[insite94]

Hi All, and Happy New Year!



I've done a search but can't find any postings on the QUALITY of the insurance companies that provide coverage for our cars. We are finally making a permanent move to California and are looking to re-rate for that state.



Since my car is a daily driver in which I put over 20,000 miles per year, I can't do a "stated value" policy. But I want to avoid valuation arguements and hassles, delays, etc. should I ever need to make a claim.



Let's hear it from the list...Putting price aside for the purposes of discussion, who is happy with the QUALITY and service in which their claims were handled and who is the company?



Thanks in advance for the responses!



Best,



Buzz

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[flash]

actually, you can do a stated value, but there are limits to the benefits of the policy - ring me up and i'll give you the details



after going through an awful lot of research, i ended up with AAA - it isn't the cheapest, but it's pretty good, and the payouts of claims are much easier



you get what you pay for with insurance

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[Harvey]

There are some bad companies out there...but you won't know until you have a claim.



Harvey

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[insite94]

Exactly, Harvey. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> That's I'm hoping to avoid by getting input from the list.

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[ds968]

copied from my reply the other site..



quote:

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You'll never know how good your company is until you have a claim then you find out what they are really like.

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Truer words were never spoken. I have worked with the commercial insurance industry for over two decades and the same stands true.

Focusing on saving a few dollars on the front end ( premium ) can kick you so hard in the a** when you have a claim, your head will spin, and the negative dollar impact, aside from all the heartache

and hassles you go trough to get a fair resolution can be exponetially worse..



I'm not implying that ALL lower cost insurers have lousy claim service, some very price-competitive ones are actually among the ones with least complaints, but more often than not there is a relationship..



Do some online researh ( or contact ) your State's Insurance Commissioner's office, and/or the BBB, and other Consumer Affairs agencies and get a list of insurers with the most and the least number of complaints filed against them - it's a very telling list which shoud give you a more educated decision process.

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[perbal]

I've been with the same company for over 25 years, AMICA Mutual. It has consistently been rated No. 1 by Consumer Reports and I've never had a problem, yet. However, they do charge higher rates for our cars. But once it turns 15, they say I'll get reduced rates. Also, you can expect a 25% to 33% refund every year. Oh, they also used to require that you be recommended by a member, but I don't know if that still applies. Good Luck! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/cool.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



Perbal

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[Harvey]

Just within the last month, I did a major investigation of insurance companies trying to get all my cars and my house in an umbrella policy...never made it. No one would do them all. I heat my house primarily with wood and many companies won't insure. In Idaho, a lot of us do that. It's sporting to cut down huge trees and whack them up.



Also, the locals, Allstate, Farmers, Liberty, etc., etc. companies have some nice reps but the difference on insurance on my Audi TT differed by $420 with one company...while that same company was cheaper on another rig of mine...and one company would not accept Porsche 911s but would accept 928s and 968s and another would take the 928 but not the 968.....ad nauseum...



So, I did a rough spreadsheet...and not wanting to write a half dozen checks each month to 6 diff. companies (I have six rigs) I just figured that Geico was about as good as I was going to get. They now have a collector's car policy that will accept tht 928 but not the 968...but overall, I'm paying several hundred dollars less than the competition. Also, my kids have been in wrecks before and we were treated reasonably by Geico. What I don't like about Geico is the way they're squirrely about giving you quotes...prices based on mileage, use, etc. but if you have a price quote from somewhere else and tell them, they usually can recrunch the numbers and beat the offer. I'd really rather have gotton a local rep but the money I'd save over a few years would buy me another car or pay for a lot of parts.



I'd still be open to another company but I gave up. The major companies are about the same it seems. Some smaller companies are a pain.



BTW, if you do the online quote thing, you'll get inundated with online Geico wannabes...many of which looked questionable to me...with really low quotes...but following them up I figured that I'd be SOL if I ever had a claim after looking at the fine print. At least Geico has a big name and reputation to live up to....and the local insurers just sighed and said that it was a shame that Geico was taking so miuch of their business but there wasn't much they could do on pricing.



It was a very frustrating experience and I had hoped to have found something better. I've been with Geico for more than 7years now. Hope you can do better.



With GEico, non collector policy, you can add or drop a car with a 30-day minimum. Some make you sign up for 6 mons or a year, minimum. If you don't drive in the winter, why pay for those months?



HH

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[flash]

reviews of geico from people i've known who have used them and now switched (i don't know anybody who stayed):



great rates

extremely poor customer service - impersonal and hard to access

rates dramatically adjusted with a claim

slow payout on claims

difficult to get an adjuster to the site



insurance is tough - it's something you hope you never have to use, so you want to pay as little as you can, but then when you do use it, you want it to compensate you appropriately, and be an easy process - unfortunately, one does not seem to coincide with the other



my best recommendation is to go with a company with whom you can establish a personal relationship, and one that has an office with adjusters right there in your area - also, investigate their protocol on rates and how they are affected by claims



my position on this has flipped 180 degrees from years ago - now, i pay a bit more than i could probably get away with, but i know from personal experience that the process is easy when it comes to filing a claim - to me, it's worth the extra money for that comfort zone - after all, i've been hit 4 times in 2 years, never at fault, and twice not even in the car - this is an entirely new perspective for me, but one i'm glad my other half talked me into

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[Jacks968]

I have USAA - and though they are "highly" rated in many guides with a low complaint rate with the Wash State Ins. Commissioner .... I still had a battle with them when they totaled my 964. Seems the process is - (and I was told it is like this with all Ins Co's on Totals) They low ball the value & Compairables in the market to force you to abitrate. Eventually my own research - direct contact with the appraiser - and complaints to the Ins Comm Office and President of USAA got me a reasonable settlement. But after all is said and done I am sticking with them cause I have not found a better option.

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[insite94]

Thanks for the input, gentlemen. I've received quotes from Safeco, State Farm, AAA, and Geico, with whom I'm currently insured. Much like Harvey's experience, they've been all over the board on pricing and conditions. Geico has been the least expensive by far. Another company, progressive, who advertises that they are "cheaper most of the time" was twice as expensive as any other quote. I have 3 cars to insure - my 968 (daily driver), my wife's 911 (PCA concour winner and insurance "classic"), and the family Honda (daily driver).



Anyway, researching the CA insurance commissioners turned up this:



http://www.insurance.ca.gov/0100-consumers...-auto-insur.cfm



In a nutshell, it shows that being expensive is not a guaranty of quality. Complaint ratios run high for expensive companies (Progressive), below average for slightly expensive (CSAA, AAA), and average for the cheapest (Geico), at least in California.



On Perbal's suggestion, I will contact them too. Looking like staying with Geico for the price, as I have heard success stories from other claimants I've talked with. AAA/CSAA looks good for the "no questions asked" peace of mind.



Still shopping...will see. Thanks all for the input!

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[Harvey]

Still shopping...will see. Thanks all for the input!

[right][post="14150"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right]

[/quote]



Keep us posted on this. I'm always open to finding a better company. I just know that some companies are worse than others. Really not sure who's better. When the guy ran the stoplight and t-boned my pickup, I spent much of a year fighting with his insurance company before settling for 4 times what they initially offered (Custom pickup, liability ins only). Very frustrating experience and I'm sure most people would have given up before I did. And I think most companies count on most people giving up early or settling on the courthouse steps. They tell me that it helps keep their rates down. Maybe they're right? Saves them millions each year.



I'm applying for an "agreed to" value on my 928. 968's still too new.



Harvey

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[insite94]

Harvey -



Not that this makes it any easier, but Geico's "subsidiary" that writes classic policies is called ATLAS Insurance, which is underwritten by American Modern Insurance Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Midland Company (symbol:MLAN) based in Ohio.



They offer "exotic" coverage on 968's because of their age. But we are limited to 1000 miles per year and an automatic $1000 deductible. Premium is roughly $260/yr. for a value of $15,000 <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/dry.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> Hardly worth it.



The only thing that I can take to the bank so far is that if I'm calling a phone center to make a claim, I'm probably going to get headaches, delays, and grief. A national company with presence everywhere - agents or locations - has a reputation to protect to keep their insured coming back for more. Insurance commissioner stats support that. AAA is rated the highest of the majors in CA, State Farm isn't far behind, then Allstate; then Geico, followed by Mercury, Allstate, Progressive, with others interspersed. Smaller companies start to look pretty ugly based on the rate of justified complaints/insureds (see the link in my earlier post)



FWIW, I was told by my State Farm agent that a comprehensive claim should NEVER cause your auto rates to rise - at least not with them. Flash says the same of AAA.



I'll keep the list posted. Thanks for your input.



Buzz

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[Harvey]

A friend just did $8k damage when he rolled his pickup (his fault) and AIG paid right up to get it fixed.



Harvey

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[earossi]

I have used Nationwide for my home and auto insurance for about 15 years and am satisfied. There was a "time", weveral years ago, when we seemed to be accident prone. Both my wife and one of my young sons were involved in minor fender benders. Nationwide provided good service, did not cancel any of us out, and did NOT raise my rates the next year. Of course, those were my only claims in the time that I have been with them (since 1989).



I have had coverage for my 911, 944, and now the 968 with them, and the rates were not huge. The 968 costs me about $900 per year, for full coverage with 100 dollar deductible on comp and collision.............and a $300,000 cap on the policy. That also includes medical and UIM.



Anyone else out there have a positive (or negative) experience with Nationwide?



Incidentally, since I put less than 5K miles a year on the car, I explored insuring the 968 with Haggerty. Their rate was about 2/3 of Nationwide, but they would not write me since my one son, that lives at home, has several heavy foot citations on his record. They did offer to write me if I would sign a clause stating that I would be the only driver of the car..........since my son loves the car as much as I do, I could not sign such an agreement.

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[Ledhedsymbols]

I was with Progressive with my 944, and was overall very underwhelmed by their service. I switched to Geico after returning from my last sea tour and bought the 968 (about three years ago.) In that time, Geico has replaced all the locks and the ignition under my comprehensive policy. My home was robbed and spare car keys stolen. No increase in premium. The car was being worked on two days later.

I was in a fender bender last spring (my fault) and again, the service was great. I met with the adjuster the next day, the 968 was in the shop the day after.

When I deal with them, I call a specific military number. I always get a real person (no menu at all) and have had nothing but great service from them. They also give hefty discounts on top of already fairly low premiums because I am affiliated with military organizations.

If you are a Vet (not pony and kitty variety) you could talk to their military branch. It has been nothing but good results for me.

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[ether_joe]

[quote name='perbal' date='Jan 4 2006, 12:09 PM']I've been with the same company for over 25 years, AMICA Mutual.  It has consistently been rated No. 1 by Consumer Reports and I've never had a problem, yet.  However, they do charge higher rates for our cars.  But once it turns 15, they say I'll get reduced rates.  Also, you can expect a 25% to 33% refund every year.  Oh, they also used to require that you be recommended by a member, but I don't know if that still applies.  Good Luck!  <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/cool.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />[/quote]



+1



BTW I got a policy that was 1/2 what others were quoting me. They screen a lot of customers out, some of my friends can't get Amica policies due to their record.



Local office plus nationwide 24/7. The people who do the policy are in the local office. Quick service for my fender benders, traffic incidents etc. Never had anythind serious with them though. (thankfully)

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[Larry Currie]

Depending on what rating you look at, AMICA Mutual, USAA, and State Farm are going to have the best service ratings. I'm in the business, so I track the companies service ratings and rates. Sometimes we blow GEICO away with our rates, sometimes they blow us away. I'm out of town now, but I've got the lastest ratings at my office of the top 10 companies if anyone is interested. Latest with JD Powers was AMICA #1 and State Farm #2.

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