I hear you on the tracking apps. I tried one for a few weeks because my agent swore it’d knock a chunk off my premium, but it felt like I was being graded for stuff totally out of my control. Like you said,
—I had almost the exact same thing, except it was a squirrel (which I probably shouldn’t have braked for, but still). It’s not like I’m out here drag racing in my S-Class.“It dinged me for hard braking when a deer ran out in front of me... not exactly fair.”
Switching to a smaller company is tempting, but I get nervous about claims. Had a buddy who got the runaround after his BMW got rear-ended—took forever to get paid out. On the flip side, my rates with the big names keep creeping up every year, and it’s getting hard to justify.
I guess if you don’t mind some paperwork and phone tag, maybe it’s worth checking out the smaller guys. Just make sure they’re actually solid if you ever need them. For now, I’m sticking with what I know... unless these rates jump again.
I hear you about the tracking apps feeling like a report card for stuff you can’t control. Had mine ding me for “aggressive acceleration” when I was just trying to merge onto the highway without getting flattened by a semi. It’s like, come on, I’m not trying out for NASCAR here.
I’ve been in the same boat with insurance companies—big ones keep hiking rates, but every time I look at smaller outfits, I get nervous about what’ll happen if my ‘72 Chevelle gets sideswiped. My neighbor went with a lesser-known insurer and when his classic Mustang got hail damage, it was months of back-and-forth before he saw a dime. That kind of hassle just isn’t worth a few bucks saved, at least for me.
I will say, if you’ve got any collector cars or older rides, some specialty insurers treat you way better than the big box names. They seem to “get it” more and aren’t so obsessed with those tracking gadgets. Not always cheaper, but the peace of mind is worth something, especially once you hit 65 and every premium feels like it’s got a birthday candle on top.
That “aggressive acceleration” thing cracks me up—like, sorry, I didn’t want to be a hood ornament for a Peterbilt. Those tracking apps are a little too judge-y for my taste, too. As for the smaller insurers, I get the hesitation. Some of them are great, but others... well, let’s just say I’ve seen folks age a decade waiting on a claim check. Specialty insurers for classics are definitely a different breed—sometimes you pay a bit more, but at least they know the difference between a Chevelle and a Corolla. That peace of mind is hard to put a price on, especially when every renewal feels like it should come with a slice of cake.
Those tracking apps are a little too judge-y for my taste, too.
Couldn’t agree more on the tracking apps. I tried one for a discount and it dinged me for “hard braking” when a deer jumped out in front of me. Not sure what they expect us to do—just keep cruising and hope for the best? It’s like they want us to drive like robots, but real life doesn’t work that way.
On the smaller insurers, I’ve had mixed luck. Some offer great rates, but I’ve noticed the customer service can be hit or miss. When it comes to claims, waiting weeks (or months) is just not practical, especially if you rely on your car daily.
Specialty insurers do seem to understand older vehicles better, but I’m always weighing the cost. I want coverage that actually helps when I need it, but I can’t justify paying double just for “peace of mind.” At this point, I’m leaning toward bigger companies with solid reputations—even if their premiums aren’t the lowest. The hassle just isn’t worth a few saved bucks if you end up stuck in limbo after an accident.
I hear you on the tracking apps—mine flagged me for “aggressive acceleration” because I had to merge onto the highway with a semi barreling up behind me. Can’t win. I’ve bounced between a couple of insurers after a fender bender last year, and the smaller ones were quick to take my payment but slow to answer calls when I actually needed help. The big names cost more, but at least I’m not left wondering if my claim’s in a black hole somewhere. Sometimes peace of mind is worth a few extra bucks, even if it stings.
