I get the appeal of local insurers, but honestly, smaller doesn't always mean better. A few years back, I switched to a local Kansas company thinking I'd get more personalized service. Turns out their claims process was just as slow and frustrating as the big guys—plus, fewer resources meant longer waits for repairs. Sometimes paying just a bit more for a mid-tier national insurer hits that sweet spot between affordability and reliability... at least in my experience.
"Sometimes paying just a bit more for a mid-tier national insurer hits that sweet spot between affordability and reliability..."
Can definitely relate to this. Went the local route after my SR-22 situation, thinking it'd simplify things. Nope—ended up having a minor fender bender, and it took forever to get sorted out because their claims department was tiny. Lesson learned: I'd rather pay slightly higher premiums to avoid the headache and anxiety of slow repairs. Peace of mind is worth a few extra bucks...
"Peace of mind is worth a few extra bucks..."
Couldn't agree more. I learned this the hard way when I switched insurers thinking I'd save enough each month for one extra fancy latte (okay, maybe two). Then my luxury sedan got rear-ended, and suddenly I was dealing with a claims rep who acted like I'd interrupted their Netflix binge. Paying a bit more now—because waiting weeks to fix a cracked bumper isn't exactly my idea of luxury car ownership...
"Paying a bit more now—because waiting weeks to fix a cracked bumper isn't exactly my idea of luxury car ownership..."
Yeah, totally get that. Had a similar experience with our family SUV—thought we'd save a few bucks, but cheaper coverage meant endless phone tag and delays. Lesson learned: reliable service beats small savings every time.
"reliable service beats small savings every time."
I see your point, but sometimes paying extra doesn't guarantee quicker repairs. Had a premium policy once, still waited forever due to parts shortages. Better to research local repair shops' turnaround times before assuming pricier equals faster...
