Collarspace Discussion Forums


Home  Login  Search 

Car Insurance


View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest
 
All Forums >> [Casual Banter] >> Off the Grid >> Car Insurance Page: [1]
Login
Message << Older Topic   Newer Topic >>
Car Insurance - 8/11/2009 4:19:02 PM   
anthrosub


Posts: 843
Joined: 6/2/2004
Status: offline 		What wrong with this picture?

Car insurance companies are claiming to be "hundreds cheaper" than each other on TV ads. Geico, Progressive, AllState, E-surance, 21st Century, and a host of others. I looked up some comparative reviews of these companies and wasn't surprised with the findings.

Here's the funny part. There has to be a baseline for all these price claims to be true but there isn't one. For example, Allstate cannot be cheaper than Geico and Geico cannot be cheaper then Allstate at the same time...or any other combination of companies for that matter. It's all a bad ruse on the comsumer. Also notice how they all seem to need some sort of funny theme in their ads.

Based on the reviews I've read, what's happening with auto insurance is sort of a price war. All these companies are cheap already...and wonderful to use so long as you don't have an accident. Just about all of these companies have some of the worst customer satisfaction ratings in the industry.

It just goes to show you you get what you pay for.

_____________________________

"It is easier to fool people than it is to convince them they have been fooled." - Mark Twain

"I am not young enough to know everything." - Oscar Wilde
Profile   Post #: 1
RE: Car Insurance - 8/11/2009 4:22:50 PM   
pahunkboy


Posts: 33061
Joined: 2/26/2006
From: Central Pennsylvania
Status: offline 		it is a come on to get a person to call for a quote.

the claim is meaningless.

(in reply to anthrosub)
Profile   Post #: 2
RE: Car Insurance - 8/11/2009 5:07:07 PM   
MasterG2kTR


Posts: 6677
Joined: 8/7/2004
From: Wisconsin
Status: offline 		The are actually true. What you have to understand first, is that the people who "save hundreds" are high risk drivers who manage to get insurance from company X after switching and take a minimum coverage policy just to be road legal.

(in reply to pahunkboy)
Profile   Post #: 3
RE: Car Insurance - 8/11/2009 5:38:30 PM   
pahunkboy


Posts: 33061
Joined: 2/26/2006
From: Central Pennsylvania
Status: offline 		If I switched - I might save $20.    It isnt worth it.

....this is a good time to mention that the insurance companies are heavily leveraged.   I would not count on  policies - well- I would not "over insure" anything.

Values have gone down.  --- you can classify this with lifetime warranties.

I think we threw money twice at AIG.

I suppose one should re-evaluate ones needs every so often.

I get come ons often to switch.   How can they possibly save me money?     I would have to look to see what my policy costs.   Maybe $238 for the year.     Maybe if they cut it in half I would switch.  but for $20- I wont bother.  

....as the way there is no loyalty the way the marketing works in the NEXT year- they "find" all the high risk things they did not see the first year- and BAMM.   big increase... but then the dings are on the inquiry record.    SO returning to the origninal company wont do much good because now there is a paper trail on the high risks....

(in reply to MasterG2kTR)
Profile   Post #: 4
RE: Car Insurance - 8/11/2009 5:39:21 PM   
anthrosub


Posts: 843
Joined: 6/2/2004
Status: offline 		Well one thing for certain is they are not comparing apples to apples. I also read something interesting that people who jump around with different insurance companies frequently enough eventually get a bad rating and this can even impact their credit reports. It pays to do a little research.

_____________________________

"It is easier to fool people than it is to convince them they have been fooled." - Mark Twain

"I am not young enough to know everything." - Oscar Wilde

(in reply to MasterG2kTR)
Profile   Post #: 5
RE: Car Insurance - 8/11/2009 6:02:06 PM   
pahunkboy


Posts: 33061
Joined: 2/26/2006
From: Central Pennsylvania
Status: offline 		IMO

the smaller name companies offer more value.

Skip ALLState- and state farm.

If you are looking- ask a local agent.   laws vary from state to state and they change.  A local agent CAN find the ins and outs even if you do not buy from them.

I know I had a hard time when I moved from a state that did not require insurance to one that did.   An agent was able to navigate the red tape.   But then after I was established I left.....  I would have stayed- but they figure if you add a car you cant delete the old one. (go figure)  I don't trade my cars in. I keep them and then junk them- so it may or may not be on the road.

One thing about a clunker- if one doesn't need full coverage.  I know insurance can be expensive....  a waste of money for me.  I would rather drive an old car that is paid for- then have the high costs- but then that is me.

Some insurances do check your credit. I have not run into that yet-.....  luckily.


In my experience-it had been both good and bad.   I really do HATE that they can force you to have insurance.... yikes.


(in reply to anthrosub)
Profile   Post #: 6
RE: Car Insurance - 8/11/2009 6:15:56 PM   
subfever


Posts: 2895
Joined: 5/22/2004
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: anthrosub

What wrong with this picture?

Car insurance companies are claiming to be "hundreds cheaper" than each other on TV ads. Geico, Progressive, AllState, E-surance, 21st Century, and a host of others. I looked up some comparative reviews of these companies and wasn't surprised with the findings.

Here's the funny part. There has to be a baseline for all these price claims to be true but there isn't one. For example, Allstate cannot be cheaper than Geico and Geico cannot be cheaper then Allstate at the same time...or any other combination of companies for that matter. It's all a bad ruse on the comsumer. Also notice how they all seem to need some sort of funny theme in their ads.

Based on the reviews I've read, what's happening with auto insurance is sort of a price war. All these companies are cheap already...and wonderful to use so long as you don't have an accident. Just about all of these companies have some of the worst customer satisfaction ratings in the industry.

It just goes to show you you get what you pay for.


My best guess is that these companies have to be cheaper in at least one area of the country, in order for them to be able to make such claims. Otherwise they'd be running a weighted risk of being nailed for false advertising, plus all the negative backlash that would go along with this.

So Company X prices their rates in Moosecrotch, North Dakota (pop 200) below the market. No big loss to them in the big picture.

Anyway, this is just conjecture on my part. Can anyone substantiate?

(in reply to anthrosub)
Profile   Post #: 7
RE: Car Insurance - 8/11/2009 6:21:17 PM   
subfever


Posts: 2895
Joined: 5/22/2004
Status: offline 		I've had very good luck with Country Companies, but have brought a perfect driving record, zero claims, and a decent or better credit score (knock on wood for all 3) to the table. I also enjoy a multi-policy discount.  

(in reply to pahunkboy)
Profile   Post #: 8
RE: Car Insurance - 8/11/2009 7:02:47 PM   
subfever


Posts: 2895
Joined: 5/22/2004
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: pahunkboy

I really do HATE that they can force you to have insurance.... yikes.
But how else can they get people who otherwise have nothing to lose



But how else can they get people, who otherwise have nothing to lose, into the game? ...

(in reply to pahunkboy)
Profile   Post #: 9
RE: Car Insurance - 8/11/2009 7:10:29 PM   
ThatDamnedPanda


Posts: 6060
Joined: 1/26/2009
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: MasterG2kTR

The are actually true. What you have to understand first, is that the people who "save hundreds" are high risk drivers who manage to get insurance from company X after switching and take a minimum coverage policy just to be road legal.


That's got to be it, because if I were to save "hundreds" of dollars, the insurance companies would have to be mailing me a check every 6 months for letting them write my policy. Which would be wonderful, of course, but I'm not expecting it.

_____________________________

Panda, panda, burning bright
In the forest of the night
What immortal hand or eye
Made you all black and white and roly-poly like that?


(in reply to MasterG2kTR)
Profile   Post #: 10
RE: Car Insurance - 8/12/2009 2:26:58 AM   
gobsmack


Posts: 56
Joined: 8/11/2008
From: Mars
Status: offline 		It never hurts to get a quote. It doesn't cost anything but some time. A few years back, when it was time to renew for the next year, I decided to see what else was out there. Fifteen minutes spent walking into a State Farm office saved me $1200 a year. I had a clean driving record and it was for the exact same coverage. Who knows how the original company came up with their rate.

(in reply to anthrosub)
Profile   Post #: 11
RE: Car Insurance - 8/12/2009 9:54:32 AM   
UncleNasty


Posts: 1108
Joined: 3/20/2004
Status: offline 		It may be beneficial to look into a bond instead of an insurance policy. I have a friend in Ohio that has a bond that costs him about $80 a year. This is for liability coverage only. According to him he can drive almost any vehicle (things like buses and trucks, or operating as a commercial driver in any way are probably excluded) under that one bond. I do know it includes operation of a motorcycle.

I've been meaning to look into it myself but haven't found the time.

Uncle Nasty

(in reply to gobsmack)
Profile   Post #: 12
RE: Car Insurance - 8/12/2009 10:04:45 AM   
servantforuse


Posts: 6363
Joined: 3/8/2006
Status: offline 		Many have to be forced to buy insurance because there are way to many people that are to irresponsible to buy it on their own.

(in reply to UncleNasty)
Profile   Post #: 13
RE: Car Insurance - 8/12/2009 10:17:07 AM   
pahunkboy


Posts: 33061
Joined: 2/26/2006
From: Central Pennsylvania
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: servantforuse

Many have to be forced to buy insurance because there are way to many people that are to irresponsible to buy it on their own.



maybe- they had to pay the rent....   


just sayn--

(in reply to servantforuse)
Profile   Post #: 14
RE: Car Insurance - 8/12/2009 10:19:25 AM   
FullCircle


Posts: 5713
Joined: 11/24/2005
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: anthrosub
Here's the funny part. There has to be a baseline for all these price claims to be true but there isn't one. For example, Allstate cannot be cheaper than Geico and Geico cannot be cheaper then Allstate at the same time...or any other combination of companies for that matter. It's all a bad ruse on the comsumer. Also notice how they all seem to need some sort of funny theme in their ads.

They take the premium which they are shown to be cheapest at and compare it with that of their most expensive competitor creating this grand illusion of the super deal.
quote:


Based on the reviews I've read, what's happening with auto insurance is sort of a price war. All these companies are cheap already...and wonderful to use so long as you don't have an accident. Just about all of these companies have some of the worst customer satisfaction ratings in the industry.

Yeah people even have those price comparison sites to get them the best deal, the power is definitely turning towards the customer. Although it's a kind of lose lose situation where if you make a claim your insurance goes up anyway and having insurance is a legal requirement and they know this so first time drivers are really ripped off. Also now they have insurance on insurance so that you can protect your no claims status if you make a claim (money for old rope).


_____________________________

∞ ﮒuקּƹɼ ƾɛϰưϫԼ Ƨωιϯϲћ.

(in reply to anthrosub)
Profile   Post #: 15
RE: Car Insurance - 8/12/2009 10:21:14 AM   
servantforuse


Posts: 6363
Joined: 3/8/2006
Status: offline 		It is still very irresponsible to carry no insurance. They are off the hook when a crash occurs and everyone else ends up footing the bill. They shouldn't be driving at all without it.

(in reply to pahunkboy)
Profile   Post #: 16
RE: Car Insurance - 8/12/2009 10:35:40 AM   
IrishMist


Posts: 7480
Joined: 11/17/2005
Status: offline 		Insurance rates depend on alot of things.

Your driving record, the area you live in, the kind of car/truck you drive, how new/old it is

When I first started driving, I was paying almost 1500 a year in car insurance. I had a two year old used car, fully paid, full coverage...I lived in an area that was deemed high crime rate though.

When I moved to texas, I was driving a brand new truck, fully paid..full coverage, but my insurance dropped to about 700 a year...low crime area.

When we moved back to Inidiana...originally we moved to the same place that I had grown up in...I was driving a brand new truck, fully paid, full coverage...my insurance jumped to over 2500 a year. The area had deteriorated badly in the 5 years that I was gone.

When we moved east to where we are now, same state...my insurance dropped again to 1060 a year...brand new truck, fully paid, full coverage....AND I have a teenager on the inurance now to boot.

I have had the same insurance company since I started driving, never been in an accident, never had a ticket...my driving record is squeaky clean.

All of these things go into the determination of what you will pay for insurance.

_____________________________

If I said something to offend you, please tell me what it was so that I can say it again later.


(in reply to anthrosub)
Profile   Post #: 17
RE: Car Insurance - 8/12/2009 11:48:32 AM   
pahunkboy


Posts: 33061
Joined: 2/26/2006
From: Central Pennsylvania
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: servantforuse

It is still very irresponsible to carry no insurance. They are off the hook when a crash occurs and everyone else ends up footing the bill. They shouldn't be driving at all without it.


So- if one cant get to work- dont work.   Go one welfare.  

Not everything in life can be monetized.

Just drive safely.

Sometimes people really don't have a choice.   Seriously.



(in reply to servantforuse)
Profile   Post #: 18
RE: Car Insurance - 8/12/2009 12:10:26 PM   
igor2003


Posts: 1718
Joined: 1/1/2004
Status: offline 		Fast Reply to no one in particular

Here is how some of the thinking goes at some insurance dealers. When I first got my drivers license my first "car" was a small 80cc Suzuki trail bike. I believe I was 16 at the time. They told me that if I had bought a bigger bike...over 300 lbs...that the bike would hold the road better and my insurance would be cheaper. Also, my rates would go down when I turned 18.

A couple of years later I was 18 and I no longer had the little Suzuki. I bought a 650cc Triumph Bonneville. 352lbs with a full tank. Went in to get it insured. Guess what I was told. If the bike was smaller I could get better rates because they had less power and were easier to control!! Also, I could expect my rates to go down when I turned 21.

When I turned 21 I no longer had the Triumph but went in to get insurance on my '58 Chevy. I was told my rates would go down when I turned 24!!!! WTF??? That had been the insurance company my parents had used for years, but it was no longer my insurance company after that.

Now I normally go to an insurance broker that carries several different brands of insurance. Even with the same insurance company go ahead and ask for a review about once a year to see if you can now get better rates. I've saved hundreds of dollars by doing that. It also helps if you have multi-vehicles as well as your homeowners insurance, business insurance, and any other that you can carry with the same company.

< Message edited by igor2003 -- 8/12/2009 12:13:41 PM >

(in reply to pahunkboy)
Profile   Post #: 19
Page:   [1]
All Forums >> [Casual Banter] >> Off the Grid >> Car Insurance Page: [1]
Jump to:





New Messages No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages Locked w/o New Messages
 Post New Thread
 Reply to Message
 Post New Poll
 Submit Vote
 Delete My Own Post
 Delete My Own Thread
 Rate Posts




Collarchat.com © 2025
Terms of Service Privacy Policy Spam Policy

0.094