I get where you’re coming from, but I’m not totally convinced that shopping around every couple years is always the magic bullet. I mean, yeah, sometimes you do find a better deal, but in my experience, switching too often can backfire. I had a buddy who bounced between companies chasing lower rates, and then when he actually needed to file a claim, the new insurer gave him the runaround because he didn’t have much history with them.
I know you said,
But for me, sticking with the same company for a while actually helped when I had a fender bender last year. They waived some fees and didn’t jack up my rates as much as I expected. Maybe it’s luck or maybe it’s just Kansas being weird about insurance... who knows.“loyalty in insurance is a bit like keeping that drawer full of random keys—you hope one day it’ll pay off, but mostly it just takes up space.”
Guess what I’m saying is, sometimes loyalty does pay off—just not always in obvious ways. It’s kind of a gamble either way.
Honestly, I think you make a solid point about loyalty sometimes working out. It’s easy to get caught up in the idea that switching is always the smartest move, but there’s definitely something to be said for having a history with a company—especially when it comes to claims. I’ve heard stories like your buddy’s too, where folks jump ship for a few bucks off and then get burned when they actually need help.
I’m pretty budget-focused myself, so I do check rates every now and then, but I get nervous about switching too often. There’s just this nagging feeling that if I ever have to file a claim, the new insurer might not be as forgiving or helpful. Maybe it’s just paranoia, but your experience with the fender bender kind of backs that up. Waiving fees and not hiking your rates? That’s not nothing, especially these days when it feels like companies are looking for any excuse to charge more.
Kansas insurance is its own beast, too. Rates here seem to jump around for no clear reason, and I’ve noticed some companies are way more lenient than others. My neighbor’s been with the same insurer for decades and swears by them—says they always go to bat for him when something goes wrong. Meanwhile, my cousin switched twice in three years and ended up paying more in the long run because of “new customer” surcharges or whatever.
I guess what I’m saying is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Loyalty can pay off, especially if you’ve got a decent company that treats you right. But I still think it’s worth checking every couple years just to make sure you’re not getting totally ripped off. Maybe the trick is finding that balance—don’t switch just for a tiny savings, but don’t stick around if your rates keep creeping up for no reason either.
It really does feel like a gamble sometimes... but hearing your story makes me feel a little better about not jumping ship at the first sign of a price hike.
Finding Affordable Car Insurance After 65 in Kansas—Anyone Else Struggling?
It really does feel like a gamble sometimes... but hearing your story makes me feel a little better about not jumping ship at the first sign of a price hike.
I’m new to this whole insurance circus, and honestly, it’s already giving me a headache. I get what you’re saying about loyalty, but from where I’m standing, it feels like these companies are just waiting for you to get comfortable before they jack up your rates. Maybe I’m just cynical, but I don’t see much “reward” for sticking around—at least not yet.
I’ve been shopping around for the first time (just turned 66, finally got my own car), and the quotes are all over the place. One company wanted almost double what another did, and when I asked why, the agent just shrugged and said “Kansas rates.” Not exactly reassuring. I don’t have any claims history, so I figured I’d be a dream customer, but apparently that doesn’t count for much if you’re new.
I get the argument for loyalty, especially if you’ve had a good experience with claims. But how are you supposed to build that history if you’re just starting out? It feels like a catch-22. Stick with the first company that doesn’t gouge you, hope they treat you right, and cross your fingers they don’t pull a fast one down the road? Not exactly a confidence booster.
And about those “new customer” surcharges—yeah, I ran into that too. One place quoted me low, then tacked on some “policy setup” fee at the last minute. Feels like a bait-and-switch. I’m not switching for a few bucks, but I’m also not going to pay extra just to be the new guy.
Maybe I’ll get lucky and find a company that actually wants my business for more than a year. Until then, I guess I’ll just keep reading these stories and hoping I don’t end up as the cautionary tale. Kansas insurance really is its own beast...
