Bundling barely made a dent for me either—just enough to notice, not enough to care. I tried telematics too, but it felt like I was being graded on every little thing. One time I had to swerve for a deer and the app dinged me for “aggressive steering.” Guess they want us to just plow through wildlife?
Kansas rates are wild right now. I’ve lived here most of my life and I don’t remember it ever being this unpredictable. Last month, my neighbor got quoted $400 less than me for almost the same coverage, and his car’s older. Makes no sense. I’ve also had agents try to upsell me on stuff I’ll never use—like rental car coverage when I barely drive out of town.
Tried the defensive driving course route too. The discount was tiny and the class was a snooze fest. I think the only thing I learned was that coffee from a vending machine can taste worse than gas station brew.
Upping my deductible helped a bit, but it’s a gamble. If something actually happens, I’m not sure the savings are worth it. Feels like you have to pick your poison—pay more now or risk paying way more later.
Honestly, at this point, I just keep shopping around every renewal. Sometimes you get lucky and catch a promo or a new company trying to break into the market. But yeah, it’s a hassle. Guess we’re all just dodging squirrels and hoping our luck holds out...
One time I had to swerve for a deer and the app dinged me for “aggressive steering.” Guess they want us to just plow through wildlife?
That’s exactly why I ditched telematics after two months. It’s like they want you to drive like a robot, and if you don’t, you’re penalized. I get the idea behind rewarding “safe” driving, but real life isn’t a closed course. Between deer, potholes, and distracted drivers, sometimes you have to make a split-second move. The last straw for me was when it flagged me for “hard braking” because someone cut me off in traffic. Not sure how that’s supposed to make anyone safer.
I’m right there with you on the rates being all over the place in Kansas. My neighbor pays less, too, and he’s got more tickets on his record than I do. Makes you wonder if the companies just throw darts at a board when setting prices. The upselling is relentless—last time I renewed, the agent tried to tack on roadside assistance even though I already have AAA. It’s like they’re hoping you won’t notice.
The defensive driving discount is a joke, honestly. Sat through that class once and it barely covered lunch money. Plus, they act like it’s some big perk for “mature drivers,” but the savings are almost insulting. I’d rather just keep my record clean and skip the hassle.
Raising the deductible is tempting but yeah, it’s a gamble. I did it last year and saved maybe $10 a month. But if I ever actually need to file a claim, that extra out-of-pocket is going to sting. Feels like we’re all just trying to outsmart the system, but the house always wins.
Shopping around every renewal is exhausting, but it’s about the only thing that’s worked for me too. Sometimes you luck into a promo or a company trying to build their customer base, but then the rate creeps up again after six months. It’s like playing whack-a-mole with your wallet.
Honestly, I wish there was more transparency in how these rates are set. Age shouldn’t be an automatic penalty—especially when most of us have decades of safe driving behind us. But here we are, dodging squirrels and surprise surcharges...
You nailed it—real driving isn’t some perfect simulation. I’ve had telematics ding me for things like slowing down for a school bus or dodging a pothole. It’s frustrating when the tech doesn’t account for actual road conditions. The “mature driver” discounts barely make a dent, either. Feels like you do everything right and still get nickel-and-dimed. Just gotta keep at it and not let the nonsense get to you too much.
Yeah, I hear you. The tech’s supposed to help, but half the time it just adds stress. I’ve had my rates jump for “hard braking” when I was just avoiding a squirrel. It’s tough not to get cynical, but you’re right—just gotta keep rolling with it.
I’ve had my rates jump for “hard braking” when I was just avoiding a squirrel.
That’s exactly what gets me about these tracking devices. They don’t know the difference between defensive driving and reckless moves. I’ve started keeping a little log of when the tech dings me, just in case I need to dispute something. Has anyone here tried shopping around for companies that don’t use those trackers, or at least let you opt out? Wondering if it’s worth the hassle or if everyone’s on this bandwagon now.
