Have you been a loyal customer of the same automobile insurance company for years? If so, you just might be throwing away a lot of money!
The insurance industry is quite difficult to get a handle on. Rates for policies tend to vary a great deal, even within the same company. If you have had the same policy on your car for a while, you just might do a lot better by shopping around when it comes time to renew.
Start by requesting quotes at least a couple of weeks before your current policy expires. Get a minimum of three quotes (more is always better), then select the policy that offers the best coverage for the lowest price. And be sure to instruct your new agent to have the new policy take effect on the day on which the old one expires.
Don't pay too much attention to all those commercials for car insurance that you see on television and hear on the radio. Yes, GEICO certainly might be able to save you a boatload of cash if you switch, but Progressive or some other company just might have an even better deal.
When asking for quotes, it's a good idea to contact both the companies themselves via their 800 numbers or websites AND their local agent. Surprisingly, they will often quote different rates for the same policy.