Car insurance "My Rate"

[RollTideRam]

I just changed car insurance to try and save some money. I went with Progressive. When figuring online there was an option called "My Rate". I checked the box on it because it was the cheapest rate. I did not read the fine print. Yesterday we got a small box in the mail. It had three little boxes in it. I am supposed to plug each little box into the OBD II port on each vehicle. It says it keep track of when, where, how fast and how safe I drive. I can opt out of this at any time. Does anyone have this type of coverage? It seems wrong somehow to me. JC

 

[SnowRidge]

Contact your state insurance commissioner or equivalent right away. They should be able to tell you if everything about that is legit in your state.

 

[Wayne County Hose]

Some vehicles already come from the factory with the "black box." I would send them back for recycling. It "says" it keeps track of how safe you drive. No, it keeps track of how unsafe you drive.

I do know of body shops that won't accept claims from progressive as they are such a bear to deal with. Just remember, you get what you pay for.

If it feels wrong, it probably is.

 

[thatguy]

There seems to always be a catch to the best rates... I have never heard of this though..

Brian

 

[skidoo]

Snip... Just remember, you get what you pay for.

... snip

I see people say this all the time. But, I think it is backwards.. You pay for what you get, but you don't always get what you pay for...


Also, for companies like Progressive, where do you think all that money comes from to pay all of their advertising? If a company advertises a lot, its not likely that you will get the best value because something has to pay for the ads. Hmm, I wonder if that applies to elections too?

 

[RollTideRam]

I went with them to save $300 every six months. I was with Allstate last. I checked three other companies (Major companies) and they were all within $50 of Allstate, even the lizard company. I will check to see how much the rate goes up without the "My Rate". JC

 

[kthompson]

As an insurance agent who did but no longer sells auto insurance companies like Progressive are not ones I care for but that has to do with the way they deal with agents and play them against the consumer. It use to be illegal for there to be any difference in rates in coverage regardless of how you bought such as toll free number or agent. That is not true in our state for auto now and may be the same in other states. But the way Progressive belittles agents gets me. Now some don't provide any service ok and I will say that first. But I have never found the toll free number or web site people take the time to explain such as those boxes UNLESS YOU ASK FIRST.

No idea how Progressive is about paying claims but there sure are some out there that are about as sorry as sorry can be. I tell people, listen to their ads, and what person brain level of person does that kind of ad appeal to?

Just know as the reference was made about elections, (now not sure of his relationship with Progressive if largest stockholder or owner or what) is very large contributor to the Democrat party or was for a good while.

 

[Bird]

In spite of the ads they used to send all the time, I did not join AAA until about 6 years ago. I initially joined simply so my wife could call them in the event of a flat tire or vehicle breakdown, but then they offered lower premiums for my auto insurance than I was paying Allstate (I was warned nearly 45 years ago to stay away from Allstate and should have listened), so I went with AAA for my auto insurance. Then when we bought this house a little over 3 years ago, they offered lower premiums on a homeowners policy than I found elsewhere. So now I have auto and homeowners insurance with AAA. They've been the best premiums for the coverage I have, but since I've not had a claim, I don't know how good they'll be if that happens.

 

[SnowRidge]

I see people say this all the time. But, I think it is backwards.. You pay for what you get, but you don't always get what you pay for...

Here's mine:

You always pay for what you get. You sometimes get what you pay for, but you never get what you don't pay for.

 

[ultrarunner]

So now I have auto and homeowners insurance with AAA. They've been the best premiums for the coverage I have, but since I've not had a claim, I don't know how good they'll be if that happens.

My extended family has slowly switched to CSAA, the Northern California AAA.

The main reason for the switch is California has gone through several phases where home and auto companies pull out and non-renew policies... and it leaves all those affected scrambling for coverage.

Conventional wisdom is CSAA will never leave California because this is the only place they do business... plus northern Nevada.

Last year, during the Tahoe Angora fire, CSAA called my mom and asked if there was anything she needed. The agent said they had resources available to help her move household items, create a fire break and private fire-fighters on the ground. Thankfully the fire never got closer than 3 miles... but it's nice to know the company is pro-active...

 

[Bird]

I guess I really don't know enough about AAA. I had always just thought of it as a nationwide company, but then learned there are state (chapters, divisions, or whatever?), and yes, mine is Texas AAA. You can do most business with them on the telephone, but they do have an office nearby. One concern I've had is that every time I go by their office, the insurance personnel have changed. And not all of their personnel are real knowledgeable. When I bought this house, I just called about a homeowners policy and, Wow! the premiums were much cheaper than I'd been quoted by others. But then I learned that they have 3 different levels of homeowners policies and she had quoted the basic one for the amount of coverage I requested. While the premiums were still the best, they were only slightly better than some others when I went with their top of the line "Premium" policy.

But I'm glad to hear they treated your mom well.

 

[Sigarms]

Insurance is nothing more than a state/federal sponsored form of organized crime.

Better off taking your chances playing the lottery, another form of government sponsored crime.

 

[Egon]

I did not read the fine print. Yesterday we got a small box in the mail. It had three little boxes in it. I am supposed to plug each little box into the OBD II port on each vehicle. It says it keep track of when, where, how fast and how safe I drive. I can opt out of this at any time. Does anyone have this type of coverage?

Maybe you should read the fine print!

It could save a pile of hassle!

 

[jkelley8]

Has anyone had experience buying thru AARP. I was shocked to get a
quote at about 45% of what I am currently paying Allstate. As best I
can determine the coverage is equal. The insurer is Hartford Ins Co.
so it`s not like someone new in the business.

It`s that too good to be true worry I have about this.

 

[ray66v]

No idea how Progressive is about paying claims but there sure are some out there that are about as sorry as sorry can be. I tell people, listen to their ads, and what person brain level of person does that kind of ad appeal to?

Just know as the reference was made about elections, (now not sure of his relationship with Progressive if largest stockholder or owner or what) is very large contributor to the Democrat party or was for a good while.

I've spent 30+ years in the Auto Body industry, and one thing you have to realize is there is a lot more to auto insurance than price.

There are all kinds of slick marketing programs that are set up to make you "feel" good. What you don't see, is the way some of these companies are, behind the scenes. In order to give cut rates, and offer extra service, while maintaining high profits, they force the repairer to work for less, sometimes much less, than the job requires to be done properly.

As a worst case example; Progressive, was BY FAR the worst company I have EVER dealt with.

Yes, I have heard from people on TBN, who were very satisfied with the service they received, from Progressive. I personally am NOT interested in hearing from anyone else who thinks their great. Call Progressive, and tell them. (If they only knew)..

As far as the owner goes, what is a synonym for progressive ?

Insurance companies have antitrust exemptions, that allow them to do business in ways, that would in other industries, be illegal. To keep their edge, they also don't just buy politicians directly, one I know of, makes HUGE donations to an organization that constantly sues Americans, claiming to protect their civil liberties. Do some Google searching if you care.

 

[Bird]

Has anyone had experience buying thru AARP. I was shocked to get a
quote at about 45% of what I am currently paying Allstate. As best I
can determine the coverage is equal. The insurer is Hartford Ins Co.
so it`s not like someone new in the business.

It`s that too good to be true worry I have about this.

I've been a member of AARP for almost 19 years, and at least two or three times over the years, I've contacted them about the Hartford auto insurance, but each time they quoted higher premiums than I was already paying.

 

[Sigarms]

Remember the good old days when AARP was in bed with colonial life?

Funny that the goverment busted that scam. I just can't figure out who ticked who off to make it public.

 

[tallyho8]

If I could get a black box put on my 3 vehicles and save $300 every 6 months, I would jump at it. I feel like I am a safe enough driver that I don't care who knows it and besides, if the black box tells them that I am not driving safely enough, the worst they can do is not renew my insurance and then I can go with a company without a black box and pay more. But at least I will save money all the time I have the black box.

I had Geico for 25 years until I moved 3 miles down the road and they raised my rates $700 a year saying that I was moving into a location that had more claims. Then I switched to Allstate because their rates were the lowest and also had 10% more off both policies if I had my homeowners with them. After Katrina they dropped my wind and storm part of the policy and notified us that if we drop our auto insurance with them that they are going to drop the rest of our homeowners policy. Since no other company is writing homeowners poicies in our area, I have to stick with them or else.

AARP (Hartford) will write policies in our area without wind and storm insurance but they quoted me $400 more than Allstate.

A lady ran into my car 3 years ago and she had Allstate insurance also. The police found her at fault and gave her a ticket. Since Allstate insured both motorists, they said the lady was 90% at fault and I was 10% at fault so that they only had to pay 90% of my claim. Also, this kept me from dropping my Allstate insurance for many years because since I have an "at fault" accident on my record, no other company will insure me with the lowest premiums, so I will have to pay much more if I get a different insurer.

Allstate
Geico
AARP
Progressive

 

[2YD]

Not to high-jack the thread but I am shopping insurance for the first time in years since I bought a new home (ranchette) & first tractor. I contacted the usual suspects and have narrowed it down to Farm Bureau and Country Insurance. Each have pretty competitive rates for home/auto and each can shoe-horn in the tractor for off premises usage. After 24 years with Farmer's (who refuses to insure a farm ) can anyone comment on the service they've received from FB or Country?

 

[blueriver]

shoe-horn in the tractor for off premises usage. QUOTE]

Is this a homeowners policy or farm and ranch?