workers compensation, and more.

Flood insurance is a specialty for our market. With Milford’s proximity to the Mispillion River and recurring flood risk across Kent and Sussex counties, we make sure our clients understand what standard policies cover – and what they don’t. We also provide carrier service access directly from our site so that clients can reach their insurance company’s payments and claims portals without having to track down a number on their own.

Rooted in the Community

We are not a firm that serves clients all over the country. We are a Milford agency that serves Milford people. Most of our clients are within 30 minutes of our office, and that proximity matters. We are members of local business organizations and Chambers of Commerce, and we believe those connections make us better at what we do – because we understand the market, the neighborhoods, and the people we insure.

If you are looking for an insurance agency that will be here when you need them – not just when you sign – come see us or give us a call. We are open Monday through Friday, 9 to 5, and we are always happy to talk through your options. No pressure. No jargon. Just real answers from real people who know your name.