Which car insurance company won't fuck me in the ass?

Daedalus

So I have my first car, I'm out of college and into the Real World, and this means I need car insurance. There's still some time left on my old policy that my parents were paying for so this isn't "need to do this before I drive the car again" urgent, but since I changed states, I need to get insurance for Maryland before I can register my car in Maryland, and I need to do that within two months.

So which insurance company won't fuck me over on premiums and on fighting claims? I mean, I kinda figure you have to pick one or the other of "low premiums" or "won't fight every single claim", but it's worth asking. Also, is there anything special I need to worry about for Maryland specifically?

Artereis

Geico seems pretty cheap. I'm using Allstate currently, and the most recent Geico quote I requested was about half my current premium for the same coverage.

bowen

I've heard some pretty bad horror stories about Geico, ones that involve dropping someone after a claim is filed yadda yadda. Stick with the same company your parents use if you can (they may have a Maryland branch).

I've heard good things about Progressive, though, but ymmv.

illig

honestly, call around and get quotes from as many insurers as you can... that will give you a price range... from those quotes research which one you'd like

Geico and Progressive aren't always the cheapest for example... i'm using Countrywide and it was several hundred less for supposedly better level of service than the bargain basement providers

matt has a problem

I've had State Farm, and currently have Progressive. My parents have had State Farm their entire lives. Both I was happy with, I only switched to Progressive for a somewhat lower premium. I had two at-fault wrecks with State Farm over 8 years that they paid with no hassle (other than the increased premium, of course), and a not-at-fault wreck with Progressive that they handled quick and got my car back to me promptly.

Had a friend with Geico though, on his parents' policy, which they'd had for ~15 years. He got hit by someone who ran a red light, who ended up having no insurance. After the claim was paid and his car repaired, Geico dropped the entire policy, his car and his parents' cars. They offered no explanation other than to say they were "too high of a risk" now.

PeregrineFalcon

None, they will all fuck you in the ass. Some will just use lube.

Edit - I have yet to find one that provides a reach-around service so you at least get something useful out of it.

supabeast

Chubb Great Northern is a little more expensive but isgreat about everything. You’ll need to go through an agent to get it, tho. Call the Flather & Perkins agency in DC and ask them how to go about setting up insurance for Maryland.

After the claim was paid and his car repaired, Geico dropped the entire policy…

Par for course with Geico.

Smurph

I was in a similar situation (out of college, big-boy job, first car owned entirely by me) about a year ago. I went with State Farm because that's who my parents had so the paperwork was minimal since they were already insuring me and just had to spin me off to my own policy. I haven't had to file any claims with them, but they did decided to raise my monthly payments by about $30 for no fucking reason whatsoever back in December. I'm currently looking to replace them.

Erandus

I have State Farm, and I have to say that while it's not the cheapest coverage I could possibly get, it's not that bad, and having a local agent is awesome. My insurance agent has literally known me since I was 3, when my parents first got coverage through her. Since I picked up my own policy through them, she has taken it upon herself to call me 3 times when she found out she could save me some money.

Once was to tell me I could get a discount on my policy by adding renters insurance (which gave me a bundle discount that was more than the renters insurance cost). Once to tell me that she stumbled upon a local credit union that would refinance my car loan for less than the rate I had gotten when I bought it. Once to tell me that if I swapped my coverages to a million dollar umbrella policy, my premiums would be cheaper.

She also let me stay under my parent's policy when I first moved out of their house, even though I technically shouldn't have been able to, because it cut my insurance in roughly half.

So yeah, I vote for State Farm or whatever local provider your parents are under. Ask your parents why they have the provider they do, and if they like them.

Phisti

Best I can say is visit an independent broker.

They'll find you insurance that fits you for as cheap as possible and they have access to tools we don't have (and usually can get bargains for number of insurees etc, that's how they make their money, not as an add-on to your premium).

Djeet

My co-worker likes Mercury Insurance cause he gets lower rates through them, though he hasn't had to file a claim with them. I'd never heard of them til he told me about them the other day. You might try similar insurers that are geared more towards auto insurance.

I've had good experience with state farm, rates are okay since I've multiple lines through them and you earn discounts with seniority.

Progressive will insure anyone, but they're not cheap.

If it's a nice car I'd elect to use a top tier insurance provider (progressive, allstate, state farm, geico, or farmers). I know of "insurers" who can get you an insurance card cheap (good enough to not get a ticket from the cops), but the premiums seem too cheap to actually provide coverage so it smells fishy; I'm also not sure of the legality of these kinds of operations.

I've had a similar situation as Erandus. My current agent was and is my parents agent and they've known us for 25+ years. We chat on a semi-annual basis and I always call him to file a claim instead of the 1-800 number eventhough the office is in a different city (same state).

Jasconius

I've had state farm for 5 years but I've never had a claim. State Farm's rates are high(er) but they are rumored to have good service. If you have an immediate family member who has state farm and a good record then they can grandfather you in at a lower rate.

I'm a 22 male with just a speeding ticket and I pay 140 a month for full coverage insurance including medical.



DO NOT go with AIG. Completely discarding the fact that they are nigh-bankrupt, I had a very horrible encounter with them. I was labeled partially liable for an accident where a lady lost control of her SUV did a 180 across three lanes of traffic and bounced off the sidewalk into me. In the rain.

Newton

If you have a Costco membership, you can get insurance through them with Ameriprise. They have really good rates, although I never had to file a claim with them, so I can't say too much about the service. They were always easy to deal with on the phone when I had to make any changes to the policy.

You probably aren't eligible if you aren't using it now, but if you can get it, USAA has great rates and service. You have to be in the military or have a parent who was in to be eligible for coverage, though.

bowen

I think AAA does car insurance. And their AAA membership is awesome to begin with, I can't imagine their auto insurance would be bad.

Doc

Make sure to get renter's insurance. It's good for all sorts of stuff, and gets you a discount on your auto insurance.

Feral

bowen wrote: »

I think AAA does car insurance. And their AAA membership is awesome to begin with, I can't imagine their auto insurance would be bad.

I had horrible experiences with AAA auto insurance, and their premiums were ass-rape.

I Geico, and I've never had any of the reported problems with them.

Erandus

Doc wrote: »

Make sure to get renter's insurance. It's good for all sorts of stuff, and gets you a discount on your auto insurance.

Yeah, I have 25 thousand dollars worth of coverage for all my stuff for the cost of negative a dollar fifty a month. Even if you have crappy insurance, it shouldn't be more than a couple bucks a month.

bowen

Feral wrote: »

bowen wrote: »

I think AAA does car insurance. And their AAA membership is awesome to begin with, I can't imagine their auto insurance would be bad.

I had horrible experiences with AAA auto insurance, and their premiums were ass-rape.

I Geico, and I've never had any of the reported problems with them.

I'm sure it's all dependent in the state you're in too. Word of mouth with people who get in accidents is probably a good way to find out.

Mr Blonde

bowen wrote: »

Feral wrote: »

bowen wrote: »

I think AAA does car insurance. And their AAA membership is awesome to begin with, I can't imagine their auto insurance would be bad.

I had horrible experiences with AAA auto insurance, and their premiums were ass-rape.

I Geico, and I've never had any of the reported problems with them.

I'm sure it's all dependent in the state you're in too. Word of mouth with people who get in accidents is probably a good way to find out.

I have AAA auto insurance in California and the premiums are ass rape, however, they are amazing when it comes to claims. Going to be switching next month when my term is up.

PeekingDuck

My dad worked as a regulator for a very long time and he said that State Farm is generally the best at resolving claims, though they aren't the cheapest. Progressive doesn't have a very good reputation. Those are the only two I asked him about that are national.

Noquar

I use State Farm. I love them, I have even received dividends from them. Amica is also highly rated and from what I understand of people who use them it is pricier at first, but it really pays off in the end.

Wedge Biggs

Try to get in on USAA, if you have family in the military. That shit can't be beat.

Thanatos

Feral wrote: »

bowen wrote: »

I think AAA does car insurance. And their AAA membership is awesome to begin with, I can't imagine their auto insurance would be bad.

I had horrible experiences with AAA auto insurance, and their premiums were ass-rape.

I Geico, and I've never had any of the reported problems with them.

I have never heard anything good about AAA's insurance.

If you can get USAA, get USAA.

Deadfall

You're going to get a dozen different opinions from a dozen different people.

Like for example, I switched from Farmer's to Geico and saved a load of money, but those I work with despise Geico because they are getting charged a lot more.

Get a bunch of different quotes from a bunch of different companies. Some websites will do this for you, however be cautious. The competitor's quotes I got online from Progressive were different when I called theses competitors and talked to their various agents, so I would recommend actually talking to someone.

Six

I currently have Geico and have been happy with them. the past, Iv'e had State Farm, which was better, but more expensive. I just got a quote for Costco's insurance, and it was competitive with Geico but still a bit higher.

I'm a 30-year old driver with a clean record over the last 10 years in NYC.

MichaelLC

Erandus wrote: »

I have State Farm, and I have to say that while it's not the cheapest coverage I could possibly get, it's not that bad, and having a local agent is awesome.

This is what usually separates the cheaper (Geico, Progressive) from the more expensive (State Farm, Allstate).

What it's worth is up to you - old fogeys like me still like having an agent even if I don't interact that much with them; pay bill on-line, etc.