Your annual auto insurance check
Fifteen minutes, once a year, against a premium that drifts upward.
Auto premiums drift. Not dramatically, and rarely for a reason you'd notice — which is exactly why renewing on autopilot for five years is how people end up overpaying.
Pull out your declarations page and work through this.
Check who and what is on the policy
- Is everyone listed still driving these vehicles?
- Has anyone moved out, or started driving who isn't listed?
- Are the vehicles current — did you sell or replace one?
- Is the garaging address correct?
Check the coverage still matches the car
As a vehicle ages, the value that collision and comprehensive protect falls, while the premium for them doesn't fall as fast. At some point the arithmetic changes.
That doesn't automatically mean dropping them — it means asking the question, especially if the car is paid off and you could replace it without borrowing.
Check your liability limits, honestly
Liability limits are the part protecting your assets if you cause a serious accident. State minimums are a legal floor and generally weren't set with your net worth in mind.
This is the one place where the cheaper option can be genuinely expensive, and it's worth deliberately deciding rather than inheriting whatever you picked years ago.
Ask about discounts you may have stopped qualifying for — or started
Discounts vary by insurer and state, so this is a list to ask about rather than assume. They frequently aren't applied automatically when your circumstances change.
- Lower annual mileage, if you changed jobs or started working from home
- Bundling with a home or renters policy
- A defensive driving course
- Good student status for a young driver
- Safety or anti-theft features on a newer vehicle
Want this checked for your situation?
General information only. A licensed insurance professional can tell you what actually applies to you.
General information only, not insurance advice. Coverage, availability, and terms vary by insurer and by state. Quote My Policy LLC is a licensed insurance producer.