Which Insurance Co. is the Best? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

1983 300TD · #1 12-31-2004, 01:41 PM

Greetings gentlemen.

I have to renew my insurance in January, and currently I have full coverage with Progressive. My car is in good condition, 300,000+ miles, running strong, and I would like to think that if it got wrecked, I would get approx. $3,000 out of it. How unrealistic is that? What insurance companies do you use, and what kind of coverage do you get? Is there anyway to guarantee what you could get out of your car if something horrible happened?

Thanks.
Damon Fite

dtf · #2 12-31-2004, 01:45 PM

Lots of Insurance companies, most with funny names like mine: Plymouth Rock. Used to have Great American, Patriot General, etc. But from what I hear Chubb has a plan that insures you on a replacement cost of replacing your vehicle. I sure this would cost $$ but it is comforting to know you're covered.

Jimmy Joe · #3 12-31-2004, 01:46 PM

I have thought about getting my car appraised, then getting classic/antique insurance. Any success stories?

Carleton Hughes · #4 12-31-2004, 01:56 PM

If your vehicle is 25 years or older it is eligible for historic insurance. You must,however,have a regularly insured car as well.

You send them pics,mileage statement,if the odometer is working{tee-hee} and my yearly premiums can vary but are usually in the 10 cents per hundred dollar valuation.

I drove a '27 Buick as a daily driver for 12 years,after that a nice '32 Nash 8 for 4 more as a second car.

It was fun,I still dearly love driving early cars but having a 5 year old girl has brought out some latent practical streak so I'm back to the diesels again!

boxscar · #5 12-31-2004, 02:19 PM

one problem with "antigue" insurance is they usually limit miles per year. so, if it's your daily driver, it wouldn't be pracitcal. my friend with a restored 72 Chevelle has cheap insurance even though it's a 600hp 502cu in . he is limited to about 2500 miles a year.
i use Farmers which the agent is my friend and i get it a lot cheaper than Progressive was.
just my experience.
r

Eric Eliel · #6 12-31-2004, 03:53 PM

I have had auto insurance with State Farm and AAA. I have had to deal with State Farm, Farmers, USAA, and 21st Century for claims. Got a buddy who is an Allstate agent and my neighbor across the street just finished with a rather lengthy homeowners flood claim.

Within the last 2 years, I have had to deal with State Farm on TWO totaled vehicles (one my fault). I've been a long time State Farm customer. Due to the rather complex state insurance regulations, I have a hard time believing that just because you've been with a company for "x" number of years, you'll get a better deal on a claim. The state insurance commissioner requires "like claims" to be processed and paid equally for similar vehicles.

When my wifes Volvo was totaled while parked, I thought it best to try to deal directly with the other guys insurance company (21st Century). They tried to low ball me, I provided additional information and the offer was still too low. They were not cooperative. I didn't want to bother my insurance company, it wasn't their problem. Well let me tell you.......I finally had a conversation with my SFarm agent, she suggested I get an offer from SF's adjuster. SF came in with the highest value on the first offer. I didn't feel I was taken advantage of and got a reasonable offer first time out of the gate. Same situation when I totaled my prev 300D. First offer was good! SF really took care of me. But I think SF is too big of a company to take into account how long I've been a customer.

If you opt for collision insurance, go with one of the better auto companies that will support the claim. Ask the good body shops about who takes care of their customers. SF, Farmers, AAA, Allstate generally fall into this category. Progressive, Geico, Freeway etc generally play hardball on claims (no flames, just what I have heard).

I believe you generally get what you pay for in auto insurance. Stay away from the low ball, small companies. They won't be able to properly support you during a claim.

Would be interested in others experiences.

boxscar · #7 12-31-2004, 03:58 PM

well, since you asked... i had state farm for 20 years and the were absolutly the best at claims. had claims on both my house and cars and they PAID without hassles, too many questions, and were curteous.
but, i save a LOT of money now with Farmers...

Eric Eliel · #8 12-31-2004, 04:01 PM

I've got Farmers for my homeowners insurance but will probably switch back to State Farm. I'm a non-smoker and have issues with BAT's ownership of Farmers.

leathermang · #9 12-31-2004, 04:54 PM

I have had my insurance with USAA for about 35 years.... Having it with them has saved me a lot of time on the phone... Salesmen for other insurance companies just say ' nevermind' when I tell them who I am insured by...
However, getting it with them may require a small tour in Iraq.... or maybe several the way this Administration is not letting people out of the Service when their time is up....

If you belong to a Credit Union.. check out CUNA Mutual insurance...

rwthomas1 · #10 12-31-2004, 04:58 PM

Whatever you do don't do business with GEICO. I had a nightmare with them and then they dropped me. Have Progressive now and they seem pretty good. Its legalized extortion IMHO so I deal with insurance co's as little as possible. RT

aklim · #11 12-31-2004, 05:40 PM

When you sign up for insurance they will tell you they have to charge so much because if you total the car, they will be paying out for a car that is worth 10 mil. When you total the car and claim it, they will argue with you taht the car is worth $10.

My experience with AAA was that I lost 2000 when my C280 was totaled. Of course it was 1 year ago when I bought it and 20000 miles newer so I can't complain too much. I do wonder if it was because of the way I bought the car and/or the way the car holds it's value. I bought it after it sat on the lot for 6 months and on a cold Jan morning since I wanted to be able to say the car is a year older than when it was brought in for sale.

Mike123 · #12 12-31-2004, 06:04 PM

I was involved in an accident about three weeks ago. My car is still in the shop. That is because I bought some other parts for it and am having a little more work done. Progressive is the company paying for the accident. They are the insurers of the young man who pulled out in front of me. They have been wonderful, no arguments. They are paying appr. $4,000.00 for the repair work to my '81 300CD. They have provided a very nice rental vehicle the whole time since the accident. They payed all the towing charges. It had to be flat bedded twice because of a hole in the radiator. I am having the work done at the shop of my choice.

I have had a few claims made in the last forty years. The worst was Allstate. They tried to offer me $276.00 for $1,400.00 work. It was on my 450SEL. They refused to budge, saying that they could get the work done for that amount. I turned it in to my insurance company, Meridian, and they told me to take it where I wanted it repaired. They fought it out with Allstate and returned my deductible in about four months. Another time Allstate flatly refused to pay a $400.00 claim that I had where a woman hit my fender on a truck. They said it was not clear whose fault it was and we should each pay our own. I was parked when she hit me. Again, my insurance company, this time Auto Owners, fought for me and got me the $400.00 payment.

My brother-in-law has a shop in Chicago and two friends own shops in Northern Indiana. None of the three will bid on or take Allstate work because of company practices.

MercedesRover · #13 12-31-2004, 06:19 PM

...and have lots of experience. I didn't read the previous posts but will give my two cents.

Chubb is the best BY FAR!!!!!
Statefarm is good.
Geico is good.
Allstate sucks.
Nationwide and Progressive are the WORST!!!!!

I have a stated value policy on my Rover. Limited mileage but $25,000 replacment value for $300.00 a year.

roy wood · #14 12-31-2004, 06:19 PM

i have nationwide with a great agent. both of my MB's (84 and 85) are insured
for an agreed upon value that i pay a little extra for (not very expensive, but
they have to take pictures). just in case they get totalled, at least i get my
bucks back.

also had a bugaboo over a windshield replacement on my kid's car (used nationwide's preferred vendor and the clowns pushed in a fender on a honda
civic) and the vendor was refusing to fix it. my agent got involved with a
pretty heavy handed adjuster and i got full satisfaction pdq.

used to deal with allstate but you find out real quick whose interest their out
to protect -- and it ain't their insured's. it is their stockholders for sure. i
know if push came to shove, nationwide would be the same way, but so far
they're on my side.

rgp123 · #15 01-02-2005, 12:03 AM

While in FL I had my '78 300D appraised and covered by Nationwide for exact replacement. Prior to that I had a '73 BMW 2002 for a daily driver. I also had it appraised and covered the same way by Nationwide. Very reasonable but never had a claim.

In GA I couldn't get similar coverage (appraisal/replacement cost) from Nationwide so I switched to State Farm. SF insures older cars just like anything else just cheaper. I spent a short time with Progressive until my son turned 16. At that point they stuck it to me, 100% increase! I switched back to S.F. and saved over $500 annually. I do not carry collision on my MB's or the son's '91 Maxima.