My son is about to get his license so I figured this was a good time to review my insurance coverage and I’ve been pricing out different companies. So far I’ve looked at:
State Farm
Allstate
Nationwide
Progressive
USAA
Geico
MetLife
and quite possibly a few others that I don’t recall. I’ve found that Geico is the cheapest by ~$300/year.
Anyone have experiences with them? Will they be a hassle to deal with if I need to deal with them? I’ve had to deal with State Farm twice and they were great both times.
About 18 months ago I was in a little fender bender in which the other driver was at fault. They had Geico. When I went through the claim process and the bodywork and the rental car, etc etc I have to say that everything went fast and smooth and no problems at all. Basically I was impressed with Geico. I’m not switching from USAA but if I did they might be my first choice.
I’ve been with San Diego-based Wawanesa for 15 years or so. For my policy needs they have always been the best, price-wise–by far. My only claim in that time has been for a windshield chip repair, so I can’t say how they are for more serious claims.
I’ve had and dealt with GEICO and never had a problem with them. I got totaled by a GEICO driver (when I had different insurance) and they were very friendly and quick with getting me straightened out. When I bought another car I went with them, but have gone to Progressive since then (they gave me a much better rate, but obviously YMMV).
I’ve heard nothing but great things about USAA, but the rates they are quoting me are easily 20% higher than anyone else for collision and rental reimbursement.
I’ve been with 21st Century for maybe 20 years now and I’ve been very happy with them. They’ve undergone a few ownership changes in recent years, they are now owned by Farmers Insurance.
The thing about USAA, I discovered when I married the daughter of a veteran, is that being the child of a veteran isn’t good enough: you have to be the child of a USAA customer. I was bummed.
I’ve been with State Farm since I got my first car, and (aside from being curious about how USAA would have benefited us) have no inclination to switch.
I had Geico when my car was hit by an underinsured driver. The damage was between $10-$20 more than my deductible. The driver wasn’t willing to pay the difference between what her insurance covered and the damage she did. Geico had no trouble suing her on my behalf even though they’d get nothing out of it. I know it’s part of what I payed them for but there was never even a hint from them that it might be an inconvenience and that maybe I should just accept the much smaller settlement offer. She did, eventually, pay up so I’m pretty happy with the tenacity of their lawyers.
For me it doesn’t seem to be a matter of eligibility, but unfortunately they are actually one of the MOST expensive quotes I’ve gotten. That makes me think I’ve mis-entered something with them.
I have had Geico for years without ever having to deal with them beyond sending them money. Two weeks ago my wife was in an accident. Nobody was hurt, but the car was totalled. Geico was very easy to deal with. The accident was on Tuesday and I had the check in my hand on Friday (it helped that I had the title to my car - if you have an outstanding loan, it might take a few more days). Their assessment of my car’s value was more than fair. Before the accident I was looking at changing my insurer. I won’t be doing that now.
I switched to Geico on the strength of a quote from their web page about a year ago. Like you I received the best quote from them by about 30%. Three months into the deal they raised the premium to 10% higher than ay of the others, claiming that they had found information I didn’t disclose. That was BS, they couldn’t back it up at all, but the best I could get was for them to release me.
I have Geico, had one claim, and had no real issues - I used to work at an auto insurer and it was handled pretty much the same way we would have and professionally enough.
If you are getting quotes, you have two other places to check that I can think of (maybe more if you say what state):
Esurance (often price competitive with Geico)
Your local independent insurance agent. Some of the small companies they use sell only through agents so it is the only way you are going to get a quote. Make sure you quote out your home too as many of the small companies are very competitive when you bundle both together but not at all when you do just one.
Edit to add, independent insurance agents sometimes have a sign logo from some company you have never heard of - so you have to check around/call around. I believe State farm is all captive agents (meaning they sell only state farm), and some other big ones are too.
Are you sure you can change insurance companies and add your son at this time?
The reason I ask - when my teen was about to get their license, I shopped for insurance. When I explained my situation I was told by everyone I talked to that they would not write a new policy for me with the teen. They would only add a teen if I already had an existing policy with them for 5 years. So, I remained with my current provider, and added the kid.
I would be curious if you find it to be different.
I have Geico on my 2 cars and 2 motorcycles, as well as my homeowners (it’s actually a Liberty Mutual policy, but sold/managed through Geico) and I couldn’t be happier with them. They beat every other insurance company out there on price by quite a bit, and their website and mobile app are second to none. I used to get price quotes on insurance nearly every year, but haven’t felt the need to now that I’m with Geico. I haven’t had any claims with them, so I couldn’t tell you how they are in that regard, but otherwise they are the best I’ve had…previously I’ve been with American Family, State Farm, and Esurance.
The cuter the ads the more the company sucks. GEICO is a perfect example. I had a lot of problems with them. AAA and State Farm are the best with decent rates.
We have had Geico for several years (with a hiatus while we lived overseas, and they provided a letter enabling us to reinstate coverage at the same level when we returned, which we did). We have also been very pleased with them overall, both with the price (which, for us, is also lower than USAA) and with the service.
We originally switched away from Progressive after my husband’s car was totaled in a collision with an underinsured driver and Progressive was slow in responding/writing off the vehicle. We’ve had to make claims with Geico a couple of times for accidents caused by other people, and they were quick and easy to deal with.
The evidence I always share for why we stick with Geico: in 2006/7, after my husband was hit in an intersection by a woman running a red light (no injuries), I went to pick him up, we called the insurance company while the car was being towed, and then we went out to lunch. When we returned home, barely an hour later, it was to find an email message from the claims adjuster, who had already been to see the car at the shop (took pictures) and had all the forms filed. You can’t beat that turnaround.
I’ve only done online quoting so far but I haven’t seen anything that says I can’t just switch. Many of them have offered for me to “buy now!”
Curiously, based on another thread on something similar someone else had been going through, I checked with my agent if I have to put my son on the insurance right away. She told me I don’t… so now I’m wondering if I need to add him at all.
I didn’t know that! That makes my anecdote funny: every year, I let my Farmers Insurance agent pitch auto insurance to me (I have my renter’s insurance through him.) Every year, he can’t beat 21st Century’s rates.