Why shopping for car insurance is important now

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November 9, 2026 / 3:06 PM EST / CBS News

Car insurance is one of those expenses that can quickly — and often quietly — become much more expensive over time. Part of the issue is that once coverage is in place, it's easy to let the policy renew year after year without giving it much thought, especially if you haven't filed a claim or had any problems with your insurer. But a lot can change between the time you first purchase a car insurance policy and the time your next renewal rolls around.

And the car insurance market has undergone some significant changes in recent years. With inflation still problematic, insurers have had to contend with issues like rising repair costs, increasingly expensive vehicle technology and shifting claims patterns, all while adjusting how they price and offer coverage. Meanwhile, drivers may have experienced changes in their own circumstances that affect what they need from an insurance policy.

Those developments make it worth reconsidering whether the car insurance coverage you've relied on for years still makes sense. There are several…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/moneywatch/