Sly Bald Guys Forum

Various Non-Bald Discussions => Autos,Toys and Hobbies => Topic started by: Tyler on March 28, 2009, 10:47:06 PM

Title: Car Insurance
Post by: Tyler on March 28, 2009, 10:47:06 PM
We recently decided to switch our car insurance from AIG to Farmers because we could save money.  Since we have Farmer's for our house, we were able to get it cheaper.

Who does everyone use for car insurance?  Do you like them?  Hate them?
Title: Re: Car Insurance
Post by: wpruitt on March 28, 2009, 11:06:51 PM
We recently decided to switch our car insurance from AIG to Farmers because we could save money.  Since we have Farmer's for our house, we were able to get it cheaper.

Who does everyone use for car insurance?  Do you like them?  Hate them?

I was with Allstate from 1994 until 2008.  They paid fairly (but poorly IMHO) on the Jeep - of course it was a 1995.  I will still recommend them.  My only gripe was they paid a claim for a lady to have her car painted because flying debris from the Jeep scratched her car. They painted a ding she claimed a piece of debris flying from the wreck caused, then she claimed the paint did not match.  She got a free paint job out of the deal.  My opinion - based on the distance of the tree the Jeep hit from the highway, she was just looking for a freebie. My agent said it was to avoid a lawsuit (and protect them and me - cheaper than fighting it).

My family currently has a great deal going with Cincinnati on the farm.  They handle 4 cars (the parents two, the truck, grandmother's) along with both houses and the liability for injury on the property.  We've never had trouble with them - and they were much cheaper than the Hartford, who we used previously. 
Title: Re: Car Insurance
Post by: TheSlyBear on March 28, 2009, 11:24:21 PM
I have GEICO and I'll let you know next week. My car got nailed, badly, by a hail-storm on Wednesday. My appointment with the adjuster is Tuesday.
Title: Re: Car Insurance
Post by: (|8-) on March 28, 2009, 11:57:07 PM
I've had State Farm since my second year of driving (first year I had to go with my parents' company).  In those 22 years, my car has been stolen, rear-ended, and totaled (which by then was so old it only took $2600 of damage).  They were reasonably efficient and always very professional.  They've been really easy to work with--I've moved out of the country a couple times which gave me a couple of year-long periods without insurance, but when I bought a car after not having one it was insured the next day and they even restored my good driver status.  I think a lot of that depends on the agent (they knew I was a long-time customer returning to the US), and State Farm has a good agent network.  Whenever I have to call them, it's my agent's office or cell phone, not someone in a faraway call center.
Title: Re: Car Insurance
Post by: Jer on March 29, 2009, 03:28:06 AM
Funny you should start this thread!  I've been having a hell of a time with insurance lately.

A month and a half ago I sold my '98 Ranger that had 282,000km on it and picked up a '96 F-150.  I couldn't beat the deal as it's the 4.9L straight 6 with the 300 engine.  Those are bulletproof engines and it only has 130,000km.  So like it's an older truck, there is some very minor rust over the rear wheel wells (from the winter salt they use on the roads here in Canada).

My insurance transferred everything over fine then a week later I got an e-mail saying I had to go for a visual inspection.  I figured it was no big deal cause it's in great shape.  The guy at the garage where I was sent looked it over, took some pics and said the same thing, that I got a hell of a deal cause there's nothing wrong with it.  So I let  the insurance agency know the inspection was done and they thank me and say it's all good now.

Yet another week passes and I get an e-mail saying that  my insurance is "suspended until the severe rust damage has been repaired at a certified body shop."  I call up the company as ask what that's about and they tell me that I have to get the body repaired so they can insure me.  I start questioning them and get passed to a senior agent there who explains to me that the visual inspection is a requirement for young males who drive certain types of vehicles that are easily modified for street racing.  He goes on to tell me they had to ensure it wasn't modified as I "will be street racing" with the truck.  I asked if they still had on file what I do for a living, and that if I get charged with anything that I'd loose my job and he tells me that it doesn't matter and that I'm higher risk because of that.

So then started shopping around and all companies I called said they couldn't beat the rates I'd be getting with who I was with.  I explained the whole situation to the 3 places I went to and at each place the reaction was the same, shock.  I'm now getting the same rates as before and everywhere I went also said that under the circumstances the suspension of my insurance would have no ill effects on my premiums.

I'm now with a small company that pretty much everyone where I'm living is with and has a good reputation.  Small, locally owned and managed and they've been around serving the community for some 30 odd years or so.  It's a very close tight knit farm community so it's great.

I was with Bel Air Direct, but now I am a strong supporter of the small home grown businesses and I'll be staying away from the big corporations for good!
Title: Re: Car Insurance
Post by: SLYinKC on March 29, 2009, 06:10:22 AM
I have been with Safeco for about 5 -6 years for both my auto and homeowners.  I have received good service and I have looked around several times and can't match there rates anywhere else.
Title: Re: Car Insurance
Post by: Paul on March 29, 2009, 06:41:57 AM
I've got American Family.  Like you I get a cheaper rate since they have both the house and the car, not to mention the motorcycle.  I have no problems with them at all. 
Title: Re: Car Insurance
Post by: schro on March 29, 2009, 06:47:48 AM
I have USAA for home, car, and our cabin. Been with them since I married the Lovely Mrs. Schro. No complaints (other than the fact my rates went up $198 because I caused an accident late last year...first one in 27 years.....$3k in combined damage to both cars....thought I'd get a "freebie").
Title: Re: Car Insurance
Post by: hammerdrill376 on March 29, 2009, 07:05:14 AM
Been with State Farm as far back as I can recall on our autos and on our home but we are going to shop our homeowners policy with other companies due to the cost.
Title: Re: Car Insurance
Post by: wpruitt on March 29, 2009, 07:19:04 AM
I have USAA for home, car, and our cabin. Been with them since I married the Lovely Mrs. Schro. No complaints (other than the fact my rates went up $198 because I caused an accident late last year...first one in 27 years.....$3k in combined damage to both cars....thought I'd get a "freebie").
I shudder to think what my rates will do when I replace the Jeep
Title: Re: Car Insurance
Post by: Mikekoz13 on March 29, 2009, 07:58:38 AM
State Farm for 32 years. I've never had a problem with them. They've actually paid for two totalled vehicles (one in a snowstorm and the other when my Aztek flipped over a couple years ago).

Title: Re: Car Insurance
Post by: D.A.L.U.I. on March 29, 2009, 10:30:51 AM
State Farm for home, cars, rental property.  They've been pretty good, and although they have a high named storm deductible, that's part of living in Hurricane Alley.  They also picked up my daughter when she bought a house after Katrina when finding insurance was as hard or harder than a dead man getting a loan. 
Title: Re: Car Insurance
Post by: Tyler on March 30, 2009, 01:36:00 AM
I had Kemper for a long time and really liked them.  But once I got married, it was cheaper to go with other providers.  They did settle a claim for me when my car got broken into. 

It's funny how you don't know how good your insurance company is until you have to file a claim.
Title: Re: Car Insurance
Post by: PigPen on March 30, 2009, 10:39:49 AM
Have State Farm for the cars and the house. Got a Multi Car Discount and a discount for the house too. My mom has used them for years, and we've been with them for about 5 or 6 years
Title: Re: Car Insurance
Post by: BaldRob on April 02, 2009, 11:09:56 AM
I have USAA for home, car, and our cabin. Been with them since I married the Lovely Mrs. Schro. No complaints (other than the fact my rates went up $198 because I caused an accident late last year...first one in 27 years.....$3k in combined damage to both cars....thought I'd get a "freebie").

I've been with USAA for over 20 years... Love them!  They are always very easy to deal with for all services.  My rates did go up after an accident, but then went back down within the next year.
Title: Re: Car Insurance
Post by: schro on April 02, 2009, 12:05:47 PM
I have USAA for home, car, and our cabin. Been with them since I married the Lovely Mrs. Schro. No complaints (other than the fact my rates went up $198 because I caused an accident late last year...first one in 27 years.....$3k in combined damage to both cars....thought I'd get a "freebie").

I've been with USAA for over 20 years... Love them!  They are always very easy to deal with for all services.  My rates did go up after an accident, but then went back down within the next year.

Good to know, thanks.
Title: Re: Car Insurance
Post by: TANK25 on April 02, 2009, 01:30:31 PM
I have Nationwide.I had one accident over five year ago and they were really good with getting my truck fixed. LMAO,I went online with progressive and got a quote.I was happy as hell,it was half of what I was paying. Then I realize the quote was for  6months :/O
Title: Re: Car Insurance
Post by: Tyler on April 02, 2009, 01:33:24 PM
Yeah, you have to be careful when looking at the quotes. 
Title: Re: Car Insurance
Post by: Tyler on April 02, 2009, 02:00:15 PM
How many of you have insurance on your SUV?  I've found it's quite a bit more expensive than for a car.
Title: Re: Car Insurance
Post by: GaryT on April 21, 2009, 07:59:10 AM
We have been with Liberty Mutual for nearly 25 years. My wife has had two accidents since then, one she was rear ended, not her fault. The other one was getting t-boned, her fault. Both times we got everything taken care of pretty simply.

The one thing that ticked me off was the t-bone accident. It destroyed the right front quarter panel. When the adjuster came I told him where I wanted to get it repaired. He said that is fine but it will take longer because they are not on the list! SO......where as I can bring it anywhere I want, it may just take longer. That's called steering and it is illegal in Maine!! Long andshort of it is that I wasn't happy. I even sent a letter to  the state and the insurance company.   It took quite a while but  eventually I got what I wanted.

So the story goes......I asked and got another agent to take care things. I went shopping and no place could come close to the price I'm paying, not even the big guys! Still with Liberty Mutual which drives my neice crazy because she works for Progressive and swore she could do better. She was some upset that she couldn't do better for us.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Title: Re: Car Insurance
Post by: TheSlyBear on September 22, 2009, 09:57:58 AM
I just realized I never got back on this...

My car was fixed perfectly (amazingly, actually). After it came out of the shop, you could never tell anything had happened to it.

It turned out costing about double the original estimate, and Geico didn't bat any and paid up. No problems at all.
Title: Re: Car Insurance
Post by: PeripheralxMvmnt on September 22, 2009, 10:40:49 AM
Mrs. Mvmnt and I have Progressive for my SUV, her car and our house and we have pretty decent payments and coverage seems good (hopefully we never have to find out just how good.)
Title: Re: Car Insurance
Post by: BaldBear on September 22, 2009, 12:45:49 PM
I'm with Snoopy (METLIFE) and have been ever since I got my drivers license at age 15 (31 years ago).

I have NEVER had a problem on any of the very few claims I have had. I have all 4 of my vehicles insured with them so I get a multi vehicle discount. I also get quite a nice "safe driver" discount because I take an online drivers safety course every three years. Most of the larger companies offer that. Check with them.

I also have all my homes insured with them as well as my PELP. I really like their customer service. I don't see myself switching unless they really screw something up.
Title: Re: Car Insurance
Post by: SlyHigh on September 23, 2009, 06:48:59 AM
A friend of mine borrowed my truck (actually belongs to my parents) and wrecked it.  His fault.  Come to find out state law says that insurance follows the car, not the driver.  So dad's insurance had to pay for the other lady's damages.  But we didn't have full coverage on the truck.  Insurance can follow the driver, but only secondary to the car's policy.  Since my friend had full coverage on his car, then his policy (State Farm) would repair the truck.  It took a few phone calls for State Farm to figure out what was going on (granted, it is an unusual situation).  They let me choose my own body shop; I went with one on their "list."  But I didn't want to fix all the damage (just enough to make it driveable, I didn't care about the cosmetics).  So they basically had to pay us instead of paying the shop directly.  The process was as if I didn't go to one of "their" shops.  They actually had to pay us more than the original check since additional damage was found later and the left off the towing reimbursement.  In the end, it went smoothly, although it was still a hassle.

My dad was with State Farm but switched many years ago.  They had a fire in their house, and dad felt like he was being ripped off.  He told his agent, "I've been with you for 20 years, does that not mean anything?"  The agent said "no, sorry, we have to treat you the same as the person who bought a policy yesterday."  That was the end of State Farm for dad!
Title: Re: Car Insurance
Post by: SlyBaldDude on November 02, 2009, 05:56:03 PM
I switched from Farmers to Allstate two months ago.  My auto and home insurance went down by just about half!   I had been with farmers for years.  I though Allstate was expensive but their a fortune 1000 company and their rates were actually lower than everybody else I checked.  Their home inspection was a bit anal but otherwise Im happy with the rate.