You know all those insurance commercials—Liberty Mutual, State Farm, and of course Flo from Progressive? For the longest time, I never gave them much thought. In our house, insurance commercials mostly turn into us singing “Limu Emu… and DOUG!” and moving on with our lives.
But this year, our auto insurance policy was coming due the first week of February, and that got my attention real quick as an action item I needed to address ASAP.
We usually pay our insurance in full to get a discount (and credit card points—free money is free money 💳). It’s always a bill we plan ahead for because it’s… not small. This time around, our six-month premium with GEICO came in at $1,472.27.
Oof.
Why Our Coverage Changed
Over the last couple of years, we’ve already adjusted deductibles and coverage to make insurance more affordable. One big change was paying off my car loan, which meant we were finally able to remove comprehensive and collision coverage if we wanted to.
That decision played a big role in why I paid off my car loan early—even with a low interest rate. (More on that in another post.)
Shopping Around Actually Worked
I started with a quick Google search (you can also shop with local agents if you prefer), and I ended up using The Zebra, a comparison tool based out of Austin. Honestly? I was so impressed I even applied to work there.
The point is: I finally did what everyone says you should do—and actually shopped around.
Through The Zebra, I was able to compare multiple Progressive quotes and adjust coverage levels in real time. When I compared apples-to-apples coverage with what we had before, I realized we could’ve cut our bill almost in half.
The Coverage We Chose (and Why)
I’m practical. I wasn’t interested in bare-bones coverage just to save a buck, even though that’s the coverage we already had. Instead, I customized our deductibles and coverage to give us strong protection at a better price.
Our final six-month premium came out to $1,117.
For the record, I did keep full coverage on my car. Why? Because it only added under $200 for six months—roughly $33 a month. That peace of mind is absolutely worth it to me.
The Final Numbers
- Old policy: $1,472.27
New policy: $1,117.00 - Total savings: $356+
That’s not pocket change—and definitely nothing to turn your nose up at.
Why This Matters
That $356 can now be redirected to:
- Savings goals
- Debt payoff
- Emergency fund padding
- Or honestly… life, ie our Christmas cruise
The whole point of this story is simple: don’t be complacent.
Insurance companies don’t reward loyalty the way they used to. Shopping around—even once a year—can make a meaningful difference. Reducing our recurring monthly and semi-annual bills is the first place I look when working toward savings goals and debt freedom.
If you have tips, tools, or insurance-shopping success stories, feel free to share them—I’m always happy to learn.
Happy Llama Home 
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