"I caught myself paying extra for rental car coverage I never used...easy savings right there."
Yeah, good point about the rental coverage—I almost fell for that too. When I bought my first policy last year, I realized bundling renter's insurance shaved off a decent chunk. Worth checking out if you're renting like me.
Good tips mentioned already. A couple more things I've noticed from my road trips up here:
- Insurance companies sometimes offer discounts if you take a defensive driving course—even online ones count, and they're usually pretty cheap.
- Also, mileage tracking apps can save you money if you don't drive much outside of trips.
Curious if anyone's had luck negotiating lower rates directly with their agent...does that actually work?
Negotiating directly can absolutely help, but it really depends on how you approach it. I've seen plenty of cases where clients got better rates just by asking their agent to review their policy step-by-step. If you sit down (or even just call) and politely ask them to walk you through your coverage, mentioning things like your driving habits, mileage, or safety courses you've done, agents often find discounts or adjustments they hadn't originally considered. Doesn't hurt to try...worst they can say is no.
That's a good point, actually. Last year I casually mentioned to my agent that I'd done a defensive driving course (mostly for peace of mind, tbh), and she immediately knocked off a few bucks. Never hurts to bring it up, right?
I had a similar experience a few years back. Mentioned to my agent that I'd installed a dashcam, mostly because of icy roads and wildlife encounters here in Alaska, and surprisingly, they gave me a small discount. It wasn't huge, but every bit helps, especially considering how pricey insurance can get up here. Definitely worth casually bringing up any safety upgrades you've made—sometimes they're more valuable than you realize.
