The newspaper thing is wild, though. I had to dig through recycling for anything with a date once, and it felt like some sort of scavenger hunt.
That’s hilarious—been there myself, except it was a stack of old grocery receipts. Honestly, I wonder if half these hoops are just habit at this point. I’ve noticed the local agent here insists on a physical copy of everything, but when I called the national company, they just wanted a quick email and called it done. Maybe Kentucky’s just slow to update their playbook? Either way, it’s definitely not consistent.
I’ve run into the same weird inconsistencies—one place wants a signed form in blue ink, another just needs a PDF. I switched to GEICO last year and everything was digital, which honestly felt like cheating after all the paperwork I’d done before. Not sure if it’s a Kentucky thing or just some agents stuck in their ways. Either way, I’d trust whoever makes it easiest and doesn’t nickel-and-dime you for every little change.
Either way, I’d trust whoever makes it easiest and doesn’t nickel-and-dime you for every little change.
That’s honestly the biggest thing I look for too—if a company’s still making you fax things or insists on a wet signature for every minor update, it’s probably not worth the hassle. In Kentucky, you’ll find some agents are just set in their ways, but in my experience, it’s more about the agency than the state rules. I’ve seen some local outfits that are fully digital and others still stuck in the 90s.
I do get why some folks prefer “old school” paperwork, but when you’re trying to manage claims or policy changes on a budget, that extra time and postage adds up. I switched my own policy last year and went with whoever let me handle everything online—no extra fees, no surprise charges for changing my address. It’s not always about the lowest premium either; sometimes it’s just about who makes things simple and transparent.
If you find a company that’s upfront about costs and lets you do things digitally, that’s usually a good sign they won’t nickel-and-dime you later.
Not sure I’d always agree that digital-first is the only thing to look for. I get the appeal—nobody wants to deal with faxes or snail mail anymore—but sometimes those “old school” agencies actually come through when you need them most. Had a client last year who got stuck in a claims mess with a big-name online carrier. Zero local support, just endless phone trees and emails. Meanwhile, a smaller agency down the street (yeah, they still use some paper) actually sat down with her and got things sorted out way faster.
It’s not always about the lowest premium either; sometimes it’s just about who makes things simple and transparent.
Couldn’t agree more on transparency, but I’d add that having a real person to talk to—especially in Kentucky where weather can get wild—can be worth a little extra hassle. Digital is great until you hit a snag and need someone who knows your situation. Just my two cents.
I’m with you on the value of having a real person in your corner, especially around here where storms can mess up your plans (and your car) in a hurry. I’ve tried both sides—signed up for one of those “all digital, all the time” insurance apps last year, thinking it’d be easier and cheaper. It was...until I actually needed to file a claim after a deer ran out in front of me on the Bluegrass Parkway. Suddenly, I was stuck emailing back and forth with someone who clearly had no idea what rural Kentucky roads are like, and it dragged on forever.
“It’s not always about the lowest premium either; sometimes it’s just about who makes things simple and transparent.”
Couldn’t have said it better. I’m all about saving money—road trips aren’t cheap, especially if you’re watching gas prices—but there’s a point where the “cheap” option costs you more in headaches. Local agents might not have the flashiest websites, but when you’re sitting across from someone who knows your name and actually cares if your car gets fixed before your next trip, that’s worth something.
I get why folks want everything digital. Nobody wants to stand in line or fill out forms by hand anymore. But when you’re stranded on the side of the road or dealing with storm damage, I’d rather have someone local who can actually do something than an app that just gives me another ticket number.
Not saying all online carriers are bad, but for me? I’d rather pay a few bucks more for peace of mind—especially when Kentucky weather does its thing.
