07.30.25 Save More On Auto Insurance / The Energy Markets

Summary

The Clark Howard Podcast - July 30, 2025 Episode Summary Title: Save More On Auto Insurance / The Energy Markets

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Introduction

In the July 30, 2025 episode of The Clark Howard Podcast, host Clark Howard delves into two pivotal topics affecting everyday consumers: the escalating costs of auto insurance and the evolving landscape of energy markets in the United States. Alongside his co-host Krista, Clark provides insightful analysis, practical advice, and addresses listener questions to help individuals navigate these complex areas effectively.

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Save More on Auto Insurance

Rising Premiums and Customer Dissatisfaction

Krista opens the discussion by highlighting a concerning trend: auto insurance premiums have been consistently increasing, leading to widespread customer dissatisfaction. Referencing a survey by J.D. Power, she notes a significant shift where consumers express growing discontent with their auto insurers.

Krista [02:30]: "People hate their auto insurers now more than ever before, primarily because premiums have surged year after year."

Reasons Behind the Surge

Several factors contribute to the rising insurance costs:

1. Increased Accident Rates: Krista attributes the rise in premiums to heightened accident rates, a consequence of aggressive driving behaviors that emerged during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. With roads becoming busier again, the number of incidents has surged, driving up insurance costs.

   Krista [04:15]: "Accident rates are up, and even though vehicles are safer, the increase in incidents is keeping injury rates stubbornly high."

2. Higher Repair Costs: The cost of vehicle repairs has escalated due to tariffs affecting auto parts and overall vehicle manufacturing costs.

3. Market Dynamics: Insurers face higher costs to provide coverage, leading to increased premiums for consumers.

Importance of Shopping Around

A standout point from the episode is the critical importance of shopping around for auto insurance. Krista cites a Lending Tree survey indicating that nearly all consumers who compared insurance options saved money, with two-thirds achieving substantial savings.

Krista [05:40]: "Almost everyone who shops around for auto insurance ends up saving money, and two-thirds of them save a substantial amount."

Balancing Cost and Quality

While cost savings are significant, Krista emphasizes the need to balance affordability with the quality of customer service provided by insurers. She advises listeners to consider insurers' reputations for customer service, especially during claims, when making their decisions.

Krista [06:20]: "You have to weigh staying with an insurer that offers excellent customer service against one that might be cheaper but less reliable when you need them."

Cost-Reduction Strategies

To help mitigate the rising costs, Krista suggests practical measures such as:

• Installing Prefab Carports: In regions prone to hail, using prefab carports can protect vehicles from damage, thereby reducing insurance claims and premiums.

  Krista [06:50]: "Investing in a prefab carport could save you money by preventing hail damage, which insurers are increasingly factoring into premiums."

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The Energy Markets

US Leadership in Energy Production

Krista transitions to the energy markets, emphasizing the United States' prominent role as a leading energy producer globally. The country has become a significant supplier of oil, natural gas, and notably, renewable energy sources like solar and wind.

Krista [15:39]: "The United States is a global leader in energy production, especially in oil, natural gas, and the fastest-growing sources like solar and wind."

Shift to Renewable Energy

A major focus is on the rapid expansion of solar and wind energy, which now constitute 80% of new energy additions to the global grid annually. Krista underscores the economic efficiency driving this shift, noting that renewables have become the cheapest forms of energy available.

Krista [16:10]: "Solar and wind are leading the charge in new energy additions because they are the most cost-effective options available today."

Political Influences and Balanced Energy Strategy

Addressing the politicization of energy in the US, Krista advocates for a balanced approach that incorporates both traditional and renewable energy sources. She introduces the concept of micro nuclear reactors as a viable, cost-effective alternative that can complement other energy types.

Krista [17:55]: "We need a multifaceted energy strategy that includes old and new energy sources. Micro nuclear reactors, for instance, offer a promising and affordable solution."

Micro Nuclear Reactors

Krista explains that micro nuclear reactors differ significantly from traditional nuclear plants. They can be manufactured in factories and assembled on-site, reducing costs and construction times. This innovation could position nuclear energy as a competitive and sustainable option moving forward.

Krista [19:10]: "Micro nuclear reactors can be built in a factory and transported to sites, making nuclear energy more affordable and efficient than ever before."

Economic Efficiency Over Environmentalism

While acknowledging the environmental benefits of renewable energy, Krista stresses the importance of economic efficiency. She argues that the market naturally favors the cheapest and most reliable forms of energy, leading to the decline of more expensive options like coal.

Krista [18:45]: "Ultimately, money wins. Coal is nearly obsolete in the US not because it's highly polluting, but because it's simply too expensive compared to other energy sources."

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Listener Questions

Throughout the episode, Clark and Krista address a variety of listener questions, offering tailored advice and practical solutions.

1. Documenting Car Value for Insurance Claims (Dan from Florida)

   Dan inquires about the effectiveness of documenting his car's value through annual photos and CarMax offers to ensure fair insurance compensation.

   Dan [07:18]: "Would taking yearly photos and getting a CarMax offer help substantiate my car's value in case of a total loss?"

   Krista's Response:

   Krista advises against routine documentation but recommends obtaining a third-party valuation at the time of an accident.

   Krista [08:01]: "Instead of annual valuations, get a CarMax or Carvana offer right after an accident to provide concrete evidence for your insurer."

2. Booking Rentals Amid New Regulations (Susan in Connecticut)

   Susan is concerned about potential last-minute cancellations when booking apartments through VRBO due to new laws affecting short-term rentals in popular tourist areas.

   Susan [09:20]: "Is it safer to book a hotel instead of VRBO given the new regulations on short-term rentals?"

   Krista's Response:

   Krista advises caution with platforms like VRBO and suggests considering well-established small hotels in cities like Florence, Venice, and Rome as reliable alternatives.

   Krista [10:58]: "In cities with strict rental regulations, booking a small hotel with good reviews is often safer than using VRBO or Airbnb."

3. Starting a Roth IRA as a Teenager (Samuel in New Hampshire)

   Samuel, a 15-year-old working as a custodian, asks about setting up a Roth IRA.

   Samuel [11:03]: "Can I start a Roth IRA at 15, and how would that work since I'm homeschooled?"

   Krista's Response:

   Krista explains that while a Roth 401k isn't available for minors, a custodial Roth IRA is a viable option, with a parent acting as the custodian until Samuel reaches legal adulthood.

   Krista [11:58]: "You can set up a custodial Roth IRA, which a parent manages until you turn 18 or 21, allowing you to invest your earnings responsibly."

4. Affordable Mobile Phone Plans (Kathy in California)

   Kathy seeks recommendations for mobile phone plans that cater to users who do not require unlimited data.

   Kathy [20:16]: "Are there effective mobile plans for those of us who rarely exceed 1GB of data?"

   Krista's Response:

   Krista praises Kathy's approach and shares that many consumers no longer need unlimited data. She recommends metered plans that are more economical and better suited to current usage patterns.

   Krista [21:05]: "You're absolutely right. Metered plans are more affordable and perfectly align with how most people use their phones today."

5. Choosing Car Rental Companies Based on Satisfaction vs. Cost (Joanne in Texas)

   Joanne is torn between selecting the cheapest car rental option and choosing based on customer satisfaction, especially considering recent issues with Hertz.

   Joanne [22:00]: "Should I prioritize cost over customer satisfaction when choosing a car rental, especially with what's happening with Hertz?"

   Krista's Response:

   Krista advises favoring reliability and customer service over mere cost, sharing her preference for established brands like Enterprise, Alamo, and Avis due to their consistent performance.

   Krista [23:15]: "Prioritize companies known for reliability and good customer service, like Enterprise, Alamo, and Avis, even if they cost a bit more."

6. Safety of Using QR Codes for Tipping at Hotels (Marion in Virginia)

   Marion wonders about the security of using QR codes provided by hotels to tip housekeeping staff.

   Marion [25:12]: "Is it safe to use QR codes in hotels for tipping housekeeping?"

   Krista's Response:

   Krista cautions against using unverified QR codes due to potential security risks and recommends carrying cash for tipping to ensure safety and reliability.

   Krista [25:32]: "I avoid using QR codes for tips. It's safer to carry a small amount of cash when traveling to tip service staff directly."

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Conclusion

This episode of The Clark Howard Podcast offers valuable insights into navigating the rising costs of auto insurance and understanding the dynamic energy markets. Clark and Krista provide actionable advice, empowering listeners to make informed financial decisions. Additionally, the thoughtful responses to listener questions demonstrate their commitment to addressing real-world concerns with practical solutions. Whether it's saving on insurance premiums, choosing the right energy sources, or making savvy consumer choices, this episode equips listeners with the knowledge needed to save more and spend less effectively.

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For more tips and personalized advice, visit Clark.com and explore additional resources at ClarkDeals.com.

Transcript

[Clark Howard]

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[Krista]

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[Krista]

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[Krista]

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[Krista]

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[Krista]

It's great to have you here on the Clark Howard Show. You know, our mission is to serve you with advice and information that empowers you to make better financial decisions in your life. Here's one decision I hope you've made. Subscribe to our free daily [e-mail] news newsletter. We work so hard to bring you news you can use every day. Not to waste your time but to keep you ship shape with keeping every dollar working for you. One place that money seems to be just flying out of our lives is what we're having to pay for auto insurance. But there's a change in the marketplace and I got to make sure you know about it and I'm going to bring you that straight ahead. And also I want to talk to you about what's going on with the energy mix in the US what's going on around the world and what's that going to mean to your wallet moving forward. So J.D. power does surveys on customer satisfaction in a variety of different industries, but they have noticed a huge shift in trend, a huge shift in direction, and it's how people feel about their auto insurers. In short, people hate them. I mean hate them. And it wasn't always like this. Why do they hate them? Well, what do you think what the insurance premiums are for Auto insurance has gone up and up and up and up over the last many years. Huge double digit increases year after year. One of the things J.D. power found is that for the first time really ever, people are shopping their auto insurance. I saw an item in Kiplinger about a survey done by another organization, Lending Tree, that found that not quite 100%, but almost 100% of people who shopped around saved money by shopping around and switching their auto insurance. And two thirds of them saved a substantial amount of money. What to them was a substantial amount of money by shopping around? And why is that? Because insurers are facing much higher costs to insure you and me, number one, we don't drive. I mean, clearly there was a change in psychology and behavior and how people started driving during COVID Covid was such an upsetting event for so many of us psychologically. And then the roads were much less crowded and people became very aggressive drivers, taking out their frustration and anger over the restrictions in life and all that. During COVID they picked up some really bad driving habits and now the roads are full again, more full than they ever were. And we brought those lousy new habits onto the roads. Accident rates are up. And even though road design and vehicles are much safer than they used to be, fatality rates after declining year after year after year stop declining. The injury rates have been stubbornly high. I. E. Insurance gets more expensive. And then the cost of repairing vehicles became more expensive and now it's going to see another big boost because of tariffs that are affecting auto parts and vehicles. Bad story multiple ways. But in the midst of that bad story, what individual insurers are charging is even more glaringly different than it was pre Covid. So that's why you need to shop around. That's why people are motivated to shop around. Remember, 2/3 of people who switch saved a substantial amount of money switching. They got that other issue, the quality of insurers. And that's a hard dilemma for me to answer because there are insurers who year after year have shown to offer much far superior customer service during a claim cycle or non claim cycle than others. And so you're the one who has to weigh that. Being with an insurer that rates very, very, very highly for service to their customers versus others that are more mediocre and when the chips are down, might not really do a great job for you, that's going to be your call. And then there are things we can do to reduce costs. Do you know insurers are seeing a significant increase in the number of claims for Hail and I was reading something, it just made so much sense to me. A lot of people live in a situation where you don't have a garage but you can buy these prefab carports really inexpensively to put your car under that might. If you live in an area that's subject to having a lot of hail damage, you could potentially use one of these. These kit prefabby kind of. Because you see me, Krista, trying to install self install a prefab carport. That's why I can't even describe.

[Unknown Listener]

I don't think any of us should do that alone.

[Krista]

That is not something you would want me to ever involved in. Sometime soon I got to talk about my latest project of trying to build something in six easy steps.

[Unknown Listener]

Oh wow.

[Krista]

Yeah. Oh man.

[Unknown Listener]

Are you ready for questions? Dan from Florida wrote this one. So Dan, Dan in Florida says you've said that auto insurance companies initially offer only about 70% of the value for a car that is totaled. Similar to your suggestion about once a year to video record your house contents for insurance reasons in case something happens. Do you think it would be a good idea to take pictures of your car once a year and maybe go to CarMax and get an offer from them to buy your car once a year? That way you would have a recent offer from an independent entity for your car as of a particular date and mileage to use as evidence that the insurance offer is too low. We would have to understand that the CarMax offer would not be the replacement value so that the insurance company should offer some percentage above that.

[Krista]

Okay, so Dan, I love the way you're thinking trying to document the reality is we on average only end up in a fender bender like once every 10 years. So I wouldn't spend your time doing this preventatively once a year, but coming up with a third party value on your vehicle. Let's take an example. So. So you're in an accident, you think the insurer is going to rip you off at that point. So right then and there you can go on CarMax and Carvana and for almost all vehicles they'll give you an instant offer. You'll have what you're looking for without having to worry about what if I have an accident next month? When you have the accident, go ahead and do it just so that you'll have that market value. And obviously you're not going to be selling your car there, but you're going to be able because it's been in the wreck, but you'll be able to have A value that you can print out or you can have in, you know, you can have the email and you can provide that to the insurer as evidence that they are lowballing you on the value of your vehicle.

[Unknown Listener]

Susan in Connecticut says, my husband and I are traveling to Italy this September to attend a wedding at a castle in the Tuscan countryside.

[Krista]

I feel so bad.

[Unknown Listener]

I know, poor us. We will be spending three nights in Florence as part of our trip and I was planning to book an apartment through vrbo, but I'm concerned with the possibility of a last minute cancellation due to the new laws and restrictions being enacted on short term rentals. I always follow your guidelines when booking, looking for a well established rental with lots of pictures and reviews, but am I safer to book a hotel at this time?

[Krista]

So, yeah, what we're talking about, you know, there's all these demonstrations and there's a backlash with new local regulations and laws on people renting properties, particularly in the most over touristed areas. Lawrence is obviously one of those. And so my bias has historically been against Airbnb and VRBO because of problems that have been so much harder to resolve outside the United States, particularly than when a rental is in the US but in this case in Florence, in Venice, in Rome, in Barcelona, in Paris. I would be careful renting from Airbnb and VRBO because of this wave of backlash that made between when you book a place and when you're going to stay there, suddenly you can't stay in that place. And you, historically in Europe have done exactly the opposite of me. You have stayed.

[Unknown Listener]

I have no. I don't know that I would today with what's going on for sure.

[Krista]

The good news is that Paris, Florence, Rome, not as much Barcelona, have a very, very large number of small hotels. And they kind of, in my mind, take the place somewhat of a VRBO or Airbnb.

[Unknown Listener]

Samuel in New Hampshire says, I have a job as a summer custodian at an elementary school. I plan on splitting the money I earn in half. One half is going to savings, the other for spending. What I'm wondering is, where could I get a Roth 401k started? I'm only 15 and I'm homeschooled. Can you help?

[Krista]

All right, Samuel, you win the award of the month of the summer, of.

[Unknown Listener]

The whole summer, kid of the summer, teen of the Summer of Clark, 15.

[Krista]

Fifteen working as a school custodian, saving half of your money. And yes, you can't do a Roth 401k, but you can do a Roth IRA at 15 what's known as a custodial Roth, which means that until you're 18, don't know in New Hampshire, 18 or 21 is the age that you would have full ownership of it. But in the meantime, an adult parent has to be the custodian of your Roth IRA that you fund with money from your summer job as a custodian. This is great, great stuff. I have a guide for you that'll walk you through. Samuel how to set up the Roth ira and everything in that is the same as it would be for anybody else with the one addendum for you that you would have a custodian who would be named over the Roth, but the investing in it is exactly the same. Great job. I love this. Coming up ahead, we're going to talk about something I'm obsessed with and that is energy. And it's become so politicized in the U S over the last several years. I want to talk about what's actually going on in the energy markets, what you need to know, and what I've always felt was the answer for us.

[Clark Howard]

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[Clark Howard]

This message is brought to you by Apple Card. Did you know Apple Card is designed to help you pay off your balance faster with smart payment suggestions? And because fees don't help you, Apple Card doesn't have any. So if your credit card isn't Apple Card, maybe it should be subject to credit approval. Apple Card issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA Salt Lake City Branch. Variable APRs range from 18.24% to 28.49% based on creditworthiness rates as of July 1, 2025 terms and [e-mail] this episode.

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[Krista]

That we, the United States, are the leader in energy in the world. It is so important because modern economies cannot run without a great deal of energy. And when you think about what happened recently in the Middle east and that the price of oil didn't go crazy when missiles and drones were flying, why was that? Because we used to be completely dependent on energy supplies for oil from overseas. We didn't really produce much. Today we are a giant of energy production of oil and of natural gas. We also, surprisingly for some people, are now a huge supplier of alternative forms of energy, specifically solar and wind, which are the fastest growing sources of energy in the world. Do you know that of new energy being added to the grid around the world Every year, 80% is solar and wind. Because why they're the cheapest forms of energy to have now going I don't do a political show, but politically energy's been a football in the United States, political football. And we were really into solar and wind. And now we're not going to be for solar wind. Now we're going to be against solar and wind and all that reality is we need quote unquote old energy and we need new energy in order to deal with the supplies we need. And also we need to look at nukes again, because there's a technology that has been talked about for at least 15 years, it's now real, and that is micro nuclear reactors. And what's different about them versus we had a nuclear plant that was a disaster that was built in Georgia, the only new nuclear plant built in the United States in the modern era. And it had cost overruns that have made the power from it the most expensive power generated in the United States. And it was way behind schedule. Blah, blah, blah, blah blah. Well, the new form of nuclear are micro reactors that can be built in a factory in components and brought to site. It's not reinventing the Wheel every time. It's already happening other places in the world, only starting to happen here in the United States. But there is not something you can say, well, we're just not going to have energy from natural gas, or we're not going to have energy from wind. We're not going to have energy from hydrogen or solar or whatever. We need a multifaceted supply of energy of all different types because we can't do it by saying, oh, we're only going to do this. And I know there are people in the whole political thing that are like, oh, well, we only want to do these things or we only want to do those things. The truth is we need to do what is the most efficient way to provide energy, period. And ultimately money wins. Why is it that coal virtually doesn't exist as a power supply in the United States? It's not because of how highly polluting coal is. It's because coal is an expensive, extremely expensive source of energy. Ultimately, the market flows to what is the cheapest form, which right now is natural gas, solar and wind. And ultimately, if I'm right about these micro nuclear reactors, they're probably going to be cheaper than anything else. So, you know, look at the wider picture to really have a feel, how do we get affordable energy? How do we get reliable energy? And try not to look at this through politics. There's enough else we can waste energy on politics about.

[Unknown Listener]

All right, we'll go to questions. Kathy in California sent this one in. I have a question about mobile phone plans. You never seem to mention plans that are good for those of us who do not need unlimited data. My husband and I are on the shared 1 gigabyte plan with Xfinity. We pay only $20, including tax per month total for both of us.

[Krista]

And think about that. Ten bucks a month. Yep, a line.

[Unknown Listener]

We mostly use our phone data when we have access to WI Fi. Lots of free Xfinity hotspots are around. We rarely go over the 1 gigabyte, but if we get close to going over, they send us a notice and we can up it to 5 or just pay for the extra we use if we're traveling in our rv. And we'll need much more data for navigation, wi fi, hotspot, etc. It's easy to switch to one of the phones to unlimited, then switch it back to the shared plan when we get back home. So don't forget about us.

[Krista]

You know what, Kathy, you're a genius. Because people's use of data buying from the mobile phone company is Going down, down, down. Because almost all our time is spent where we have trusted, reliable WI fi available to us. So an overwhelming percent of us no longer need unlimited data. Krista and I both have gone. We're on the same plan together. We both gone from unlimited data plans to buying a monthly allotment of data. And neither of us have ever gone over. The only person who ever went over once was my son. Anyway, that's a conversation for another day. But the need for unlimited data on mobile plans is a was, not an is. And there are so many plans that are now metered and the price per month is so often exactly what you're talking about per line. 10amonth, 15amonth, or 20amonth are the three most common price points now for people who no longer need unlimited data. And we keep updating our [e-mail] to cheap cell phone plans for these metered plans, which is where most of us should be. And you think how much you and I use our cell phones and neither of us need unlimited data anymore.

[Unknown Listener]

So true. Joanne in Texas says, do you always take the cheapest car rental you can find or do you look at satisfaction ratings of each agency to determine which one you will go with? We've taken the cheapest in the past and waited in long lines for them. Sometimes time is money. I would love to hear your thoughts and I want to throw in this question from Joanne. I'm currently looking at booking a rental car. The cheapest one I've shopped around, as you recommend, is from Hertz, and I can't decide if I want to spend extra money with what's been going on with Hertz. Yeah, yeah. So it's not about long lines for me. It's about Hertz.

[Krista]

Hertz has been hurting a lot and the customers are the ones really hurting because Hertz has been messed up. So there are car rental companies that I will not book with. I rent so many cars every year. I rent at least 30 times a year. And there are some that the experiences are really, really bad. Now, I will rent from Hertz, but they're definitely not a first choice. And some of the off brands, based on what we've heard from so many listeners and viewers, I've learned for myself some experiences, I don't rent from some of those. Now let me tell you what's happened with the car rental business. What you have is you have Hertz is a brand name. You've got Avis as a brand name and you have Enterprise as a brand name. And those three Own so many of the other brands as well. So some of the off brands are actually a brand of one of those three. And so when I'm looking at a car rental, I stick so heavily to Enterprise, Alamo and Avis is somebody who rents repeatedly. I found that those three have been the most reliable. For me, that's my own experience. You may say, he said Enterprise, he said Alamo. Those people are horrible. Or Avis. Let me tell you the bad experience I had with them. There are no perfect rental cars agencies, but there are a number that I'm not naming here that I will not rent from even if they paid me to rent from them.

[Unknown Listener]

Okay. Marion, Virginia says, during my recent stay at a major hotel, I noticed a QR code posted on the bathroom mirror that said I could use the code to tip our housekeeping person. Before using this QR code, I decided to ask Clark, is this safe?

[Krista]

Right. And I have seen this Marion Hotels as well. The reason why is tipping to hotel housekeepers has declined significantly because so many travelers don't carry any cash. Think about what's happened if you live in a city where you have to valet a lot of places, if you go to restaurants or whatever, and the valets now all have their own Venmo accounts or whatever for tipping because the customers don't have cash. Cash is becoming something that is more and more rare. I will not use one of those QR codes posted in a hotel. And because of how much I travel, I always have ones, fives, and tens in cash so that I can tip out in cash. And I don't know with QR codes, you just don't know if that particular QR code is one that somebody put there with ill intent or is actually a real one. I guess you could call down to the hotel front desk and find out. But that does make me nervous because it's so easy for criminals to concoct their own QR code and steal information or steal money. A little bit of cash when you travel is a really good idea. And thank you so much for joining us today. I hope that you heard something that think, hey, I'm going to put that away. That's going to be useful to know at a later date. Or somebody starts telling me a story, I'm gonna say, hey, wait a minute, I gotta tell you something about that. Be careful, because we all help each other. We're all here for each other. At least we should be. And I want you in a time that people don't know who to trust to develop a reservoir of information that gives you the ability to be more trusting. I want you to be careful. I want you at times to be skeptical. But I want you to know that trust is a valuable commodity. And we've lost some of that today. And I want you to be able to regain it some by having the confidence to know what you can trust. And I hope that you have a great, great day the rest of today, and that you remember what we. We're devoted to, to you. That you learn ways from me, from everything we do, so you can save more, spend less and avoid getting ripped.