Time To Change Vehicle Insurance - Please Recommend from Experience
- Thread starter parker
- Start date
We have Liberty Mutual, and at first they were very competitive, but now our rates have been going up at every renewal, with no claims. Wife called them and they said same thing "industry wide increases". They have everything we own, trucks ,sleds, trailer, 5th wheel, golf cart, house, plus a million dollar umbrella policy. We are also going to start shopping to see if this is true about the increases.
over the last few years went from progressive to westbend to just switching to allied .never had a claim on anything but they keep jacking it up every few years .i wish they would just be happy with a good paying person and quit playing games but they all do .its to bad a person has to keep swithing to get a better price .all were good until they started jacking up the prices .but also never had a claim .good luck .
The last time I reviewed my insurance I scanned in copies of all my policies (Auto, Home, Sleds, Etc) and emailed the PDF to 3-4 local agents - Libery Mutual, Nationwide, Farmers, etc-and said match this and tell me how much. The guy at Liberty Mutual was able to save me several hundred dollars on a combined policy. He used every discount he could qualify me for (some I didn't realize I could get). I did this about 4 years ago and at least on Auto and Sleds the prices have not changed much. Last year my home insurance shot way up and I called in, they did some adjustments and got me back close to where I was before. So at least in my experience, I have been able to work with my local Liberty Mutual office and keep my rates pretty constant for a few years now.
I also checked esurance and a couple of other online quoting services and they got nowhere near the big players....10-20% higher or more.
Just make sure you get an apples to apples quote - there are tricky things in car insurance on collision that can affect your premium (but also impact what $$$ you get after a crash).
I also checked esurance and a couple of other online quoting services and they got nowhere near the big players....10-20% higher or more.
Just make sure you get an apples to apples quote - there are tricky things in car insurance on collision that can affect your premium (but also impact what $$$ you get after a crash).
maximumpsi
Member
If you, your parents or your spouse's parents were in the military, you are eligible for insurance from USAA. Excellent company, and competitive or better rates, although my homeowner's rates have gone up as well. They sub boat policies out another company. Usually when other agents ask to quote my insurance policies, I tell them that I use USAA and most of those other agents don't bother to run a quote. Lots of good insurance companies out there, but USAA is usually not so far out of line in my experience that it would pay to switch. Coverages should also be reviewed to possibly lower premiums. I know I was far over-insured on personal contents coverage if my house would have burned down.
groomerdriver
New member
Find a local independent (not tied to any one brand) insurance agent who's been around for a while. They can shop the various companies they represent. Been doing it this way for going on 30 yrs and I save hundred's per year vs. just going to the big boys (AmFam St. Farm). Currently have Integrity Ins. out of Appleton, WI. TOP NOTCH service!
yamahauler
Active member
I also went with a broker as they rep many different big name insurance agencies.
I had State Farm for 13 yrs and switched to Travelers with a little better coverage and was going to save $1800.00 per year until my totaled her car 2 mths after switching. Needless to say it went up but and still saving about $500 per year. I have house and two cars with Travelers. Travelers didn't blink an eye when it came time to pay out and work very nice to work with.
I still do have my snowmobile with State Farm for some reason it is really cheap and my motorcycle through Progressive.
I had State Farm for 13 yrs and switched to Travelers with a little better coverage and was going to save $1800.00 per year until my totaled her car 2 mths after switching. Needless to say it went up but and still saving about $500 per year. I have house and two cars with Travelers. Travelers didn't blink an eye when it came time to pay out and work very nice to work with.
I still do have my snowmobile with State Farm for some reason it is really cheap and my motorcycle through Progressive.
There are a few limitations with USAA. My dad was in the service for 28+ years. When I call them about getting insurance. I was told that at the time that my dad was in the service that it was only offered to officers in the military. As such my mother or myself are ineligible for coverage though them. I can't remember when they started offering it to all military personal. Not saying that they are bad in anyways as I really never had the chance to use them. But from what I heard they are a great company for insurance if you can get it.
I have Auto Owners Insurance through an indepedently owned agent. I insure my house and car through them to get a 22% multiple policy discount. Also pay the full year premium at once to get a further 5%. Found them to be much more competitive than any of the other national brands, perhaps it's because they are based in the Midwest (Lansing)?
No significant rate increases so far and have had really good customer service from the local agent.
No significant rate increases so far and have had really good customer service from the local agent.
sledboy482
Member
I switched to Erie Insurance for my home, travel trailer, car, Suburban, snowmobile, snowmobile trailer. I got it through a local agent here. They've been around since like the 1860's. Between all those, I saved over $500/yr. For better coverage limits! For my Harley-Davidson I go through Geico-and that went down like $20 from last year. Erie has very high ratings.
stormbringer
New member
I read recently that the insurance industry was in a changeover mode....from actively seking new customers with low rates to keeping what they had and raising rates. Seeing all the ads on TV tell me that may not be the case. Liability insurance companies came out of the "recession" fairy unscathed, nearly doubling their net income in 2010 compared to 2009. To gain customers, insurers must steal them from each other. One statistic I found interesting given all the money spent on advertising is that only 11% of policy holders switch their policies, while another 20% shop, but don't switch.
Given all that......I am a long-term State Farm customer-home, vehicle, toys, umbrella.
Given all that......I am a long-term State Farm customer-home, vehicle, toys, umbrella.
lookin4snow
New member
I have been a 20 year customer of Sentry and just switched to Liberty Mutual. Sentry was a great company to work with, however, saving $700/year on my cars was too much to ignore. I also checked with American Family, State Farm and Geico and they were a bit less than Sentry, but historically not enough for me to switch. I met the Liberty Mutual guy at AWSC Workshop this fall and he has been great to work with. Also offered to come to my house and do everything, but I passed on that and chose the e-mail route. Good luck.
I had Famers for 25 years...kept raising rates for no reason...finally had enough. I come from the old skool where I thought loyalty meant something...it doesnt..you are just a number...they never even called to see why I didnt renew on my car(s), sleds, boat, bikes, trailers and homeowners. I never even filed a claim and they still raised the prices. I have Geico now and so far things have been fine
maximumpsi
Member
One more benefit of insurance with USAA -- you can put any vehicle (including snowmobiles) in "storage" in the off season and only pay a minimal premium during that time. USAA offers this benefit because military members being deployed can save $ on vehicles that aren't being driven.