Top 3 Insurance Tips to Close out 2023

Jeff Ryan - CLU, ChFC, AIA, CIC, CPCU

November 27, 2023

Navigating a Challenging Insurance Market: Tips from The Ryan Agency

At The Ryan Agency, we recognize that it is a trying time for our insurance customers. The Ryan Agency has served our community for over 60 years, and this may be the “hardest” insurance market during that time.

Here are Three Insurance Tips to Close out 2023 - plus a BONUS!

Don’t Trade Small Dollars with Your Insurance Company

If there was ever a time you should not require your insurance company to cover small losses, it is now. Insurance companies not only price their products based on claim frequency but may also restrict access to their most competitive products for the same reason.
Utilizing larger deductibles makes room for your insurance dollars to do its real job. That is, to protect you from catastrophic losses you couldn’t otherwise financially absorb.
Choosing proper deductibles saves premium dollars now and into the future. Most increased deductible options offer substantial savings and pay for themselves in less than five years, even if you have a claim!
Action Items.
Call us to review your deductible options. Look to increase them to the largest amount you can reasonably afford.

2. Capitalize on Easy Discounts

The New York Defensive Driving Discount is one of the “easiest” discounts available to every principal operator on a personal auto policy. A simple six-hour class can be done online at home at your convenience and pace.
Action Item:
Check out the Defensive Driving Course with MyImprov.com, for which we’ve negotiated a discount. Learn more at: www.RyanAgency.com/DD. If you’d rather take an “in-person” class there are some available from time to time. Feel free to contact us to see how much you can save and what classes might be available!

3. Pump Up Your Credit Score

Most people are unaware of the impact your credit score (technically called an insurance score) has on your auto and, in some cases, home insurance premiums. Properly managing your credit has many benefits, not the least of which is lower insurance premiums in the long run.
Action Item:
Read our Ask Jeff Blog article, How Can I Improve My Auto Insurance Score, for information on how you can positively impact one of the most important variables determining your auto insurance rates.

4. Bonus: Avoid Company Hopping if Happy with Your Current Carrier

Our agency has shopped and rewritten hundreds of our clients with a new company. One of the things we’ve learned is that today’s cheapest company is the one sharply increasing rates tomorrow. If you are with a quality company, your loyalty matters; they will take care of you when accidents happen.
Action Item:
Happy with your current carrier? Work with them using all the tools available to manage your program and premiums accordingly.

It’s a crazy time in the insurance world. The three (wait… I guess there are four!) tips above are just some of the more immediate and significant things you can do to impact what you pay for your insurance program!

About the Author: Jeff Ryan has been a licensed insurance agent since 1978, later becoming a full-time insurance professional in 1983. Since then, he has been the principal of The Ryan Agencies with offices in Hornell, Jasper, and Wellsville. The agencies serve approximately 15,000 clients in New York and Pennsylvania. Jeff holds numerous credentials including the Chartered Property & Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC), Accredited Advisor in Insurance (AAI), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) designations. He holds a Master's Degree from the American College. Jeff enjoys writing about all things insurance and welcomes your questions and feedback.

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Auto Rates and Finger Prints: Both are Unique to You!

By Jeff Ryan • April 7, 2026

Factors You Can’t Easily Control These factors are built into your profile, but still play a major role: Your location: Claim trends, traffic, and weather patterns where you principally drive. Your age and driving experience: Especially for younger drivers. Other drivers in your household: Their age and driving history. The vehicle you own: Unique to the Year, Make, Model, and Sub-model’s damageability and cost of parts/labor. These factors significantly influence price differences, but they don’t tell the whole story. Factors You Can Control This is where habits and wise decisions can make a real difference: Your driving habits: Minimizing tickets and accidents can have a direct impact. Your coverage choices: Liability limits, deductibles, and optional coverages can vary widely. Your insurance consistency: Avoiding lapses in coverage. Your annual mileage: How much and how often you drive. Discount opportunities: Bundling, pay-in-full, NYS defensive driving course. Your Insurance Score (Yes—You Can Influence It) Insurance companies use a credit-based insurance score as part of their rating process. While it’s based on financial behaviors, it is not permanent—and it can be improved over time. Simple habits like: Paying bills on time Reducing outstanding debt Avoiding excessive credit inquiries… can positively impact your score—and in turn, your insurance rates. Your insurance score is under your control and a worthy mid to long-term project in and of itself. For more information on what you can do to positively influence your score, see: Great 8 Tip #8 - What's Credit Got to Do with Insurance? How Can I Improve My Auto Insurance Score Why Comparing Rates Doesn’t Work When someone says, “I only pay…” , the uniqueness of their fingerprint is missing. What are their: Deductibles Driving history Insurance score Household profile Coverage limits: what they may be giving up in terms of protection. Price without context can be misleading and discouraging.