anyone use geico insurance? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

link · #1 03-11-2014, 03:52 PM

I’m passed at my current auto insurance provider and am looking to replace them. Unfortunately they appear to be the lowest cost provider.

I've never filed a claim with any car insurance company.

I got 3 quotes today (AAA, AARP and Geico) Geico is more than the current provider but are the next lowest cost of those I made an inquiry.

The current insurer costs $545 per year for full coverage on 2 MB vehicles with a kilobuck deductable.

geico asked about $630 for ~ the same coverage.

Any comments or recommendations?

TIA

nate300d · #2 03-11-2014, 04:04 PM

I avoid insurance companies that advertise so much that much of it is just entertainment. Policy holders are paying for that. I was with Esurance a few years ago before they began advertising on TV. Once they began advertising on TV my rates went up. I am with Auto Owners. I have not had a claim with them, but otherwise I am satisfied. I do advertise on TV, but very little.

jplinville · #3 03-11-2014, 04:06 PM

Check with an independent insurance agent...don't fall for the advertised hype. An indie will find you the cheapest possible rate within your needs.

nate300d · #4 03-11-2014, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jplinville

Check with an independent insurance agent...don't fall for the advertised hype. An indie will find you the cheapest possible rate within your needs.

So true. My Auto Owners is through and agent that represent several companies. FYI Auto Owners in not 100% nation wide. They do not cover areas that they consider higher risk which is how they keep their rates down. Two years ago without a claim my home owners premium went up. The agent took the initiative to call me and worked to reduce the premium. That's service that you are not going to get from those entertainment commercial companies.

aklim · #5 03-11-2014, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by link

I’m passed at my current auto insurance provider and am looking to replace them. Unfortunately they appear to be the lowest cost provider.

I've never filed a claim with any car insurance company.

I got 3 quotes today (AAA, AARP and Geico) Geico is more than the current provider but are the next lowest cost of those I made an inquiry.

The current insurer costs $545 per year for full coverage on 2 MB vehicles with a kilobuck deductable.

geico asked about $630 for ~ the same coverage.

Any comments or recommendations?

TIA

Never used AARP but Geico and AAA seem ok. Used both. Go with the lowest rates PROVIDED the coverage is the same.

aklim · #6 03-11-2014, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jplinville

Check with an independent insurance agent...don't fall for the advertised hype. An indie will find you the cheapest possible rate within your needs.

Not always. Had an indie quote me a rate from Progressive and Progressive on the web. Indie was more expensive.

aklim · #7 03-11-2014, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nate300d

So true. My Auto Owners is through and agent that represent several companies. FYI Auto Owners in not 100% nation wide. They do not cover areas that they consider higher risk which is how they keep their rates down. Two years ago without a claim my home owners premium went up. The agent took the initiative to call me and worked to reduce the premium. That's service that you are not going to get from those entertainment commercial companies.

I wouldn't rely on the companies or the agents. I shop around every so often myself. For all you know, an agent might or might not get you the best rate. Lowest of what he offers in case he is afraid you might go elsewhere but that is that.

DeliveryValve · #8 03-11-2014, 04:24 PM

I've been with Geico for 19 years. They've been just fine for me.
Several times I tried to see what's out there (I think I started after 5 years), but my long term standing with them always had Geico much cheaper than other insurance companies, including the independents. Even if I tried to combine my property insurances, I was still ahead with Geico.

.

ramonajim · #9 03-11-2014, 04:28 PM

Have used Geico in the past (for home and auto, ~ 10 years running). Switched to Liberty Mutual ~ 20 years ago, and haven't looked back other than to recheck pricing and service levels in the market every few years. Liberty has consistently better pricing and service rankings; my experience across multiple claims has been excellent.

nate300d · #10 03-11-2014, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

I wouldn't rely on the companies or the agents. I shop around every so often myself. For all you know, an agent might or might not get you the best rate. Lowest of what he offers in case he is afraid you might go elsewhere but that is that.

A few years ago I did shop around and that is how I ended up with Auto Owners through a local agent. The biggest savings has been on the home owners side. Every place else that I checked (even with combining car and home) was 15-50% higher on the home owners side for similar coverage. On the other hand I have not had a claim. Thing about insurance is there is no 'test drive'.

tbomachines · #11 03-11-2014, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ramonajim

Have used Geico in the past (for home and auto, ~ 10 years running). Switched to Liberty Mutual ~ 20 years ago, and haven't looked back other than to recheck pricing and service levels in the market every few years. Liberty has consistently better pricing and service rankings; my experience across multiple claims has been excellent.

I had a hell of a time with liberty with a claim a while ago. Guy hit me in a parking lot, we both had liberty. They declared it no fault (it was very clearly his) and paid out almost nothing since the net for them was just going to be negative. I promptly switched to geico and haven't looked back.

HuskyMan · #12 03-11-2014, 05:13 PM

As they say in any business, you cannot acquire too much information prior to making a decision. The independent insurance agent is a good place to begin; also track down two or three personal top rated personal injury lawyers who have been in been in business more than ten years and ask them which insurers are the most difficult to deal with. PI lawyers deal with accident claims for victims eight hours a day, five to six days a week. That means interfacing with our friends over at Great Benefit Insurance.

Great Benefit's dream legal team: You want us to pay you for the damages our client caused? Go fly a kite!! We chew up guys like you and spit 'em back in the street just for fun. We'll see you in court and BTW, for every motion your lawyer files, we will file five counter motions just to WEAR YOU DOWN.

You say you are suffering from five herniated discs from the wreck our client caused? Good, because that means you won't have the will power and the stamina to stand up and go past two rounds with us big boys. Good luck, you will need it.

Our actuaries tell us the best way to increase our profits is to deny each and every claim that comes through the door. Take off the gloves boys, the fight is on!!

elchivito · #13 03-11-2014, 05:22 PM

I shop rates about every 6 months. GEICO has always been the lowest for about 10 years. They beat the pants off everybody when my kid started driving 4 years ago.

Independent agents? Their income is a percentage cut of your premium so.........

link · #14 03-11-2014, 05:27 PM

Thanks for the many comments.

After my experience with a recommended inde today (recommended by AAA), the inde quoted me nearly 3x the price for the same policy for the insurer I want to replace (they quoted nearly $1,600 where the insurer quoted me $545). They also misunderstood the number of drivers and when I pointed this out they stated that having a 2nd driver on the policy actually decreases the cost. WTH? Then when I pointed out they were by far the highest of the others quoted they had no explanation.

Clearly being an inde doesn’t necessitate a better value. In the past I would have thought they did offer a better value but my experiences today show it isn't a given.

I used State Farm for many years, never bothered to shop and one year I did and found out they were taking me to the cleaners. I switched and have adopted the habit of shopping every 2-3 years. I guess today is my day to do that with car insurance.

I’ll check out Liberty Mutual

Botnst · #15 03-11-2014, 05:33 PM

I had Geico for about 20 years and never had a problem. I made few claims. Recently one of my cars was sideswiped by a car carrying Geico. They paid promptly with no hassle. Now use Horace-Mann, with which I am very satisfied.