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Thiel Insurance Group, LLC - Appleton & Kimberly


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April 14, 2022

The Rising Cost of Everything

Mechanic writing an estimate

If you’ve had a car repaired recently, you may have noticed that your bill was higher than usual. The same goes for rental cars. Many companies are charging higher fees to rent a vehicle, which of course adds to your costs if you need to rent a car while yours is in the shop.

Why are the costs of car repairs and car rentals rising? Do these rising costs affect auto insurance rates, and what can you do to minimize the hit on your pocketbook? Keep reading to find out.

Why Repair Costs Are Rising

The car repair industry, in particular, has been affected by parts shortages. With many parts in low supply, the continued high demand for these parts has caused prices to increase. Mechanics and repair shops are therefore paying more for auto parts than they were in the past. To keep their doors open, they need to raise their rates and cover these increases.

The car repair industry has also been affected by labor shortages. With labor in short supply, repair shops have to pay their employees more. This cost also gets passed on to their customers.

Why Rental Costs Are Rising

Rental costs are going up for some of the same reasons as repair costs. Labor shortages are affecting this industry, too.

Also, people who have their cars repaired are waiting longer for those repairs. This means they are keeping their rental vehicles longer, which means fewer rental vehicles are available. When there is a shortage of anything, prices tend to rise. In this case, there is a shortage of rental cars.

Repair Costs and Car Insurance

Because the cost of repairs is increasing, insurance costs are also likely to increase as well. While insurance companies are surely there to support their clients, they need to make adjustments. If the insurance companies are paying more for repairs, then they generally need to raise rates to account for these increased costs on their end.

If your insurance rates increase excessively, it is a good reason to contact your insurance agent. We work with multiple insurance companies; as an independent insurance agent, we compare rates between companies and set you up with the insurer who offers you the best rate. Although rates may rise across the board, some insurers will still offer better rates than others.

Rental Costs and Car Insurance

The increased cost of car rentals may also lead to increases in auto insurance premiums. This is especially likely if your policy includes rental car coverage.

Because you never know when you’re going to be in an accident, it’s often wise to keep rental car coverage on your policy, even if you have to pay a bit more for it. However, this is a good time to reach out to your agent and make sure the rental coverage you have is still adequate.

Most policies have a maximum rental term that is covered, such as three days. They also have a per-day maximum, such as $100. With recent changes in the rental car industry, your current coverage may not be adequate. To avoid having to pay out-of-pocket for rental costs, ask your agent to recommend a policy that has a higher term limit and a higher per-day rental coverage limit.

Of course, you hope to never be in a car accident. But sadly, accidents happen, and when they do, you rely on car repair, car rental, and insurance companies to get you through. With recent price increases in these industries, it is a good time to check in with your independent agent and explore different options. Contact us if you’re interested in learning more about insurance costs.

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  • Stacey Thiel
    Stacey Thiel

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Article by Stacey Thiel / Automobile

Insurance can be confusing at times and everyone's needs are different. If you have questions regarding coverage, pricing, or anything else related to insurance, send us an email or give us a call.

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Best customer service ever!!! Super fast and easy communication!! Huge thanks to Hunter Thiel on the Appleton location.
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Helped me with a new construction build and I saved money in the process.
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We were in the process of relocating to the Fox Valley and I came across the Thiel Insurance Group as i researched insurance agencies in the Fox Valley. I spoke with Hunter Thiel and shared what I was looking for. Within 24 hours, he came back with a detailed proposal that exceeded my expectations. The pricing was attractive and in many cases, we have increased our coverages. Hunter is extremely resourceful and we are happy that we chose him! Highly recommended!
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Hunter was extremely helpful with too many things to count. We needed his help for a lot of insurances for our company and he did above and beyond work. Hunter is in the Appleton WI location. Reach out for him specifically if anything!
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Hunter helped me with business and personal insurance. Saving me 1000s
Craig S.
We just switched our insurance from a carrier we had been with for over 25 years. We started 'shopping' because they were no longer providing Home Insurance in Wisconsin, but Jarret did an outstanding job finding us better Auto/Home/Umbrella coverage at a significant savings! We highly recommend Thiel Insurance!
Lee H.
I worked with Hunter to switch our home, auto, boat and umbrella from our current insurance and had great service and saved a ton of money in the process. I would highly recommend Thiel Insurance Group....
Bryce C.
Quick and easy to deal with and fair pricing!
Bob H.
Cindy is one of the best INS agents I have talked to for my Business. I have spoken to other companies and could not do what Cindy had done for us. Stacey is one of the owners, and she took my call when she did not and talked with me until I understood my new insurance. AAAAAAAAAAAAAA plus from us
S&S H.
Very pleasant experience with Hunter, explained things clearly and understandable, saved us a bunch of money on our insurance policies!
Nathan S.
Helped me get a great rate
Nick P
I have worked with Thiel Insurance in the past and have always had a smooth and pleasant experience. Each agent is friendly and professional and is willing to answer any questions you may have. I let my insurance lapse due to personal life circumstances, called Thiel and had coverage and everything set up in under 20 minutes. I Would definitely recommend Thiel to anyone looking for a company that cares.
Karoline J.
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Dan C.
Just switched our insurance over from a company we had been at for over 40 years. Insurance has gotten a bit crazy lately and the team at Thiel Insurance did a great job working through our options and finding the coverage we needed at very competitive pricing. Thank you!!!
Boyd D.
Jarrett was very easy to work with, responded very quickly and found us the best and cheapest options
Tori O.
Hunter was amazing to work with! He answered all of our questions and was easy to get ahold of!
W&L W.
Hunter quoted me home/auto/umbrella policies and was very knowledgeable. He was very patient with my never ending questions. I look forward to having Thiel as my insurance agent.
Shane T.
Excellent service, very attentive staff!
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Jeffrey M
Outstanding Service – Highly Recommend Hunter!

I had the pleasure of working with Hunter to secure business insurance for my company, and I couldn’t be more satisfied with the experience. From the start, he took the time to understand my specific needs and provided tailored coverage options that made sense for my business.

The entire process was smooth, efficient, and stress-free. Hunter was incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and always available to answer any questions I had. He made sure I had the right coverage at a competitive rate, giving me peace of mind knowing my business is well-protected.

If you’re looking for a reliable and professional insurance agent who truly cares about his clients, I highly recommend Hunter. I’ll definitely be working with him for all my future insurance needs!

— Jeff Mann
Rustic Ridge Concrete & Masonry LLC
Aiden O.
To Cindy the most amazing insurance, rep i've had. She has fought for our business when we need it and she is backed everything she has done for us. Highly recommend Thiel especially if you get to work with Cindy Casey!!!
Parker D.
Hunter works very quickly, responds fast and is saving me thousands per year on insurance, and with better coverage!
José Arturo Godinez A.
Great service and great prices
Rebecca W.
Cindy at Thiel Insurance has been amazing to work with! Cindy's response time is impeccable, answered any questions that I've had, down-to-earth personality makes it very easy to talk to and her knowledge about different policies eased my mind. Thank you Cindy for all that you've done! I would definitely recommend reach out to Thiel Insurance!
Mark W.
Great company to deal with! Hunter was very thorough and helpful!!
Donte H.
I recommend you come here there is plenty of car insurance options and great quotes
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I recently got engaged and Hunter Thiel helped me find the perfect insurance plan for my engagement ring. He was easy to work with and set me up with a perfect plan. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
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Awesome experience, very knowledgeable. Got everything done in a timely manner. Couldn't ask for more.
Erin C.
Hunter was a huge help on transferring all our insurance over making things seamless and saving us money in the future. Thanks for the great service.
Ready To H.
Over $2,000 in savings with better coverage. Thank you Hunter!
Nina J.
I worked with Hunter to set up my auto and renters insurance. He was excellent throughout the whole process, making it straight forward and understandable to my inexperienced self! I have no doubt they will handle future occurrences very well.
Christine T.
Boyd is as friendly and knowledgeable as they come . Thank you Thiel Insurance for covering all of insurance needs from homeowners to life insurance and everything in between.
Blake P.
Hunter made my policy rewrite process painless and saved me over a hundred dollars a month!
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I reached out to Hunter Thiel for quotes on my life insurance policies and vehicle coverage, and I was extremely impressed with his honesty and knowledge. He didn’t try to sell me anything but instead provided guidance on ways I could potentially save money—whether by keeping my current policies as they were or exploring options like bundling certain coverages with my partner. His advice helped me make informed decisions, and I truly appreciate his transparency. It’s rare to find someone who prioritizes helping over selling, and I’ll definitely check with him again in the future!
Lance S.
I was shopping insurance rates and spoke to Hunter about other options, other than my current carrier. Hunter was open and honest, however, advised it was in my best intetest to hold my current carrier. I value integrity, so when my situation changes, I will certainly revisit Hunter.
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Hunter was quick and thorough with finding me the best policy for a low price. Ended up saving roughly $600 a year compared to my old policy. Great service!
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Hunter did a great job with securing home and auto insurance for me.
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Great experience with Hunter! He saved us money and gave great service.
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Hunter was great and he saved me money on my car insurance!
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Very helpful and informative.
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Hunter was awesome to deal with, very knowledgeable and made the entire process of switching insurance easier than expected. I wish I would have called much sooner. Do not hesitate to make the quick call. I will be referring everyone to him.
Thanks again Hunter, saving money is always nice!
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Hunter was very helpful throughout the process. Easy to communicate with and efficient from start to finish.
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Hunter was quick and so helpful insuring I had insurance for both myself and my son. Highly recommend!!
Tom S.
I just went through a claim process. Both Boyd and the claims adjuster did a fantastic job for me. They made the process painless and went the extra mile to make sure my questions were answered and that my needs were met. A++
Robert K.
Great, been a policy holder for house and autos and rental policies for years. They're very easy to work with and thorough with all their work. Coundn't be happier.
Holly B.
Stacey did a wonderful job explaining the options for home insurance. She also found much better rates for car insurance. They really do treat their clients like family, and the dog is the sweetest!
dan H.
Boyd and Jarret were very responsive to our questions while we were researching our options. They were able to find us insurance policies that met our needs. Fast responses and very thorough! Highly recommend!
Mitch Van O.
Rob L.
Fast response to an RFQ to potentially change insurance companies. Hunter recommended to stay with my current insurance for the best value. Fast and thorough response. If I were to change insurance, would definitely consider Thiel.
Gregory B.
Hunter did a great job replacing our insurance policies covering two homes, two cars, multiple recreational vehicles, and boats in addition to an umbrella liability. He was able to add some coverages we needed while still reducing our overall premium. I highly recommend working with him.
Scott S.
Julie H.
Boyd did a wonderful job explaining the different options in life insurance.
M. S.
Hunter was very professional and worked with me to move my auto and home insurance to a more affordable plan as well as adding an umbrella policy. He answered all my questions and promptly replied to my e-mails and phone calls.
Jacquelyn S.
Family agency with extensive insurance knowledge. Highly recommended!!
Al G.
We are very pleased to have joined Thiel Insurance. They have made us feel very glad e made the change.
Pat S.
Lisa very friendly was a
Big Help changing agency
Tim R.
Boyd was an immense help getting our policy in place after 10 years with a different agency. He took the time to answer our questions and make us feel comfortable with the change. Very impressed with the quick responsiveness and local knowledge.
Tom S.
Fabulous experience the Thiel Insurance Group. Boyd did a great job of explaining everything and answering my questions. He is very responsive but never pushy. Everyone I've met there is a joy to work with.
Jeanne Z.
I am very grateful for all the help I have received from Boyd and the office staff. I never hesitate to ask for advice about questions I have.
Nathan H.
I have been with Thiel for over 17 years and have never once had a single complaint. When you call, there is always someone in the office ready to assist you. We have had Carrie be our primary Agent for some time now and she makes everything so simple to understand as well as so easy to attain we couldn't be happier with her!
Michael W.
Very friendly and knowledgeable
Tammy B.
Hunter was excellent to work with and answered all of our questions, highly recommend!
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Phylliss J.
Have a great experience with Thiel Insurance every time I go there. Thank you all.
Elijah W.
Hunter is a great communicator and truly cares for his costumers! He has saved me money over and over again on my policies ! Fully recommend even for a quote !
Russ O.
Boyd and Carrie not only handled my insurance needs, but also brought to my attention the deficits of my current insurance coverage. Which has since been addressed.

I appreciate their prompt and professional service.
Kazem H.
Amazing amazing service! He helped me out go over my Arizona quotes and was extremely knowledgeable and fair. Felt complete trust with him
Aimee C.
Thanks for helping me with my car insurance
Jim P.
Hailey P.
Hunter was great to work with! He was super helpful with answering all of my questions and also super fast, which I appreciated as I needed insurance for my business in a short time frame. I will be back for all of my insurance needs!
LeRoy D.
Our ins premiums were raised quite a bit from a national co so after 15 years with them it was time to see what what available. We'd rather have someone locally to work with so i found Theil ins on google. We're glad we did because they found us a company that gave much more coverage with less premium's and they were informative, fun, and painless to work with. Highly recomend them.
Haley F.
Fantastic customer service and great overall communication from employees. I love that they stay in touch with me and make sure that I am getting the best rate possible. Jarret has been great to talk to and he gets things done quick, which I appreciate. We bundle home and auto insurance and I would recommend them to anyone looking to switch for a better rate.
Ethan N.
Just got a quote from Hunter, who was extremely kind and professional. He explained to me what each policy covered in detail and made switching insurance super easy. Hunter was able to offer the same coverage for WAY cheaper than my current insurance provider (Allstate). Very happy customer of Thiel Insurance Group!
Stacie S.
Great experience with helping me pick the coverages I needed and going over my policies. Very friendly and easy to talk to and work with. Felt the were looking out for my best interest.
Kristin W.
We recently met with Boyd and he did a tremendous job of assisting us in searching for a thorough comparison of policies for auto and home insurance! He took the time to meet with us in person, discuss our options and answer all of our questions. We appreciate the care and personal attention he gave to us during this process and we would highly recommend Thiel Insurance Group LLC to anyone looking for a great local representative.
Ben J.
Thiel has been great and mainly because of their agents like Kim and Lisa. They are rockstars there and have helped me out tremendously. Extremely helpful. Extremely knowledgeable and you can definitely tell they love helping people. I haven't got to work with others there but I imagine they all have the same attitude. Kim, if you read this thank you so much for all you have done for me over the years. Thank you!
Michael L.
Extremely responsive and thorough. Regardless of the question or obstacle, my family has been able to get quick feedback, detailed explanations and communication that is clear and concise throughout the past decade. I have thrown a few curve balls their way in adjusting and redesigning my coverage and they have met everything with poise and professionalism. Strongly recommend.
steve S.
The best of the best
Brad W.
Jarret is great to work with. I have been with Thiel Insurance for over 20 years. The renewal came through this year and increased significantly, Jarret noticed it and took care of looking for another policy that would work for us. I recommend Thiel Insurance Group LLC to everyone.
Jeremy N.
Boyd Thiel and his wife are incredible and honest insurance professionals whether it be for your Home, Auto and Life, there are none better than Thiel Insurance Group. They are family and treat every customer as family. When you buy insurance it isn't a tangible product that you can see and touch You only know it's value when you have to use it and the customer service at the time of submitting a claim all the way through is without a doubt one of the biggest selling points in my mind for working with Boyd and family.
Jaimie Lee G.
Highly recommend Thiel Insurance company! They go above and beyond for us.
Kelly O.
Thiel Insurance and all their staff are the most professional, helpful, knowledgeable and kind people… they are always so helpful with ANY questions I ever have.
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Deirdre R.
Boyd is always quick to respond to our questions, has gone the extra mile to make sure our needs are met. Highly recommend!!
Xue Y.
Amazing job, quick and easy to understand.

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Thiel Insurance Group, LLC

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Appleton Location

Thiel Insurance Group, LLC
620 N. Richmond St
Appleton, WI 54911
Phone: 920-739-6241
Fax: 920-739-3591

Kimberly Location

Thiel Insurance Group, LLC
122 W. Kimberly Ave
Kimberly, WI 54136
Phone: 920-788-4131 
Toll-Free: 866-788-4131 
Fax: 920-788-6795

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