Just went through this ourselves. Was using AARP/Hartford previously, but they just raised our rates 25% for auto and 30% for house (Illinois). Never have filed a claim for auto or home or have any traffic incidences (retired ages 64/62 with good driving records, 2yr old mid-size auto and newer home). Went up 10~15% last year as well.
I've found that bundling insurance (as we always have in the past) did not provide us with savings. In fact those companies were higher overall (so much for bundling). The company was either high on the house or auto. Found separate policies that were pretty much back to what we were paying currently. I gave AARP an opportunity to redo to get our business (see below).
Geico Auto and Farmers home worked well for us (for this year)... Geico appears to be very well organized and sent paperwork as expected (did this all online). Farmers was different in that I started with a quote online, but had to go to a local agent to handle the policy. Not a big deal and the guy is a professional (but has been pushing other insurance - to be expected). They do cover you as of the date required, but hold sending out the policy for up to 60 days (find this bizarre, and never have had this scenario before). They send out an inspector to look at your home, but you don't have to be present during that time. I am skeptical about them insuring the home, but holding the policy for up to 60 days. If this turns out to be a way to up the policy cost - will be the end of the policy. We'll see. They also will not send out a written policy (online retrieval only) for the online policy savings. Farmers also charged a fee for initiating the policy ($25.00)
Have had other antagonizing scenarios in the past - one with USAA where they supposedly use an independent surveyor over the phone to review your insurance. USAA will then cancel your policy immediately and reissue it with a demand for either a higher or lower premium if the independent surveyer finds reason to do so (we were not informed of this scenario upfront). This actually happened to us - we received a $1.00 refund and two new policies mid-year (yes, reissued both policies for a refund to us of one dollar!). Didn't even offer to send us the dollar and kept it towards a future credit of renewal insurance costs. They eventually raised our insurance to where it was cheaper to go back to AARP the following year (who had come in with lower rates a couple of years later, go figure!).
AARP was the highest percentage of insurance for household (personal possessions) for the renewal policy. It was the highest % as to the overall coverage for the home itself of all insurers! This is a percentage of the homes value according to AARP. If you try to get them to cut it to a reasonable amount - they will do it, but "not" cover your personal property for "replacement coverage" (gotcha!!). This scenario was common to all insurance companies I corresponded with - be aware. Your ten year old $2k leather couch will be valued accordingly. And you're most likely not going to get any more than exactly what all of your personal items would cost to replace with the almost as much as your dwelling coverage amount paid out as personal items coverage.
I hate shopping for insurance, but it's become apparent that you'll have to aggressively pursue insurance rates annually - to keep yourself at decent rates and not allow the insurance company to take advantage of your lack of shopping around. Remember, they all tell you you can save "X" amount by switching!! It has to come from somewhere. Watch out for online website that will offer to quote you, but just send your info out to ins. agents who pay for that service (you will be contacted - if you know what I mean).
