"Sometimes they miss out on smaller, local insurers who might offer better deals."
Yeah, I've noticed that too. When I first got my classic Mustang insured, those comparison sites didn't even list the local place that ended up giving me the best rate. It definitely pays to dig a bit deeper and call around directly... tedious, sure, but worth it if you're tight on cash. Hang in there though—insurance gets easier (and cheaper) as you build up a clean driving record.
Good point about local insurers—I've found the same thing. When I was younger, I ended up saving quite a bit by bundling my renter's and auto insurance through a small local company that wasn't even on the big comparison sites. Curious though, has anyone tried negotiating directly with their current insurer to lower rates? I've heard mixed things about whether that's effective or just a waste of time...
I've tried negotiating directly a couple times, and honestly, it didn't really pan out for me. A few things I noticed:
- Insurers seem less willing to budge if you're considered high-risk (like me—couple speeding tickets and a minor accident).
- They usually just offer to tweak coverage or raise deductibles, which isn't always worth the trade-off.
- Shopping around every renewal has been way more effective than haggling with my current company.
Might be different if your record's clean though...
I've noticed something similar, actually. A few years back, I had a spotless record—no tickets, no accidents—and when I called up my insurer to negotiate, they were surprisingly flexible. Got a decent discount just by asking nicely. But fast forward to now, after one minor fender-bender (totally my fault, sadly), they're suddenly acting like I'm a reckless outlaw behind the wheel... barely budged at all. Shopping around definitely seems like the smarter move once your record has a blemish or two.
Yeah, insurers can flip their attitude pretty quick after one slip-up. Had a similar experience—clean record for ages, then one speeding ticket and suddenly my rate shot up like I was street racing or something. Shopping around helped a lot, but also keep an eye out for insurers that offer accident forgiveness programs. A couple companies will overlook your first minor accident if you've been with them a while... definitely worth checking into if you're younger and trying to save some cash.
