I've been in your shoes—trying to balance savings with actually improving my driving. Defensive driving courses can be hit or miss. If you're genuinely new behind the wheel, I'd say they're worth it, but only if you pick one that's interactive and scenario-based rather than just clicking through slides. As for those tracking apps, I tried one briefly... definitely made me more aware of my habits, but the privacy trade-off wasn't worth it for me personally. Still, might be worth a shot if you're comfortable with it.
Totally agree about the defensive driving courses—some are just painfully dull. I took one a couple years back that was scenario-based, and honestly, it stuck with me way more than the usual slideshow snoozefest. As for those tracking apps, yeah, privacy is definitely a concern. I've seen some insurers offer decent discounts if you're willing to share your driving data, but you gotta weigh if the savings are worth feeling like someone's always watching your speedometer...
One thing I'd add: don't overlook bundling policies if you've got renters or homeowners insurance. A lot of folks miss out on easy savings there. Also, Delaware has some smaller local insurers that sometimes beat the big names on price and service—might be worth checking out if you're shopping around anyway. Curious if anyone's had luck with those smaller companies?
- Just shopped around myself (first timer here), and yeah, those tracking apps creep me out a bit...
- But I did check into some smaller DE insurers—got quotes from two local ones, and one actually beat the big guys by a decent margin.
- Worth a shot, at least.
Did you try bundling your policies? I was skeptical at first, but combining my renter's and car insurance actually shaved off a decent chunk. Also curious—did the smaller insurers offer decent customer service or online tools? Sometimes the savings aren't worth the hassle if you can't easily manage your policy or claims...
Bundling definitely helps, but I've found smaller insurers can be hit or miss. I tried one local Delaware company last year—rates were great, but their online portal was straight outta 2005 and customer service took forever to respond. Ended up switching back to a bigger name just for convenience. If you're patient and don't mind a bit of hassle, smaller insurers might save you some cash...but personally, I'd rather pay a little extra to avoid headaches when filing a claim.
