Insurance Costs - Avoid Geico
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,222
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From: Fort Myers Beach Florida
Insurance Costs - Avoid Geico
For many of my younger years I was in "Good Hands with Allstate" and was satisfied with their price and service. Prices on both my car and homeowners insurance continued to rise at a modest pace. About the time I turned 50 and joined AARP I found their Hartford Insurance had good coverage for a lot less money so I switched. Fast forward ten years and AARP rates got excessive and Geico did a lot better for me. After a few years with Geico even their rates got stupid in spite of all their TV ads. I think my premium had a big increase just to fund their ad campaign. Earlier this week I contacted AARP for a car insurance quote and was pleasantly surprised.
AARP/Hartford offered better coverage for $584 less/year. Geico only does six month policies so they can jack you up twice a year and they usually do. I got the expected nonsense story as follows:
"This rate change is a result of a statewide increase and is not specific to you or your policy. Due to rising claims costs, this rate increase was necessary to ensure funds are always available to pay for the liability, injuries, and vehicle repairs of our policyholders.
If you feel like you've heard this explanation before, it's because you likely have. We have had to file for similar increases over the past few years for the same reason. But, much like the majority of goods and services lately, costs continue to climb, and all insurance companies must react accordingly. While tenured policyholders cannot be exempted from these statewide increases, we always work diligently to reduce the impact on you as much as possible."
Then they offered me a reduction in rate of $12.80 for six months. I thought they were joking so I fired them and gave them the feedback they deserve. If you are a Geico customer do yourself a favor and get another quote at renewal time or continue to pay for all their annoying FALSE TV ads and big profits. Maybe I'll use the $584. I saved on MODS? (or NOT)
AARP/Hartford offered better coverage for $584 less/year. Geico only does six month policies so they can jack you up twice a year and they usually do. I got the expected nonsense story as follows:
"This rate change is a result of a statewide increase and is not specific to you or your policy. Due to rising claims costs, this rate increase was necessary to ensure funds are always available to pay for the liability, injuries, and vehicle repairs of our policyholders.
If you feel like you've heard this explanation before, it's because you likely have. We have had to file for similar increases over the past few years for the same reason. But, much like the majority of goods and services lately, costs continue to climb, and all insurance companies must react accordingly. While tenured policyholders cannot be exempted from these statewide increases, we always work diligently to reduce the impact on you as much as possible."
Then they offered me a reduction in rate of $12.80 for six months. I thought they were joking so I fired them and gave them the feedback they deserve. If you are a Geico customer do yourself a favor and get another quote at renewal time or continue to pay for all their annoying FALSE TV ads and big profits. Maybe I'll use the $584. I saved on MODS? (or NOT)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2014
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From: Havre de Grace Maryland
Insurance rates like many consumer products, increase their price because of a sh*t full or reasons. Personally, I have insurance cost increased almost each year and so far I have determined they are reasonable based on the market, inflation, and the cars I own. The insurance companies are in the business to make money, not lose it for their shareholders just like all other public owned companies.
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And I understand that they spread the costs of claims over all their policyholders. But when they charge a 20-25% increase from one year to the next, I go shopping for another company.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2014
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From: Havre de Grace Maryland
But after a year or so, the new company starts raising rates because that is what they do. Over the last 15 years I have changed 2 times based exactly on price but price that I determined was not fair as you have opined.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2017
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From: Hickory NC
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If you are active, retired or former military you may want to check with USAA. Their rates are not always the lowest, but they are very competitive and their service is excellent. They are always rated either #1 or #2 on customer satisfaction surveys.
(I believe you are also now eligible if you were not military but have an immediate family member who is or was in the military. Might be worth checking).
(I believe you are also now eligible if you were not military but have an immediate family member who is or was in the military. Might be worth checking).
Pro
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From: Sarasota, Florida
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I only pay once a year with Geico on my Hummer. Not sure why you couldn't. Are you a government employee or retired from the government?
If so, that's a Geico discount too.
Geico stands for Government Employee Insurance Company.
This goes back to before they sold Insurance to the general public.
If so, that's a Geico discount too.
Geico stands for Government Employee Insurance Company.
This goes back to before they sold Insurance to the general public.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 399
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From: Sidney Ohio
I Bundle my insurance with a company called "Frankenmuth" used to be with Progressive and they were always jacking up the rates. I am now paying $194.00 year for the Corvette with $1000.00 deductible. Used to be $500.00 deductible which they no longer offer. About 2 years with them and have been pleased so far, but have never had a claim with them.
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Racer
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 260
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From: Florence ALABAMA
One thing that causes increases is insurance companies having to fight frivoulous, bullshit lawsuits brought about by people who are butthurt because they caused an accident, and refuse to accept the fact that my insurance company won't pay for their vehicle. Ask me how I know.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,253
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From: Northwest CT
I just received my renewal the other day from GEICO. Premium went up another $50.00.
I went shopping, and just this morning switched over to AAA and saved $855.00 yr. on my 3 autos and an umbrella policy.
GEICO wanted to know what they could do to keep me as a customer...
I went shopping, and just this morning switched over to AAA and saved $855.00 yr. on my 3 autos and an umbrella policy.
GEICO wanted to know what they could do to keep me as a customer...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 968
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From: Lighthouse Point FL
It’s a game. All the major insurance companies play it to one degree or another. Low rate to get you signed up and then increase it every year a percentage until you start to notice. Works great because the majority of policy holders don’t pay attention and just keep paying the increased rate. I insure any car I can with Hagerty. They don’t increase rates every year and their rates are low.
I have Allstate on my daily driver because it’s too new for Hagerty. Not impressed with their rates which keep going up, or their claims handling.
I have Allstate on my daily driver because it’s too new for Hagerty. Not impressed with their rates which keep going up, or their claims handling.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2015
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From: Frisco, TX
If you are active, retired or former military you may want to check with USAA. Their rates are not always the lowest, but they are very competitive and their service is excellent. They are always rated either #1 or #2 on customer satisfaction surveys.
(I believe you are also now eligible if you were not military but have an immediate family member who is or was in the military. Might be worth checking).
(I believe you are also now eligible if you were not military but have an immediate family member who is or was in the military. Might be worth checking).
Widows, widowers and un-remarried former spouses of USAA members who had USAA auto or property insurance while married and individuals whose parents have or had USAA auto or property insurance.
Last edited by Travlee; Sep 21, 2018 at 04:09 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,094
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From: Oswego IL
Devil's advocate here. Follow along...
- 48yo, perfect driving record.
- My former daily was a Honda Accord EX V6. It was insured with State Farm. Did my yearly "shop around", and got a better rate with Allstate.
- I traded the Accord in on an Infiniti G37X, and Allstate raised my premium about $400/yr because the G37X was considered a "luxury car".
- I checked with Geico, and my premium on the G37X was cheaper than my Accord premium was with Allstate!
- I added the C5 Z06 to my policy, added 24hr roadside assistance to both cars, and my premium with Geico is the same price as just the G37X was with Allstate.
- I literally saved over $650/yr by switching to Geico.
I will check with other companies again at the end of the year. So far, Geico has been the cheapest for me here in the far southwest suburban Chicagoland.
- 48yo, perfect driving record.
- My former daily was a Honda Accord EX V6. It was insured with State Farm. Did my yearly "shop around", and got a better rate with Allstate.
- I traded the Accord in on an Infiniti G37X, and Allstate raised my premium about $400/yr because the G37X was considered a "luxury car".
- I checked with Geico, and my premium on the G37X was cheaper than my Accord premium was with Allstate!
- I added the C5 Z06 to my policy, added 24hr roadside assistance to both cars, and my premium with Geico is the same price as just the G37X was with Allstate.
- I literally saved over $650/yr by switching to Geico.
I will check with other companies again at the end of the year. So far, Geico has been the cheapest for me here in the far southwest suburban Chicagoland.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,473
Likes: 691
From: West Virginia
These companies are busily trying to raise money to pay for their home insurance businesses which have taken huge hits from natural disasters like hurricanes, forest fires, etc. I think it was when Andrew went through Florida and the surrounding areas, one of the big carriers reckoned their liabilities that year were about equal to the total stock market value of their company. Of course, they lay things off with the secondary markets, but its property insurance that is eating them up. All their traditional risk calculations are pretty much useless now. For example - hurricane Matthew which whacked NC in 2016 was supposed to be an every 500 year event; Florence only 2 years later was supposed to be a 1,000 year event. We will probably see them essentially "black list" areas due to the high risk of natural disasters if current weather trends hold.
Time to insure with companies who are not in the property insurance business, maybe.
Time to insure with companies who are not in the property insurance business, maybe.
Pro
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 611
Likes: 184
From: Atlanta GA
You guys getting in a lot of accidents or getting a lot of tickets? My rates have never fluctuated more than 10 bucks a year. Nothing that made me even raise a brow.
i have Geico and my rates have only hiked once and that was after I backed my wife’s car into a pole. Woops.
i have Geico and my rates have only hiked once and that was after I backed my wife’s car into a pole. Woops.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 518
Likes: 264
From: Jasper GA
My wife and I have both been with State Farm for 35 years, and my parents and her parents before that. We shop around every couple of years and nobody can touch the rates we get with State Farm, so we stay. All insurance is a racket, but SF (or at least our SF agent) has always treated us well and even with the occasional claim over 35 years, I haven't been able to beat their premiums or service.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2018
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From: Sarasota, Florida
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You guys getting in a lot of accidents or getting a lot of tickets? My rates have never fluctuated more than 10 bucks a year. Nothing that made me even raise a brow.
i have Geico and my rates have only hiked once and that was after I backed my wife’s car into a pole. Woops.
i have Geico and my rates have only hiked once and that was after I backed my wife’s car into a pole. Woops.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,222
Likes: 798
From: Fort Myers Beach Florida
You guys getting in a lot of accidents or getting a lot of tickets? My rates have never fluctuated more than 10 bucks a year. Nothing that made me even raise a brow.
i have Geico and my rates have only hiked once and that was after I backed my wife’s car into a pole. Woops.
i have Geico and my rates have only hiked once and that was after I backed my wife’s car into a pole. Woops.