on a scale 1-10 how big of a PITA is changing insurance?

[Susie]

If you do the shopping and quoting yourself? Like a 7? Maybe a 9 if you include all the follow ups from the companies you quote with but don't insure with that never ever stop? I haven't shopped myself in years and we're still on numerous agents' mailing and sometimes phone follow up lists.

If you do it with an independent agent who shops for you, more like a 2 or 3 if they're any good. My agent even helped me with canceling my existing policy.

[raangoli]

I changed who I had auto insurance with and it was maybe a 2 on a scale of 1-10. The only thing that was perhaps slightly annoying was that I had to schedule a time with a local insurance company approved place to have them photograph the car.
With the money I saved, I wish I had done it sooner.

I can't really speak to changing the home portion since we did that when we bought.

[BAMFMrsB]

DH just did it this week. Swapped from GEICO Auto to AllState to combine with our HomeOwner's Ins. It saves us ~$20 a month. He said it was fairly easy. He checked the online calculator 2st, then called a local branch to talk about the rate. He went there last week to sign the new insurance paperwork, then called GEICO this week to cancel. So... maybe a 3-5 depending on how much you think it's a hassle to go to an office to sign the docs.

My parents still use State Farm after 25 years for home and auto and I know they're paying a TON. I doubt they'd ever change it. They're the eternally loyal type, even when it does nothing to protect their own finances!

[arch01]

2. We've done it a couple times.

[mich1]

For my auto insurance, it was a non issue. I left the state I was living in last year and needed a new auto policy. On a scale of 1-10 in switching it over, it was about a 1. However, I was going to USAA and they really made things idiot proof. I had State Farm and a REALLY good agent in my old state, so they made my life as easy as possible too.

My biggest hassle was that they sent me my insurance cards online and I couldn't get the freaking computer to connect to the printer.

[msmerymac]

Like a 2-3. We had to switch when we bought our house from our old renters/car insurance, so we were looking for a home owner policy bundled with auto. It was NBD. My husband had a company in mind, got a good quote, and went with it. No regrets. I've switched auto a few times myself and it's super easy. If it's the end of your current policy, you just cancel and start the new policy on the end date. If you are in the middle of your policy period and have paid in full, your old company can just send you a check for the remaining amount they owe you. It's a few phone calls, maybe.

[jewel]

Maybe a 3?

I just took copies of the coverage pages (with the $ amounts whited out) and faxed/emailed them over so that I could get a quotes for the exact same coverage.

The only thing I regret is waiting so long to do so. I stayed with AAA for too long, because of ease and loyalty, and am now paying over 20% less for better coverage.

[aspentosh]

Ditto most of the other ladies. 2-3. Worth it if you're going to save some money or get a better policy.

[drloretta]

We switched from nationwide to USAA when we got married. DH did all the phone calls, but he'd still rate it about a 2. USAA's customer service is amazing

[shaynaatl]

I would say a 2. We changed both auto and home a few months ago (bundled them so that made things easier).

[AAM2012]

If you are wanting to get quotes from multiple companies I could see it being a 5-6 but it's still mostly done online. If you know what company you're switching to it really should only be a 2. The hardest part for me was asking DH for his SSN. Once they have that most companies can look up you vehicle info.