When we buy auto insurance, we purchase the cheapest insurance that we can get with a company that can provide the various needs you are looking for in an insurance policy.  But have you noticed that each and every year, your car is getting older and technically should be needing less insurance (or cheaper insurance) and yet, your auto insurance remains the same.  Does it make sense to instead get a new quote each year so as to get the best deal out there for your car? 

The best time for changing insurance companies is during the renewal period because you don't need to wait or a company refund from your previous auto insurance company. You will get a renewal notice sent to you about a month before your new policy begins, which gives you a month to find a new company before the old company expires.  Remember that you don't actually have coverage until the new company receives payment for its services.  Even so, you can cancel your policy and switch to a new policy at any time although some companies charge a small penalty fee for switching companies before the policy has expired. 

You can also save money if you have had an accident or ticket that raises your rates and you've passed the period of time where it shows up on your record.  Sign up for new insurance the day after the time the ticket or accident shows up on your record and your quote from the new insurance company will likely be hundreds of dollars less than your previous insurance company.  Check to see how long the accident or ticket will show up on your insurance record as it differs from country to country. 

It doesn't take long to switch insurance companies. Many companies just need to have your automobile information, personal information, and driving record and then you can be signed up, as soon as you pay them.  Many will cancel your previous insurance policy for you so you don't have to go through the uncomfortable aspect of canceling the policy yourself. 

In part because things will drop off your driving record over the course of a year, it pays to get another insurance quote or several insurance quotes that compare your insurance rates with those of the newer companies.  If your ticket or insurance is off your record, the quotes will be much lower.  On the other hand, if you've had a ticket or accident in recent months, the insurance quotes from newer agencies will be higher than your original insurance, and you won't get a better rate than the rate you've already locked in by your current insurance company.

Try an aggregator site to get quotes from many different agencies at once.  You can put in your personal information just once and get quotes from several insurance sites.  Remember, the quote may not be the actual quote you get from the insurance company when you click on that site but you can get a general idea as to whether it is worth it to change insurance companies.