Shopping for car insurance often feels like a daunting and time-consuming task, and I used to think so too. But then I had to tackle it myself.
A couple of months ago, I had an accident that involved my car and my house, and unsurprisingly, the house won. It was a silly mistake on my part, which caused my car insurance costs to skyrocket. The body shop charged $4,000 to fix the damage.
Expecting my insurance rates to go up, I was shocked when they increased by $600 a year due to this one accident in my entire driving history. Frustrated, I decided to take action and started making some calls.
Talking to Car Insurance Representatives
First, I contacted an accident lawyer to see if the increase was typical, considering my collision was with a house rather than another car. The lawyer wasn’t much help. Next, I called my car insurance company and after a short wait, I spoke with an operator. It was easier to discuss the changes over the phone than navigate them online. While they push for online self-service, talking to an insurance agent can often yield better results since they know all the tricks to save you money.
By making a few adjustments, like changing the deductible, they managed to cut about $40 off our bill, but it was still far from our original rate.
Checking Out Other Insurance Providers
Not satisfied with our current rates, I decided to look into other providers. I asked friends for recommendations and did my own research, surprised at how quick and easy it was to get quotes. Calling the dedicated numbers provided by the companies online led to prompt assistance. Using an auto insurance comparison engine is also an effective option.
I shared my current coverage details to ensure a fair comparison. To my surprise, a new provider quoted a rate that was $150 less than what we were paying. They even offered a bigger discount if we bundled with renter’s insurance, making it nearly free. The best part – the whole process took just a few minutes over the phone.
Switching Car Insurance is Okay
My husband had been with his insurance provider for 13 years, so he was hesitant to switch. But the significant price difference motivated me to push our old provider to act. Their lack of response even when we mentioned canceling reaffirmed our decision.
Saving over $300 a year made switching our car insurance an easy choice. There’s no need to stay loyal to your insurer, because to them, you’re just a client. It’s important to manage your finances actively and ensure you’re getting the best deal available.