It PAYS to Shop Your Insurance!

[savvy_sniper]

Insurance for 2 Harleys going up $16 a year. Shopped around and got the same coverage for $70 less than last year's rate.

Auto is going up $20 and homeowners went up (don't have the numbers handy). Taking her our homeowners and car insurance tomorrow to see what she can do. She has assured me she can lower those rates too - WOO HOO!

Agent is in our HOG Chapter and several people have said she lowered their rates. I am so happy!

[nodmicks]

Woo hoo!!!!!

[mombottoo]

Insurance is a necessary evil and I rank insurance companies even lower on the totem pole than I do lawyers (no offense intended towards any insurance agents or lawyers who may belong to FV). Our rates jumped this year on both car and house insurance and before I took my business elsewhere I gave our current company the chance to bring our rates down. The agent was more than helpful and by the time she was done our rates dropped by over $300 per year and we actually ended up with a little more coverage on the house.

I never realized that when you upgrade your home (wiring, plumbiong, septic, roof, etc) it can bring your rates down. Wish they would have told me that 5 years ago .

Great job on saving yourself some money...every little bit helps .

[Contrary Housewife]

Absolutely! I used to think they were all more or less the same. I shopped around when they upped our rates because (of all things) DH was laid off. Saved over $200 switching companies, and when we combined with the house it dropped another $300!

[Aqua Blue]

Last year, on a whim, I shopped around and saved $700yr on auto and house combined. This year house went down $30 and auto stayed the same for this current 6 mo period. I am a late 50's woman who has never had a claim. Wish I had looked around earlier.

I agree, insurance companies are right up there on the totem pole!

[savvy_sniper]

I just paid for 6 months of insurance on our trucks with our new insurance company. It is better coverage and saved me $300!

Next will be our homeowners insurance. I am so happy!

[frugalfranny]

The first time, years ago, that I shopped around, I lowered mine by $700.........hadn't checked at all. What a mistake! Course I had Farmers.....what did I expect???

This year was first year in probably three or four that I haven't shopped around, just didn't have time. But I will next year, as it went up
again.

Only one time have I actually saved $ by combining.........no matter what THEY tell you. Have them quote each separately, no combining, and I have always been able to beat it. Once again, this has proved true..........one started going up. Will be separating them next year.

I HATE SHOPPING FOR INSURANCE............until the savings come!!

[Nadders11]

We're up for renewal on home insurance in sept. will be shopping around and making sure they know of all the upgrades we did. Never did this before...hope it pays off.

[savvy_sniper]

Definitely need to mention upgrades, changes, add ons, etc. Truck insurance - hubby has commercial license - discount. Homeowners - added alarm system - discount, new roof - discount, motorcycle license - two advanced rider class certs - discount, HOG Chapter member - discount, etc. and it all adds up!

We're up for renewal on home insurance in sept. will be shopping around and making sure they know of all the upgrades we did. Never did this before...hope it pays off.

[craftypam]

I just found out that your credit rating to get insurance is different than it is for loans. They take into account if you've paid on time and if you've had any claims. My car ins went up $136 a year when I thought I was paying enough. Sooo I contacted the ins co and found out that they do not check your credit rating every year unless you call to ask. I checked other ins companies and found out my rating had gone up quite a bit and my ins fell; including homeowners over $500 a year. So it is definately worth checking into.

[KimZ]

OK now I am haning my head... I have NEVER shopped my car insurance. I have had the same policy since I was 17... I guess I need to start shopping now since it's up 7/4

[savvy_sniper]

No need to hang your head! I have been with the same insurance company for our truck insurance for more than 20 years. Over the years they have given me some discounts, moved me to different companies with lower rates because I had to claims, etc.

BUT I just saved over $300 for 6 months! That is just crazy.

OK now I am haning my head... I have NEVER shopped my car insurance. I have had the same policy since I was 17... I guess I need to start shopping now since it's up 7/4

[craftypam]

I don't know if you all know this, but you do not have to wait to change policies. If you get a better rate; cancel now and they have to refund your unused insurance.

[khaski]

I am trying to get motivated to do some shopping around myself- car ins. just went up $60 a year, home insurance about $200 (!). Dsigusting. Seems a lot of compnaies have suddenly decided to up their rates....

[savvy_sniper]

SHOP, SHOP, SHOP! My agent is shopping my homeowners and told me Saturday that she is continuing to find lower options for me. She is going to continue looking. My homeowners is up for renewal at the end of August.

You can change insurance at any time, but if you have already paid through the end of the policy period (or for several months) you have to wait for your refund. It is just easier and cleaner for me to wait for the end of the policy. I also have the renewals spread out for my homeowners, trucks, and motorcycles so that I don't have to come up with a HUGE chunk of money all at one time.

Also, you often get a discount IF you pay all at once. If you pay monthly, you don't get that discount AND you are usually charged a monthly service fee for each payment. All that stuff adds up!