Auto Insurance Renewal Experience
Hi everyone! I recently had an experience that really surprised me, and I’m curious if this is something others have encountered.
After being with State Farm for decades, I finally realized that my loyalty wasn’t rewarded; new customers were getting much better deals than I was. So, last year, I switched to Progressive. I loved their online platform—it was user-friendly, letting me choose the exact coverage I wanted for each vehicle.
However, at my first renewal, my premium increased by $20. One of the main reasons I left State Farm was because I felt they were constantly raising my rates without justification.
When I reached out to Progressive to ask why, I was informed that the previous discount for new customers could no longer apply to my policy. While it was disappointing, I accepted it and decided to renew.
Fast forward to my recent renewal, and my premium jumped by $70. I have no accidents, no tickets, and I have five cars on my policy.
I called about 20 days before the renewal date and spoke with a representative. He assured me he could revert my policy back to the original price and instructed me to contact him in early March to finalize it.
After trying to reach him for several days without success, I decided to call the general customer service line. I provided them with a reference number for the new quote, and while they acknowledged it, something went wrong. As they attempted to issue the renewal, my premium unexpectedly increased by another $100. It was incredibly frustrating, and I told them I wouldn’t be renewing my policy.
I then used an online broker tool, which led me back to Progressive. I submitted my information, and to my surprise, received a quote that was even cheaper than what I had last year for the same coverage on all five vehicles.
Is this how it works now—having to apply as a new customer every year to get the best rates? Regardless, I ended up saving $475!
It sounds like you had quite the frustrating experience with your car insurance renewal! Unfortunately, what you went through isn’t uncommon. Many insurance companies offer substantial discounts to new customers but often fail to provide similar loyalty incentives to existing ones. This can lead to situations like yours, where long-time customers end up paying more than newcomers for the same coverage.
It’s great to hear that you were able to navigate the situation and find a better deal with Progressive, especially since you’re saving $475! That’s a significant amount. It highlights the importance of shopping around and not hesitating to switch providers if you’re not getting the value you expect.
As for your question about applying as a new customer annually, it can feel that way sometimes. Insurance companies don’t typically reward loyalty as they should, which is why many people do end up switching every year or so to take advantage of new customer rates. Just make sure to review your policy regularly and consider using comparison tools each year to ensure you’re still getting the best deal.
Thanks for sharing your experience; it’s a reminder for all of us to stay vigilant and proactive when it comes to insurance!