"seems kinda hit or miss to me. I'd probably stick with bundling and discounts myself."
Yeah, same here. I'm shopping around for my first policy right now, and honestly, the tracker thing sounds a bit sketchy to me. My cousin tried one of those apps last year—he's usually a cautious driver—but he said it penalized him for braking at stop signs too abruptly (like, isn't that what you're supposed to do?). I'm leaning more toward bundling with renters insurance or something similar... feels safer and more predictable budget-wise.
I get why bundling feels safer, but honestly, the tracker thing isn't always that bad. I've been using one for about six months now, and at first, yeah—it was a bit annoying. It dinged me for braking too hard a couple times, but after a while, I kinda adjusted my driving style without even realizing it. Now I'm actually saving a decent chunk each month.
Maybe your cousin's app was just overly sensitive? Mine seems pretty fair overall. Plus, bundling isn't always the cheapest option for everyone—depends on your situation. Have you checked out any smaller local insurers in Delaware? Sometimes they offer better deals or more personalized service than the big national companies. Might be worth looking into before you commit to bundling everything together...
I've noticed something similar with my tracker. Initially, it felt intrusive, but now I barely notice it...and my driving habits have subtly improved. Also agree about local insurers—found a small Delaware company last year that offered surprisingly competitive rates without bundling. Worth exploring options beyond the big names.
I've been driving for decades, and honestly, those trackers initially rubbed me the wrong way. Felt like Big Brother was riding shotgun every time I turned the key. But yeah, gotta admit—after a while, you stop noticing it, and suddenly you're braking smoother and taking corners less like you're auditioning for Fast & Furious.
On the insurance front, totally agree about looking beyond the big names. I've bounced around between insurers over the years, and it's surprising how many smaller Delaware-based companies can beat out the national giants on price and service. Found one myself a couple years back—tiny office, barely any online presence—but their rates were killer and customer service actually answered the phone without putting me through automated hell. Imagine that.
One thing I'd caution though: always double-check exactly what's covered. Some of these smaller outfits offer great rates but might skimp on certain coverages or have stricter fine print. Learned that lesson the hard way when my windshield cracked from a rogue pebble on Route 1...turns out glass coverage wasn't standard with my "amazing" deal. Lesson learned.
Still, overall I'd say exploring local insurers is worth it. Just make sure you ask plenty of questions upfront so there aren't any nasty surprises down the road. And if you can stomach it, give that tracker a shot—might save you some cash and make you less of a leadfoot in the process (speaking from personal experience here...).
"always double-check exactly what's covered"
Good advice right there. I'd also suggest asking specifically about roadside assistance—some smaller insurers bundle it in, others don't. Saved me big-time when my battery died near Dover last winter...
