topic Re: Auto Insurance in Community Chat

Auto Insurance

jannabelle1 — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 01:08:05 GMT

DH and I just received our renewal for our auto insurance, and once again the premium has risen 10% from the previous year. We're retired with 2 autos - one is a 2004 SUV and the other is a 2010 sedan. No accidents - low mileage annually for both of us. We switched carriers about 5 years ago to get a better rate, but even with giving them our homeowner's policy, I think $1,000/year in the Midwest is a bit steep (low crime area) for car insurance. Have any of you had recent experience with car insurance, i.e., continued increases in premiums? Maybe we need to increase our $500 deductibles to $1,000. Our liability coverage is at $100,000/person and $300,000/accident. Or maybe it's the same as everything - prices just continue to increase. Thanks for any comments or experience you have with auto insurance. I plan to call our agent tomorrow as well as a few other carriers.

Re: Auto Insurance

patbz — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 01:15:35 GMT

@jannabelle1: Insurance rates are based on many factors but I don't think "high crime" is the big one. When I lived in the Mojave Desert in a small town, the thing that made our insurance really high was that in order to go anywhere out of town we had to travel part of the trip on 395, between four corners and Mamoth, one of the most dangerous highways in the country. Everyone I knew had known one of more people who had been maimed or killed on that horrible road. We were so glad to move out of that area when we retired!

Re: Auto Insurance

viva923 — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 01:28:07 GMT

our insurance rates skyrocketed for our renewal last October. Went up close to $600.00 per year for both cars.

We are both senior citizens, have 2 older cars 2003,2010. No tickets. I rarely drive, we stay local. My husband still works full time so he does drive to work daily.

what our downfall is we live in densely populated mid Atlantic area. Rates skyrocketed for all people in my state because of some obscure law that was passed behind closed doors that all the insured have to pay state insurance agency X amount of money per vehicle for uninsured drivers. We pay to let uninsured drivers drive in my state. This is a really obscure law that was recently passed. The general public was not informed about this law till it went into effect.

My husband and i had to look for a new insurance agency. We went with USAA (my husband is retired military) which has helped us quite a bit with rates.

Re: Auto Insurance

Scooby Doo — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 01:44:40 GMT

When my rates went up I called my carrier and asked why. The answer was that it was just the cost of doing business, they have been paying out lots of claims, and have to pass that along to their customers. We all will probably see an increase as the carriers pay out to all the people of natural disasters. Think of the CA fires.

Re: Auto Insurance

froggy — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 01:48:45 GMT

Here's another vote for USAA if you qualify. Their rates are competitive and customer service is unparalleled.

Re: Auto Insurance

jannabelle1 — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 01:57:39 GMT

Thanks for your comments....DH is a veteran, so I think it might be good to check out USAA. I've seen their ads on TV, but hadn't thought about them as an alternative. I don't think any of us like to have our rates increased in order to cover uninsured drives, but unfortunately I know that is a big problem.

Re: Auto Insurance

ShowMe — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 02:05:38 GMT

@jannabelle1......Yes, I notice it every year. Have my renter's coverage and auto coverage with USAA. Have had them for about 25 years now. Once I hit age 70, really noticed a large increase. This year I will be 79. Don't know what your ages are, but that could be a factor for you in the reason for the increase. I too am in the midwest.

My car is 22 years old with low mileage. Also, I have it so that I will only travel about 3500 miles a year...that reduced the premium some. Have an excellent driving record.

Re: Auto Insurance

ShowMe — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 02:11:52 GMT

Yes, USAA is an excellent company. My father was a chaplain in the Army, and that is why my sister and I both qualified for their coverage. It has changed a lot since taking it out....they cover so many more folks now. Back then the military person had to be an officer. Not anymore that way.

But yes, we are all paying for all those claims that have been filed....flooding, fires, tornadoes, etc. If they didn't increase our coverage premium, they would all go broke.

Re: Auto Insurance

PinkyPetunia — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 02:19:04 GMT

@jannabelle1 If I understand correctly, your premium is $1,000 a year for 2 cars. That sounds pretty reasonable to me but I live in the northeast where insurance is high.

I would see how much the policy would be with a $1,000 deductible.

Re: Auto Insurance

jannabelle1 — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 02:23:29 GMT

@ShowMe, thanks for your comments. I'm in Missour also (St. Charles). We're both 70 but I hadn't even considered our age perhaps being a factor. That's a question I'll ask when I call our agent, although I'm sure age will be something he would want to avoid. I'll definitely be calling USAA and see what they can offer us.

Re: Auto Insurance

jannabelle1 — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 02:26:03 GMT

@PinkyPetunia, thanks....I agree. I should check out the rates with the higher deductible. It might make a bigger difference.

Re: Auto Insurance

homedecor1 — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 03:04:24 GMT

@jannabelle1

if your wanting low affordable car insurance don't move to FL! It was shocking how expensive not only home but car insurance is😯

We are both retired, 69 and 63 (soon) drive a 2017 Honda Accord LX, no tickets, no accidents. Our yearly premium is $1677.36 ($139.78 a month). We shopped all available insurance companies avail in FL -- another obstacle very few insure in FL.

I inquired why so high -- in FL being a transient state, many uninsured drivers, older drivers (🙄), claims, etc. is the answer I was given by AAA who did comparisons for us. Big deal $100/yr savings. Plus, they only do 6 month policy here then review before renewal as you keep your fingers crossed they "keep" you!

Let me say I can't imagine why or who decides in FL to issue drivers license (10 years here) to people who clearly should not at their age be driving. Case in point, a lady I know asked me to take her for her DL renewal next week she's 92 years old -they only give eye test - no way -- she can barely walk without assistance but she still drives! Yikes!!!!

Re: Auto Insurance

Abrowneyegirl — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 03:16:20 GMT

@PinkyPetunia wrote:
@jannabelle1 If I understand correctly, your premium is $1,000 a year for 2 cars. That sounds pretty reasonable to me but I live in the northeast where insurance is high.

I would see how much the policy would be with a $1,000 deductible.

I agree $1000 for 2 cars is great, a deductable with less than $1000 is NEVER a good idea unless you like making the insurance companies rich.

Re: Auto Insurance

CAcableGirl2 — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 03:17:34 GMT

@jannabelle1 Here is an interesting article regarding auto insurance and if you should continue to have collision and comprehensive if your car's value isn't very high and your car is paid for outright.

Personally, every time my renewal is up, I call around just to make sure that I'm getting the best deal. You might want to increase your deductibles and make sure they have the mileage driven each year correct. It might make a difference and also if you have towing coverage from another company, make sure you aren't paying for it on your insurance as well.

My policy went up this year too, with no accidents, claims, or tickets - I think they end up paying out for others claims (just think all the storms and damaged vehicles last year) and just pass the cost on to the current customers.

https://www.moneytalksnews.com/ask-stacy-should-i-drop-my-comprehensive-and-collision-car-insurance-coverage/

Re: Auto Insurance

jannabelle1 — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 03:18:33 GMT

@homedecor1, I can't imagine granting a 10-year drivers license. There is a huge difference in driving capabilities in the upper years, but at 90, those capabilties are pretty much gone!

Re: Auto Insurance

Abrowneyegirl — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 03:21:34 GMT

@froggy wrote:
Here's another vote for USAA if you qualify. Their rates are competitive and customer service is unparalleled.

We have USAA and yes the $$$ is great. However when a car left me stranded at night on the side of the road due to an electrical problem I found they had the WORST customer service of any insurance company I ever worked with in my entire life.

I only thank heavens that I was not in an accident where I or someone in the car was injured.

Thankfully I had an hour to sit stranded in the middle of no where late at night to deal with an insurance company to set up towing!

Ugh!

Re: Auto Insurance

patbz — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 02:26:01 GMT

Another vote for USAA. I've been with them for 40 years, based on my Dad's service as a Navy Officer. Neither DH nor I were in the service (did our careers as Civil Service DoD employees). Based on my Dad's service, both my Sons as well as the married Son's wife and her 3 children also are insured by USAA. Over the years DH and I have had a couple of minor auto claims but also 3 flood claims totalling $70,000. Great company, can't say enough good about them.

Re: Auto Insurance

Lattelvr — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 03:26:36 GMT

I went through the exact same thing. Every six months, my rates went up even with a good driving record, no accidents/no claims, no tickets, etc. I had swtiched to Geico (good commercials but horrible insurance carrier) after Allstate kept raising my rates as well. I got the same sad excuse from both insurers that it was due to my zip code. I live in the burbs of the city and due to the rise in auto theft, break-ins and tire stealing, my rates were going up. So basically, you pay for whatever goes on in the area you live. And with the opioid problem, I found out that alot of break-ins have risen for even pocket change in people's cup holders! I was paying $2,000 a year for one car, I switched yet again and have much better rates with Erie and so far have been very happy with them.

Re: Auto Insurance

ShowMe — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 03:29:36 GMT

@jannabelle1 wrote:
@ShowMe, thanks for your comments. I'm in Missour also (St. Charles). We're both 70 but I hadn't even considered our age perhaps being a factor. That's a question I'll ask when I call our agent, although I'm sure age will be something he would want to avoid. I'll definitely be calling USAA and see what they can offer us.

@jannabelle1.....is your DH a veteran? I do believe in order to get USAA either you or your spouse, or parent had to be a veteran to get insurance through them. If you can't get the USAA, you might check on GEICO.....understand they are for military folks too.

Yes, I remember you live in St. Charles area. Please let me know what you find out.

Re: Auto Insurance

ShowMe — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 03:35:24 GMT

Seems like quite a few of us on here have USAA and most are pleased with them. I'm staying with them at this point in my life.