Stacking discounts is definitely the way to go, but man, it’s like pulling teeth to get the reps to actually tell you what’s available. I’ve had them “forget” to mention things like paperless billing or safe driver programs until I specifically asked. The usage-based stuff is a mixed bag for me—tried one of those apps and it dinged me for “hard braking” when someone cut me off. Not sure I trust their algorithms, honestly.
On the gig add-ons, totally agree they’re overpriced. I drive for delivery apps sometimes and the big insurers wanted almost double just for that coverage. Ended up finding a regional company (never heard of them before) that was way more reasonable, but it took a lot of digging and a few weird phone calls. The big names just assume everyone’s got deep pockets, I guess.
Delaware rates are wild lately. I keep hearing it’s because of more accidents and claims, but who knows? Feels like they just use any excuse to jack up prices. I’ve even considered dropping down to liability-only on my old car, but then you’re rolling the dice if something happens.
One thing that helped me was raising my deductible—scary at first, but the monthly savings were worth it. Also, if you’re not driving much, some companies have low-mileage discounts that aren’t super obvious unless you ask. It’s all about being a squeaky wheel, unfortunately.
At this point, I’m half-convinced they make it complicated on purpose so we just give up and pay whatever. But yeah, don’t be afraid to shop around every year—even if it’s a pain. The loyalty discounts are usually a joke compared to what you can save by switching.
Can’t argue with you on the loyalty discounts—those are usually a joke. I’ve had better luck just calling around every year, even if it’s a hassle. One thing I’d add: if you’ve got an older car (especially something you don’t drive much), classic car insurance can sometimes be cheaper and offer better coverage, but you have to meet their mileage and storage requirements. Not for everyone, but worth checking if you qualify. And yeah, those usage-based trackers are a hard pass for me... too many false flags.
Classic car insurance is a good call if you can swing the requirements. I looked into it for my old SL, but the mileage cap was just too low for how often I like to take it out on weekends. The coverage was definitely better, though—agreed value and all that, which is a big deal if you’ve put money into restoration or upgrades.
I hear you on those usage-based trackers. I tried one for a few months out of curiosity, and it dinged me for “hard braking” every time someone cut me off in traffic. Not worth the headache, especially when you’re driving something with a bit more power under the hood.
Curious if anyone’s had luck bundling policies for a better rate? I’ve got my home and auto with the same company, but honestly, the discount wasn’t as big as I expected. Wondering if it’s just Delaware being Delaware, or if there are actually companies out there that make bundling worthwhile. Anyone manage to get a decent deal that way, or is it mostly just marketing fluff?
Bundling’s always sounded like a great idea in theory, but in practice? I’m not convinced it’s the slam dunk the ads make it out to be. I tried it with State Farm a couple years back—had my renters and auto together—and the “discount” barely covered the price hike they snuck in at renewal. It felt more like a loyalty tax than a reward. Maybe it’s just Delaware’s rates, or maybe I’m missing some secret handshake.
I’ve also noticed that when you start shopping around, some companies actually jack up the base rate before applying the bundle discount, so you’re not really saving much. It’s like those stores that put everything on “sale” after raising the sticker price. My neighbor swears by bundling with Erie, but he’s got a bigger house and a newer car, so maybe the math works out better for him.
The classic car insurance thing is a whole other beast. I looked into Hagerty for my ‘87 RX-7 project, but the mileage cap would’ve killed half my summer plans. Plus, they wanted proof I had a “regular use” car, which... I do, but it felt like jumping through hoops just to get a policy that actually covers what the car’s worth.
On the tracker front, I’m with you. Those things stress me out. My commute takes me through Wilmington every day, and if I got dinged for every time someone cuts me off on 95, my rates would be through the roof. I get why insurance companies like the data, but it doesn’t always tell the whole story.
Has anyone ever tried switching companies entirely after bundling didn’t pan out? Or is it just a Delaware thing where we’re stuck with meh deals no matter what we do? Sometimes I wonder if it’s worth calling up a broker instead of doing all the legwork myself...
It felt more like a loyalty tax than a reward.
Honestly, I hear you, but I actually had the opposite experience when I switched everything to GEICO last year. The bundle discount was meh, but the base rates were way lower than what State Farm quoted me solo. Maybe it’s just luck of the draw, but sometimes switching companies entirely does pay off. Delaware rates are weird though—my buddy in Jersey pays way less for the same coverage. Brokers can be hit or miss too... some just push whoever gives them the best kickback.
