That's a good point about smaller regional insurers—I hadn't really considered them before. From what I've heard, they can sometimes offer more personalized service and flexibility, especially after minor incidents. My driving instructor actually mentioned something similar; he said that even minor claims can trigger rate hikes with bigger companies because they're often automated into their risk assessment systems. Smaller companies might have a bit more discretion in handling these situations.
Also, just to add another perspective, my parents have been with State Farm for years and had a minor claim last year (someone backed into their parked car). Surprisingly, their rates didn't change much at all. It might really depend on your agent or even the specific circumstances of the claim. Either way, it's probably worth getting quotes from both big and small insurers to see how they handle minor incidents differently. Good luck deciding—insurance shopping can definitely be overwhelming...
