Auto insurance (thieving bastards)

Okay, so my auto and homeowner's insurance renewals came in the mail yesterday. Imagine my surprise when my rates, which had been steadily declining from renewal to renewal, suddenly jumped up sharply. My auto insurance is up ~$150/year, and my homeowner's jumped ~$60/year. Since I've made zero claims (heck, in nine years of home ownership, I've never had a claim period), and gotten zero tickets I was more than a little pissed. After all, I paid more than two grand to Allstate last year and got nothing but a few pieces of paper in return.

I called this morning to ask "WTF?" and was told that Allstate apparently wasn't making enough money in Texas, so they asked the guvmint if they could increase rates, and the guvmint said "Sure!". I have no interest in contributing to their increased profitability, since I have never filed a claim on either policy.

So, it's time to go insurance shopping again. Anybody got a company they love? We had a good experience last year filing a claim through Amica when we were rear-ended, so I thought I'd give them a shot. That said, I personally think there is a special circle of hell reserved for insurance companies (i.e., they all suck), so I'm not that particular. I'm just morally offended by an increase in my premiums because Allstate paid out on too many other policies, so I want to take my money somewhere else.

If you were (or if your parents were) in the military, USAA is the best. Very low rates, great customer service. I highly recommend them.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dave04

If you were (or if your parents were) in the military, USAA is the best. Very low rates, great customer service. I highly recommend them.

---

+1

If only my parents had thought to join USAA... stupid fine print!

Sadly, neither my parents nor I have ever served in the US military.

USAA takes care of thier clients. But they screw you if you get hit by one of their clients.

I have had State Farm for 18 years. Nothign but the best from them in customer service.

Amica is highly rated as are their rates. We were with Liberty Mutual for years and they pulled the same rate hike on us after we moved, so we dropped them.

We are with Germania now. No complaints.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Magma

+1

---

+Another

You could join the Coast Guard Reserve and be covered. Que :In the Navy: ::Banana::

I only have direct experience with USAA, AIG, and a generic county mutual. I'd stay away from the last two.

If you goto the http://www.helpinsure.com/ or try http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/consumer/cpportal.html

Hope that helps.

Chris

I'm w/ Amica and would recommend them.

+1 Amica has been great for home and auto. When comparing the prices remember that Amica sends you a dividend check at the end of the year for a few hundred dollars.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Miatamoto

Amica sends you a dividend check at the end of the year for a few hundred dollars.

---

They do? How does that work?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sammm

They do? How does that work?

---

Quote from someone on Epinions that knows more about it than me...

"There is one feature to AMICA’s policies (not including life insurance) which sometimes seems confusing, and may not appeal to all customers: the practice of paying out dividends on policies upon their expiration. Generally, these dividends average 20% for auto policies. (Important note: AMICA makes it very clear that these dividend payments are not guaranteed; they have, however, been paid out for at least 20 continuous years.) Simply put, on the day after my policy expires, AMICA mails a check equal to 20% of the previous year’s premium. Since the first installment on the new policy is also due at the same time, that check covers most of the minimum first payment for the new policy (though, of course, customers may pay more than the minimum amount due).

The fair question this raises is wouldn’t it be preferable to have the lower premiums up front? In fact, AMICA introduced an option addressing that issue last year. It offers customers a choice: take reduced premiums up front, but not 20% less, and receive no dividends, or take the dividend option and be likely to pay less in the end. It’s completely your choice; if you don’t like the dividend option, don’t take it. The big appeal of the dividend option: that 20% payback makes the actual premium paid to AMICA significantly lower than just about any other reputable major insurer in the market. "

USAA is known for sending out dividend checks as well... though I've never gotten one for a few hundred dollars ( a hundred, maybe).

I got dividend checks from State Farm when I was with them. No checks from Travelers Ins, but the premiums are much lower so I still pay less than Statefarm with the dividend. Travelers rates are heavily tied to credit score. For those with excellent credit, the rates are lower than anything else I could find when I shopped around 4 years ago.

Hrmm I have Allstate time to give them a call and see if they tried to pull the same shenaningans on me. I should get a rate drop though, I'm 25 in 10 days. I heard the drop isn't much though.

Wow,

My insurance dropped like a rock when I turned 25. You should shop around.

I've been with Farm Bureau for years... nothing but great things to say about them too.

RJ

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by channelmaniac

Wow,

My insurance dropped like a rock when I turned 25. You should shop around.

I've been with Farm Bureau for years... nothing but great things to say about them too.

RJ

---

+1

And I just had my house put on the policy at a $250 deductible rate. It's insured for $145k and runs about $900/year.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by channelmaniac

Wow,

My insurance dropped like a rock when I turned 25. You should shop around.

I've been with Farm Bureau for years... nothing but great things to say about them too.

RJ

---

About what %, 10? 25? I haven't shopped around in a while but last time I checked I was getting a good deal. Been with the same agent for a long time and he tweaked everything to get the lowest possible rate.

I use Safeco for my auto insurance... so far they've been great with communication.

I'm using them just because they're cheap. I'm 24 and I only pay about $450ish every 6months for liability on both cars. We'll see how the current claim turns out before I make a solid decision on whether I like them or not ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CosmosMpower

About what %, 10? 25? I haven't shopped around in a while but last time I checked I was getting a good deal. Been with the same agent for a long time and he tweaked everything to get the lowest possible rate.

---

It was around 25 to 30% lower for me.

I like Geico.

I'm 20, insuring a 1986 Toyota MR2.

6 month liability premium = $440

I started with them when I was 18, paying ~$120/month. Every 6 months my premium has gone down more and more. I'm sitting at $75/month now. I imagine when I'm 25 it will go down to almost nothing.

Never had a wreck or a ticket (crosses fingers)...that helps a lot lol.

progresive. had good experiences with them, and a huge discount for paying in a lump sum.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Radio-Active

And I just had my house put on the policy at a $250 deductible rate. It's insured for $145k and runs about $900/year.

---

I was really happy with what Travelers was able to do for my new house.

500k Liability
500k Med Expenses
285k home structure
23k fence and shop structure
160k personal property
$500 deductible

$780/year.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Titus

I was really happy with what Travelers was able to do for my new house.

500k Liability
500k Med Expenses
285k home structure
23k fence and shop structure
160k personal property
$500 deductible

$780/year.

---

Yeah that's pretty good.

I know it also depends on the city you live in(i.e. how many houses have burned and how well the fire department responds), the type of composition the house is made with and how close you are to a fire hydrant for a few of the factors.

It was about $50 less to have a $500 deducdtable and about $100 less for a $1000 deductable. Most everyone else I tried wanted to stick me with either a 1% or $1000 deductable and cost more per year than the $250 deductable from FB-ins.

How's the insurance living in the country? ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Radio-Active

How's the insurance living in the country? ;)

---

That quote above is for the country home. When I lived in Dallas, it was around a grand for similar coverage, but I also had a pool there and that may have accounted for as much of the difference as the location.

Does anyone remember how much of a rate reduction they got when they turned 25? I just called my agent and it went down about 15% from 900 for 6 months to 750 for 6 months. Not sure if that's great or not.

$125/month for full coverage on a Lotus AND a Miata sounds like a good deal, regardless of age.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Titus

$125/month for full coverage on a Lotus AND a Miata sounds like a good deal, regardless of age.

---

Good point, the Miata will be gone soon though. Hope the insurance doesn't go up.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Titus

$125/month for full coverage on a Lotus AND a Miata sounds like a good deal, regardless of age.

---

Not bad at all, I'm paying ~$225/month for the S2000, RAM2500, F150, and the horse trailer. All with full coverage.

I have GEICO on the vehicles. The full coverage rate was $413.00 for 6 months on my 2005 Ram pickup. When I bought the Miata and added it to the policy my rate actually went down to $396.00. Got a multi-car discount on both vehicles.

Wow... I'm about 900 ever 6 months on the Miata, F150, Jetta, and the Travel Trailer - all with full coverage.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CosmosMpower

Does anyone remember how much of a rate reduction they got when they turned 25? I just called my agent and it went down about 15% from 900 for 6 months to 750 for 6 months. Not sure if that's great or not.

---

Just turned 25 in May; my S2k went from $1260/6 to $780/6. That's with 1 ticket on my record and 1 wreck (not at fault, but the other driver didn't stop ::Censor:: ).

You may want to email John Rowe "john at johnroweinsurance dot com". He is an agent of several companies. He will shop for the lowest price for you. I have Safeco for auto and Travellers for home from him. I used to buy them online from Geico etc., thinking why go through a middleman and save the commission. Was I wrong all those years! I highly recommend John. Besides, you have no obligation to buy from him.

BAH...

Geico sucks. My wife called to see how much they could "save" us. They gave a quote $180 higher every 6 months and tried to tell my wife how bad Farm Bureau sucked. Nasty sales tactics when we've had nothing but good things to say about our agent and the way we've been treated.