A piece of advice to everyone from a 25 year claims guy.
Get your home, autos and umbrella under one carrier with the same effective date and renewal date. Know the coverages you want, then shop around EVERY SINGLE YEAR 2 months before your renewal date. Go with the cheapest carrier that gives you the coverages you want/need. DO NOT remain with a carrier out of loyalty or laziness. They do not owe you for loyalty and will not pay your claim differently because of it even if they told you they did.
I am paying the same premium (actually a little lower) than I was 6 years ago because I shop and switch every single year. I have not paid more for the same coverages in 6 years.
The way it works is carriers that want to add PIF (policies in force) will offer lower rates to sign up new customers. Carriers that are over exposed will raise rates on policy holders even though they have had no claims to get rid of you. That's right, they don't want you anymore, gotta get the exposure down. Some of you tolerate the increases out of loyalty and the companies laugh to the bank.
I have only had the same carrier two years in a row one time in the last 20 years and thats because they were desperate for PIF and my premiums decreased year over year for 3 years.
This year I'm back with AllState that I was with 4 years go. I got the same cut premiums this year that they gave me 4 years ago as a come on. Same exact price almost to the dollar.
That's how it's done folks.
All the carriers are governed by the Oklahoma Department of Insurance and the policies are all very similar, with a few notable exceptions that are plain to see when quoting.
Get your home, autos and umbrella under one carrier with the same effective date and renewal date. Know the coverages you want, then shop around EVERY SINGLE YEAR 2 months before your renewal date. Go with the cheapest carrier that gives you the coverages you want/need. DO NOT remain with a carrier out of loyalty or laziness. They do not owe you for loyalty and will not pay your claim differently because of it even if they told you they did.
I am paying the same premium (actually a little lower) than I was 6 years ago because I shop and switch every single year. I have not paid more for the same coverages in 6 years.
The way it works is carriers that want to add PIF (policies in force) will offer lower rates to sign up new customers. Carriers that are over exposed will raise rates on policy holders even though they have had no claims to get rid of you. That's right, they don't want you anymore, gotta get the exposure down. Some of you tolerate the increases out of loyalty and the companies laugh to the bank.
I have only had the same carrier two years in a row one time in the last 20 years and thats because they were desperate for PIF and my premiums decreased year over year for 3 years.
This year I'm back with AllState that I was with 4 years go. I got the same cut premiums this year that they gave me 4 years ago as a come on. Same exact price almost to the dollar.
That's how it's done folks.
All the carriers are governed by the Oklahoma Department of Insurance and the policies are all very similar, with a few notable exceptions that are plain to see when quoting.