Not sure I totally buy that loyalty is always a waste. I get the frustration—
—but in my case, sticking around actually helped when I had a claim. They processed it way faster than my friend’s “cheaper” insurer did for him. Maybe it’s luck, or maybe some companies do treat long-timers better? Hard to say, but sometimes peace of mind is worth a few extra bucks.“I stuck with the same company for a decade, thinking I was getting some ‘preferred customer’ deal. Turns out, I was just paying hundreds more each year for nothing special.”
“I stuck with the same company for a decade, thinking I was getting some ‘preferred customer’ deal. Turns out, I was just paying hundreds more each year for nothing special.”
Been there, done that—except in my case, I actually did get a little something for sticking around. Here’s how I look at it:
Step 1, I always check rates every couple years, even if I’m happy. Sometimes loyalty pays off, sometimes it doesn’t.
Step 2, if you’re labeled “high-risk” (been there after a fender bender), I call my agent and ask if there’s any “forgiveness” or loyalty perks. Some companies have them, but they don’t exactly advertise it.
Step 3, when I had a claim, my long-term status actually sped things up. Maybe it was luck, or maybe they just didn’t want to lose a customer who’s been paying them for ages. Hard to say.
I get wanting to save money, but sometimes the hassle of switching just isn’t worth it for me. Peace of mind is underrated, especially when you’re already stressed from an accident. But yeah, always double-check—no harm in shopping around, even if you end up staying put.
I’ve got to say, I’m not convinced loyalty is worth as much as people think—at least not in Hawaii, where rates are already sky-high. I get the whole “peace of mind” angle, but after my second minor accident, my so-called “preferred” status didn’t do me any favors. My premium shot up, and when I asked about accident forgiveness or loyalty perks, they just gave me the runaround. Maybe some companies actually reward you for sticking around, but that wasn’t my experience.
“the hassle of switching just isn’t worth it for me. Peace of mind is underrated, especially when you’re already stressed from an accident.”
I hear you on the stress part. Dealing with claims is a headache. But honestly, switching wasn’t as bad as I expected. I spent a couple hours calling around and ended up saving almost $400 a year. That’s not pocket change. The new company didn’t care about my “high-risk” label as much as I thought they would—guess they’re hungry for business here.
One thing I learned: don’t trust those online quote tools too much. They lowball you to get your info, then jack up the price when you actually apply. Calling agents directly got me better numbers and a clearer picture of what was possible.
If you’re labeled high-risk in Hawaii, it feels like everyone’s out to gouge you. But there are still deals if you dig a little. Loyalty might speed up a claim once in a while, but for me, the savings outweighed the hassle of moving on. Just my two cents—maybe I’m just more stubborn about not overpaying than most.
I feel this so much. After my last “oops” (don’t ask how a valet managed to reverse my car into a palm tree), my premium basically doubled overnight. I used to think sticking with the same company would get me some kind of VIP treatment, but nope—just a fancier bill.
“If you’re labeled high-risk in Hawaii, it feels like everyone’s out to gouge you.”
Yep. My trick: call three agents, tell ‘em straight up about the incidents, and see who doesn’t laugh. Ended up switching, saved enough for a few extra car washes... which, let’s be honest, I need. Loyalty’s overrated when your loyalty card just gets you more expensive headaches.
“Loyalty’s overrated when your loyalty card just gets you more expensive headaches.”
That hits home. I’ve seen folks stick with the same insurer for years, thinking it’ll pay off, but honestly, the system doesn’t really reward that—especially after a claim or two. Shopping around is smart, even if it feels like a hassle. Funny thing, sometimes just being upfront about your record gets you better rates than trying to hide it. The “high-risk” label stings, but it’s not a life sentence... premiums can drop off after a few clean years. Hang in there.
