Auto Insurance - Geico vs Progessive ?

[itguy08]

Originally Posted By: zzyzzx
You have to periodically change insurance companies to get the best rates.


^^ This. I do it every 3-5 years. And always give them the chance to make it right. Most of the times I don't so I just switch. I don't "use" the insurance so I just want the best rates. Since it's all state regulated it makes sense to just price shop.

 

[grampi]

Originally Posted By: Schmoe
I had USAA for a LONG time until they started increasing their rates through no fault of my own. Went with State Farm actually. They gave me a killer rate if I insured my home with them and surprize, the home owners insurance rate was actually lower than what I was already paying with Farmers. Shop around and dwelve deep into what's covered and what's not. The details are in the pudding, so to speak.


I can't imagine USAA increasing rates on anyone....I had a speeding ticket a few years ago, and both of my daughters were involved in an accident (nobody was hurt), and they never raised my rates...

 

[AZjeff]

Originally Posted By: AirgunSavant
I have had Erie for nearly 40 years
Dirt cheap and max coverage but I guess worthless when you have an accident. Meaning they pay but most likely dump you.
A new 2015 F350 is $604 a year- $50 deductible and max coverage.
I'll hang with them until something happens.


Erie is regional. I had Erie for 30 years, had to change when we moved from Pa to Az.

To those who say buy the lowest and cheapest coverage and hope you don't need it I say SHAME ON YOU.

 

[mrsilv04]

My claim against Progressive was a complete nightmare. The Progressive rep was a complete jerk, and lied to me and the body shop from beginning to end.

I had to wait over 2 hours (even with an appointment) for an estimate with the Progressive rep. So with drive time included, I missed nearly a half day of work. My time was worth nothing to Progressive.

Then, after agreeing to the repairs, Progressive topped it off by refusing to pay the body shop in full. As a result, the body shop wouldn't release my vehicle. Also, Progressive simultaneously demanded that I return the rental vehicle immediately, as they were going to stop paying for it.

Of course, this cluster kludge that Progressive created was on the Friday afternoon prior to a three day weekend.... which would have meant NO rental car and MY car being held by the body shop, until at least the following Tuesday.

No. Progressive is lousy. They may take care of their policy holders, but they'll jerk everyone else around.

I'll never deal with Progressive again. I'll handle any claims with them through my insurance company, and let them deal with the idiots at Progressive.

 

[Tdbo]

Originally Posted By: dlayman
Originally Posted By: AirgunSavant
I have had Erie for nearly 40 years
Dirt cheap and max coverage but I guess worthless when you have an accident. Meaning they pay but most likely dump you.
A new 2015 F350 is $604 a year- $50 deductible and max coverage.
I'll hang with them until something happens.


What makes you think Erie will drop you for one accident? After this long with them (I've had then for about 30 years myself), you for sure have first accident forgiveness. At one time, Erie provided me a document outlining what rate increases would apply with accidents, whether it still applies I don't know.. I know Erie has several "tiers" of insurance. Erie Insurance Exchange is reserved for their lowest-risk drivers and has the best rates. Erie Insurance Company is a more expensive rate structure for higher (but not "high") risk drivers. If I remember correctly, the last time CR did car insurance ratings Erie was better than average for not dropping customers. I've had several comprehensive claims with them, never a collision, and had excellent service each time. I do wonder though, based on what I've read about how rates are set, if I could get a better rate with another first-tier company. Once they have you for so long, they tend to figure you don't want to switch and you see rate creep.

All-State and State Farm were both difficult to deal with when I was hit by their customers. I probably would have been better off filing with Erie and then have them go after the other company.



Erie isn't going to drop you for one accident.
If they did, we wouldn't have been with them for the last 11 years (we have been with them for 22.)
In 2004, my wife was hit by a substitute mail carrier in her personal vehicle. Carrier sued.
Turned into a 7 year ordeal:2 trials and 2 trips to the Ohio Court of Appeals.
We won, fortunately.
During that time, our insurance rates went down.
Erie not only met my expectations for service, they surpassed them.
We had excellent representation.
However, I do shop insurance every two years.
Once,I was able to beat my Auto policy price with Liberty Mutual through my college alumni association by $50./yr contingent on them carrying our home policy (which was $125./yr higher.) Thus, no savings there.
Have not been able to beat Erie yet on an entire insurance package (home/auto.) I have been able to beat their prices on the home, but their rates on the auto with discounts are far and away the best that I have found.

 

[Benzadmiral]

Originally Posted By: cat843
I have had Geico for maybe 6 or 7 years. A couple of small claims and Geico has been fine. After 5 years you get an additional discount for 5 year good driver. And accident forgiveness.

A few months back Consumer Reports had a large article on auto insurance.

I've had Geico for almost a year; they beat out AAA on price. Then this summer I bashed my passenger-side rocker panel on a high curb, and put in a claim. No problems; I used my own body shop; my policy paid for a rental car.

We'll see if my premium goes up when I get my new bill in December, but for now, I think Geico is great.

 

[Wolf359]

I've had Geico for a few years and they've been the lowest so far. Haven't had any accidents so I don't know how good they are when that happens. Had a windshield replaced before, but there were any issues. At one point I was shopping around and esurance was cheaper by a little bit, but when I looked at their quote, they were giving me a discount to switch and without that discount the price would be higher so I didn't want to switch just for one year to save a few $$ (less than $100) and then switch again the next year.

 

[ottomatic]

I have had Progressive for 15yrs. My experience has been excellent with them.

I had Geico (5yrs). My son was driving my truck & rear-ended a tourist who slammed on his brakes. LEO took statements , son was not at fault , tourist was ticketed. Son was listed on policy. Geico paid & then canceled.

State Farm: Father-in-law had them 10 yrs. One winter morning on his way to work (school teacher) slide off road & totaled his car. State Farm canceled him because the trooper did NOT do a DUI test.

I have had 2 claims with Progressive. 1 my fault. 1 no fault. Rates never increased.
Prompt & fair payment. BTW They even went as far as to call me & let me know if I got another speeding ticket one time I would be cancelled.

Nice of them.

 

[Nick1994]

Keep shopping, both of those companies suck.

If you are getting collision/comprehensive definitely don't get them.

They most of the time don't pay for blending at the body shop and only pay for aftermarket parts and are total cheapskates.

If you drive a beater car and just have liability coverage, maybe consider it.

 

[cat843]

Also when you get quotes from some companies they default to no collision after a certain age and you might still have collision, so it might not be an apples to apples comparison unless you check every line of the quote.

What also creeps me out is they seem to be able to pull up a list of all the cars you own without you providing much info.

 

[HerrStig]

AMICA

 

[Nick1994]

Originally Posted By: cat843
What also creeps me out is they seem to be able to pull up a list of all the cars you own without you providing much info.
It's all basically in an insurance database. My dad was a Farmer's Insurance Agent and I helped him a lot quoting people and when you search for a person, you see their previous accidents and insurance claims (including glass claims and roadside assistance) and also all their cars and what insurance limits were applied to what car.

 

[dishdude]

Originally Posted By: Nick1994
Originally Posted By: cat843
What also creeps me out is they seem to be able to pull up a list of all the cars you own without you providing much info.
It's all basically in an insurance database. My dad was a Farmer's Insurance Agent and I helped him a lot quoting people and when you search for a person, you see their previous accidents and insurance claims (including glass claims and roadside assistance) and also all their cars and what insurance limits were applied to what car.


It's called a CLUE report, it's pretty much a credit report for your insurance history.

 

[KitaCam]

Just went from GEICO to Allstate...more coverage for $500 less per year.

 

[crazyoildude]

depends on the state here in nj NJM is rated the best

 

[Wolf359]

Originally Posted By: cat843
What also creeps me out is they seem to be able to pull up a list of all the cars you own without you providing much info.


In real estate I do the same thing. All I really need to know is the name of a person and the town they live in, or not even really that if it's a rare name and I can figure out where they live and how much they paid for their home if they own. Lots of that info is public records too, just have to go to the local registry of deeds website to find it all.

It's amazing how you just need a little info to figure things out. Once there was a secretary who said she puts in the max of 10% in her 401k and the amount. Some simple math and bingo, she just told me how much she made for the year.

 

[racin4ds]

Neither! They are both crooks that spend millions in advertising and have to increase rates to pay for all their stupid ads! Shop around more, I almost bet you'll find it cheaper elsewhere! I had Progressive for years and suddenly they started increasing my premiums for no reason whatsoever! Never got an answer why so I dropped them and now use 21st Century (Farmers) and they have been phenomenal!

 

[cptbarkey]

I consider insurance a scam, therefore I have absolutely zero loyalty and will drop any provider at the drop of a hat. You should too.

 

[CKN]

Originally Posted By: itguy08
Neither. Both have, in the past "donated" radar guns to various police departments. That alone turns me off to them.



If you don't speed it's irrelevant.

 

[grampi]

Originally Posted By: CKN
Originally Posted By: itguy08
Neither. Both have, in the past "donated" radar guns to various police departments. That alone turns me off to them.



If you don't speed it's irrelevant.


Show me someone who doesn't speed and I'll show you a law abiding citizen in Ferguson, MO...