Forums » Off-topic discussion » Which insurance company to go with? 1 2

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  Sept. 5, 2010 10:39 a.m. 92dxman HalfDork

  My car insurance policy is about to expire and i'm looking to jump ship. I'll keep my current provider nameless but I am paying roughly $158 a month now and it will be going up to $176 a month. I'll be a 26 yr old male in October and this is with all the safety, age and driving school discounts. I've narrowed it down to Geico, State Farm, Progressive and Farmers. State Farm looks like the front runner right now. Any personal insight out there anyone would like to throw out?

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  Sept. 5, 2010 11:08 a.m. Javelin SuperDork

  We've had State Farm for 5+ years and actually like them. Great service, great coverage, and low cost. Plus they are really cool with a billion policy changes a year (and they knew what an AMC Javelin was, and the Hornet, and the Concord wagon).

  The Gecko can kiss my shiny metal ass though.

  Michael Pinto - 73 AMC Javelin / GoKart / 93 Miata STS / 01 P71 Interceptor

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  Sept. 5, 2010 11:28 a.m. Ranger50 Reader

  Geico and Progressive are systematically destroying the body shop industry. They are the reason why you see so many repairables compared to years past. They total out cars because it's cheaper in the long run for them, through increased premiums which are still cheaper then the others out there.

  I have coverage from Shelter right now. Previously had AAA (crappy repair customer service plus they are a club, not a insurance company), Allstate (customer service depends on the agent, but repair work was always covered the way I wanted it fixed), and Nationwide (greedy bloodsucking penny pinchers).

  If I could afford it, I'd switch to Citizens or State Farm. But I would be leery of SF only because you get one screwup before they cancel you.

  Insurance is one thing where cost shouldn't matter. It should CYA in case of whatever happens.

  Brian

  "Never trust an intelligent man with no money to play fair."

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  Sept. 5, 2010 11:47 a.m. iceracer Dork

  I've had Farmers for quite awhile. Very good service and they didn.t raise my rates over a couple of claims.

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  Sept. 5, 2010 11:47 a.m. mad_machine SuperDork

  what do you mean "one screw up" before SF cancels you? I have had SF since I was in my 20s.. that is 18 points and 2 accidents ago.. one of which totalled my car. In twenty years, my insurance HAS doubled.. but I also have doubled the number of cars I have driveable

  During the Sound Check, nobody can year you scream

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  Sept. 5, 2010 12:02 p.m. Grtechguy SuperDork

  I've had State Farm for the last 16 years. They have always been great to us. Multipolicy discounts makes it VERY inexpensive. Yes, We've had claims as well (not our fault, in our wonderful no-fault state). Nothing comes within 600 dollars a year

  We have full coverage on her van

  PLPD on my Bike and Aurora.

  best picture moments are started with hey y'all watch this

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  Sept. 5, 2010 12:06 p.m. Ranger50 Reader

  SF has been cancelling policies in that fashion in the past few years. Seems they have had a differing mentality then many years ago.

  "Never trust an intelligent man with no money to play fair."

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  Sept. 5, 2010 12:09 p.m. Toyman01 SuperDork

  We change ever year or so. Usually going with whoever is cheapest. I think we are using Safe Auto at the moment. As soon as someone quotes a cheaper rate we'll change.

  If toast always lands butter-side down, and cats always land on their feet, what happens if you strap toast on the back of a cat and drop it? - Steven Wright

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  Sept. 5, 2010 2:32 p.m. fastmiata Reader

  State Farm for over 30 years. The only time I have a problem with them is when I add the inevitable 5th vehicle and I get the letter asking to identify my drivers(they seem to think that I am hiding a 16yo).
  I deal with lots of claims adjusters in my daily life and I can tell you that the cut-rate companies make their money by NOT payiing claims and especially for their own customers.

  Wayne Henry

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  Sept. 5, 2010 2:40 p.m. Sonic Dork

  Joe, find an independent multiline agent and have them run you through all of their companies. Having a good local agent can be a big help no matter what the company. Make sure you have appropriate coverage, too which means at least 50/100 bodily injury and at least 50k prop damage.

  I work an adjuster so I deal with all of them. There are two that stand out as being the worst from a cust service perspective, so much so that I personally wouldn't use them even if free: allstate and safe auto.
  

  Just my $.03

  Chris - 2007 BABE champion, 2008 2nd place. Miata, MGA, DiscoII 2010 - Trifecta of Crap in the Wartburg. $2002, $2006 $2010 challenger

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  Sept. 5, 2010 4:07 p.m. pete240z Dork

  3 drivers * 2 cars. Allstate (20+ years with them. ZERO Claims) = $600 per 6 months. I begged to review and cut costs. Lowered $50 and then increased $25 six months later.

  State Farm is now $500 per 6 months. $450 per 6 months when she gets my homeowners insurance.

  My dad was a 40+ year Allstate and he owns a wad of Allstate stock. He bailed and went to State Farm too.

  Datsun Pete

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  Sept. 5, 2010 7:16 p.m. ddavidv SuperDork

  I work for a company with a very popular advertising character (or two), yet I am insured with SF. Even as an employee they couldn't beat their rates. They are forbidden to use aftermarket parts due to a court settlement years ago but they will gouge you on prior damage and depreciation every chance they get.

  Progressive I don't have much nice to say about. They hire adjusters who know nothing about cars, cancel or raise rates after you have a claim and the people who own the company are truly progressives. They treat their employees like crap and my employer hires quite a few every year when they've had enough and retrain them so they know something.

  I used to work for the big empty blue box and they can suck it.

  I've always heard lots of good things about Farmers but have no personal experience with them.

  The Lizard actually does a pretty good job of kissing their customer's behind these days. They have some of the better trained employees I've seen in the industry.

  All insurance companies suck to some degree with a large dose of ineptitude, some are just better than others. The only one that consistently gets high marks is USAA but you have to be military or government to get in with them.

  Moved to the fastest run group so I can drive "flat out"

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  Sept. 5, 2010 7:32 p.m. Wonkothesane Reader

  We've had geico for the past few years, I was very happy with their service for my one claim (hitting a deer to the tune of $8000 for the 8). I told the lady that there was only one place I would let do the bodywork on it, and she said "ok."

  1 Mazda == Good. 4 Mazdas == More Gooder.

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  Sept. 5, 2010 7:35 p.m. Wonkothesane Reader

  Ranger - why are geico and progressive destroying the body industry? All the shops io know of have no problem dealing with either of em? Ask them about claims where a safe auto customer is involved, though...

  1 Mazda == Good. 4 Mazdas == More Gooder.

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  Sept. 5, 2010 8:01 p.m. ditchdigger HalfDork

  For me the most important thing is having a local agent that I can have a good relationship with and my state farm guy is awesome. He has gone way above and beyond his duties.

  I have my house and cars through him and one day some stupid kid overcooked the corner and took out about 20 feet of my chain link fence. The kids insurance was progressive and was giving me the run around for weeks, my agent asked if he could take care of it for me and they cut a check for the damages within 3 hours of his call. You just can't get service like that through an automated call center.

  "Sweat is what makes it rock and roll, otherwise it is just folk music with drums"

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  Sept. 5, 2010 11:07 p.m. Ranger50 Reader

  Wonkothesane wrote: Ranger - why are geico and progressive destroying the body industry? All the shops io know of have no problem dealing with either of em? Ask them about claims where a safe auto customer is involved, though...

  P&G - Cutting labor and material times to the point where you can't guarantee the repair but are forced to, aka-blending within panel. Plus the "taiwanese tin" aftermarket crap metal panels you are forced to use. Just go read the trade magazine, Body Shop Business, and count how many times the Lizard and Flo are mentioned in a negative matter. Last one I can recall, I was at 20 times.

  They must be on the "approved shop" list. Or they must love shoving out inferior crap out the door. Or they don't deal with enough of them to consider them a PITA.

  Brian

  "Never trust an intelligent man with no money to play fair."

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  Sept. 5, 2010 11:44 p.m. neon4891 SuperDork

  I liked SF, I was at $400/6mo for FULL coverage. Then I was(the only one) dropped after my mom hit 2 deer last year.
  

  Then I went to Progressive, lost all the multi-line discounts, and now I'm at $700/6mo with only Comp.
  

  Once our next policy is up in may me and(soon to be) Mrs. neon will be shopping around. She will no longer be an "inexperianced driver" and my last accident will be over 3 ago. We want Farmers, but our agent told us we need to be with them for 7 years before we are eligable...

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  Sept. 6, 2010 3:27 a.m. Wally SuperDork

  Sonic wrote: Joe, find an independent multiline agent and have them run you through all of their companies. Having a good local agent can be a big help no matter what the company. Make sure you have appropriate coverage, too which means at least 50/100 bodily injury and at least 50k prop damage.

  +1 I have been with Encompass for a number of years. I never heard of them but my mother whose an agent recommended them. They hae been the best on price and when I had an accident they were great. They paid all my medical claims without a problem, helped us deal with the hospital when I needed to be moved to a rehab facility, and called once a week or so to make sure everything was going smooth until it was all paid for and I was back to work.

  "You should never point a loaded gun at anyone. This is not a hard and fast rule, however. A hard and fast rule is that you should never, ever, point an unloaded gun at anyone." P.J. O'Rourke

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  Sept. 6, 2010 1:26 p.m. ddavidv SuperDork

  Ranger50 wrote:

  Wonkothesane wrote: Ranger - why are geico and progressive destroying the body industry? All the shops io know of have no problem dealing with either of em? Ask them about claims where a safe auto customer is involved, though...

  P&G - Cutting labor and material times to the point where you can't guarantee the repair but are forced to, aka-blending within panel. Plus the "taiwanese tin" aftermarket crap metal panels you are forced to use. Just go read the trade magazine, Body Shop Business, and count how many times the Lizard and Flo are mentioned in a negative matter. Last one I can recall, I was at 20 times.

  They must be on the "approved shop" list. Or they must love shoving out inferior crap out the door. Or they don't deal with enough of them to consider them a PITA.

  Brian

  Some truth to that, though it's not necessarily as bad as the body shop whiners frequently make it out to be. What matters to us here is the consumer level, and the thing to remember is you can take your car wherever you want to to get it fixed. They will push for you to take it to a 'preferred' or 'guaranteed' shop but that's mostly because the person you're talking to on the phone gets scored on how many they can refer out of the basic field adjuster system. Their pay is tied to it, so it can be a hard sell. Most any shop will guarantee their work for as long as you own the car. If they don't, I wouldn't go there (rust repair being he exception). Our direct shops are usually dealership production shops and the quality is inconsistent at best. I never have a problem with a customer choosing elsewhere. We don't have many problem, insurance-hating shops in our area so my job in that regard isn't too difficult. Other areas (like Philadelphia...ugh) it's a battle zone.

  Moved to the fastest run group so I can drive "flat out"

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  Sept. 6, 2010 2:17 p.m. z31maniac SuperDork

  State Farm, used to work for them as an adjuster, won't bother insuring my car/house/jewlery anywhere else.

  What are you guys insuring that you are paying so much? Crappy driving records?

  The insurance on my Speed3 is only $55/month for full coverage with State Farm, and OK is one of the more expensive insurance markets as well.

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  Sept. 6, 2010 3:18 p.m. jamscal Dork

  After being a state farm customer for many years (and my dad and grandpa before him) I was dropped for previous speeding tickets (I was a speeder at the time) :) NEVER a claim.

  So I swore to NEVER again be a customer of State Farm.

  Now we're with Progressive. Best rates. Never had a claim with them, though.

  The above body shop info is interesting however.

  If I had a new car I may look into how it would potentially be fixed and decide from there, but my main idea regarding ALL insurance companies is this:

  They are a bunch of crooks and when push comes to shove you'll have to fight with the best and the worst of them.

  Until then, I'm going cheap.

  -James

  "One experiment is worth a thousand expert opinions"

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  Sept. 6, 2010 6:06 p.m. MadScientistMatt Dork

  Insured with State Farm myself, and feel no reason at the present time to switch. No automotive claims with them, however, just a homeowner's insurance claim they settled promptly (hail damage).

  "Mad Scientist" Matt Cramer

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  Sept. 6, 2010 6:33 p.m. xd Reader

  SF I have been with them forever. Helps that my mom is an agent. They will drop you in a heart beat if you have a DUI ,or crap credit.

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  Sept. 6, 2010 6:38 p.m. Jensenman SuperDork

  State Farm for the house and the DD. Haven't had any problems because I haven't had to file a claim in years, last one was twenty? years ago for a stolen radio. Soon to be ex has SF also, has had three accidents that weren't her fault, no threats etc.

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  Sept. 6, 2010 6:46 p.m. mtn SuperDork

  State Farm or Farmers. Or Geico, because I have BRK stock

  there’s a lot of debate on this subject—about what kind of car handles best. Some say a front-engined car; some say a rear-engined car. I say a rented car.

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