Speaking of insurance.....

[clemsonfor]

Storm you did not reply to what i said to you. You must agree that some agencys are slimy no good companies then.

 

[Mike Costello]

Texas has the mandatory liability insurance requirement, too, but everything I've seen is estimates that 25% of the drivers on the roads in Texas do not have the required insurance. So, yep, lots of us do carry the uninsured/underinsured coverage for which we pay, in addition to the rest of our insurance.

I carry uninsured/underinsured coverage because there are just too many people out there who won't take responsibility. When I lived in California, the state required proof of insurance before you could register a vehicle for the road or if you were stopped and couldn't provide proof. So what do these people do--purchase insurance, pay 1 months worth of premium long enough to get the proof they need, and then drop the policy after they register the vehicle or pay the ticket.

My wife was hit by a guy who had no insurance, no registration, and no current plates. He walked away from his wrecked car before the cops got there, and didn't even care if she was hurt or not. My insurance picked up the tab. Some justice! Thankfully, she wasn't hurt, just really shook up.

 

[Storm56]

Storm you did not reply to what i said to you. You must agree that some agencys are slimy no good companies then.

Clem - Some agents and agencies are not worth the space they take up.

 

[clemsonfor]

I carry uninsured/underinsured coverage because there are just too many people out there who won't take responsibility. When I lived in California, the state required proof of insurance before you could register a vehicle for the road or if you were stopped and couldn't provide proof. So what do these people do--purchase insurance, pay 1 months worth of premium long enough to get the proof they need, and then drop the policy after they register the vehicle or pay the ticket.

My wife was hit by a guy who had no insurance, no registration, and no current plates. He walked away from his wrecked car before the cops got there, and didn't even care if she was hurt or not. My insurance picked up the tab. Some justice! Thankfully, she wasn't hurt, just really shook up.

Here in SC if you drop insurance the company reports to the State that you dropped coverage every month or so, to avoid that. They will flag or suspend your registration if that happens, but they still will drive unisured though. Same thing if i buy a car and never get tags or insurance on it whats stopping me untill i get pulled, nothing?

 

[clemsonfor]

Clem - Some agents and agencies are not worth the space they take up.

Agreed, the ones i have listed are major ones though, not something like Jons House of Insurance. Farm Bueareau was the best of the three others i talked to but there rates were not near what they spoke about.

 

[RoadHogg]

I also had them switch my automobile policies from my local rude agent to them.

That will teach them.

I doubt it. There's no accounting for stupidity and incompetence.

 

[rjkobbeman]

So, are some people saying they should not have to have liability insurance in order to drive their car?

This thread seems to be all over the board, and I agree with a lot of statements. But requiring insurance to drive your car does not seem bad to me.

 

[MossRoad]

No, my dilemma isn't insurance, it is the government telling me I have to have it. I don't want to pay for something because the government mandates me to. It is as simple as that.

So you're against mandatory childhood vaccinations, all forms of taxation and social security, too, right?

 

[rpeter]

Getting insurance on my tractor was the least my my insurance worries. I am also one of those people who do not yet have a house on my land. However; I do have a six acre pond. I had major problems trying to get liability coverage because of the pond.

YES the answer was going to an agent who dealt with and knew farms. That means you cannot talk to any of the national companies. The local farm people had dealt with my problems on other properties and knew what companies to deal with.

 

[rjkobbeman]

No, my dilemma isn't insurance, it is the government telling me I have to have it. I don't want to pay for something because the government mandates me to. It is as simple as that.

So you don't think you should have to have insurance to drive?

 

[ccsial]

Illinois requires insurance. You are asked for your policy number on your plate renewal. But, I know three people this year that have been hit by drivers with no insurance. These people have nothing and have no way to pay for damages. The law simply does not work in my opinion. The responsible people have insurance and the others don't, law or no law.

I was discussing this with my wife earlier this year and she said she has not even noticed the insurance request on the back of her plate renewal and has never filled them out. She still got the plates. I guess they don't bother to check anything.

 

[tungularafishcamp]

Are there any states left that don't have mandatory insurance laws? We got it here a few years ago, doesnt seem to be working as there are still lotsa uninsured motorists out there and my USAA rates have risen 3 times in the last 5 years with no claims by me or my family, go figure??

 

[adjusterr]

Storm 56: Thanks for being the voice of reason in this never ending controversy. The insurance industry has always been the subject of complaints by both policyholders and claimants, primarily because the complainants never take the time and effort to read the policy they purchased or, in the case of claimants, to study enough law to understand why a claim was not paid. I worked as a Multi-line Claims Adjuster from 1968 until I closed my business and retired in 2005. What many people fail to understand is the insurance policy is a simple contract and the terms of that contract spell out what and how much the company will pay. The agent or adjuster does not have the authority to decide whether or not a claim will be paid or how much will be paid. The adjuster is charged with the responsibility of investigating the circumstances and applying the terms of the policy, the policy determines coverage and payment. Unfortunately, as with any industry, there are some power-mad bums in the adjusting business, they make it rough on those of us who worked hard to complete the claims process in an honorable fashion. I have never settled a claim with an individual, whether by payment or denial, that I could not later meet and speak with that person. There are always stories about the adjuster who wouldn't pay a claim but seldom do you hear of the adjuster or agent who showed up at a loss in the middle of the night and helped the policyholder or claimant through a very trying situation. Thanks again for your contribution.

 

[mjncad]

Before my wife and I got married, State Farm would not insure us for homeowners and auto policies because we were shacked up at the time in spite of clean driving records and a claim free record on my house.

I called up Allstate, and they said no problem, come on over.

Mind you, I still think of insurance as a legalized protection racket, and insurance agents/salesmen as little better than politicians and lawyers.

 

[kenstrac]

Are there any states left that don't have mandatory insurance laws? We got it here a few years ago, doesnt seem to be working as there are still lotsa uninsured motorists out there and my USAA rates have risen 3 times in the last 5 years with no claims by me or my family, go figure??

NH dosn't require insurance unless you have a bad driving record or a DWI.

 

[ccsial]

My biggest fear in all this is that someday auto insurance is going to end up like health care. Gummint insurance.

 

[aczlan]

But, I know three people this year that have been hit by drivers with no insurance. These people have nothing and have no way to pay for damages. The law simply does not work in my opinion. The responsible people have insurance and the others don't, law or no law.

That is why I carry a underinsured/uninsured driver rider on my auto policy. It is a few dollars more (~$60 every 6 months for $100k/person, $300k/accident on both cars), but if some uninsured person hits my car, I want it taken care of.
According to my ins co, it is mandatory to carry $25k/person, $50k/accident uninsured motorist coverage in NYS

Aaron Z

 

[Bird]

That is why I carry a underinsured/uninsured driver rider on my auto policy. It is a few dollars more (~$60 every 6 months for $100k/person, $300k/accident on both cars), but if some uninsured person hits my car, I want it taken care of.
According to my ins co, it is mandatory to carry $25k/person, $50k/accident uninsured motorist coverage in NYS

Aaron Z

Texas, too, only requires 25k/50k/25k coverage at the current time, but as of January 1, 2011, that increases to 30k/60k/25k. That will cover most fender benders, but could be far short in a serious accident. So I, too, carry 100k/300k/100k liability insurance. My 100k/300k/25k uninsured/underinsured coverage for 2 vehicles currently costs me $88 a year. I do prefer the annual policies to the 6 month policies some companies sell.