So it’s time to renew my insurance, and I’ve been shopping around since I need to add the ‘97 M3 to my coverage. What I’ve learned is that I really need to fix up my credit report. I know several single male WRX owners paying much less for insurance than I am on the 9-2X, and they are all younger than me and have multiple moving violations and/or accidents. To add insult to injury, they’re with the Traditional Big Name insurance companies that routinely quote me 50-100% more than I’ve been paying Progressive. The 9-2X is in a lower rate class than the WRX, I’m in a relatively good zip code for South Florida, and my MVR has just a “Failure to yield” from two years ago. That leaves credit as the factor. Clearly I need to start paying my Cingular bill on time…
In the end I found that switching from Progressive Direct to Drive Insurance from Progressive would save a couple hundred bucks. It makes little sense to me — Drive uses independent agents, presumably paying them commissions since people need to eat and buy SUVs, so you’d think it would cost more than Progressive’s direct-sales brand.
Only in America.
Please remember that going through an insurance agent does NOT mean that you will pay higher rates. Many companies spend more money on advertizing vs. paying an agent to look for new business. Think of it this way—would you rather have your insurance premiums paying for advertizing or paying for a specific agent to personally help you when you need help?? In the long run, you will come out better with an agent than with an 800# or internet address. Make sence doesn’t it!
I’ve been badly burned by insurance twice, both times because I let a trusted agent sell me a cheaper policy from an insurance company that neither of us had any reason to trust. Agents don’t process and approve claims, once a policy has been issued they can do little more than act as a middle-man between you and the 800 number or Internet address.
The interesting thing about Drive is that they only sell through agents, have done extensive television marketing (the commercials with Ryan Stiles and John O’ Hurley), and, for me at least, came in with a cheaper quote than Progressive’s direct-sales channel. It doesn’t make sense and I expect a healthy rate bump at my next renewal.
Mental note to future self: Stop buying cars around June. This is your third time pulling that jack-ass maneuver which causes holiday season insurance renewals to FUBAR the budget for buying toys for yourself and others. You really should know better by now.