Good point about the potholes—I swear some of them up here could swallow a moose whole, haha. I get the hesitation about switching though, especially after your deductible got waived. Honestly, loyalty perks can be lifesavers when things go sideways. I've bounced around a bit myself and yeah, sometimes saving a few bucks feels good at first, but then you hit one of those legendary Alaskan road craters and suddenly you're wishing you had stuck with the folks who know you best...
Totally hear you on the potholes—my morning commute feels like a videogame obstacle course sometimes, dodging craters left and right. I've stuck with my insurance provider for years now, mainly because they've been pretty chill about the occasional windshield crack or tire blowout. Might not always be the cheapest, but the peace of mind is worth it.
One thing I've wondered about though—has anyone had luck lowering their rates by taking those defensive driving classes? Heard mixed things from friends around Anchorage. Some say it knocked a good chunk off their premiums; others thought it was barely worth the hassle. Not sure if it's different depending on your insurer or if certain courses are better than others...
"Heard mixed things from friends around Anchorage. Some say it knocked a good chunk off their premiums; others thought it was barely worth the hassle."
I've found defensive driving courses can help, but it really depends on your insurer and your driving history. A buddy of mine with a spotless record barely saw any savings, while another friend who'd had a couple minor incidents got a noticeable discount. On another note, has anyone here tried insuring their classic or collector cars separately? I've heard specialized policies can sometimes offer better rates...
I've had a similar experience with defensive driving courses—definitely hit or miss depending on the insurer. My sister took one after a fender-bender and it shaved off a decent chunk, but when I tried it (clean record at the time), savings were minimal. As for classic cars, my uncle insured his vintage Mustang separately and swears by specialized policies. He says they're more affordable and tailored specifically for collectors...might be worth checking out if you've got something special parked in the garage.
"He says they're more affordable and tailored specifically for collectors..."
Yeah, I've heard that too, but I'm still kinda skeptical. Had a buddy insure his vintage Corvette with one of those specialty insurers—he swore it was cheaper, but then he had a claim and said the hoops he had to jump through were nuts. Guess it depends if you're willing to gamble a bit for lower rates...but hey, might still be worth looking into if you don't daily-drive the classic.
