Nope, Dave told me $150 a month, then later said it was paid 8 months of the year, not twelve.
Living in an urban area such as this, in Canada, I would expect to pay about $1000 a year per vehicle. Please bear in mind that I know very well the rates at home but don’t know anything about them here, having been an insurance broker in Canada for 13 years.
We won’t be switching for a couple of bucks a year because of the absolutely excellent service we received.
Ah, GEICO! Years ago, having recently purchased my first car, I priced insurance policies and went with an independent agent who quoted me the lowest rate; I forget what the company was, but it was about $516 per year back then. Still seemed like a lot, so a year later when GEICO came calling, I said, what the hell, let’s get a quote.
And when GEICO came back with a quote for reasonable savings, I don’t know, approx. $400 a year, I said, Screw the other folks, I’m switching. So I did.
And two weeks later, after informing te other company that I had dropped coverage, I received a bill from GEICO. For, I don’t know, approx. $750 a year.
WHAT THE FUCK? I got onto the phone with GEICO, pronto. Oh, they said. We’re sorry. We gave you the wrong quote. We thought you lived someplace else. (The address was clear enough. I don’t really believe that was the problem.)
For years, they continued to send me solicitations, and I would put them back into the postage paid envelope and mail 'em back to them. I don’t do that any more, but I would NEVER buy insurance from them.
They wanted 33% more on an '86 Bonneville than Allstate or Progressive with a clean record in TX.
I don’t have a clean driving record per se, but there’s not a spot on it since November 1999, which is pretty good.
I got dropped from USAA (well, I became a restricted user on my parents’ insurance) and, when I got a car again, I went with Geico. Sure, I paid out the nose, but they reduced my rates after a year.
So this week I discovered that I was going to be able to afford a new car. I researched new cars and decided I wanted a Ford Focus, a Hyundai Accent, or a Saturn Ion. I called up Geico with the car types and got quoted a minimum of $1020 for 6 months. Maximum was around $1300.
So I called USAA. I’m no longer a dependent, being 23 and out of college, but I’m still in their database. They looked at my driving record, talked to their underwriters, and offered me a MUCH lower price.
Today I’m driving a 2003 Ford Focus (beautiful navy blue color, it’s a wonderful little car). I’m switching to USAA as soon as the paperwork is finalized – for $834 for 6 months. Full coverage, towing, rental car, the works.
So they will let you in later if you cancel your coverage. FYI.
Geico wanted 4 times what Progressive did when I priced them. That would have made my total bill about $5,000 a year in Pennsylvania. I loudly laughed directly into the phone and told the guy that he was out of his fuckin’ mind.
Yet another state where Geico sucks.
A friend of mine called Geico and found out that he could save 15%, but that he’d also be getting a lot less coverage for his money. When he mentioned this to them, they said, “But sir, you’re over insured!” He laughed, hung up and stayed with State Farm.
Two of my friends were screwed by Geico. One was hit by a Geico insured person, the other wrecked his car and Geico did not pay enough to cover what he owed on the 1.5 yo car.
When I called they were WAY higher than Allstate.
At one time they would not even insure a sports car like the one the damn lizard drives in the commercial.
They also tried to keep the 55 mph limit.
I’m a bit of a high risk driver (a couple accidents in my past, lotsa damage to the cars but none to the drivers). Last year Progressive decided to raise my rate by about 1/3, which I thought was odd because I hadn’t had any tickets or accidents or anything since well before my previous renewal. I went to Geico and the rate they gave me was a bit less than I’d been paying Progressive before their rate increase. So they aren’t universally horrid.
I’m getting kind of amused by this thread, since I have been dealing with the 3 insurance companies most mentioned in this thread a lot lately. Last weekend I was rear-ended by a person with USAA insurance, I have GEICO, and I was pushed into a car who’s owner was insured through Progressive. Progressive wanted to record the phone discussions. GEICO was supportive, but didn’t want to get directly involved unless I planned to process the claim through them and the subrogate USAA to cover expenses. USAA has been so-so. I’m not using their preferred car rental company (not possible) so I have to pay out of pocket and wait for reimbursement. They should have been more helpful here, in my opinion.