Auto Insurance

[Joleat]

I've been shopping around for the last couple of days. It isn't because I don't like my current insurer, Erie, but because my wife and I are trying to relocate to an area where Erie is non-existent. To date, I've been unable to find another company that can come within $200 a year of Erie, but some of these quotes are ridiculous!

For the record, I'm over the age of 25, I have 10+ years of clean (no accidents or tickets) driving history, I've taken a defensive driving course within the past year, I have a 4-year degree, and I have excellent credit.

I pay Erie around $1100 a year (it was slightly cheaper when I had my homeowner's bundled, but we just recently sold our house). So far, I've checked with State Farm, Nationwide, Progressive, AAA, Safeco, and The Hartford. AAA quoted me $6300 for less coverage, LOL! Before switching to Erie, I had Liberty Mutual, but they raised my rates every year, despite my perfect history, so I'm leery of going with Safeco, even though their rates seem reasonable, since they're a Liberty Mutual company. Nationwide, State Farm, and Progressive were all absurdly expensive in comparison to Erie, so that leaves me with The Hartford. I still need to check with Geico, but I had them for a couple years before Liberty Mutual and I don't remember their rates being that competitive.

Anyway, I just thought I would vent a little. Feel free to share your crazy insurance stories.

 

[DJE624]

If you or anybody in your immediate family was in the service, you may be able to get USAA.  I've been with them for almost 20 years.  They are top notch and affordable.  I'm over 50 and my insurance cost for 12K a year is about $600.

 

[Joleat]

It seems like USAA is consistently rated at the top. Unfortunately for me, I am not eligible to participate. No immediate family members in the service.

 

[mval]

joleat:
I have mine w/ state farm but have house & 3 cars with them & am old as dirt & the agent is personal friend so I'm @ around $600/yr. I moaned at him this year that now going on 4 years my rate has not gone down 1 cent. He said that when I first got it, was rated as a Taurus, but due to a higher percentage of claims with the SHO, it now rated in a different class. I don't know if he was just blowing smoke up my *** or if he was straight with me.
mikev

 

[yowen]

The rates vary so much from state to state based on insurance laws and risk in that state, Michigan is consistently one of the highest. Are you relocating in the same state?

As for insurance I go through an independent insurance agent, they go out and look for the best rate for me. I've been with 3 different insurance companies in the past 7-8 years, but always through the same agent. I consistently have been getting very competitive rates compared to my peers. I've also never had a bad situation where I had trouble getting something covered.

So that's a route I'd recommend going.

 

[Joleat]

Good responses.


mval,

Shockingly, when I shopped around for insurance a few years ago, State Farm was going to be over $3000 just for auto. I checked them again this go around and they were much more in line with some of the others I checked.


yowen,

We are planning to relocate to a different state, which is what prompted the search for a new insurer. Erie does not have a presence where we are planning to move.

I usually do my initial rate checks online and then contact a local insurance broker who offers policies through that insurance company for the final tweaks. This usually results in ~$100 savings on a yearly premium.

I'll be the first to admit that I'm very OCD. I prefer to have all of my insurance serviced through one company, not only for the bundle savings, but also so that I only have to worry about dealing with one website or office if there is a need to file a claim. I will even sacrifice a slight savings for the comfort of only having to deal with one insurance office for all of my needs.

 

[yowen]

Understandable, my home and car are with the same insurance agency.

It's amazing to see a map of average rates across the country, it can vary soooo much.

 

[IHeartGroceries]

$1100/yr is pretty dang good.

My turn to vent!

I've got two not-at-fault claims (hit and runs) present on my record, one of which ought to be expunged soon. No citations.
I've shopped around and around and around...
I never can get these good deals.
My credit is over 800.
I am a married home owner...

Don't know what it is.

Just recently swapped to Met, in order to bundle my life and home owners with auto, through my employer.
4 vehicles, my wife and I on the policy, $1900/yr. Grrrrr.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

 

[SHO MAN]

Have you checked GEICO? I've been with them for the past 8 years and no one can come close to them. I'm in the Philadelphia area and am paying $1050 per year for the SHO and the wife's Mazda 5. Full coverage for both vehicles, $50 deductibles, and 500k in liability coverage.  I got rear ended last year and GEICO handled the claim superbly.

 

[BiGMaC]

Well just to chime in... I am not trying to to convince anyone of anything or sell them on any brand of insurance  :naughty: , just stating a few facts an 1 belief..

I have been with State Farm (not the county mutual) for 38 years.  I have full collision and comprehensive with $500 deductible (actually 0 deductible on the collision), uninsured/under insured motorist, completely maxed out medical (including everyone), maxed out liability, free rental cars and lodging, and no deductible glass replacement (I hate a chipped up windshield and usually get a new one 1-3 times a year for the last decade).  Credit is excellent, and (fortunately by some miracle) no tickets in over a decade.  I know my agent personally and have had the same one for 22 years... maybe this helps... dunno except that I can drive to his office in a few minutes or call and get a problem resolved... Point is that there is more than just the dollar cost of insurance to consider.

Currently insured vehicles:  2013 Crew cab F350  Lariat turbo diesel (literally all the options Ford will add): new 1-2013, 2013 SHO you know about: new 9-2013, and a 4 horse slant aluminum gooseneck horse trailer with living quarters.

Premium is $1100/year... we do a monthly pay plan. When we had the 4 kids on it the premium was nearly doubled!  at:

 

[DJE624]

and (fortunately by some miracle) no tickets in over a decade. 

:clown:

 

[BiGMaC]

and (fortunately by some miracle) no tickets in over a decade. 

:clown:

Here's your clown  :clown: and I'll raise you 2  :clown: :clown:  I'll take one card.  LOL

 

[DJE624]

and (fortunately by some miracle) no tickets in over a decade. 

  :clown:

Here's your clown  :clown: and I'll raise you 2  :clown: :clown:  I'll take one card.  LOL

I had to laugh.  I don't know how, after being suspended three times for speeding tickets before I was 21, (and a couple times since) that I now have 15 years without a ticket. Should have spread them out a little better.
:clown:

 

[BiGMaC]

and (fortunately by some miracle) no tickets in over a decade. 

  :clown:

Here's your clown  :clown: and I'll raise you 2  :clown: :clown:  I'll take one card.  LOL

I had to laugh.  I don't know how, after being suspended three times for speeding tickets before I was 21, (and a couple times since) that I now have 15 years without a ticket. Should have spread them out a little better.
:clown:

When I was 14 (I had a job since I was 12) I bought a '68 charger (with dad's cosigning help... I paid) and I had 3 wrecks in 7 months... I feel ya! When I called home on the last one Dad , after a long silence, just asked me "is anybody dead?"

I now know that a 14 year old has no business with an unrestricted DL, much less a charger with a hemi!  You'd have thunk Dad would have gotten the idea... but 3 years later he cosigned so my younger brother could buy a SuperBee!

 

[Joleat]

Well just to chime in... I am not trying to to convince anyone of anything or sell them on any brand of insurance  :naughty: , just stating a few facts an 1 belief..

I have been with State Farm (not the county mutual) for 38 years.  I have full collision and comprehensive with $500 deductible (actually 0 deductible on the collision), uninsured/under insured motorist, completely maxed out medical (including everyone), maxed out liability, free rental cars and lodging, and no deductible glass replacement (I hate a chipped up windshield and usually get a new one 1-3 times a year for the last decade).  Credit is excellent, and (fortunately by some miracle) no tickets in over a decade.  I know my agent personally and have had the same one for 22 years... maybe this helps... dunno except that I can drive to his office in a few minutes or call and get a problem resolved... Point is that there is more than just the dollar cost of insurance to consider.

Currently insured vehicles:  2013 Crew cab F350  Lariat turbo diesel (literally all the options Ford will add): new 1-2013, 2013 SHO you know about: new 9-2013, and a 4 horse slant aluminum gooseneck horse trailer with living quarters.

Premium is $1100/year... we do a monthly pay plan. When we had the 4 kids on it the premium was nearly doubled!  at:

I absolutely agree that there is more to insurance than just the price. I hate to leave my current insurer, but I have no other choice unless we abandon our plan to relocate.

I've heard many good things about State Farm. Next to USAA, State Farm seems to get the most praise. If I could secure a policy even close to the one you have for $1500 or less per year, I wouldn't hesitate to do so. Unfortunately, the quoted policy I received from them had no where near the coverage you do and it was only offered in a 6-month policy at $960.

 

[yowen]

I've been with my insurance agent for 7-ish years and there is definitely an advantage to dealing with one person over all those years. On top of that my dad also has a policy with them, so they know our name and they know we pay on time. They are less likely to get every last penny out of you, or in other words, they don't pull up your driving record all the time, haha. Has been very helpful for me.

 

[REDSHOCGO]

I have progressive and have 2 at fault claims 1my fault one my wives on previous cars however I pay 1030 a year I am 29 years old. This is with a 250 deductible

 

[BiGMaC]

One thing to note regarding State Farm that I didn't mention before... They offer a 10% discount for vehicles with sync.  However they require a vehicle health report to be uploaded every 6 months.  If you are exceeding the mileage you told them when you got your policy they will adjust your rate for the increased miles/year.  SF apparently can access this info from the Ford sync site.  May not be a problem... But Big Brother is watching.

 

[Vortex69]

$440/yr-$500 deduct.

Girlfriend knows the agent.

Hmmm....,gotta think about that for a while.

 

[mjhpadi]

Well, just read this thread and I think you (OP) are going to be hard pressed to find anyone that can compete with Erie, I've had Erie since 1987 and no one has been able to get close to their service or rates, and I've checked many, many times and with a bunch of companies.  However, if I were not able to have Erie, I agree with Dave, USAA, would probably be my next choice, however, to be honest, I have not ever checked their pricing, just because Erie has been so good and, as stated earlier, I have not found anyone that can get close to their price for coverage.