Mailbag Monday: Insurance premiums by city
I moved last year and my insurance went up $400 more a year. How can I find out which areas will bring a lower rate when I move again?
– Anita
Anita, there are a couple tricks to this. You can simply call your insurer and ask them to run you a quote for your new neighborhood. Or you could use a tool like the one from carinsurance.com, which gives you average premiums by zip code.
But I want to point out one more thing – once a year, and definitely each time you move, you should shop around for insurance coverage and see if you can get a better deal. Often, another company will be willing to undercut your current premium to bring you on board, or your current company may be offering deals or promotions. I’ve even heard of instances where the underwriting has changed, and you’re entitled to a lower rate, but you have to call and ask for it. That’s why this kind of annual audit is so important.
