-> Insurance: Save Money By Comparing Rates

Using My Parents Insurance Agent

This past January I learned a costly lesson when it comes to insurance rates, and the dangers of not continually checking your rates to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal.

I had been with the same insurance company for the past 10-15 years. It was my dad’s insurance company and agent, and for the most part I had stuck with him because I figured that he was getting me a great deal. The insurance company was a special teacher’s union insurance company for teachers and their families, and they were supposed to be getting “good deals” for the teachers in their ranks.

I got complacent, and just assumed I was getting good coverage and rates. I stuck with them through thick and thin, even while thinking to myself, “these rates seem pretty high for someone without any tickets or accidents..?”

Finding Out We Were Paying Too Much

This past January I was talking to my father about insurance and he mentioned that he had switched from this same agent that I had because his rates were way too high. Then he told me how much he had saved by switching - almost $600 a year! That was enough to get me moving on my own insurance search.

I began my search by going to the popular insurance quote services through Insweb.com, Progressive.com and various other provider’s websites. After only a few minutes of searching I realized that switching insurance was going to save me a lot of money. A LOT.

After taking a personal finance day to do some research, I ended up switching my auto insurance and in the process saved almost $1000 per year! I also switched my homeowner’s insurance to a new company and saved $200 a year on that policy as well.

The moral of the story? If you’re wondering about your rates and whether you should switch - do the research. Compare rates on your auto, health insurance, life and other insurance, and the money that you save will make it more than worth it!