Trustworthy Auto Insurance?

I've got to chime in with my vote for State Farm. We've gotten superb service from our local agent.

Has anyone else purchased the State Farm Emergency Road Service? It costs us less than $4.44 a year for each car -- much cheaper than AAA! My husband is in sales and puts in lots of miles; he has already used the service 5 times this year: twice for flats, once to tow his car when it broke down, once to jump a dead battery, and once when he ran out of gas. The nice thing is that you can use any service station or tow service. You call them yourself and then submit your bill to State Farm. We've always been reimbursed in less than a week!

I was so glad to get rid of AAA. It was expensive, and we never used any of their services except road service. Once when my car broke down, I had to wait on hold for over 30 minutes to get through to a rep and the service station they recommended took 2 hours to arrive.

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Erika
'02 SS Ody EXL-RES
'95 Honda Accord LX

Let's see, "Trustworthy Auto Insurance", sounds like an oxymoron to me!

Seriously, for you folks who've "switched" to State Farm, did they let you buy auto insurance only or did they make you insure everthing you've got before they'd do business with you?

I ask because the one time I tried to buy auto insurance through them, they said they didn't write auto policies. I've got friends who have their cars covered by State Farm but also have their homes and just about everything else with them too.

Just wondering.....

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Drive Safe,
Steve R.
'01 SS LX
Cargo tray, leather steering wheel, mud guards, alarm, fog lights, transmission cooler, in-dash CD player, Kelton subwoofer, under seat storage tray.

[This message has been edited by Intrepid175 (edited 10-13-2001).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by pummal:
Hi,

I'm doing research on the companies this time (something I didn't do with Allstate), and it seems they are all pretty rotten, with the exception of USAA. Of course, I do not qualify for USAA because it is an exclusive group.

So, what company do the wise members of OdyClub use for insurance, and how satisfied have you been with them?

Thanks much for any advice!

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USAA and Amica are always at the top of the list in any report that Consumers' Reports publishes (usually Amica=1 and USAA=2). I also don't qualify for USAA, but have been with Amica for nearly 25 years now (through teenagers on my policy and all). Amica doesn't advertise, their rates are fair, and they don't drop people. On the other hand, they are picky about who they accept.

Follow some of these links: http://www.amica.com/0_0/default.html?/5_0/more_about_amica.html

Ray


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2000 S2000 & 2001 Ody
Ody Mods:
Splash Guards; Donnelly Comp/Temp Mirror; Fog Lights

[This message has been edited by Ody&S2k (edited 10-13-2001).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Seriously, for you folks who've "switched" to State Farm, did they let you buy auto insurance only or did they make you insure everthing you've got before they'd do business with you?</font>

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Not at all. It started with auto insurance, back in 1984 or so; when I needed renter's insurance, I went to them first and they made an attractive offer. Then came homeowner's insurance, and the umbrella policy, and here we are.

In fact, I was persuaded against buying State Farm life insurance a few years ago, because--according to my agent--"it's just too expensive".

Now, of course, I'm in the golden handcuffs. I've been with State Farm for so long that my discounts add up tremendously, plus they seem to be ignoring the speeding ticket I get every couple of years or so, and I've been at the point for some time now where the first liability claim against my policy--whatever it is--is officially ignored with respect to my premiums and my insurability standing with State Farm.

Fact is, I damn near can't get anyone to provide an apples-to-apples comparison for my coverage. Those that come close are ungodly expensive.

We have Hanover. I have dealt with them on 2 accidents (not at fault) and 2 windshield replacements in 3 years. No issues with response and handling the claim. The only thing they did was specify aftermarket parts for my Accord but the body shop got them to go for OEM. I've used Liberty Mutual and Traveler's in the past, both with pretty good results.

Unfortunatly here in MA it is difficult to get a deal on auto insurance. The state regulates rates and are dependent on your "Step" number. Everyone starts at Step 15 and 1 point is deducted for every year of the past 6 in which you are not involved in a surchargable incident. The best is a step 9. Worst is a step 35 or at least the state doesn't list anything higher than a 35.

Minor moving violations (speeding, expired inspection sticker) = 2 pts
Minor at fault accident ($500-2500) = 3 pts
Major at fault accident (>$2500) - 4 pts
Major moving violatoion (DUI, leaving accident) = 5 points.

Points above 15 raise your rates and below 15 lowers your rates. Insurance companies usually offer discounts to the safest drivers (9-10) or to affinity groups or employers, but the state has to approve all the discounts. I'm a member of wholesale club so I get a discount. Everyone charges the same but no one can be cancelled or denied insurance. So we all pay for high risk drivers.

The state has held the line on rate increases the past few years so the discounts have been disappearing. A few years ago companies just left the state because if they offered auto elsewhere but refused to write it here, the state didn't let them sell other insurance lines. Allstate was once the leading insurer in MA and they up and left.

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Ody&S2k:
USAA and Amica are always at the top of the list in any report that Consumers' Reports publishes (usually Amica=1 and USAA=2). I also don't qualify for USAA, but have been with Amica for nearly 25 years now (through teenagers on my policy and all). Amica doesn't advertise, their rates are fair, and they don't drop people. On the other hand, they are picky about who they accept.

Follow some of these links: http://www.amica.com/0_0/default.html?/5_0/more_about_amica.html

Ray

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I will definitely second the comments about AMICA. I have had their home, auto (and even life) insurance for over 15 years. I have never found an insurance company that was as pleasant and fair to deal with. They have actually urged me to pursue claims that I would not have bothered with.

Their rates are fair (although not necessarily the lowest). They are a mutual insurance company owned by the policyholders, they offer premium rebates in most states, and have no agents -- all dealings are directly with the company, mostly by phone. (I happen to have an Amica office less than 3 miles from my home, but I've only gone their once -- when I wanted a policy the same day.)

Amica does have some entrance requirements -- they don't accept policyholders in some areas, and may require a recommendation from a current policyholder.




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Jim B.
2000 EX Navi
DVP

2000 TL --

They dropped me for having two at-fault claims in 3 years. The claim costs were about $4,000 total.

Allstate drops you based on the frequency of your claims, and that's all. By their policy, they would still insure me if I had killed another driver in a BMW while driving a Porsche -- because it's only frequency that counts.

In reality, it is their loss. They are losing my two cars and my house (on principle). If they had only raised my rates a little, instead of dropping me, I would have continued blissfully unaware of Allstate's reputation. Now they couldn't keep me even if they recanted their drop.

Do a little research on the Net for Allstate, you'll see what I mean... or better yet, don't!

What you don't know can't hurt you.

I'm going to call State Farm and have them run a quote for my house and two cars. If that doesn't pan out, Progressive has given me a quote (yes, they know about the claims) for the same as I used to pay Allstate -- for slightly better coverage, with the only catch being I have to pay all at once or else pay slightly higher amounts (no biggie).

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2002 Mesa Beige EX-L-RES - on order
2001 Mesa Beige EX - recently sold