This Actor Is Saving More Than $1,100/Year — Just by Switching Car Insurance
When you’re watching the big screen, or the little one for that matter, you probably don’t think about actors’ daily lives. Believe it or not, most of them deal with the same day-to-day hassles you do.
They have to find time to eat and sleep. They continuously search for work. And, just like the rest of us, they have to pay bills.
For Kevin Gerdes, a 32-year-old professional actor living in Los Angeles (whom you might have seen in the 2016 Oscar-nominated movie “Lion”), keeping his bills under control is a constant effort.
“I work in an industry where, when you’re not working, you’re not getting paid,” says Gerdes. “I don’t know when I’ll have another job.”
When his car insurance rates with State Farm climbed from $186 per month up to $220 in about one year, and then jumped again to $240, he knew it was time to find a better insurance company. Is finding cheap auto insurance with great coverage like looking for Harrison Ford’s chops on a B-list budget?
One Company’s Performance Saved Him Almost $100/Month
As an actor, Gerdes is used to putting himself out there and competing with other actors to get the part. What’s the key? Simply be the best fit for the part.
State Farm says on its website insurance costs are rising due to distracted drivers, more miles being driven and higher costs to repair vehicles. In other words, Gerdes was supposed to pay more because of factors beyond his control. As he watched his car insurance hike upward, through no fault of his own, late last summer, he decided to let the car insurance companies do the auditioning.
“I thought, ‘This is absurd,’” he says. “I went to all the sites.”
All he wanted was the same insurance coverage without the ridiculous cost.
“I came across Clearcover, and they gave me a quote for the exact same insurance for $146,” he says.
That’s a savings of $94 per month off his $240 rate. That stacks up to $1,128 back in Gerdes’ pocket over a year.
This Company Puts Expenses on the Cutting Room Floor
What Gerdes wanted was to pay for coverage he might need in case he had an actual claim. That’s what Clearcover provides. The company avoids wasteful spending on its end, so its customers can pay less for coverage. Simple, right?
“It was really easy,” he says. “You go to the website, and you can sign up right away. I was like, ‘Whoa, I just signed up for new insurance.’ It’s just done. No phone call.”
Clearcover lets you access your account through its mobile app, so Gerdes can file a claim digitally and get repaid faster if. Plus, it does a lot of cool things you won’t find at other auto insurance companies, such as:
- The Quick View ID Card lets you keep your insurance ID right on your phone, even when you don’t have cell service — you know, for when you have a fender bender in the forest.
- Alternate Transportation Coverage gives you $50 per day cash in-hand so you can decide how to get around when your car is being repaired. If you want to save a few bucks by riding the bus, that’s your call.
- Digital Claims let you can file a claim right in the Clearcover app — 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Even though he hasn’t needed to file a claim, Gerdes liked the idea of alternate transportation coverage. If he
“I like to know that if my car is getting worked on because of an accident…” he says. “I can just use Uber and not put gas in someone else’s car.”
A Lower Bill Helps Him Keep Living His Dream
“I think the one thing with insurance is that it’s not something you really feel until you need it,” Gerdes says. “Until then, it feels like you’re throwing money away.”
He needs to keep an eye on his bills, because paydays are not always consistent. Getting his car insurance under control helps him keep his car on the road so he can make it to work and auditions.
“That savings makes a huge difference in paying my other bills,” he says. “It’s a sense of security for me.”
If you’re looking for car insurance that won’t steal the spotlight or bogart your cash, see how Clearcover can help you save 20% to 40% on your premiums simply by not paying for the stuff you don’t need.
Tyler Omoth is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder who loves soaking up the sun and finding creative ways to help others. Catch him on Twitter at @Tyomoth.
