Auto Insurance

[fishhuntwork]

Received my yearly statement for my renewal for my auto insurance and it went up $584 this year! We had no accidents and no claims of any sort against our policy. Anyone have any ideas what the hell happend? I know get a new company, well it may just happend.

[caughtacase73]

I had my premium go up about $100 this year. When I called my agent and asked she told me they enrolled me in accident forgiveness.

No tickets, no accidents, no claims, great credit. I guess they thought it was an easy $100.

I told my agent that I was required by law to carry insurance. I was not required to have "insurance" for my insurance. Dropped the extra coverage and almost dropped my agent.

Check with your agent. They may have done the same.

[cm1977]

I would shop around, a few of the bigger companies just switched and are now using insurance scores. Sometimes this will be in your favor and sometimes it will not. Each company has their own criteria for their scores so going to an independent agent and getting some numbers is probably a good idea. Make sure they have a healthy list of companies to choose from. I bought a new house at the beginning of the month, doubled my coverage and I am still paying the same amount as with the old house because they did some comparison shopping for me...

[shizzy]

thats way too much of an increase for no reason. its worth a phone call to ask WHY

Mine went Way down when I turned 30, but the last two years it has gone up a few dollars a year. by a few, I mean like $30-40 over the policy.

[ozzie]

With the company that I work for we have recently had a few rate increases and it mainly falls back to all the hail claims that we have had in the last 4 years. The companies reserves were depleted and they need to build the reserves back up. Just remember that soometimes you get what you pay for and if you are shopping around and you get a lower premium quote check into the company that is giving you the quote. How do they handle claims and where are they located? If you do have a problem who is going to stand up for you? There are alot of insurance companies in the state and if you look hard enough you can always find cheaper but when you need them you might just get what you paid for and that is cheap service and help. Also a good idea is to sit down with your agent and check out to see if there are any changes that can be made to your current policy to reduce the premiums such as raising the deductible or removing comp and collision on older vehicles and with things that are a stated value check and see if the value of say a camper or home may be over insured. Always give your current agent a chance to review your file and retain your business before you go out and just find "cheaper" insurance.

[harvey lee]

I agree one needs to know how the different companies pay claims. I have a buddy who switched to a cheaper company and had a claim on his truck.

He was very suprised how cheap his coverage was.

Cheaper is not always better.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Nothing, and I mean this, nothing beats a good agent. I've been with the same company for almost 25 years and the same agent for the last 15 of those years. I'm not a fan of the insurance biz but I am a big fan of my agent. He's taken good care of me.

Even with all the cut rate stuff happening out there I wouldn't trade him for anything. If you're having problems or questions, speak with your agent before up and ditching the company. If he's worth his salt he'll take care of the problem.

[fishhuntwork]

Spoke with my agent this am. He said that b/c I sold one car and still have 2 cars insured it went up. But he was already on top of it shopping around for me.

[ozzie]

dropping from 3 vehicles to 2 shouldn't raise premiums unless this causes a young driver to be rated on a vehicle that has full coverage on it otherwise something does not sound right. Hopefully your agent takes care of it for you.

[Valv]

Where are you from ? I hope you don't have same agent I have.

[chasineyes]

Shop, Shop, Shop around. You owe them nothing.

[ozzie]

yep this is true you don't owe the company anything and there are thousands of companies that insure in the state of Minnesota and if you shop hard enough you can have the "cheapest" policy around. Then when you have to make a claim and have a few questions to ask and have a tough time getting answers or getting a hold of a human just remember that hey at least you are paying a cheap premium!!! Good Luck

[CJH]

Trust me, you can get the run around from the big "trusted" companies as well.

That whole industry is a boondogle. Shop around and find the best deal you can, that you would be comfortable with if something happened.

[chasineyes]

I'm guessing ozzie works for the industry?

[CJH]

That's the schtick they sell........

[upnorth]

I find I have to shop around either for a new company through my agent or change everything altogether about ever 3 years. Seems like if you stay they for a while they figure they have you as a steady customer and try to screw the daylights out of you.