Cheapest option for insurance?

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Go ahead, I dare you!
I am a person who could CARE LESS what the name of the insurance company is. I could care less about comments about service and getting paid for something that will never happen and if it does happen, guess what? You will get paid as insurance is one of the highest government regulated industries in the country. You will get paid.

So with that said, since after almost 4 decades of driving low price ALWAYS wins, I change insurance companies on EVERYTHING I own at the flip of a dime, any time of year, does not matter if its in the middle of the policy term, Ill cancel and switch. Does not matter if its our boat, bike, truck, car or home.
Low price wins.
One interesting company I have found, which I cant remember the last time I had the same insurance company for more then 2 years, so far, no one has been able to beat them in those two years.

So I am still with them, just keep in mind it is impossible to talk about the lowest priced insurance in a forum, you need to get online and gets quotes, gosh, its so easy to do, takes minutes for each company right on your computer, you dont even have to get out of your chair!

Anyway... I suggest checking this one AND 3 others of your choosing, if you have been with the same insurance company for more then 5 years, You ARE paying too much.
https://www.esurance.com
 
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Originally Posted by alarmguy


Anyway... I suggest checking this one AND 3 others of your choosing, if you have been with the same insurance company for more then 5 years, You ARE paying too much.
https://www.esurance.com



Having been with Allstate on auto and homeowners for some time, how or why would esurance recommend anyone else (for me) when they are owned by Allstate?

Not challenging your advice, just don't understand how they could be neutral on recommendations.
 
Originally Posted by GoldDot40
There are way too many variables involved in calculating insurance premiums from person to person for anybody here to tell you who will be your best choice.

Exactly right. I see it all the time, some kid asking how much insurance will cost them on car model "a". That's all they give info on. Not that matters if people knew the location, the person's driving record, their credit rating, etc, etc, no one can give practical numbers.
 
Originally Posted by hallstevenson
..... the location, the person's driving record, their credit rating, etc, etc, no one can give practical numbers.


That's exactly right, although no matter what, it's going to be about double the cost for an 18yr/old male regardless.
 
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Originally Posted by levi
Originally Posted by alarmguy


Anyway... I suggest checking this one AND 3 others of your choosing, if you have been with the same insurance company for more then 5 years, You ARE paying too much.
https://www.esurance.com



Having been with Allstate on auto and homeowners for some time, how or why would esurance recommend anyone else (for me) when they are owned by Allstate?

Not challenging your advice, just don't understand how they could be neutral on recommendations.

Huh?
Esurance is an insurance company they don't recommend anybody and if you've read my entire post that was one recommendation with the recommendation to check three others.
 
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Originally Posted by alarmguy
Originally Posted by levi
Originally Posted by alarmguy


Anyway... I suggest checking this one AND 3 others of your choosing, if you have been with the same insurance company for more then 5 years, You ARE paying too much.
https://www.esurance.com



Having been with Allstate on auto and homeowners for some time, how or why would esurance recommend anyone else (for me) when they are owned by Allstate?

Not challenging your advice, just don't understand how they could be neutral on recommendations.

Huh?
Esurance is an insurance company they don't recommend anybody and if you've read my entire post that was one recommendation with the recommendation to check three others.



I did read your entire post. I even quoted the part with your recommendation to check three others. Maybe you didn't read my post.

Not being familiar with Esurance, I mistakenly thought they were a company that compared policies for you and then provided a recommendation, like The Zebra or Compare.com.
 
Originally Posted by grampi
If you or either of your parents are a vet, you would qualify for USAA...no other company can touch their rates or service...


This was once true.

But, USAA was charging me $4,000/year for several cars, and several drivers.

GEICO charges me $1,700/year. Same cars, same drivers.

My last claim with USAA was in 2006. Horrible experience, horrible service. Undervalued my car by 50%, half of KBB, half of Edmunds, half of what I could borrow from USAA Savings Bank to buy that car . Totaled it, instead of fixing it, left me without a car.

"Superior service" is their claim. Calling me "Captain" on the phone is nice, but meanwhile, they're charging me more than double and cheaping out on a claim. That is NOT superior service and is NOT a good value.

Be very careful with USAA. They've lost their way.
 
Originally Posted by levi
Originally Posted by alarmguy
Originally Posted by levi
Originally Posted by alarmguy


Anyway... I suggest checking this one AND 3 others of your choosing, if you have been with the same insurance company for more then 5 years, You ARE paying too much.
https://www.esurance.com



Having been with Allstate on auto and homeowners for some time, how or why would esurance recommend anyone else (for me) when they are owned by Allstate?

Not challenging your advice, just don't understand how they could be neutral on recommendations.

Huh?
Esurance is an insurance company they don't recommend anybody and if you've read my entire post that was one recommendation with the recommendation to check three others.



I did read your entire post. I even quoted the part with your recommendation to check three others. Maybe you didn't read my post.

Not being familiar with Esurance, I mistakenly thought they were a company that compared policies for you and then provided a recommendation, like The Zebra or Compare.com.


Its all good, yes, I know you quoted me but in your response you were questioning one company when I mentioned everyone should be checking 3 or more.

Again, no big deal... not the reason for my response, below is the reason *L*.

In case you aren't aware esurance.com is own by Allstate, Allstate purchased them in 2011. However the rates are better then Allstate for the majority of people, me included, I never in my life carried Allstate insurance, to expensive for me, no one comes close for me personally as esurance. As we know, insurance varies for everyone based on credit score, location, insurance history ect.

.. esurance is a wholly owned subsidiary of Allstate they still are their own business, which is online insurance only.
More or less, like many corporations, they own many brands and different profit models as well as different products.

For the life of me, (and I am trying) I just cant find a better price on car insurance, even though I just renewed my policy with them days ago. I was just one some websites trying to find a better price, if I found one, I would switch right away.

Unrelated = I switched homeowners insurance no less then 5 times over the last 13 years. Low price always wins, it has enabled me to keep my premium around 5 to $600 lower over those years, anytime there is a price increase, I simple find a better price. Heck, dont even know who they are off the top of my head, have to look in my files *L*
 
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Originally Posted by Chris142
We recently switched to Ameriprise through Costco. They absolutely smoked the competition in price.

Because of your post, I checked into it as well. Holy cow, the homeowner's was about 1/3 less and the automobile was less than half what I was paying through Nationwide. Thanks for the tip.
 
^^ Great to hear! ^^

and why people need to shop around ...
Being loyal to any insurance company simply means you are being loyal to their profit making... :o)
 
Be aware that while these nonstandard insurance companies may cost a lot less month to month, they very well may be nightmare to deal with when you submit a claim. Nonstandard companies almost always find ways to weasel out of paying legitimate claims in full. Best to read the fine print before putting your signature on anything.

Next time you're close to an automotive bodyshop, stop in and ask them which companies give the best service. Their answers may surprise you.
 
Originally Posted by GoldDot40
Be aware that while these nonstandard insurance companies may cost a lot less month to month, they very well may be nightmare to deal with when you submit a claim. Nonstandard companies almost always find ways to weasel out of paying legitimate claims in full. Best to read the fine print before putting your signature on anything.

Next time you're close to an automotive bodyshop, stop in and ask them which companies give the best service. Their answers may surprise you.


^^That to me would be asking my auto dealer, which is the best oil ^^

Price wins for me, always, also there is no such thing as "non standard" insurance company. Its either an insurance company or not and its the most regulated industry in the United States.
The rest is all marketing, just like oil. I have saved literally what must be over $10,000 on insurance over my lifetime by not being loyal to anyone but my wallet including gasoline I put in my vehicles, price wins ... :o)

I dont understand why people think their insurance company is special in some way anymore then what gas they put in their car or what brand milk they buy.
Insurance is a product, like any other product you may buy in a department store or supermarket. its all the same insurance. The rest is marketing, simply marketing for more dollars from your pocket.
 
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I think the customer service is the key. I've heard bad stories of people calling their cheap insurance company only to get someone in a call center on the other side of the planet. A lot of the work falls on to that person as well , paperwork's etc.

When I call my State Farm agent I talk to the person who knows me and sold me the policy. When our windshield was cracked by a truck thrown Rock our agent set up the replacement and the appointment to the glass shop. It was all done by email. I did nothing.

So yes, you can save money but the service may not be the same.
 
Originally Posted by alarmguy
In case you aren't aware esurance.com is own by Allstate, Allstate purchased them in 2011. However the rates are better then Allstate for the majority of people, me included, I never in my life carried Allstate insurance, to expensive for me, no one comes close for me personally as esurance. As we know, insurance varies for everyone based on credit score, location, insurance history ect.

.. esurance is a wholly owned subsidiary of Allstate they still are their own business, which is online insurance only.
More or less, like many corporations, they own many brands and different profit models as well as different products.


It's a paperwork hassle to switch companies. I did get a quote from Esurance, they were a little bit cheaper than Geico, but when I read the quote, the reason was that they were offing me a one time discount. Once you take out the discount, they would have been more money. I forget the exact amount, I don't think it was more than $100 or $200 and then they would have been more once the discount disappeared in 6 months and then it was like $300-$400 more. Wasn't worth doing all that switching back and forth just for $100 or $200 and then the danger of not doing it on time and then getting wacked and losing it all.
 
Originally Posted by PimTac
I think the customer service is the key. I've heard bad stories of people calling their cheap insurance company only to get someone in a call center on the other side of the planet. A lot of the work falls on to that person as well , paperwork's etc.

When I call my State Farm agent I talk to the person who knows me and sold me the policy. When our windshield was cracked by a truck thrown Rock our agent set up the replacement and the appointment to the glass shop. It was all done by email. I did nothing.

So yes, you can save money but the service may not be the same.


If OP wants liability only, lousy service is an additional punishment to whoever hits him, or sucks at getting out of the way.
lol.gif
 
Originally Posted by PimTac
I think the customer service is the key. I've heard bad stories of people calling their cheap insurance company only to get someone in a call center on the other side of the planet. A lot of the work falls on to that person as well , paperwork's etc.

When I call my State Farm agent I talk to the person who knows me and sold me the policy. When our windshield was cracked by a truck thrown Rock our agent set up the replacement and the appointment to the glass shop. It was all done by email. I did nothing.

So yes, you can save money but the service may not be the same.


Ive had State Farm for 30+ years and agree.
 
I don't need any service, just insurance :o)
All good though, we all buy things that make us happy and everyone has their thing.

As far as paperwork hassle?
There is no paperwork, sign up, print your cards, call your old ins company and cancel.
I can switch companies as fast as my fingers can enter my credit card information, anytime of the day, any day if the week.

Again not knocking anyones preference for services but clarifying some comments for others who are looking to save money and are not used to shopping for insurance, as what some call a hassle only takes 15 minutes for me.
It's no different then shopping for anything, just fire up that computer and get to work! Lol
 
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Originally Posted by alarmguy
Originally Posted by GoldDot40
Be aware that while these nonstandard insurance companies may cost a lot less month to month, they very well may be nightmare to deal with when you submit a claim. Nonstandard companies almost always find ways to weasel out of paying legitimate claims in full. Best to read the fine print before putting your signature on anything.

Next time you're close to an automotive bodyshop, stop in and ask them which companies give the best service. Their answers may surprise you.


^^That to me would be asking my auto dealer, which is the best oil ^^

Price wins for me, always, also there is no such thing as "non standard" insurance company. Its either an insurance company or not and its the most regulated industry in the United States.
The rest is all marketing, just like oil. I have saved literally what must be over $10,000 on insurance over my lifetime by not being loyal to anyone but my wallet including gasoline I put in my vehicles, price wins ... :o)

I dont understand why people think their insurance company is special in some way anymore then what gas they put in their car or what brand milk they buy.
Insurance is a product, like any other product you may buy in a department store or supermarket. its all the same insurance. The rest is marketing, simply marketing for more dollars from your pocket.

You couldn't be more wrong if you tried. May want to not argue a topic you obviously know nothing about. My sister-in-law has been in the insurance business for 30 years. There's a HUGE difference in quality of the product, rates and coverage you pay for through a nonstandard company vs standard insurance.

What is nonstandard insurance

Standard vs nonstandard insurance

standard vs nonstandard insurance #2
Hope you don't ever get hit by a person who is covered through a nonstandard insurance company like I did. I decided to fight them myself instead of paying the $250 deductible to file through my underinsured/uninsured clause. Talk about a nightmare. They did not want to pay but 1/2 of what it actually cost to repair my truck. They flat out refused (at first) to reimburse me for a rental. They also refused to pay for OE parts. They would not return calls. I called them every day for 3 weeks and got the run around.

I even called my state's insurance commissioner's office to report what was going on and was offered nothing but a cold shoulder. They actually used the phrase, "be wary of those nonstandard companies. The majority of our complaints are associated with such companies".

Their contact information was nearly nonexistent even to find on the internet. My research revealed a lot about the company...which is licensed in every state. I finally found a lead...which led to another then another. When I finally found the avenue to the top, I sent a very lengthy email with all of the facts of the claim along with threatening legal recourse for lost wages and broadcasting the story through a local news investigation team to expose them. I was issued a check the following day that covered the rental vehicle and paid off the body shop in full....but never a single apology.

...AND from what I understand, even though the other party had full coverage, they got an even worse run around than I did. It was THEIR OWN CLIENT.
 
Originally Posted by GoldDot40
You couldn't be more wrong if you tried. May want to not argue a topic you obviously know nothing about. My sister-in-law has been in the insurance business for 30 years. There's a HUGE difference in quality of the product, rates and coverage you pay for through a nonstandard company vs standard insurance.

That might explain things in regards to your response. I don't think he was referring to the technical definition of the insurers like you were, but only to the "Internet" ones as compared to the ones with old-style local agents.

I haven't had a local agent in 40 years and have had many claims of one sort or another. I've never had a problem with any of them.
 
^^thank you for clarifying ^^

Someone on one of these pages in this thread already took somebody's advice and got quotes on his home and car insurance through Costco Ameri phase and is going to save 33 to 50% on the insurance he has been buying on his cars and home.

I would be almost willing to bet even if he wasn't a Costco member One of any other number of insurance companies would have had a better price than what he was paying with his old Insurance Company. Maybe not as great as the Costco as that I cannot say but most likely would have saved something if he hasn't checked in a long time.

My personal experience has been the longer I stayed with any insurance company my rates would constantly creep up no matter how many discounts they told me I was getting I would always be able to find something less expensive.
Kind of like a sale in a department store where they list the retail price and then the discount but the thing is nobody ever really paid the retail price to begin with.
Absolutely true according to another post in here, some insurance companies will give you a first-year discount and then raise the price. If I experience that I simply log onto my computer and switch companies.
To my surprise e insurance on my vehicles has not raised my price I was expecting to have to switch and have not had to. I still can't find anybody cheaper but that doesn't mean all areas of the country of the same for any given Insurance Company
 
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