Built Here. Still Here.
We're an independent insurance agency rooted in Kingsport, Tennessee — founded by someone who grew up in this industry, chose this community, and isn't going anywhere.
From Captive Agent to Independent Agency — and Why That Difference Matters to You
Mark Britt spent more than 15 years working inside the captive system — one carrier, one set of rates, one answer for every client regardless of fit. He was good at it. But he kept running into the same problem: the right coverage for a particular client wasn't always the product he was allowed to offer.
So in 2019, he started over. He built the Mark Britt Agency from scratch in Kingsport — no inherited book of business, no franchise, no corporate backing. Just a license, a phone, and access to multiple carriers so he could actually shop for the best fit instead of fitting every client into the same box.
That's what independence means in practice: when you call us, we can quote Progressive, Travelers, National General, Hallmark, and others against each other on your behalf. You get options. You get a recommendation from someone who knows the difference. And you get an agent who's accountable to you — not to a home office in another state.
What We Cover
We write personal insurance, life insurance, and business insurance for individuals, families, farms, and small businesses across Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, and Western North Carolina.
Homeowners, auto, boat and marine, and umbrella coverage for families and individuals
Farm and rural property insurance for landowners, livestock operations, and outbuildings
Life insurance, fixed annuities, and mortgage protection for income and long-term security
Business insurance for contractors, restaurants, churches, and other small operations
Whether your situation is straightforward or you've got a few acres, a boat on Cherokee Lake, and a commercial van in the driveway, we've seen it before and we know how to cover it.
Licensed Where You Live
We're licensed to write insurance in Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina, which means we can serve clients across the full Tri-Cities region and into the surrounding communities — whether you're in Kingsport, Abingdon, Boone, or anywhere in between.
Families and business owners in this part of the country often straddle state lines. We know that territory, and we're set up to handle it without sending you somewhere else.
We serve clients across the region, including neighbors in Johnson City, Bristol, and Abingdon who want a local agent they can actually reach.
Same Agent. Same Number. Same Handshake.
One of the most common things we hear from new clients is that they got tired of re-explaining their situation every time they called their old agency. Different rep, different answer, no continuity.
That's not how we work. When you become a client here, you have a direct line to the same people who wrote your policy. We remember your property. We remember your family situation. We remember what we talked about last renewal. You shouldn't have to start from scratch every time you have a question — and with us, you won't.
Part of This Community — Not Just Operating in It
Mark Britt Agency is an active member of the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce and participates in local sponsorships throughout the year. That's not marketing strategy — it's what you do when the community you serve is the same one where you live, eat, and raise a family.
We sponsor local events, support area organizations, and show up in ways that have nothing to do with selling a policy. Because the relationships that matter here aren't transactional. They're the kind that hold up over time.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mark Britt Agency
Who is Mark Britt, and what's his background in insurance?
Mark Britt is the founder of Mark Britt Agency, an independent insurance agency based in Kingsport, Tennessee. He spent more than 15 years as a captive agent before launching his own agency so he could offer clients genuine multi-carrier access and a relationship-first experience. He's licensed in Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina.
How long has Mark Britt Agency been in business?
The agency was founded in 2019 as a scratch agency — built from the ground up in Kingsport without an inherited client base. In the years since, it's grown into an established local presence with an active community footprint and a growing client roster across the Tri-Cities region.
Is Mark Britt Agency a local business or part of a larger chain?
We're fully independent. We're not a franchise, and we don't operate out of a regional or national call center. Our office is at 4354 West Stone Drive in Kingsport, and the people you reach when you call are the same people who manage your account.
What states does Mark Britt Agency serve?
We're licensed to write insurance in Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina. We regularly serve clients in the Tri-Cities area and surrounding communities, including those in Kingsport, Johnson City, Bristol, Abingdon, Boone, and the rural areas in between.
How do I get started?
Call us at (423) 765-9016 or use the contact form on our site. We'll have a real conversation about what you need — no pressure, no pitch, just a straight answer about your options.
What makes an independent agency different from a captive agent?
A captive agent can only offer products from one carrier. An independent agency like ours works with multiple carriers — including Progressive, Travelers, National General, and Hallmark — so we can shop the market on your behalf and recommend the coverage that actually fits your situation, not just the one we're required to sell.
Ready to Talk to Someone Who Knows Your Name?
Give us a call or send a message and we'll get back to you the same day. No call center, no hold music — just a straightforward conversation about what you need.
