Car insurance story !!!

[wproct]

My learning experience with car insurance, I'll try to be brief. I pull into a strip mall to look for a cellphone case. As I stopped and was waiting on another car to get out of the way another driver backed out and hit my car on the driver's side. It was a young fellow and he jumped out of his car saying "sorry, my bad". He produces a valid insurance card and I had called the police to have them do an accident report. As the officer was completing the report I noticed he did not state who was at fault. I asked him why and he informed me that they do not determine at fault on a parking lot accident. He says "you are on your own in that regard". A day later I get a call from a lady who was the owner of the car the young guy was driving and she told me that she had gotten a letter from her insurance company a week earlier saying the policy was cancelled due to the young driver having prior accidents. So, it was up to me and my insurance company. She said she would try to reimburse me if she could afford it. You can guess whether or not I ever received a dime from her.

 

[GypsmJim]

Jim, I hear what you say, but you Don't want to drop their company NOW.......They have to get this resolved first......Yes, contact the Police and say you want to make a complaint. By dropping their insurance NOW, they would also be driving illegally.....Also, right now they have an "Open Claim"....When there is an Open Claim and I don't care what state you are in, all the new companies will come out and tell you: "You have to get your situation worked out and Closed, before we can even take a look at it".......Do Not Do This Now. You will have other options later on. Don't jump ship now as that would be very bad to do now......Jim, I can understand your thoughts of anger about insurance companies, but they have to play it smart right now...

OF COURSE NOT NOW. Regardless, we should all be looking for a new and better insurance company EVERY year.

 

[Kevin]

OF COURSE NOT NOW. Regardless, we should all be looking for a new and better insurance company EVERY year.

The manager of the car repair shop where my wife took her car told us the best auto insurance companies are the ones that don't advertise. But of course they are probably more expensive.

And we couldn't live without Farmer's insurance commercials!

 

[Star43]

You know, it was never mentioned about how much damage was done to your car ? How big is this claim ?

 

[Star43]

OF COURSE NOT NOW. Regardless, we should all be looking for a new and better insurance company EVERY year.

That is correct. You got to get this darn thing rectified before looking at other companies. I am not a State Farm guy, but you should try to stay with them. The other options out there for the most part are not good. Especially if you have a claim. These Other companies are called "E&S" companies or Surplus Lines. These coverages are NOT as good and yet they cost much more. For a lot of folks, they are a last resort type of insurance policy ......Call your agent for advice.

 

[GypsmJim]

The manager of the car repair shop where my wife took her car told us the best auto insurance companies are the ones that don't advertise. But of course they are probably more expensive.

And we couldn't live without Farmer's insurance commercials!

This past year for me was disastrous for insurance. Everything went up A LOT. I've never had a claim in 56 years and I live in a safe area as far as hurricanes, etc.

This year I shopped around....

* Classic car insurance went from $258 down to $125 (FULL coverage)
* Jetski insurance went from $550 down to $164.

A cursory check showed that I could reduce my auto insurance from about $1100 to about $590. THAT will be in the works when my current policy needs to be renewed.

 

[Star43]

Classic car coverage is usually pretty cheap as the companies know they hardly get driven, and the owners always take good care of their classic cars. As far as saving money, that is always a good thing. Ask your to make sure the coverages are the SAME. Also make sure there are no odd type exclusions on this new policy. Also make sure you are with an admitted standard carrier.

 

[GypsmJim]

Classic car coverage is usually pretty cheap as the companies know they hardly get driven, and the owners always take good care of their classic cars. As far as saving money, that is always a good thing. Ask your to make sure the coverages are the SAME. Also make sure there are no odd type exclusions on this new policy. Also make sure you are with an admitted standard carrier.

In my recent changes, my coverage was NOT the same. Where I cut my cost in half, the liability coverage was DOUBLE.

In the case of my classic auto, I never felt it was necessary to include Collision on a car driven only a few 100 miles a year, but the new coverage included FULL Collision with a ZERO deductible.

You simply have to shop around. The insurance industry is a big scam.

 

[Star43]

Some of the companies are not very good for sure, no argument there. But do not lump up the whole industry in one package....if you have been sued, and the insurance company protected you, that is a big reason to have insurance, whether it be commercial or personal lines....., and you would be very thankful. Yes, I have met some real idiots over the years, but I also have met a few good ones. It's the luck of the draw, as they say......

 

[Star43]

OF COURSE NOT NOW. Regardless, we should all be looking for a new and better insurance company EVERY year.

I don't know what state you are in but in a lot of states now, like CA, for example, people depending on where they live sometimes cannot even get insurance, unless it's the CA Fair Plan, which is expensive and Not good......yeah, you can look if you haven't had any claims. That's good, but jumping every year, no......only if you have to. In 2024, this is a whole new ballgame. Life is not as it used to be. And nobody knows more than me having to deal with these companies in trying to help AND protect my clients. ....which I definitely do.

 

[rotor]

Consumer Reports did an evaluation of auto insurance companies in September 2023 and best was USAA but you must be military related to purchase. I have been pleased with them. All rates have gone up for home and auto insurance and in some states the companies have moved out. I was hit once in a supermarket parking lot and the police would not come out as it was in a private lot and not a public street. Raised a stink and they came out and filed a report. Worst company to deal with is......Allstate.

 

[Star43]

I agree

 

[hittman]

Three lanes in each direction. She was in the far left lane next to the median. It was not busy at all.

Your wife would have been ticketed and deemed at least 50% at fault for the accident around here.
Left lane is for passing, not travel.
I know it's probably different in other states.

 

[davevabch]

Consumer Reports did an evaluation of auto insurance companies in September 2023 and best was USAA but you must be military related to purchase. I have been pleased with them. All rates have gone up for home and auto insurance and in some states the companies have moved out. I was hit once in a supermarket parking lot and the police would not come out as it was in a private lot and not a public street. Raised a stink and they came out and filed a report. Worst company to deal with is......Allstate.

Consumer reports sure has that wrong. USAA use to be one of the best if not the best. They were originally for Officers Only, later enlisted and families of them. At present they suck. In fact you could go to about 4 or 5 of my neighbors that recently had problems with Claims to them. All of them want to shoot USAA. I have a horror story that would send shivers up your spine. Terrible service,
On another claim were I had a hit and run while my car was parked in front of the house. I talked with the collision Repair shop. The owner went into great detail about how USAA because the worst of all that is now selling insurance. They are not the company they once were in any shape or form. Some years ago they elected a new Board and that is when things began to go down hill fast.
When I had flooring damage, a Rep came to the house, spent 10 minutes, would not even pay for all the damaged cabinits and was going to put in mix matched cabinets. After she left all of the work inspectors ALL said SIR YOU ARE GETTING RIPPED OFF BIG TIME. .

 

[Star43]

Your wife would have been ticketed and deemed at least 50% at fault for the accident around here.
Left lane is for passing, not travel.
I know it's probably different in other states.

Yes, you are correct. The far left lane is always considered a "passing lane", and not supposed to be for regular travel.......

 

[Star43]

I agree

To clarify my statement, it was meant about Allstate being difficult to deal with. In over 25 years, I haven't heard much good said about Allstate at all.....as far as USAA, they always used to have a great reputation. I don't know about them now as I don't deal with them at all. Nothing stays the same. For example, Do you know how many Nationwide shirts I own ??? Many, as they were my prime carrier, and they left the state. Amongst many others for that matter. I can hardly wait till the end of the year till I retire.

 

[hittman]

Bumper stickers are common around here that state:
Yes, if I passed you on the right you're in the wrong f-ing lane!

 

[Star43]

Consumer reports sure has that wrong. USAA use to be one of the best if not the best. They were originally for Officers Only, later enlisted and families of them. At present they suck. In fact you could go to about 4 or 5 of my neighbors that recently had problems with Claims to them. All of them want to shoot USAA. I have a horror story that would send shivers up your spine. Terrible service,
On another claim were I had a hit and run while my car was parked in front of the house. I talked with the collision Repair shop. The owner went into great detail about how USAA because the worst of all that is now selling insurance. They are not the company they once were in any shape or form. Some years ago they elected a new Board and that is when things began to go down hill fast.
When I had flooring damage, a Rep came to the house, spent 10 minutes, would not even pay for all the damaged cabinits and was going to put in mix matched cabinets. After she left all of the work inspectors ALL said SIR YOU ARE GETTING RIPPED OFF BIG TIME. .

I agree with the workers. You got screwed. You were more than likely supposed to have replacement cost coverage. Mis-matched cabinets is not what I would call replacement cost coverage. Sorry about that guy. .....

 

[rotor]

Consumer reports sure has that wrong. USAA use to be one of the best if not the best. They were originally for Officers Only, later enlisted and families of them. At present they suck. In fact you could go to about 4 or 5 of my neighbors that recently had problems with Claims to them. All of them want to shoot USAA. I have a horror story that would send shivers up your spine. Terrible service,
On another claim were I had a hit and run while my car was parked in front of the house. I talked with the collision Repair shop. The owner went into great detail about how USAA because the worst of all that is now selling insurance. They are not the company they once were in any shape or form. Some years ago they elected a new Board and that is when things began to go down hill fast.
When I had flooring damage, a Rep came to the house, spent 10 minutes, would not even pay for all the damaged cabinits and was going to put in mix matched cabinets. After she left all of the work inspectors ALL said SIR YOU ARE GETTING RIPPED OFF BIG TIME. .

I have not made a claim with them in years but when I did it was great service and fast. My Consumer Reports article was 1 year old and the responses of people that have used USAA put it as the top insurance company so apparently somebody likes them besides me. It has been years (thankfully) since a claim but when I did it was the roofs on 2 houses with hail damage, $52,000 claims paid with no hesitation.

 

[GypsmJim]

Consumer Reports did an evaluation of auto insurance companies in September 2023 and best was USAA but you must be military related to purchase. I have been pleased with them. All rates have gone up for home and auto insurance and in some states the companies have moved out. I was hit once in a supermarket parking lot and the police would not come out as it was in a private lot and not a public street. Raised a stink and they came out and filed a report. Worst company to deal with is......Allstate.

After seeing all of the glorious reports about USAA I signed up and got a quote (yes I am eligible). They directed me to Liberty Mutual as their agent. The quote was significantly HIGHER than what I was currently paying.

I had Allstate for 35 years, all the time with the same agent. I got exemplary service and low rates. Then, he died and i was assigned a new agent. Without going into details (long story) he screwed me royally, to the point that what he did sounded illegal. The Corporate office sided with him. Two years later I was talking to another Allstate agent (friend of a neighbor) and he agreed I was screwed. He re-quoted me and said the other agent was a *******, so I switched back. THEN, HE died. My 4th Allstate agent was another ***** and I quit them for good. OTOH my sister has had Allstate (different agents) for 40+ years and they did a fine job for her thru several accidents.

MY conclusion is that success is due to the agent.