Insurance in 2026: Best Auto, Home, Life, and Pet Insurance Picks—Plus a Wake-Up Call on Credit Card Debt

Summary

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NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast

Episode: Insurance in 2026—Best Auto, Home, Life, and Pet Insurance Picks & Credit Card Debt Wake-Up Call

Date: January 15, 2026
Hosts: Sean Pyles, CFP® (A), Elizabeth Ayoola (B)
Guests: Ana Helhoski (C), Erin El Issa (D), Kaz Weida (E)

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Episode Overview

This episode delivers an in-depth look at insurance trends and practical advice for 2026. The discussion opens with a wake-up call on rising household debt (especially credit card debt), breaking down the drivers and strategies to manage it. The core of the episode focuses on major insurance categories—including auto, home, life, renters, and pet insurance—offering expert insights on how to save, make informed choices, and highlights NerdWallet’s 2026 “Best Of” insurance product picks.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Household Debt in America—Credit Cards in Focus

Segment: [02:28 - 09:21]

• Credit Card Debt is Climbing:

  • As of September 2025, the average household with revolving credit card debt owes $11,413 ([02:28]).
  • Revolving credit card debt has risen by more than 4% in the past year.
  • More than half of respondents cite necessities (food, transportation) as causes; 37% cite shopping ([03:19]).
  • Attitude Shift: Nearly half of Americans now view carrying debt as "normal." One third expect to always have a balance ([03:55]).

• Normalization and Its Impact:

  • "Normalizing it may just dull the sting." – Erin El Issa ([03:55])
  • The comfort in “all being in it together” reduces urgency to pay off debt ([04:21]).

• Other Debt Types:

  • Student loan, auto, and mortgage debts are also rising, but not as sharply as credit card debt ([05:00]).

• Income vs. Expenses:

  • Median household income has slightly outpaced cost of living over five years, but for many, especially regarding housing and transportation, costs have outpaced income ([05:16]).
  • Individual realities vary: “Aggregate data can tell us things are looking good overall. While individual households can feel like they're drowning under rising costs and stagnant income.” – Erin El Issa ([05:54])

• Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL):

  • Increased use due to low/no interest, but “when you start using it regularly… it’s easy to become overwhelmed.” ([06:06])

• Falling Back into Debt:

  • 17% who paid off credit card debt have relapsed ([06:26]).
  • Habit and intention matter; many opened cards "to pay off monthly" but didn't manage it.

• Strategies to Pay Down Debt:

  • No magic solution: “You have to earn more, spend less, or both… some use balance transfers or consolidation loans to lower interest, but you still need to pay it down.” ([07:31])
  • Even a small increase beyond minimum payments ($50-100/month) can cut years and thousands off repayment ([08:11]).
  • AI Tools: Only 11% of Americans use AI to help develop debt payoff plans, though growth is expected ([08:35]).

• Encouragement:

  • “Revolving credit card debt may be considered normal, but it doesn't have to be normal for you… Forgive yourself if you mess up and get right back to it. It really just takes consistency and time. I know I've done it.” – Erin El Issa ([09:03])

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2. Insurance in 2026—What’s Changed & What to Do About It

Segment: [12:48 - 35:41]

a. Insurance Rates: Why They’ve Risen

[13:00 – 15:21]

• Drivers:
  • Inflation: Increases cost to replace/repair homes or cars.
  • Severe Weather: More frequent/extreme weather increases claims, driving up premiums.
  • Insurers Withdrawing: Some insurers are leaving risky markets, shrinking competition.
• "Auto insurance rates, 16% is the increase over the last year in some places…let's just hope for modest increases at this point." – Kaz Weida ([14:17])

b. Auto Insurance: Get the Right Coverage, Cut Costs Wisely

[15:21 – 19:40]

• Bare Minimum Coverage is Risky:
  • State minima often leave big coverage gaps (“not a financially comfortable place for most people to be” – Kaz Weida ([15:43])).
  • NerdTake: “You want enough liability coverage to protect your assets.” Figure your net worth and get at least that much coverage.
• How to Save:
  • Talk to your insurer about available discounts (good driver, bundling home & auto).
  • Consider but be wary of telematics (driving tracking)—can backfire if you’re an aggressive driver ([17:07]).
  • Shop around annually (loyalty often doesn’t pay), get multiple quotes ([18:13]).
• Rising Uninsured Motorists:
  • 1 in 7 drivers is uninsured, 1 in 6 underinsured ([19:40]).
  • Recommend checking if you have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

c. Home Insurance: Trends and What Homeowners Can Do

[20:36 – 24:52]

• Premiums Up ~25% in Recent Years: Often double the rate of inflation.
• Major Drivers:
  • Insurers leaving markets after disasters = less competition, higher premiums.
  • Building material costs up 45% since 2019 ([21:10]).
  • Labor shortages from immigration enforcement, broader hiring crunch.
• Savings Strategies:
  • Raising deductibles is riskier; only do if you have the cash to cover ([23:09]).
  • Seek out discounts: security systems, impact-resistant roofing, upgraded plumbing/electrical, non-smoker status.
  • Avoid small claims if possible—they can cause large premium hikes (one wind damage claim = +9% premium) ([24:52]).
  • Credit Score: A higher score can lower your premium.

d. Other Insurance: Renters, Pet, and Life

[24:52 – 29:04]

• Renters Insurance:
  • Affordable (avg. $148/year), crucial to mitigate risk of losing all personal property.
• Pet Insurance:
  • Worth it, especially for young/healthy pets (“Get it before conditions arise, as most plans exclude pre-existing issues,” – Kaz Weida ([25:12])).
• Hosts’ Stories:
  • Sean and Kaz both bought pet insurance for peace of mind as pet health needs increase with age.
• Life Insurance:
  • Most people need more than they think.
  • “If your death would place a financial burden on anyone, you should have an individual life insurance policy…go investigate and explore that right now.” – Kaz Weida ([27:56])
  • Term life is sufficient—and much cheaper than most expect.

e. 2026 NerdWallet Best Of: Top Insurance Products

[29:11 – 33:41]

• How Winners Are Chosen:

  • Large initial pool, narrowed by wide availability and low complaint rates (per National Association of Insurance Commissioners).
  • Use average rates, benefits, ease of use, and comprehensiveness to judge.

• Winners by Category:

  • Best Budget-Friendly Auto Insurance: Geico [“Geico is pretty widely available…They offer a lot of discounts in comparison to other insurers.” – Kaz Weida ([31:32])]
  • Best Budget-Friendly Home Insurance: Travelers [“User-friendly website, easy claims, eco-friendly discounts.” ([32:03])]
  • Best Same-Day Term Life Insurance: Lemonade [“Issue coverage to qualified applicants basically in minutes online…millions dollars in coverage.” ([32:36])]
  • Best Comprehensive Pet Insurance: ASPCA [“Covers cats, dogs, horses, alternative therapies, 24/7 vet helpline.” ([33:04])]

f. Overall Insurance Philosophy for 2026

[33:51 – 35:02]

• Don’t focus solely on price.
  • “Insurance has value because it's designed to help you in a terrible situation…think about who can provide the best value in your situation, not just the cheapest rate.” – Kaz Weida ([33:51])
• NerdWallet’s Mission:
  • “Let us lend you a hand…our insurance team does that research and provides that information.” ([35:02])

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Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Debt Normalization:
  "Normalizing it may just dull the sting. Other than that, I mean, it is pretty normal…" – Erin El Issa ([03:55])
• On Insurance Minimums:
  "Try not to drop your auto coverage down to minimums… you want enough liability coverage to protect your assets." – Kaz Weida ([15:43])
• On Insurance Value:
  "Insurance has value because it's designed to help you in a terrible situation." – Kaz Weida ([33:51])
• On Mindset:
  “Forgive yourself if you mess up and get right back to it. It really just takes consistency and time. I know I've done it.” – Erin El Issa ([09:03])
• On Pet Insurance Timing:
  "Getting on pet insurance when your pet is young, before they develop all those conditions can definitely make it more bang for your buck…" – Kaz Weida ([25:12])
• On Choosing Insurance:
  “…sometimes that's not always the insurer who has the cheapest rate. So if you have that luxury…do some research, figure out…who's the best insurer to go talk to?” – Kaz Weida ([34:06])

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Timestamps for Major Segments

| Topic | Time | |----------------------------------------------------|-------------| | Credit Card Debt Trends & Insights | 02:28–09:21 | | Insurance in 2026: Trends & Market Forces | 12:48–15:21 | | Auto Insurance—Coverage and Savings | 15:21–19:40 | | Home Insurance—Premiums, DIY Savings | 20:36–24:52 | | Renters, Pet, and Life Insurance Essentials | 24:52–29:04 | | NerdWallet’s 2026 Best Insurance Product Awards | 29:11–33:41 | | Final Insurance Strategy & Closing Thoughts | 33:51–35:02 |

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Final Takeaways

• Debt: Carrying debt may feel “normal,” but it’s costly—small changes in payment can have big impacts.
• Insurance: Markets remain volatile (rising costs, shrinking availability). Actively compare policies, don’t simply cut coverage, and look for discounts and value.
• Best Products: For 2026, Geico (auto), Travelers (home), Lemonade (term life), and ASPCA (pet) win for value and user experience.
• Bottom Line: Mind your coverage gaps, be proactive yearly, and use NerdWallet’s research to guide smart, value-driven insurance decisions in a changing world.

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Transcript

[A]

The following is a paid sponsorship, not an endorsement by NerdWallet's editorial team. Today's episode is sponsored by Bilt. It's 2026 and if you are still paying rent without Bilt, it might be time for a change. BILT is the loyalty program for renters that rewards you for what is usually people's biggest monthly rent. With bilt, every rent payment earns you points that can be used towards flights, hotels, Lyft rides, Amazon.com purchases, and so much more. And here's something that I'm really excited about. Starting in February, BILT members can earn points on mortgage payments for the first time. Soon, you'll be able to get rewarded wherever you live and unlock exclusive benefits with more than 45,000 restaurants, fitness studios, pharmacies and other neighborhood partners. Personally, as a homeowner, I'm very excited about this news and I can't wait to use all of my points for a nice meal out with my partner. It's simple. With bilt, paying rent feels better because you can get more and soon. Owning a home can feel better with bilt too. Earn rewards and get something back wherever you live. Join the loyalty program for renters at joinbuilt.com smartmoney that's J-O-I-N B I-L-T.com smartmoney make sure to use our URL so they know we sent you. The new year brings new health goals and wealth goals. Protecting your identity is an important step. Your info is in endless places that could expose you to identity theft, leading to lost funds. LifeLock monitors millions of data points per second. If your identity is stolen, our restoration specialists will fix it, guaranteed, or your money back. Resolve to make identity, health and wealth part of your New year's goals. With LifeLock, save up to 40% your first year. Visit LifeLock.com podcast terms apply insurance. Everybody needs it. Well, most everybody. But a lot of folks don't love paying for something they may never have to use. That said, we're going to go over all kinds of insurance today and give you our nerdy picks for the best insurance products out there. Welcome to Nerd Wallet's Smart Money Podcast where you send us your money questions and we answer them with the help of our genius nerds. I'm Sean Pyles.

[B]

And I'm Elizabeth Ayola. Later this episode, we'll continue our series on your money in 2026 with a look at insurance and I hope you guys are enjoying it. By the way, please let us know if you are. But first, our weekly MONEY News roundup, where we break down the latest in the world of finance to help you be smarter with your. Our news colleague Ana Hohoski is back.

[C]

Welcome back, Ana Hi, Happy New Year. Elizabeth. Shawn so today I'm going to Talk about Nerd Wallet's 2025 Household Debt Survey, which is conducted by the Harris Poll. It found that revolving credit card debt, and those are the balances that you carry from month to month on your credit card, if you haven't paid it off, has increased by more than 4% over the last year. And the average amount for those households with revolving credit card debt was $11,413 as of September.

[A]

I mean, that can be a really difficult amount of debt to get out of, especially considering how high interest rates tend to be on credit cards.

[C]

Yeah, absolutely, Sean. So I asked data studies writer Aaron El Isa back to talk about that figure and some of the other findings from the report. So, Erin, welcome back to SMART money.

[D]

Thanks for having me back.

[C]

So let's start with that top number. What's driving the increase in credit card debt?

[D]

So revolving credit card debt has been going up since 2021 after a lot of people paid down their balances in the early months of the COVID 19 pandemic. We surveyed Americans with revolving credit card debt about the things that contributed to it. And while more than half said necessities like food and transportation, 37% said shopping. So it's likely that credit card debt at large is a combination of necessary and unnecessary spending.

[C]

Yeah, that's pretty much what I would expect. So nearly half of Americans consider carrying revolving credit card debt normal. Is this a shift in attitudes, necessity, or both?

[D]

Well, for some, it might just be a way to cope. Nearly a third of Americans with revolving credit card debt say they'll probably always have balances, and close to a quarter of those with debt say it makes them feel hopeless. So normalizing it may just dull the sting. Other than that, I mean, it is pretty normal. Personally, I stopped carrying balances years ago, but plenty of people see credit card debt as a given, possibly the only way to reasonably afford their lifestyle.

[C]

And how concerning is the normalization itself? Does viewing debt as a routine budget line item change how long people stay in debt or how aggressively they try to pay it down?

[D]

I mean, I think it's concerning. Yeah, credit card debt is usually very expensive to carry, and it can absolutely eat up your budget in monthly payments. People's views on debt are not only influenced by the people around them, but the people in their online spaces, for good or for ill. And if everyone else seems to have credit card debt, you might not feel as much urgency to get rid of your own.

[C]

Right? It's like though we're all in this together, what about some other types of debt? What's happening there?

[D]

Student loan, auto loan, and mortgage debt are all up this year as well. None of the debt balances jumps quite as much as revolving credit card debt though.

[C]

So something that you point out in the study, it doesn't feel like typical income is keeping up with living costs, but that's not actually the case. Right?

[E]

You're right.

[D]

It doesn't feel that way for many. But the numbers suggest that median household income has slightly outpaced the cost of living over the past five years. However, housing and transportation, which are two big necessary costs for most Americans, have increased more than median household income growth during that time. It's also important to note, though, that plenty of Americans income simply hasn't kept up with the increase in costs, particularly over the past few years. You asked about typical income, right? But that's not a reflection of any single actual household. The aggregate data can tell us things are looking good overall. While individual households can feel like they're drowning under rising costs and stagnant income.

[C]

Now, not everyone's income is keeping up with expenses. And that means turning to credit cards, which we've talked about. Loans which we've talked about, as well as Buy Now, Pay Later. Can you talk a little bit about that specifically?

[D]

So I understand why Buy Now, Pay later has become a go to. There's often no fees or interest for those who make payments on time. And the cost of a purchase probably hurts less when you're just paying a fraction of it up front. But when you start using it regularly for multiple purchases, it's easy to become overwhelmed with those payments every two weeks.

[C]

All right, let's talk a little bit about getting out of debt. You note that 17% of Americans have paid off credit card debt completely and then fallen back into it. What distinguishes those who successfully stay debt free from those who cycle back?

[D]

I think it's really easy to fall back into debt after clawing your way out of it. I think a lot of people say never again, but it can creep up on you. According to the survey, nearly a third of Americans who have revolving credit card debt say they opened credit cards with the intention of paying them off each month. So I think credit cards can be a great tool.

[B]

Right?

[D]

There's rewards, there's purchase protections.

[E]

Great.

[D]

But Only if they're working for you and not costing you an interest. Personally, while I use credit cards for my bills, I don't use them for most of my variable spending because I know I can better keep my spending in check with the limitations of a debit card. For those who are the same way, it might be a good idea to take a break from using credit cards, step back and see if they're working for you or just costing you. And this is especially true for those who are currently trying to pay off credit card debt.

[C]

Are there any specific methods that people are using to pay off their debt?

[D]

So this is possibly an unsatisfactory answer, but they're making more money or they're spending less money to allocate extra funds to paying off the debt. I think we all want this, like, secret third way to get out of debt. That's really painless. But while some Americans do use tools like balance transfer offers or debt consolidation loans to lower their interest, the truth is you have to earn more, spend less, or both to actually get it paid down.

[C]

Otherwise, you're mostly just moving that money around.

[D]

Exactly.

[C]

Can you talk a little bit about what your analysis showed about Americans who make only the minimum debt payment each month, which is what a lot of people feel they can afford or really is what they can afford.

[D]

It's just so expensive. And with the average amount of credit card debt, like, it could take decades and thousands of dollars to get that paid down, even if you aren't adding to the balance, which a lot of people are. So if you can't aggressively pay down debt at this time, totally understandable. But try to add something. Adding 50 or $100 a month to your payment could save thousands of dollars and years of payoff.

[C]

The study mentions AI tools to develop a debt payoff plan. I know I use AI for lots of different things, but only 11% of Americans have actually done so. That's a pretty low adoption rate. Do you see it growing?

[D]

Yeah, I think we'll definitely see that increase over time. Again, debt payoff really takes making more or spending less, but AI tools can be used to examine your budget and figure out a debt payoff strategy that.

[E]

Might work for you.

[C]

All right, Erin, any other advice on managing debt?

[D]

Revolving credit card debt may be considered normal, but it doesn't have to be normal for you. I would suggest making a plan to pay off your debt. Stick to it to the best of your ability. Forgive yourself if you mess up and get right back to it. It really just takes consistency and time. I know I've done it.

[C]

Thanks for joining us, Aaron.

[D]

Thank you so much.

[B]

And thank you, Ana. Up next, we continue our series about yout money in 2026. This time we're going to go deep into the world of insurance. But before we get into that, we want to remind you to send us your money questions. We want all of them. Maybe you have questions about paying down debt this year, or you have questions about how to increase your income. Whatever your question is, leave us a voicemail or text us on the Nerd Hotline at 901-730-6373. Again, 901-730-NERD. Email us at podcastnerdwallet.com Also in a.

[A]

Moment, the next installment about yout money in 2026. Stay with us. Today's episode is sponsored by Quince. Starting the year with a wardrobe refresh, Quince has you covered with luxe essentials that feel effortless and look polished. They're perfect for layering, mixing and building a wardrobe that lasts. Their versatile styles make it easy to reach for them day after day. Quint has all the staples covered from Mongolian cashmere sweaters that feel like designer pieces without the markup to 100% silk tops and skirts for easy dressing up to perfectly cut denim for everyday wear. Their wardrobe essentials are crafted to last season after season. The quality shows in every detail, the stitching, the fit, the fabrics. Every piece is thoughtfully designed to be your new wardrobe essentially. And like everything from Quint's, each piece is built with premium materials in ethical, trusted factories then priced far below what other luxury brands charge. I recently picked up their cashmere zip up hoodie and I can tell you I'm going to be living in this thing all winter long. It's so cozy and seems really built to last. Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Don't wait. Go to quint.com smartmoney for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. Now available in Canada too. That's Q-U-I-N-C-E.com smartmoney to get free shipping and 365 day returns. Quints.com smartmoney the following is a paid sponsorship, not an endorsement by NerdWallet's editorial team. Today's episode is sponsored by Bilt. It's 2026 and if you are still paying rent without Bilt, it might be time for a change. BILT is the loyalty program for renters that rewards you for what is usually people's biggest monthly expenses. Rent with bilt, every rent payment earns you points that can be used towards flights, hotels, Lyft rides, Amazon.com purchases and so much more. And here's something that I'm really excited about. Starting in February, BILT members can earn points on mortgage payments for the first time. Soon you'll be able to get rewarded wherever you live and unlock exclusive benefits with more than 45,000 restaurants, fitness studios, pharmacies and other neighborhood partners. Personally, as a homeowner, I'm very excited about this news and I can't wait to use all of my points for a nice meal out with my partner. I It's simple. With bilt, paying rent feels better because you can get more and soon owning a home can feel better with BILT too. Earn rewards and get something back wherever you live. Join the loyalty program for [e-mail] smartmoney that's J O I N B I L T.com smartmoney make sure to use our URL so they know we sent you. We're back and continuing our series about your money in 2026. This time around, we're going deep into insurance. What's happening in the insurance market, what you need to know to get the best rates, how to shop around, and which companies won NerdWallet's prestigious Best of awards for their insurance products.

[B]

And to help us navigate the world of insurance, we're joined by insurance nerd Kaz Weida. Welcome back to Smart Money.

[A]

Kaz.

[E]

Thanks so much for having me. Again, it's a pleasure to talk all things insurance.

[A]

Let's start by getting a lay of the land of insurance. Anyone with a house or a car has probably experienced firsthand how expensive insurance is gotten over the past few years. So can you outline why insurance costs have continued to climb year after year?

[E]

When we think about insurance, we can probably think about what's driving costs generally. And the answer to that is inflation. And inflation affects insurance sort of in the same way you might imagine it affects all goods and services. With insurance, you're talking about replacing something valuable your car, your home. And so when the cost of, let's say automobile parts goes up or the cost of building materials goes up, your home insurance premium goes up. So inflation's definitely playing a role there. The other thing that's happening though, and specifically in auto and home insurance, is that we're looking at the increasing frequency of severe weather taking a toll there. Across the country. There is an increased risk in some areas of weather events, and that means more claims for your insurer. And so that means higher rates for you.

[B]

Do you think these price increases are likely to slow or at least plateau, or is this our new normal? I mean, it's hard to imagine them continuing at this pace. I'm paying so much already.

[E]

So I think auto insurance rates, 16% is the increase over the last year in some places. And then JD Power in a home insurance study recently surveyed homeowners and about 47% of them said their home insurance rates had increased. So everybody's feeling the pain. And I definitely get that. I think when we look at will it continue, we have to ask ourselves, are the things that are affecting insurance rates going to continue? And that's sort of a mixed bag. So inflation, inflation is definitely still present, but it is rising more slowly, according to government data. So that is a sign maybe we could see some more modest increases. Fingers crossed. But the other thing that's happening with severe weather that's affecting rates has caused some insurers to pull out of markets in some states. And when there's less competition, you get higher rates. So hard to read the tea leaves in the future of insurance rates there. But let's just hope for modest increases at this point.

[A]

All right, I'm crossing my fingers here, Kaz. Yes, let's go a little deeper into auto insurance specifically. So what should folks know about getting the right coverage for their needs for the best price for a lot of people, given how expensive everything is beyond just insurance? I mean, cars are so expensive too. It can be really tempting to get just bare bones coverage to save money. But that can be pretty risky, right?

[E]

For sure. I mean, I think this is something most people look to do. My premiums have gone up. I'm going to raise my deductible or I'm going to cut coverage down to whatever my state requires, which is usually liability insurance. And there is some risk in that approach. For instance, let's say you live in Pennsylvania and you drive in Pennsylvania. The minimum liability insurance requirements in Pennsylvania are $15,000 per person bodily injury in an accident and $5,000 for property damage per accident, but in a serious accident. So the Insurance Information Institute has this data from 2023. Bodily injury claims on average in a serious accident were $26,000 and property damage was upwards of 6. So you can see how your minimum insurance is sort of going to leave you on the hook for the rest, which is not a financially comfortable place for most people to be. So try not to drop your auto coverage down to minimums and nerdwallet generally will say, hey, you want enough liability coverage to protect your assets. So that involves figuring out your net worth, look at your savings, look at other assets, subtract your debts, and then make sure you have liability coverage in that amount.

[B]

All right, so what are some of the most common or easiest ways to save money on your auto insurance? KAS if we're not reducing those minimums to the bare bones.

[E]

So we're differentiating here between the common way, which is just to ax your coverage or raise your deductible. But perhaps the best way to go about lowering your auto insurance rate is just to talk to your insurer first. In a lot of cases, you might be eligible for some discount services you didn't know you were eligible for, which is great. You can also talk to them and you can talk to your home insurer too about bundling auto and home insurance. So generally you're going to see some pretty significant savings from doing that. And that's a good first step to take if you need to lower your rates before you take any more drastic steps. I've seen some folks get into monitoring programs for auto insurance, so some of those telematics programs, and I would just caution before you embark on that with your insurer, just make sure you're the kind of driver that that makes sense for some folks have a little bit of a heavy foot and you might actually raise your premiums instead of lower them. So just be careful there.

[A]

You love to drive fast, so I will not be putting that in my car.

[B]

I feel like you telling around my business. Cass.

[A]

One thing that we've heard a lot when talking with folks about insurance is that one of your best ways to save money can also be to shop around and get some rates and that it doesn't really to be loyal to one insurer over many years. Is that still the case?

[E]

Cass it can be. So I think what we say at NerdWallet is it's worthwhile to go out there and just check. Just do a check once a year before you go renew with your current insurer and say, hey, what else is out there? It's pretty easy to get a couple of quotes, especially for auto insurance online, or just call the insurer quickly and just do a couple of price comparisons, make sure that you're still getting the best deal for the coverage that you need.

[B]

I was looking to lower my auto insurance last year and that is something that I did and I'll be doing again this year. Unfortunately, there weren't much savings because inflation. Long sigh but at least I tried.

[A]

Exactly. Now you know.

[B]

All right, Kaz, are there any other changes or predictions about the world of car insurance this year that people should be aware of?

[E]

You know, with household budgets sort of feeling some financial stress and pressure, both from inflation and a lot of other factors, one of the things that the auto insurance team at NerdWallet is looking at is will there be more uninsured drivers on the road in 2023? The Insurance Information Institute said about one in seven drivers was driving uninsured out on the road. That's a lot of people. It is, yeah.

[A]

Right.

[E]

As many as one in six are simply underinsured. So if they got into an accident, they probably wouldn't be able to pay for even with the insurance that they have. So. So when budgets get tight, people do stop paying for insurance. And that's something insured folks need to be aware of, because that can raise your rates as an insured driver. You absorb the costs in an accident, and eventually that will show up in your premiums.

[A]

And so would it also then be worth it for folks to look into uninsured motorist coverage for their own policies so that they're protected in that case?

[E]

Yeah, I mean, a lot of states require uninsured motorist coverage precisely for this reason, because there are so many uninsured drivers on the road, and they want folks to have that safety net. So I think it's pretty rare now when you look at state minimum insurance requirements for them not to require something like that, depending on whether the state is an at fault or no fault state.

[A]

Okay, well, that's reassuring at least.

[E]

Yes.

[A]

So turning to home insurance now, a lot of folks like you've mentioned have seen their home insurance costs really shoot up in recent years. I saw a report from the Consumer Federation of America that came out last spring that found that home insurance premiums have gone up almost 25% in recent years, which is about twice the rate of inflation. And this has made homeownership only more unaffordable for many people. So you've outlined some of what's driving these price increases earlier. But is there anything else unique to the home insurance market that people should know to help them understand really what's going on with their insurance rates?

[E]

The phenomena that we talked about before? I think just to put a finer point on it, you've got insurers leaving certain states or certain markets, and that creates a situation where those homeowners are left in the lurch and they've got to go get home insurance from the state's insurer of last resort, which sounds rather dramatic, but usually that means less competitive rates. So this is happening in places that you might not expect, certainly California, Texas, Florida, we might think increased wildfire risk, increased storm and flooding risk there. But also states like Minnesota and Iowa and across the Midwest where they're seeing more hail damage claims and those sorts of things. This is playing a wider role across the country than you might imagine. And the other thing that I don't want to downplay is how much building costs have risen in the last couple of years. So the national association of Home builders said between 2019 and 2024, some of the most common building materials that you'd use rose by as much as 45%, depending on the material that is showing up in your homeowners rate, for sure. And we're also starting to see an issue with labor shortages. So the association of General Contractors of America took a survey quite recently, and about a third of their firms said that they were being affected by immigration enforcement. And about 92% of their contractors said they couldn't fill open positions on their crew. So eventually we will see that trickle down to the cost of building because labor shortages are definitely a part of that.

[B]

Wow. It sounds like a lot of the factors that you mentioned are really beyond our control. So in that case, what do homeowners have control over? How can they save on their home insurance? What advice do you have for people who are looking to spend less money on their coverage this year, or at least try to have their insurance premiums increase at maybe a slower pace?

[E]

I think the reflex, maybe even for homeowners, is to do the same thing they do with their auto insurance. I will just raise my deductible. But with homeowners insurance, those deductibles can be quite large. So you really want to make sure this is something you could pay out of pocket in an emergency that that financially feasible for your family. In lieu of that sort of more dramatic approach, you could talk to your insurer about what discounts they offer. So homeowners insurance typically will have several different types of discounts, depending on what improvements we're looking at. So things you might assume home security systems, impact resistant roofing in some states, but then also if you have an older home, maybe updating plumbing and electrical systems, even small discounts sometimes for things like not having smokers in your house. Those are all things that insurers might give you a discount for as a homeowner. And then the two things I would say People forget about with homeowners insurance or aren't as cautious about as they should be. I guess the first is don't make a small claim if you don't have to. So even small claims can raise your insurance rate pretty substantially. NerdWallet did an analysis where they found submitting one wind damage claim raised your insurance rate about 9% for homeowners. Yeah, so quite a bit. So if you can pay for it out of pocket, please do that. Don't use your homeowner's insurance unless you have to. And then last but not least, your credit score. A lot of folks forget that your credit score is part of what determines your auto and home insurance rate in many cases. So long term, working on raising your credit score should help those rates eventually.

[A]

So we've covered the two biggest areas of insurance for most people that's home and auto. But we haven't even touched on things like renters insurance or life insurance or pet insurance. And I realize these are all pretty disparate forms of insurance, but is there anything across these various types of insurance that you think people should be aware of as they look to best use insurance to protect themselves from potential risks? This year?

[E]

Yeah, we're really taking a whirlwind tour of insurance and I hope your head's not spinning just yet. But I think all these categories of insurance have one thing in common. You hear a lot of should I bother with pet insurance? Should I get renters insurance? Is it really worth it? And the answer in most cases is usually yes if you meet certain conditions. So let's talk about what those are. For renters, renters insurance is really affordable. I don't know if people know that. It's like $148 on average a year. And I don't know about you, but to me, the risk of losing all my personal belongings and not being able to afford to replace them, mitigating that risk is worth $12 a month to me. I mean, I think I pay how much in Apple care or whatever. I definitely think that renters insurance is affordable for most people who would need it for pet insurance. The calculation is a little bit different. If your pet is relatively young and doesn't have major health conditions, pet insurance is probably going to be a good value for you. And the reason I say that is unlike health insurance, pet insurance can exclude pre existing conditions. So if your pet had a condition before they got enrolled with pet insurance, anything that happens as a result of that condition that requires treatment isn't covered by your pet. Insurance, usually, yeah. So getting on pet insurance when your pet is young, before they develop all those conditions can definitely make it more bang for your buck in terms of what you pay for pet insurance.

[A]

I recently got pet insurance for my dog and my cat. My dog turned 7 last year and my cat turned 10 when I got pet insurance for them. And I figured at that time, you know, they were relatively healthy. They both have garbage teeth, but what can you do about that? That's the pre existing conditions. But I wanted to get them covered before other things began to pop up because I figured that this is probably about when that's going to happen. And I'm really glad that I have this coverage. I fortunately haven't had to use it yet, but I know that eventually I'll be really grateful to have it because it can cover so much of these expenses that can get really quite high. And I don't really have a dollar limit on what I would spend on my pet's care. So I'm glad I have my insurance as a backup.

[E]

I recently got pet insurance as well this year and sort of the same equation which was we have a fairly young rescue dog and we've got a lot of years ahead of us and hopefully good ones. And I don't want to have to make decisions based on finances. I want to make the best decision in the moment that I can. And that's what pet insurance is for.

[B]

Well, I only have fish and don't need pet insurance for that. But in case I decide to, in case I decide to oblige IO and get him the dog he's bugging me about, I'll be sure to get pet insurance.

[E]

So the last thing that I wanted to talk about as well is life insurance. So you mentioned life insurance and I'd like everyone to get on the same page with this, which is you need more life insurance than you currently have. And that's a pretty blanket statement that I can make for most people. You probably maybe have group life insurance and it's usually not enough. So if you have a mortgage, if you have kids. At NerdWallet, what we say is if you're in a position where your death would place a financial burden on anyone, you should have an individual life insurance policy. So go investigate and explore that right now. Because rates only increase with age, so it's not getting any better than it currently is. So go out there and figure out if you've got enough life insurance and what that should look like and get on that.

[B]

That's one of my Favorite topics. I think one of the best decisions I made was switching from a whole life to term and going from paying maybe around $100 a month to, I don't know, 20 something or $30 now. And it's definitely worthwhile because I have a kid and yes, he would suffer if I wasn't here and he didn't have anyone to support him.

[E]

Yeah. And term life insurance is going to be sufficient for most folks. It definitely is more affordable than people imagine.

[B]

Okay, now let's turn to NerdWallet's best of insurance products for 2026. It's crazy that we're in 2026. Our nerds use their independent editorial judgment and put a lot of work into determining the best financial products across various areas of our financial lives. And that ranges from credit cards to home loans, and of course, to insurance. So, Cas, can you talk with us about what this process looks like for the insurance team and also what makes a product the best?

[E]

So this is a pretty exciting process. We start with a lot of insurers in our selection pool. I think for auto insurance, it's something crazy like 125 insurers. And what they do is the team assesses which insurers are available in a majority of states. So that's our very first criteria just to chop down that selection pool to a more reasonable level. The other thing we do right off the bat is consider complaint information from the naic. So the national association of Insurance Commissioners has complaint data on all the major insurers, and we remove anyone from selection that has an above average rate of complaints. So that whittles it down a little bit more. And then for the remaining insurers, we're looking at sort of specific criteria for each award. So two of the awards, I believe are budget friendly. So for those awards, we're really looking at average rate across the country. And then if there's a tie, we might be relying on NerdWallet star rating to break that tie. In that case, for life insurance, we're looking at sort of a same day life insurance term life insurance award. And for that, we're looking at, does the insurer offer online coverage? How easy is it to get? And then how much insurance coverage can I get to determine that award? And then last but not least, pet insurance, we're sort of looking at the most comprehensive coverage available for an affordable rate and what that coverage might include or exclude. So those are sort of all the things that come into play as we determine these awards.

[A]

Okay, so let's do some rapid fire best of mentions. Kaz, can you give us your top best of winners and tell us what makes them the best?

[E]

Do we want a drum roll?

[A]

Let's do it.

[E]

We've got to make insurance exciting, right? So our best budget friendly auto insurance is maybe not a surprise for 2026. This is Geico. As you might imagine, Geico is pretty widely available. They've got quite affordable rates. But the other thing that cements this for GEICO is they do offer a lot of discounts in comparison to other insurers. So that's pretty attractive and something that earned them this award. The best budget friendly homeowners insurance for 2026 is travelers. So again, travelers widely available, affordable rates. But something we the insurance team really appreciate about travelers is they have a user friendly website, makes it easy to file claims and to find the information that you need. They also have a lot of discounts as well for eco friendly things for homeowners. So nice perks with travelers home insurance. And then the best same day term life insurance is going to be lemonade in 2026 and they issue coverage to qualified applicants basically in minutes online and you can get millions of dollars in coverage. So pretty affordable accessible term life insurance. And last but not least, this is our pet insurance award for comprehensive coverage in 2026. The best comprehensive coverage for pet insurance is the ASPCA. Their pet insurance has a lot of perks. It covers horses in addition to cats and dogs, which is a little bit unusual.

[A]

Do they cover fish? Probably not.

[E]

I don't think so.

[A]

Maybe it depends on the type of fish. If it's a very exotic expensive fish.

[E]

There are some pet insurers that cover exotic animals. I don't know how many ASPCA covers though.

[A]

Okay, we'll have to look into that.

[E]

We will. They do cover alternative therapies as well, which is unusual for some pet insurers. And then policyholders have access to this 24,7 vet helpline, which is another little perk. So I personally have ASPCA pet insurance myself so I can really speak to them having fairly affordable comprehensive coverage.

[B]

Well, Kaz, is there anything else that our listeners should keep in mind this year as they work the balance getting the coverage they need to protect themselves from risks at a price they can afford.

[E]

What I like to think about with insurance and emphasize when I talk to people about insurance is that there's this idea, I pay a lot for insurance. It's so expensive and I don't get anything out of it right it just sits there, hopefully, best case scenario. And I think that's probably the wrong way to think about insurance. I would say that insurance has value because it's designed to help you in a terrible situation. If something catastrophic happens, it's the financial safety net that you're paying for. And with that in mind, when you shop for insurance, maybe think about not just who has the cheapest rate, but who can provide the best value. In my situation, sometimes that's not always the insurer who has the cheapest rate. So if you have that luxury of being able to shop with that in mind, you know, do some research, figure out, hey, I'm trying to secure life insurance with a health condition or auto insurance with an accident on my record, who's the best insurer to go talk to? And that's what NerdWallet's here for. Our insurance team does that research and provides that information. So let us lend you a hand.

[A]

Well, Cas, thank you so much for coming on and telling us everything we need to know about insurance in 2026.

[E]

You're welcome.

[B]

And that's all we have for this episode. Join us next time as we continue our series about your money in 2026, where we'll wrap up things by talking about the best banking products of the year. Meanwhile, we want you to follow Smart Money on your favorite podcast app. Even if it's changed in 2026, we're on all of them. So that includes Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and iHeartRadio. To automatically download new episodes, here's our brief disclaimer.

[A]

We are not your financial or investment advisors. This nerdy info is provided for general educational and entertainment purposes and may not apply to your specific circumstances.

[B]

And good news, nothing has changed because this episode is produced by Tess Biglin and Anna Helhoski. Hilary Georgie helped with editing. Nick Kirsme mixed our audio. And a huge thank you to NerdWallet's editors for all their help.

[A]

And with that said, until next time, turn to the nerds.