This week I was shopping for a winter car so my 2013 GS can have a rest. I intended to buy used but between refinancing the Vette and shopping insurance, I was able to save enough to fit a brand new car (Hyundai Sonata) into the budget. Insurance shopping freed up the most cash. I have two quotes, nearly identical, one from State Farm and the other from Encompass. They are both hundreds less than my current policy with Allstate while maintaining the same coverage. I have been with Allstate for 35 years and they wouldn't budge on my coverage so it's time to move. Do any of you guys have an opinion on either State Farm or Encompass? I would appreciate any thoughts.
Thanks
Paul

 

I was with Allstate for 30 years for auto and home, messed up setting up my bank's online bill pay system and was one day late with Allstate. They immediately sent a letter saying that they wouldn't renew so I sent them a picture of my middle finger and signed up with Geico who turned out to be $437 less.

 

Allstate blows!!! ripped me off for many years,even on my homeowners. Got everything with AAA now,saving hundreds a year!

 

I have been insured by State Farm for decades. Their rates have been lower than most for auto insurance and customer service (mostly thru your agent) is great. Only problems have been when I was rear ended in a previous car by another State Farm insured driver. They wanted to share blame for the accident, and I objected strongly. How could getting rear ended be my fault as a sat in left turn lane. I fought it through mediation and won. No problems getting repairs at top notch shops.

However, State Farm home insurance here in Florida blows!

 

Have been with State Farm over 30 years, great service, no issues at all. Their rates are very competitive, have my house and 2 cars insured with them.

 

I have been with State Farm for years.

Never had any issues when I had to make a claim (auto or home). I have friends with USAA and they really like that company.

 

I've been with State Farm for well over 40 years ... started when I was a college student and had apartment contents with them. So far, I've had nothing but great service from them. I don't know how prices compare with other companies because I haven't done that analysis. Here are a couple of examples of their service:

1) About a year ago, a girl in an SUV pulled out in front of me. I had less than 50 feet to stop from about 50 mph. Her insurance was the minimal from Progressive. SF had a check to me within a week for the full retail value of my Corvette. They subrogated with Progressive and returned my deductible some months later.

2) My son was totaled when rear ended in his Acura. The other driver had USAA and they only offered wholesale for the car, and of course, the car could not be replaced for that little. I called SF and they immediately gave me full retail for the car, and subrogated with USAA and returned my deductible a few months later.

State Farm has been really good to me. Full coverage on my Corvette is something like $350 every 6 months.

 

Great responses so far. I am leaning toward State Farm at this point because there is a local agent in town. Encompass is not local but in St. Louis so that is concerning. I have only ever been with Allstate so I have no idea how to judge other companies except by asking people I trust. It's a strange position to be in. Please keep the comments coming.
Thanks!

 

As an insurance professional for 35 years, I can tell you that State Farm is one of the premier insurance carriers and has been for decades. Allstate is also a premier carrier, and the two have been rivals for many years. As the two largest carriers in the USA, you don't have to be concerned about being insured by either one.

While it's not surprising that Allstate won't budge on their premium prices, it is surprising that you found State Farm's premiums to be so much less. Usually, those two carriers run pretty close on premium costs.

"Encompass", is a wholly owned subsidiary of Allstate Ins. I'm sorry but I have no opinion on that carrier since I've never done any business with them what-so-ever. I suggest you check with A.M. Best.

I can tell you this.....I was with Allstate for many years. Never had an issue with customer service, etc. However, every 6 months upon renewal, my premiums would increase from as little as $5, to as much as $30. I had no moving violations, or accidents. I was always told that, "everyone was receiving a slight increase."

After a number of years those increases really started to add up. Just 4 months ago, I started shopping around, getting lower quotes from every carrier except State Farm, who was nearly identical to Allstate, for the identical coverages.

I ended up switching to GEICO, because their rates were the lowest, they are an excellent carrier, and even after increasing my liability coverages substantially, GEICO ended up $536.00 per 6 months less that Allstate, or State Farm. That's $1,072, per year!!! That is serious money. Obviously, I kissed Allstate good-bye.

No one should become complacent, and just keep paying premiums, like I did. From now on, I will shop around at least every two years, if not sooner. I have no loyalty to any one company. Any carrier that has a high A.M. Best rating, that gives me the best coverage for my premium dollar, gets my business.

 

You may laugh but check out Farm Bureau Insurance. I've had insurance with them for about 26 years and they have THE cheapest rates I've been able to find. I have four vehicles on my policy (including my '10 GS), all with full coverage and the total premium for 6 months is right around $1,100. I just paid it a week ago but had done some online quotes with several different companies - for the same exact coverage and deductibles they were all several hundred or a thousand dollars higher! It probably helps a little that I also have my home insurance with them too. All of the insurance companies I see advertised on the television are a lot more expensive than Farm Bureau. You do have to pay a $30 per year membership fee but that gives you potential discounts on other items - rebate from either Ford or Dodge on a new truck purchase, Walmart's pharmacy used to give a Farm Bureau discount (I think they still do), etc. And they'll take you even if you don't have a farm.

 

You do have to shop around for the best prices. I've been with Nationwide for over ten years, at one time had two cars and six motorcycles insured with them. I'm now down to just two bikes and one car and they still beat anyone else's prices.

 

I have had Encompass for years. I love them. I've had several major claims (husband was killed in a car accident), they handled everything, no issues at all. I didn't deal with anyone local, all through the claims number, they sent adjusters and checks quickly. I've had smaller claims too with no issues. They have my homeowners as well and I just had a huge mold issue. They recommended contractors who did an excellent job. I'd recommend them!

 

State Farm is horrible! My parents dog chewed up their furniture while on vacation. Question from adjuster "has your dog done this before?" Of course the answer was no. Adjuster denied claim as stating "if if had had happened before it would be covered". Horrible company!

 

 

Have everything with AAA.

 

I insured with Farmers for many, many years. No problems, but after buying the vette last fall, their corvette insurance rate seemed high. I did some serious shopping around with the major companies and found out the Farmers was clearly the highest for the same level of coverage, deductibles etc. I went with State Farm. They were very competitive with the others that I checked with.

 

I used to have State Farm. Started at a good rate but increased every time it renewed. Ended up switching to Erie which was about half the cost and hasn't really increased in the 4 years I've had it.

 

Mention any insurance company, and there will always be someone praising that company, and someone vilifying it.

Peoples perceptions are always based on their particular experience.

Fact is, I have never seen any homeowner policy from any company that provides coverage for damage done to furniture by pets. Every policy I have ever seen in my entire career, has specific "Named Perils" for contents coverage. That is, Fire, Smoke, Water Escape, Burglary, Vandalism, etc. If your loss falls under a named peril, it's covered. If there is no peril for your loss, there is no coverage.

I have never seen a peril listed for "damage done by pets, or animals", or any similar language. In fact, damage to contents by pets is specifically excluded under every policy I've ever seen.

I cannot imagine, an adjuster saying it would have been covered, if the dog did this before. It makes absolutely no sense. Something has been lost in translation here.

 

The adjuster clearly stated "if the "occurrence" had happened before the claim would be covered. That is a rediculous stance.

 

I have my house and other vehicles w/ AAA but they couldnt offer a competitive rate on the Vette