I hear you on the savings front—it’s tough to argue with a lower bill, especially when the coverage actually works in a pinch. I do still lean toward local agents just because I’ve had two breakdowns on the road, and both times my agent picked up right away and handled the tow. But honestly, if you found a regional company that knows their stuff and doesn’t try to nickel-and-dime you, that’s a win. End of the day, it’s about who’s got your back when things go sideways... not just who sends the cheapest quote.
I get where you’re coming from about local agents, but I’ve honestly had the opposite luck—my “local” guy was impossible to reach when my car died outside of Bowling Green. Meanwhile, my current regional provider has a 24/7 hotline and they actually answer. Maybe it’s just luck of the draw, but for me, the bigger company’s systems have been more reliable than a single agent juggling a ton of clients. Guess it really depends on who you get and what kind of service you value most.
Maybe it’s just luck of the draw, but for me, the bigger company’s systems have been more reliable than a single agent juggling a ton of clients.
That’s honestly been my experience too, at least from the claims side. I’ve seen folks get frustrated when their local agent is on vacation or just swamped—meanwhile, the bigger outfits usually have a call center that’ll pick up at 2am if you need them. There was one case where a client’s car got totaled in the middle of nowhere near Paducah, and the national carrier had a tow truck dispatched in under an hour. The local guys mean well, but sometimes it’s just too much for one person to handle.
That said, I do get why people like having someone they know by name. It can feel more personal. But when things go sideways, I’d rather have a system that works every time than hope my agent isn’t out sick. Guess it really does come down to what matters most to you—personal touch or reliability. Both have their place, but I lean toward consistency these days.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve had mixed results with the big names. My last claim with a national carrier (won’t name names, but you’d recognize the jingle) was a headache—lots of hold music, bounced between departments, and I swear nobody actually looked at my file until I started getting loud. Maybe it’s different if you’re in a bigger city, but out here, I felt like just another number.
On the flip side, my neighbor swears by his local agent. He had a fender bender with his classic Mustang, and the agent actually showed up at the shop to make sure the right parts were ordered. That’s the kind of thing you don’t get from a call center.
I guess I’m still on the fence. I want the reliability, but I also want someone who actually cares if my car gets dinged up. Maybe the answer is somewhere in the middle... or maybe I’m just picky because I baby my cars a little too much.
On the flip side, my neighbor swears by his local agent. He had a fender bender with his classic Mustang, and the agent actually showed up at the shop to make sure the right parts were ordered. That’s the kind of thing you don’t get from a call center.
That’s exactly it—when you’re dealing with something like a classic car, you need someone who gets that it’s not just “a car.” I’ve been burned by the big guys too. Had a claim on my ’72 Chevelle last year, and all they wanted to do was slap on generic parts and call it good. Didn’t matter how many times I explained that original trim isn’t just sitting on a shelf at AutoZone. Felt like I was talking to a wall.
I get why people want the big names for peace of mind, but honestly, what’s the point if they treat every claim like it’s just another Camry bumper? Local agents might cost a bit more sometimes, but at least they’ll fight for you when it matters. I’d rather pay an extra hundred bucks a year than spend weeks arguing with some faceless adjuster who doesn’t know a carburetor from a cupholder.
Curious—has anyone actually had a national carrier go to bat for them on specialty parts or restoration work? Or is it always just “here’s your check, take it or leave it”? Maybe I’m jaded, but after enough runarounds, I just don’t buy the “big company means better service” line anymore. Especially not if you care about your ride.
Is there even such a thing as an insurance company that understands collector cars *and* has decent rates? Or are we all stuck picking between bad and worse?
