Well, being the resident "insurance whore" (according to some people) on this board, I am well-qualified to give advice on this matter. I am licensed in 15 states and sell for 11 companies, including Travelers, Hartford, GE, Leader, Infinity, Omni, Hannover, Allmerica, Kemper, Esurance, and Atlanta Casualty. This is all done under the aegis of Ford Motor Company.
Most people don't even understand their coverages and deductibles. Many companies have whacked fees for doing monthly payments or getting actual paper bills in the mail vs. doing electronic payments. Some actually guarantee your rate for 12 months instead of a measly 6 months.
When I talk to people there are a number of hard and fast rules I live by. If I am saving someone under $100 a year and they've been with their company more than 10 years I tell them to stay put unless they are unhappy with their service. If they are with USAA (and I've been with them for 21 years) I don't even try - I tell them that the next 20 minutes will be a waste of their time because we have NEVER beaten them and they are a great company (and I know this from personal experience).
Luckily, though, in most states we're in (especially TN, CA, FL, OH, and NC) we are kicking major ass on rates. I wrote 6 policies yesterday (including a homeowners, which we also do) and saved these people from $250 on the low end to $1696 on the high end - that guy was VERY happy with his new rate!
(and now, for a little "whoring") - if you'd like a quote, email me at -
[email protected]