Auto Insurance Comparison
Save $400-$1,200/year with 30 minutes of effort.
Why now
Insurers raise rates every year hoping you don\'t notice. Studies show people who switch save an average of $400-$700/year. Time spent: 30-60 minutes.
Step 1 — Gather your info (5 minutes)
- Driver\'s license number for each driver in the home.
- VIN of each car (from registration or the dashboard).
- Approximate annual miles driven.
- Current policy declarations page (so you compare apples to apples).
Step 2 — Get quotes (free)
Get quotes from 4-6 companies. Best mix:
- The Zebra (free) — gathers quotes from many insurers in one shot.
- Insurify (free) — same idea.
- Direct from companies — sometimes cheaper than aggregator: Geico.com, Progressive.com, State Farm, Allstate, Liberty Mutual, USAA (military).
- Local independent agent — they shop multiple carriers for you. Often catches deals the websites don\'t.
Senior-specific discounts to ask for
- Defensive driving course discount — 5-15% off for completing a 4-8 hour course. AARP Smart Driver does it online for $25 — pays for itself in one year.
- Low mileage — many seniors drive under 7,500 miles/year. Tell them.
- Mature driver / 55+ — automatic in some states.
- Multi-policy — bundle home + auto for 10-25% off.
- Multi-car — second car on the same policy.
- Pay in full — paying the 6-month premium up front saves 5-10%.
- Paperless and auto-pay — small but adds up.
- Vehicle safety features — anti-theft, automatic braking.
What coverage to keep
- Liability: Don\'t go with state minimums — those are scarily low. Aim for 100/300/100 minimum (means $100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident, $100,000 property damage).
- Uninsured motorist: Same limits as liability. Cheap protection if a uninsured driver hits you.
- Comprehensive + Collision: Worth keeping while your car is worth more than 10x the premium. Skip on cars worth less than $4,000.
- Roadside assistance: Often cheaper through AAA membership.
- Rental reimbursement: $30-50/year — worth it if you only have one car.
Watch out for
- "Final offer" pressure — every insurer claims to be cheapest. Get apples-to-apples quotes with the SAME coverage limits.
- Telematics apps (Drivewise, Snapshot, Drive Safe & Save) — track your driving. Discount if you drive well, but rates can also go UP if you brake hard or drive at night.
- "Accident forgiveness" — sounds good but built into the rate. You\'re paying for it.
Do this every 1-2 years
Re-shopping every 1-2 years almost always finds savings. Set a calendar reminder for renewal time. Even sticking with your current insurer — calling and saying "I\'m getting quoted X by [competitor]" often gets a price match.