Insurance - Page 2

Pinecone · 01-20-2015, 05:55 AM

To me, service is more important than rates.

So take a bit to look at any of the surveys of clients about how they feel about how their insurance company treats them

State Farm normally gets very high marks. I have only dealt with them when filing a claim against one of their covered drivers, but it was EXTREMELY smooth and actually a pleasant experience.

I am with USAA, and have been for over 30 years (on my own, I have been covered by them from the first day I drove). I don't shop insurance, I just pay the bill.

But something like 98-99% of USAA customers have no intention of switching.

Biggins · 01-20-2015, 10:43 AM

State Farm has worked for me. I had a car stolen ~10 years ago, and they were great throughout the process.

They're probably slightly higher than some, but I got a quote from them on the Civic a few months back that was $30 less than her Geico policy with similar coverage.

I understand but get annoyed at the difference in rates from my Baltimore City ZIP vs. my old County ZIP despite having several more car vandalism/theft/etc issues when I lived in the county where it always seemed much less safe.

wdc330i · 01-20-2015, 11:57 AM

We have USAA. I haven't always loved their decisions, but they've always eventually paid and covered OEM parts.

lip277 · 01-20-2015, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SARAFIL

It's all about the distribution channel. Direct sellers like Geico and Progressive spend hundreds of millions in marketing to create buzz and awareness, but you know what? They still have a lower overall expense ratio and lower rates than most other carriers. The carriers that sell through independent agents focus more on selling business insurance and let the agents do marketing to get customers for personal insurance. But you know what? The money they aren't spending on TV ads, they are paying out in very healthy agent commissions to pay them for their time and effort generating business.

At the end of the day, I wouldn't let a TV ad turn you off. But I'd also be very cautious about buying from Gecko or Flo. There isn't any one right answer- the rates are so different for everyone that what works for you will be different than what works for someone else.

It's not about the money....
For me - It's more about the 'need to replace customers who leave because they are pissed off' - so to speak.

I don't care if my premium dollars go to marketing or commissions. The bottom line to me is how they treat their customers.

For those of you in the Seattle area (and maybe not even...) - take a look here if you can. A discussion on insurance companies by the owner of an auto body shop here (known for working on high end cars) and a lawyer... Both of them long time BMWCCA members...
If you have the time - Read through this..... It is a few years old now - but still interesting....

My two cents...

lupinsea · 01-20-2015, 01:34 PM

Thanks for the heads up. I'll certainly be looking through the thread.

Good customer service at the time of an accident is worth it to me not do deal with nickel and dime BS.

JST · 01-20-2015, 02:05 PM

I had multiple claims with Progressive, who I used for many years. In each case, the body shop owner would bitch and moan about how much of a PITA they were, but from my standpoint I didn't have any trouble at all (other than having to listen to the body shop guy complain when I dropped the car off).

At some point I switched to Chubb, and had a number of folks tell me that they were really good. I had a couple of claims with them, too, and they were much more irritating than Progressive. Delays in getting inspections done, snafus with getting claims initiated, etc. My favorite was how if you called on the weekend, they would set up a temporary claim…but if you called back on a weekday, the normal claim people had no idea how to locate the temporary claim.

When I bought the Tesla, Chubb quoted me a premium essentially double what I'd been paying for the wagon. Progressive's premium was half that, about the same as what I'd been paying before. I didn't regret switching back.

SARAFIL · 01-20-2015, 07:36 PM

Ok, so I'll admit I'm surprised to hear you guys put service that high on the list vs price. Kind of refreshing... Seems like everyone is about $$ these days.

USAA generally has a great reputation but requires military connection to join. Chubb is top-notch for high value homeowners insurance (they are #1 in service and product offering if you have a high value home or other valuables) but they don't have a strong auto product and it's not really a priority for them. Besides that, there are good and bad carriers and it really depends on where you are and what you need.

Happy to share my thoughts on any other specific companies if you are wondering

Terri Kennedy · 01-20-2015, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SARAFIL

Chubb is top-notch for high value homeowners insurance (they are #1 in service and product offering if you have a high value home or other valuables) but they don't have a strong auto product and it's not really a priority for them.

I had Chubb for my Atom (via the Grundy car collector program) for a couple of weeks, but then they sent me a letter that pretty much said "We just looked at what an Atom is and paniced. Here's your premium back, have a nice day."

Grundy was baffled by this (apparently Chubb is covering at least two real Formula 1 cars for them), but moved the policy to another carrier.

I should probably frame the cancellation letter.

zach · 01-21-2015, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SARAFIL

Ok, so I'll admit I'm surprised to hear you guys put service that high on the list vs price. Kind of refreshing... Seems like everyone is about $$ these days.

USAA generally has a great reputation but requires military connection to join. Chubb is top-notch for high value homeowners insurance (they are #1 in service and product offering if you have a high value home or other valuables) but they don't have a strong auto product and it's not really a priority for them. Besides that, there are good and bad carriers and it really depends on where you are and what you need.

Happy to share my thoughts on any other specific companies if you are wondering

Eh, it doesn't shock me that this group is willing to pay a bit more to get decent service and have the repairs done correctly. We care about our cars 10x more than the average person, even within the same income brackets.

I switched to Liberty Mutual for home / umbrella / automobiles a few years ago. My auto premium went up a ton when we moved (for stupid reasons, I think), but we got another increase last year and I just didn't have time to shop around. Might be time to do so. This is a helpful thread.

lupinsea · 01-21-2015, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SARAFIL

Ok, so I'll admit I'm surprised to hear you guys put service that high on the list vs price. Kind of refreshing... Seems like everyone is about $$ these days.

$$ is important but part of that is what you get for what you are paying for. Sounds like many here value a higher level of service or customer satisfaction so the $$ is well spent.

I like to save money on many things but I don't always buy the cheapest thing out there. It's a valance of value. Somethings I don't value much, others I do.

01-20-2015, 05:55 AM	#11
Pinecone Carmudgeon Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,717	To me, service is more important than rates. So take a bit to look at any of the surveys of clients about how they feel about how their insurance company treats them State Farm normally gets very high marks. I have only dealt with them when filing a claim against one of their covered drivers, but it was EXTREMELY smooth and actually a pleasant experience. I am with USAA, and have been for over 30 years (on my own, I have been covered by them from the first day I drove). I don't shop insurance, I just pay the bill. But something like 98-99% of USAA customers have no intention of switching. __________________ Terry Carraway 2002 Topaz E46 M3 2000 Dakar M Roadster 1995 Alpine E36 M3 LTW 1990 Red/White Spec Racer

01-20-2015, 01:34 PM	#15
lupinsea Jeeped Join Date: Sep 2005 Carmudgeonly Ride: Modified Jeep Tj and '07 Miata Location: Seattle Posts: 10,214	Thanks for the heads up. I'll certainly be looking through the thread. Good customer service at the time of an accident is worth it to me not do deal with nickel and dime BS. __________________ . My website "Jeep is the only true American sports car" - Enzo Ferrari Or something to that effect.

01-20-2015, 07:36 PM	#17
SARAFIL I like BMWs Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: X5 M50 / M550 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 5,786	Ok, so I'll admit I'm surprised to hear you guys put service that high on the list vs price. Kind of refreshing... Seems like everyone is about $$ these days. USAA generally has a great reputation but requires military connection to join. Chubb is top-notch for high value homeowners insurance (they are #1 in service and product offering if you have a high value home or other valuables) but they don't have a strong auto product and it's not really a priority for them. Besides that, there are good and bad carriers and it really depends on where you are and what you need. Happy to share my thoughts on any other specific companies if you are wondering __________________ 2020 X5 M50i -- Alpine White / Coffee Leather 2020 M550i -- Carbon Black / Beige Leather

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01-20-2015, 10:43 AM	#12
Biggins Crotchety Join Date: Aug 2007 Carmudgeonly Ride: 22 Tiguan, 11 328i Posts: 912	State Farm has worked for me. I had a car stolen ~10 years ago, and they were great throughout the process. They're probably slightly higher than some, but I got a quote from them on the Civic a few months back that was $30 less than her Geico policy with similar coverage. I understand but get annoyed at the difference in rates from my Baltimore City ZIP vs. my old County ZIP despite having several more car vandalism/theft/etc issues when I lived in the county where it always seemed much less safe.

01-20-2015, 11:57 AM	#13
wdc330i dogged Join Date: Dec 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: '22 M440 xDrive GC Posts: 13,282	We have USAA. I haven't always loved their decisions, but they've always eventually paid and covered OEM parts.

01-20-2015, 02:05 PM	#16
JST 195 Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 24,607	I had multiple claims with Progressive, who I used for many years. In each case, the body shop owner would bitch and moan about how much of a PITA they were, but from my standpoint I didn't have any trouble at all (other than having to listen to the body shop guy complain when I dropped the car off). At some point I switched to Chubb, and had a number of folks tell me that they were really good. I had a couple of claims with them, too, and they were much more irritating than Progressive. Delays in getting inspections done, snafus with getting claims initiated, etc. My favorite was how if you called on the weekend, they would set up a temporary claim…but if you called back on a weekday, the normal claim people had no idea how to locate the temporary claim. When I bought the Tesla, Chubb quoted me a premium essentially double what I'd been paying for the wagon. Progressive's premium was half that, about the same as what I'd been paying before. I didn't regret switching back.