Tag Page InsuranceTips

#InsuranceTips
lawrencehowell

Auto-pay isn't always a set-it-and-forget-it thing... learned that the hard way.

In December, we found out the scary way why you should never let your insurance run out. We thought we were good—we were on auto-pay. But it turned out that after updating our account info, their system didn't automatically restart the payments. We had no idea. They said they sent letters and emails, but somehow we missed every single one. We ended up uninsured for a whole month without realizing it. 😬 Thankfully, Geico was super chill and just let us renew without tacking anything extra onto our bill. I’m seriously grateful, because a lapse can mess up your record badly. It wasn’t really all their fault or all ours—just a weird system quirk. Still, I learned a huge lesson: double-check your insurance payments, especially after making any changes! Has anything like this ever happened to you? #InsuranceTips #StayCovered #AutoPayProblems #DrivingLife #LessonsLearned

Auto-pay isn't always a set-it-and-forget-it thing... learned that the hard way.
angelaschneider

Newer doesn’t always mean crazier expensive—at least for insurance.

We traded in our 10-year-old car with 105k miles—still had a tiny loan left—and bought a brand-new 2022 model. I braced myself for a major insurance hike, but when the new premium came in, it was only about $120 more for the whole year. 😲 Our agent said it’s because the new car has all these advanced built-in safety features, and honestly, I thought he might just be giving me the sales pitch. But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. Safer cars mean fewer (and less expensive) injuries, which insurance companies love. Plus, some newer models are actually cheaper to fix certain types of damage compared to old clunkers. Still feels weird though—expected a financial gut punch and ended up with just a light slap. Have you ever been surprised by how much (or little) your insurance changed after getting a new car? #CarInsurance #NewCarVibes #InsuranceTips #DrivingLife #CarUpgrade

Newer doesn’t always mean crazier expensive—at least for insurance.
lawrencehowell

Leaving the country? Had a not-at-fault accident? Here’s the real deal.

People ask these car insurance questions all the time — and honestly, they’re important! If you're leaving the country for a few months, check if your insurer offers a "storage" mode. It keeps your physical damage coverage active but at a much cheaper rate than full coverage. Got into a not-at-fault accident? Sorry, but your rates might still go up. Insurance is all about stats, and someone who's had any kind of accident is seen as a higher risk compared to someone who hasn’t. Making a claim like a cracked windshield? Good news: most comprehensive claims (like glass damage) typically don’t affect your rates — unless it's something big like theft or vandalism. And when it comes to choosing insurers, if you’re picking from major companies and the coverage is identical, the biggest differences you’ll notice are in customer service and claims handling, not the actual coverage itself. Have you ever been surprised by how your insurer handled a claim? Share below! #InsuranceTips #DrivingAdvice #CarInsuranceQuestions #SmartDriving #InsuranceFacts

Leaving the country? Had a not-at-fault accident? Here’s the real deal.
lawrencehowell

A few things I wish more drivers knew before shopping for coverage!

One thing I saw every day working with insurance: never try to hide accidents, tickets, or suspensions. Insurers always find out. When they do, they'll either hike your premium to what it should've been or cancel your policy entirely. Save yourself (and everyone else) the headache — be upfront and get an accurate quote from the start. Also, your car is just a small piece of what determines your rate. You might drive an old 2004 Camry, but if you rack up 15,000 miles a year, live in Miami, and have two accidents on record, your insurance will still be expensive. Plus, in many places, your credit score plays a huge role in pricing — it’s basically a trust factor for paying bills on time. And if you're cool with data tracking, telematics programs like Snapshot or DriveEasy can save you serious cash — just make sure you drive safely and pick a good company. 🚗📲 What’s the best or worst insurance surprise you've ever had? #CarInsuranceAdvice #DrivingSmart #InsuranceTips #KnowBeforeYouGo #RoadLife

A few things I wish more drivers knew before shopping for coverage!
claudia60

Got a $645 bill for a test—how did I get it down to $100?

When I got my NIPT test done at 10 weeks pregnant, I was told it’d likely be covered by insurance or cost around $100 out of pocket. Fast forward to 30 weeks, and I get slapped with a $645 bill. Here's how I handled it: OB Office: I called my OB to ask if they could help with the bill—no response. They dropped the ball. Insurance: Turns out, I hadn’t met my deductible, so everything counted toward it. The bill amount matched my deductible balance. Natera: I called Natera and explained my situation. First, I mentioned the original $100 estimate. Then, I argued about the high bill. Result: They gave me a 20% discount and later dropped the bill to just $100 after special approval. Tip: Always argue your medical bills! 💸 What about you—any tips for negotiating medical costs? Drop them below! #MedicalBills #NIPT #InsuranceTips

Got a $645 bill for a test—how did I get it down to $100?