I’ve actually seen more success getting weird fees waived with the smaller, local outfits. They’re not as rigid, probably because they don’t have a giant call center script to stick to. The big guys? Good luck. Unless you threaten to walk, they usually just shrug and point to the contract. Honestly, it’s wild how something like a $15 “policy change” fee can get buried until you’re already committed. I always tell folks: if you spot something off, push back *immediately*—waiting never helps your case.
Yeah, I’ve noticed the same thing—local shops seem way more flexible, especially if you’ve got a decent history with them. The big carriers are all about “policy” and less about common sense. I’ve seen folks get nickel-and-dimed for things like changing a car mid-term or just updating an address. Always read those endorsements before you sign... it’s wild what sneaks in. If something seems off, I’ll usually call and ask for the logic behind the fee—sometimes they’ll actually drop it if you sound like you know your stuff.
Totally agree about the local shops being more chill. I’ve had a small agent just waive a random admin fee when I asked about it, but the big guys wouldn’t budge. Has anyone actually had luck negotiating rates or is it just the little stuff they’ll drop?
I’ve had a small agent just waive a random admin fee when I asked about it, but the big guys wouldn’t budge.
Honestly, that tracks. The smaller shops have more wiggle room for things like fees, but when it comes to actual rates, even they’re usually tied to what the carrier allows. I’ve seen some folks get discounts for bundling or safe driving, but straight-up negotiating the premium? That’s rare—unless you’re bringing in a fleet of cars or something. The “little stuff” is where you’ll see movement, not so much on the base rate itself.
Yeah, I’ve noticed the same thing—admin fees are like the wild west with smaller agents. But when I tried to haggle on the actual premium, it was a hard nope. Maybe if I had a dozen cars or a spotless record since birth... but for us regular folks, it’s mostly about squeezing out those little perks. Still, I’ll take a waived fee over nothing. Every bit helps when Delaware rates are already kinda brutal.
