Car insurance

[Rmay635703]

Before the local .gov banned policy stacking 8 years? I was paying around $500/year liability + $80-$160 a year for each secondary car.

Now they charge full price for each car even though one person can’t drive them at the same time. I’m somewhere between $2000 & $3000 a year liability depending on if I have 2 or 3 insured.

Years ago I knew a guy that said car insurance on each car is for chumps, he owned dozens and had a $100,000,000 of blanket liability on himself and didn’t individually insure any vehicle. He had a $100 mill whether he was walking, biking, sleeping or driving no matter what he drove.

If you think about it liability on a car should be illegal, associate it with the driver and go away, whether I drive a hundred cars or a single one 15,000 miles total my insurance should never change because I only ever drive the same distance yearly

 

[SC Maintenance]

2 cars, kids gone on their own but nothing changed much, always paid around these prices. As @2strokeNorthstar posted. You need to shop around. The internet makes it easy. Im loyal to no company. Low price always wins. I NEVER had my home bundled with my cars because the price was always higher than me going with separate companies. I switch anytime I find a better price and also do not necessarily wait until the end of a policy period to switch.

This below is progressive. Before anyone says anything I have "Uninsured Mortise" Coverage as indicated in the line above.

My 2017 Chevy Traverse (6 month policy)


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2025 Chevy Equinox (6 month policy)

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North Carolina has some of the cheapest insurance in the nation. When I moved from NC to SC 15 years ago, I called to change states and then Geico said rate was double - literally - same cars, same drivers, smaller town. I figured must be wrong but nope, called all over and SC was double. And I don't think SC is all that expensive actually.

 

[alarmguy]

North Carolina has some of the cheapest insurance in the nation. When I moved from NC to SC 15 years ago, I called to change states and then Geico said rate was double - literally - same cars, same drivers, smaller town. I figured must be wrong but nope, called all over and SC was double. And I don't think SC is all that expensive actually.

Yeah, When we moved from SC to NC in 2023 the rates were about the same for us.
I think like all things insurance. Its a bunch of factors, including area and counties, meaning we moved from technically was a rural area of SC at one time to another technically rural area in NC even though both areas are exploding with population.

One thing we do have is dirt cheap taxes in NC, previously we lived in the second highest property tax place of SC - Richland County which was still dirt cheap compared to Long Island NY

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

FWIW if you have a Costco membership you might look into their sponsored insurance. It was quite a bit cheaper than what I was paying before, actually much less than the Costco membership itself.

That's what I've had for years. It hasn't been beat yet by more companies and brokers than I can remember. They paused new policies in California though

 

[csandste]

Always a hot topic in forms. Its hard to say with certainty anything insurance. So many factors between states, areas of risk, credit scores and in your case drivers other than you and your wife.

1. Personally? I never had my name on any of my kids vehicles. Always had to go in their name, liability was a concern if they did something stupid.

2. Im not sure but if you haven't called or checked online at LEAST 3 other car insurers then there is no reason to ask your question except to try to help you. So you need to call other insurers. Doing it online is easier

3. Same goes for your house. Bundling your home with cars normally doesnt work out well. I get it, much the population falls for what they think is a discount. Im not sure why but chances are you can do better not bundling anything. Once you bundle they know you are less likely to switch every year or two.

4. With my wife and I as the only drivers on our cars and our kids at the time OWN cars with their own insurance I never paid a lot.

Yep. I always had separate coverage and cars for the kids. Usually dropped collision as soon as possible on everything. I presently have $5000 deductible on collision on my '25 Soul, tried to get it to $10K and had no collision on a '17 that I picked up in '18. If I ditched my car and wrecked it on a one car accident they'd probably drop me if I made a claim since I'm eighty.

 

[Chris142]

Ck with Costco. By far the cheapest we found. Assuming you are not in California as they are no longer taking new policies here.

 

[LDB]

Correction, I'm reminded it's about $2200 annually full coverage, a 68 and a 72 drivers.

 

[bernardch]

I really was hammered by my car insurance this year but added a daughter who is 20. However I also purchased a 2011 Toyota Prius for good mileage to work and fishing trips I take to the ocean. Original quote came in $3,200 a year for 5 cars and 4 drivers liability only. 1 of my daughters will not drive but they say unless she revokes her license state law requires her to be included. Removing her saves us only $130 a year. A few years ago before younger drivers were in the pool I was paying $1,100 for my wife and me. They are pricing me out and thinking I may drop to 3 nicer cars. I would rather spend the money on nicer cars than insurance on beaters. Hoping someone here has some good ideas or ways to save on car insurance. Home is also going up to and they are bundled. I have Erie insurance and keep seeing ads for dropping my insurance prices but when I look into they are usually more and the non stop calls after you search is very annoying

I don't know how it is with young drivers, but I've been a customer of Erie for 47 years across multiple states. One time in the 47 years, another agent was able to beat my premium. . .by $10! Go ahead and shop it, but I'd be surprised if anyone matches.

My current premium in NE Ohio with maximum coverage on three 2020 and newer vehicles ('23 Passport & Ridgeline, '20 Mustang Eco convertible) is $1900/year; that includes a small discount for home, auto, umbrella bundle. As a long time customer i also have 1st accident forgiveness (no premium increase for 1st at-fault accident), and something call Premium Freeze; as long as I make no changes to vehicles or coverage, my premium is fixed until such change.

 

[alarmguy]

I don't know how it is with young drivers, but I've been a customer of Erie for 47 years across multiple states. One time in the 47 years, another agent was able to beat my premium. . .by $10! Go ahead and shop it, but I'd be surprised if anyone matches.

My current premium in NE Ohio with maximum coverage on three 2020 and newer vehicles ('23 Passport & Ridgeline, '20 Mustang Eco convertible) is $1900/year; that includes a small discount for home, auto, umbrella bundle. As a long time customer i also have 1st accident forgiveness (no premium increase for 1st at-fault accident), and something call Premium Freeze; as long as I make no changes to vehicles or coverage, my premium is fixed until such change.

Credit score, location, claims history (your insurance score, everyone has one, just like a credit score) is everything. Impossible to compare. However helpful to others to constantly check new quotes each year with other companies.

 

[eljefino]

I'm not a lawyer. You should read your policy. YOUR policy. It's a legal document that varies from insurer to insurer, and state to state. Taking legal advice from BITOG is basically the internet version of the outhouse lawyer.

My policy, for me, reads that I must declare all drivers in my household, OR ELSE.

Or else what? They take away my birthday?

Off to the penalty portion.

If I don't declare a driver, and my rates would have been higher if they were declared, and that specific driver crashes one of my cars, then the insurance won't pay.

Seems like a pretty fair arrangement.

So what if I have a licensed driver, have them off my insurance, but don't let them drive? Seems like I'm in the clear if I myself or another named insured get in a wreck.

This isn't something I suggest you do, without conferring with your policy and maybe your agent, who exists to explain your insurance to you.

 

[RhondaHonda]

2 cars, kids gone on their own but nothing changed much, always paid around these prices. As @2strokeNorthstar posted. You need to shop around. The internet makes it easy. Im loyal to no company. Low price always wins. I NEVER had my home bundled with my cars because the price was always higher than me going with separate companies. I switch anytime I find a better price and also do not necessarily wait until the end of a policy period to switch.

This below is progressive. Before anyone says anything I have "Uninsured Motorist" Coverage as indicated in the line above.

My 2017 Chevy Traverse (6 month policy)

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View attachment 267542

2025 Chevy Equinox (6 month policy)

View attachment 267545

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$50,000 in property damage is a risky proposition these days. Many cars cost more than that.

 

[alarmguy]

All good, when buying insurance assess your risk tolerance.

 

[alarmguy]

$50,000 in property damage is a risky proposition these days. Many cars cost more than that.

I think you’re missing something here. First of all many states don’t even require uninsured property damage insurance.
I’m not concerned if an uninsured driver is responsible for only $50,000 to my car or property that is certainly reasonable to me.
I carry this insurance in case someone does total my car and doesn’t have insurance I’m covered up to $50,000

If I damage anybody’s car or property my insurance company will pay up to $100,000

 

[RhondaHonda]

I think you’re missing something here. First of all many states don’t even require uninsured property damage insurance.
I’m not concerned if an uninsured driver is responsible for only $50,000 to my car or property that is certainly reasonable to me.
I carry this insurance in case someone does total my car and doesn’t have insurance I’m covered up to $50,000

If I damage anybody’s car or property my insurance company will pay up to $100,000

That’s not what the screenshots you posted say. $50k in property damage you cause to others, per accident.

 

[Cropduster172]

I would avoid at all costs any company/policy that offers a lower rate or discount requiring you to load an app on the phone of any driver on your policy or install any device in your vehicle(s) that monitors how the driver drives the vehicle including speed, braking, acceleration from stop, etc... There are several companies out there hawking such policies.

 

[alarmguy]

That’s not what the screenshots you posted say. $50k in property damage you cause to others, per accident.

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Good catch!!!! I have 100k on the traverse and 50k on the equinox. I could go either way and reduce the 100 to 50k or the 50k to 100k
I just increased the 50k to 100k It doesn't really change the cost of the policy. Next post I updated the Equinox from 50k to 100k cost increase is around $1. Currently 44 cents because Im already into the 6 month policy

Thanks, I normally wouldn't miss something like that but we bought the car on the fly and guess I was rushing.
The traverse always had 100k

 

[alarmguy]

@RhondaHonda
Thanks again,
I just updated my Policy online -
This is the 2025 Equinox updated. The Traverse in post # 20 is as posted.

Talking about insurance, My new Homeowners insurance company just did a walk around our house! I can't believe how little we pay. I never bundle, I never file claims for anything and my wife and I maintain not only exceptional credit scores, but I noticed when signing up for this new insurance our insurance score wording is = Exceptional
It pays to not file claims and pay your bills which is just common sense.

 

[JHZR2]

Before the local .gov banned policy stacking 8 years? I was paying around $500/year liability + $80-$160 a year for each secondary car.

Now they charge full price for each car even though one person can’t drive them at the same time. I’m somewhere between $2000 & $3000 a year liability depending on if I have 2 or 3 insured.

Years ago I knew a guy that said car insurance on each car is for chumps, he owned dozens and had a $100,000,000 of blanket liability on himself and didn’t individually insure any vehicle. He had a $100 mill whether he was walking, biking, sleeping or driving no matter what he drove.

If you think about it liability on a car should be illegal, associate it with the driver and go away, whether I drive a hundred cars or a single one 15,000 miles total my insurance should never change because I only ever drive the same distance yearly

Yes it’s such theft.

I do wish there was a way to do what the guy you knew did. Unfortunately every umbrella or general liability policy I’ve found hitches to an automotive policy, which is also garbage. They’re factoring in that your highest risk is driving, thus their exposure for, say, a $1M liability policy is actually $500k, if you had a $500k limit on your auto policy. It’s like double dipping.

But like most things, stuff that would be illegal in any other venue is legal when it comes to insurers having rationale to rip off the customer.

I switched to usaa this year but they wouldn’t write an umbrella policy without taking my classic cars, which are with a different insurer, over to theirs.

I wish I could buy umbrella separate. Does anyone know of such a thing?

 

[SC Maintenance]

if you had a $500k limit on your auto policy. It’s like double dipping.

I thought a $1M umbrella was over and above - so in that case would be $1.5M. Am I wrong?

I wish I could buy umbrella separate. Does anyone know of such a thing?

You can, and for some reason it still must be attached to another policy. I had Geico on my cars for a while, but they did not want to write an umbrella. My homeowners people - Liberty Mutual - would write the umbrella, but it needed to be attached to all the policies - ie they listed the Geico policy as well on their umbrella. After the first year (teaser rate) it became very expensive, and was cheaper to move all my policies to Liberty Mutual. Of course after a few years I had to move again...

Insurance is a racket.

 

[alarmguy]

I find insurance reasonable as I posted my policies above. Insurance is a service, not a racket. There is another thread on here about real estate too.
If you dont want either dont use it. Simple stuff. Companies in business to make money only reason you may feel you need it is you can't afford to take a loss on something. Then the third party Insurance comes in to make money on taking on your risk that you can't afford on your own.

Im just spelling this out in the business world. We love to complain when we pay other companies for services we willfully chose to use.
If you dont want to pay for a service then dont use it. We all have choices but we are turning into complainers through social media when we forget that we are buying these services and they are optional.