Auto Insurance - GEICO or Progressive

AsSiMiLaTeD wrote: »

but honestly for me having an agent isn't that big of a deal (I may change my tune if I ever have to go thru a claims process).

Thats what I thought at first, but honestly its been nice to have a single point of contact for all my questions. We meet once a year to discuss our limits, life insurance, etc and make sure we aren't paying for too much or not enough coverage.

That and I can email him directly through Statefarm.com if I have a question as well and there is none of this, well person A told me X while person B told me Y since its all in the same office.

But as stated I am a bit biased :biggrin:

....State FARM

....Not necessarily MONEY savvy. I do like a company were rates go down most years. I have home owners and car thru same company.

....Never a claim but a few road service charges for free due too towing local.

AsSiMiLaTeD wrote: »

Allstate has continually raised our rates term over term for the past 5 years, with no accidents or tickets at all during that time period. It's really odd, but that's where we're at. I've been looking around, and GEICO and Progressive are both considerably cheaper than what we're paying now. If this was a few bucks a month I wouldn't bother, but we're talking $500 - $600 a year here, and actually for better coverage, on paper at least.

That last part is easy enough to compare, I can compare coverage amounts and all that and make sure I"m getting an equivalent or better policy, easy enough. I've also read reviews online, and both of these companies seems to be well liked overall, and in fact fared even better than Allstate.

So on paper and in reviews these companies both seem ok, but are there any other factors or 'gotchas' that I haven't though of?

Anyone have experience with either or both, or have another alternative that I should be looking at?

I have worked with all the Insurance Co.'s for over 20yrs and We have Erie Ins. and are happy with them. We haven't had any claims but I have done plenty work for them and they are a good strong Co.. StateFarm has some good points in that they require only factory replacement parts to be used on their auto claims (no aftermarket). I know for a fact that StateFarm is not an Ins. claim repair that shops want to see come in their shop because of their Estimates and business practices towards the shop as a result they are always being sued by shops and loosing everytime (but that is another story). Allstate also has bad business practices for the shop and policy holder, again another story. Progressive's insurance base is really for the person who is a High Risk person. Gieko is a smaller Co. that is about avarage not good or too bad. Liberty Mutual is a good Co. but the adjusters are about as dumb as a box of rocks. StateAuto, forget it, don't even bother.
Make sure all coverage $ numbers match each other when compairing quotes and check thier parts usage (new OEM, used, aftermarket/generic).

If you have any other questions PM me & I will try and help.

Dave

Yes Amica!
Don't forget that nice dividend check you get every year and the payments stretched over 10 months no fee!
If you can get them, in Pearland or on Mars but not on Uranus:biggrin:

F1nut wrote: »

Check out Amica.

nice spam @sshat.
Reported.

tonyb wrote: »

Erie can offer lower rates because they don't go into higher risk areas like the east or west coast, southern portions with hurricanes and such. As we all know, insurance companies cost share. So if the same company is insuring earthquake claims, hurricane claims, all others will see rate increases over time so they recoup those expenditures. Like every business model, you have to take in more than you push out. Erie makes that formula more viable, less volatile, less dependent on natural disasters by staying out of those areas.

Tony, they how come they offer insurance in the "disaster" that is the state of IL :biggrin:

EndersShadow wrote: »

Tony, they how come they offer insurance in the "disaster" that is the state of IL :biggrin:

That's a different kind of "disaster" Dan....LOL !!

With Allstate I had a hail storm hit the area, $25K damage to the house. No questions asked, no hassle. With that said I've heard of some very unhappy people with them. And yes, they do keep raising their rates. Back when I had nationwide I had to keep calling the agent over and over again to get details of the policy corrected, which later would become incorrect again. One year the agent "forgot" to send some repair pics to the main office and my house was not covered for a whole year. The only way I caught on was the mortgage company kept calling asking for proof of insurance. Come to find out they never billed the escrow for the coverage, I wasn't insured even though the agent kept telling me I was, not to worry. Then, right after I moved I called to have the car insurance canceled and they said no problem and took my new address. They added some cancelation fee and turned it over to a collection agency, didn't even send a final bill or call!