Car Insurance Renewal

United States
March 22, 2007 1:00pm CST
When it's time to renew your car insurance each year, do you shop around for a better price or do you just automatically renew with the company you are already with?
4 people like this
18 responses
• Canada
22 Mar 07
I shop around every year although it has to be a significant price reduction to make me move. Ie if one company was only $10 cheaper then its probably not worth it, but it was $100 cheap then it probably is. Sometimes being with a company for a while has its benefits. When my car was broken into a couple years ago. I had been with my current company for about 8 years with no claims. They covered not only the glass, but the power window motor ($700 worth) even though I was the one who damaged it by putting the window up without the glass in it. Oops... And because it was still counted at a window repair my premiums didn't do up.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Mar 07
I just renewed my car insurance policy. I've been with the same company about 15 years, maybe 18 actually. I have my home owners policy with them as well and I get a little discount for having the multiple policies. I've never really shopped around much.
• Canada
22 Mar 07
I've only ever changed once and that was too the company mentioned above, but I still ring around every year. For the small amount of time it takes, at least you know you have the best value policy. I hate not knowing if I could be better off with someone else ;)
1 person likes this
@EvanHunter (4026)
• United States
5 Jul 07
I have shopped around and I still havent gotten a good deal like the one I have now. I have been a member with statefarm for years and they have been pretty good with the multiple car discounts tried getting quotes with allstate progressive and geico but they coudlnt come close to the deal I have now.
• United States
5 Jul 07
I've checked with Geico and I've found their rates to be high.
• United States
4 Jul 07
I am very happy with my car insurance..so far they have been the best for me right now.. I use Erie Car Insurance..They allow you to make monthly payments: you pay for 9 months and then 3 months you do not pay;)+
• United States
5 Jul 07
That's how my insurance company works also. I pay for 9 months but then the renewal is due at Christmas time, which I hate. But it is nice to have 3 months of no payments.
@KrisNY (7590)
• United States
12 Jun 07
I used to just renew- but this time around I got smarter- I shopped around and went with a major cheaper company- I didn't like the way my company State Farm was handling customer service or anything- they were always so rude- So I switched to Progressive- I've been with State Farm ever since I have been able to drive- I saved over $300 in 6 months!
• United States
13 Jun 07
My daughter uses Progressive and she's been really happy with them. They are very friendly.
@mbizmom (237)
• United States
23 Mar 07
I had the same company for insurance until six months ago when I bought a new house. I now pay a little more for my car insurance but it was worth it because I saved over a 100 on what my homeowners would of cost before. I think it's always a good idea to have both policies with the same company, that way you get that multiple policy discount.
1 person likes this
• United States
23 Mar 07
Yes the multiple policy discount helps alot. Gosh any kind of discount helps alot! Insurance is expensive.
• United States
5 Jul 07
We have car insurance, renter's insurance, and a life insurance policy for my fiance all through the same company, which gives us a discount for having multiple plans with them. I also know that the person we dealt with recently to switch our insurance agent when we moved worked to give us a good deal, so I'm pretty loyal to that company. I probably won't shop around until our needs change significantly--like after my fiance graduates, when we get married, or when we buy a house.
@kgwat70 (13388)
• United States
18 Jun 07
I am in the process of looking for a cheaper insurance rate on the new car that I just bought over the weekend. I have been with Geico the last couple of years and they raised my rate on my new car by a few hundred dollars so I am looking around. I may be switching to AIG but am still reviewing insurance companies. It is crazy how much they charge.
• United States
11 Jun 07
I automatically renew with the company I have. I had a really great rate with a company I really like for our car insurance. Then I bought the house and they were only auto. When I was shopping around for our house insurance our cheapest rate came from a place that required you to have car insurance with them too. The rate was about the same. I don't particularly like my new company but I hate searching around for new insurance. I figure it would just be another headache. And really the reason that keeps me with them is they give a percentage of your rate back starting after three years with no claim each year on both policies. And this year is our lucky year :) It's a nice little incentive.
1 person likes this
@Calais (10893)
• Australia
4 Jul 07
I used to just automatically renew the one I had, but then one year I just decided to shop around , to my surprise I found a few that were way cheaper than mine, So now I shop around each year, I have saved a fortune in doing that.
1 person likes this
@carlaabt (3504)
• United States
13 Jun 07
Until I got married, I had the same insurance agent the entire time I could drive. I never shopped around or anything, because my parents had a couple of times and couldn't find anyone cheaper. Plus the agent was one of my friends' dads, so I probably would have stuck with him unless it was a significant difference. When I got married, I switched to American Family, because that's who my husband had. We haven't found anyone cheaper. We've looked, but with all the vehicles and the renter's insurance, the only place we've looked at that's been close, was about $5 more a month. Everyone keeps telling us to go with USAA but until it's been 5 years since my husband's last accident, they are A LOT more expensive than American Family. It will be five years since his accident next December, though, so we might shop around again when the policy expires the following May.
1 person likes this
@mfpsassy (2827)
• United States
4 Jul 07
I have an insurance agent who does the work for me. I just tell her what features I want. So far she has never steered me wrong.
1 person likes this
• United States
12 Jun 07
Even though I hate my insurance company I doubt I am going to find a better price anywhere else so I just renew over and over again every 6 months. Where else am I going to find a company that will insure 2 cars for under $50 a month? besides I don't have the time to go looking, I am too busy here on MyLot now lol.
1 person likes this
@4cuteboys (4099)
• United States
12 Jun 07
Nah mine just goes thru automatically every 6 mos and I just keep it. I did shop around recently and GEICO was cheaper than the USAA I am now using, so we were thinking about switching, but we'll see. I am pretty lazy so unless it's a huge savings I probably won't ever do it. We've been with usaa forever.
1 person likes this
@Cassy1976 (796)
• Australia
12 Jun 07
I used to shop around but I have found an insurance company that I like and trust so I now stick with them and strangely enough they are actually one of the cheapest ones that I have found but they are always there 24 hours a day to answer any questions, customer service is a big thing to me, I usually look more for good service rather than price.
1 person likes this
@jadiel (113)
• United States
12 Jul 07
Take a look on this website: http://automobile-insurance.someofitall.net/
@misheleen73 (6037)
• United States
24 Mar 07
I automatically renew with the company I have. The company i use is probably one of the cheapest around that still gives you service you need. If you go with the cheaper fly by night places you can really get stuck when you need it.
1 person likes this
@dbhattji (2506)
• India
5 Jul 07
I don't like changing companies just like I don't like to change cars that often. I like loyalty and that is what I like to give in return. I do shop around the first time to find a good company, then I stay with them only, even if others offer good starting rebate in premium.
@ibuemma (2953)
• United States
5 Jul 07
I stopped shop around when I start using GEICO..LOL...my hubby is a veteran and they have special discount for veteran family. I don't think other insurance company can beat their rates. And I'm pretty happy with their service too. And it's already 3 times I automatically renew with Geico.