Auto Insurance Recommendations

mboileau · 04-22-2004, 03:29 PM

Haven't seen a discussion on how people are faring with car insurance quotes, but I wanted to pass on my little bit of good news.

I've been with Allstate for 17 years. Not necessarily because I think they're great, but I simply haven't gotten my butt in gear to go shop around and see how it compares with other providers. I've been getting all the applicable discounts so I figured I was doing OK. I have 3 vehicles insured on my policy - the 04 Prius, a 2000 Dodge RAM 4x4 and an 85 Nissan Sentra, all with maximum coverage and 500/250 deductibles. I have one at-fault accident on my DMV record, which is why I started shopping around. Allstates renewal quote for me was $1618 for 6 months. This new quote included a $450 surcharge for the accident I had during this last cycle (it wasn't the Prius!). I called AIS (www.aisinsurance.com) because I've been hearing their radio ads constantly and figured it was worth a shot. They quoted me identical coverage for the 3 vehicles (I read them everything off my declarations page) and their price is $885 for 6 months. I was floored! I couldn't believe it.

Naturally, everyone's situation is different, but I thought that quote was so incredibly low, I'd put it out there as a recommendation.

Bill60546 · 04-22-2004, 03:38 PM

Moved my insurance from Allstate to Geico; it dropped 30%.

chris_b_01 · 04-22-2004, 04:01 PM

If you belong to one of these credit unions:

http://www.geico.com/about/pm_creditUnions.htm

then you can get significant discounts on premiums

Chris[/url]

**Danny** · 04-22-2004, 04:05 PM

You can join the Pentagon's Credit Union very easily and get the best car loans on the planet, as well as lowered insurance rates:

https://loanapps.penfed.org/membapp/nmfa/mbapnmfa.htm

bookrats · 04-22-2004, 04:06 PM

I was massively shocked when I called to get a quote for an '04 Prius from my current company (Amica).

Given that I was currently driving an 18-year old Civic (no collision insurance, just liability and yadda-yadda), I expected a HUGE increase in the premium.

Turns out -- not counting the collision insurance, the rates are actually cheaper for the Prius than for the ol' Civic. From what the agent said, this would have been true of many newer cars (that weren't out-and-out sports cars/mid-life-crisis-mobiles) -- just moreso with the Prius.

BTW, he said that there wasn't a discount for side airbag options; but that the engine immobilizer (which all Prii have) is a factor in the cheaper rates.

chris_b_01 · 04-22-2004, 04:10 PM

Quote:

best car loans on the planet,

WOW - 3.49% up to 60 months looks outstanding

Chris

mikepaul · 04-22-2004, 04:27 PM

Allstate is charging me more for the Prius than the last car, and it is a more expensive car to be sure, but I don't think I'll be sticking with them unless I see a rate reduction come in the July renewal notice...

oxnardprof · 04-22-2004, 04:44 PM

I am with State Farm, and have been for years. When I shopped around (for all my insurance, State Farm was less expensive). I did check with AIS, but the did not save me any money.

The Prius came to $484 for 6 months with $1000 deductible (self insuring to some extent) and something like 100/300 for liability.

The agent said that the Prius was similar in cost to other cars of similar size/price. She said people who buy luxury cars have much higher premiums (things like Lexus).

Location is Southern California, just outside of LA.

High traffic vehicle, which also makes a difference.

aarons12 · 04-22-2004, 04:57 PM

i own a new york insurance agency that goes back to 1892. we represent 15 companies. the bottom line these days is you have to shop. and no one company is lowest for everybody. credit score plays a big part, so does age, and so on. and in some states they are allowed to count things that would be illegal in others... it's a mess, but like everything else, you have to be an educated consumer

mboileau · 04-22-2004, 05:00 PM

For what it's worth, I got the formal quote by email a little while ago (always makes me feel better to have something like this in writing). The actual carrier AIS is putting this through is Mercury Insurance Co. This actually surprised me because Mercury wouldn't take me directly because of the accident. I can only assume that AIS does volume business with them, so they let some us slide through.

Just wanted to point out the factors that they used to lower the rate:
Vehicle specific - Alarm, Disabling Device, Side Airbags, ABS
Insured specfific - Multi-car, Good Driver, Homeonwer (15% discount)

I saw the post earlier about some carriers not caring about the side airbags, so I thought that was worth mentioning.

04-22-2004, 03:29 PM	#1
mboileau Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 278 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Auto Insurance Recommendations Haven't seen a discussion on how people are faring with car insurance quotes, but I wanted to pass on my little bit of good news. I've been with Allstate for 17 years. Not necessarily because I think they're great, but I simply haven't gotten my butt in gear to go shop around and see how it compares with other providers. I've been getting all the applicable discounts so I figured I was doing OK. I have 3 vehicles insured on my policy - the 04 Prius, a 2000 Dodge RAM 4x4 and an 85 Nissan Sentra, all with maximum coverage and 500/250 deductibles. I have one at-fault accident on my DMV record, which is why I started shopping around. Allstates renewal quote for me was $1618 for 6 months. This new quote included a $450 surcharge for the accident I had during this last cycle (it wasn't the Prius!). I called AIS (www.aisinsurance.com) because I've been hearing their radio ads constantly and figured it was worth a shot. They quoted me identical coverage for the 3 vehicles (I read them everything off my declarations page) and their price is $885 for 6 months. I was floored! I couldn't believe it. Naturally, everyone's situation is different, but I thought that quote was so incredibly low, I'd put it out there as a recommendation.

04-22-2004, 04:05 PM	#4
Danny Admin/Founder Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 5,565 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 78 Thanked 339 Times in 144 Posts Friends: 42	You can join the Pentagon's Credit Union very easily and get the best car loans on the planet, as well as lowered insurance rates: https://loanapps.penfed.org/membapp/nmfa/mbapnmfa.htm __________________ Follow PriusChat on and *Buy your discounted 2010 Prius Accessories* here and support PriusChat: PriusChat Shop PriusChat Also Offers Discounts on: Extended Warranty - $1055 : Pre-Paid Maintenance - $875**

04-22-2004, 04:06 PM	#5
bookrats Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 2,843 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I was massively shocked when I called to get a quote for an '04 Prius from my current company (Amica). Given that I was currently driving an 18-year old Civic (no collision insurance, just liability and yadda-yadda), I expected a HUGE increase in the premium. Turns out -- not counting the collision insurance, the rates are actually cheaper for the Prius than for the ol' Civic. From what the agent said, this would have been true of many newer cars (that weren't out-and-out sports cars/mid-life-crisis-mobiles) -- just moreso with the Prius. BTW, he said that there wasn't a discount for side airbag options; but that the engine immobilizer (which all Prii have) is a factor in the cheaper rates. __________________ "Have you ever noticed.... Anybody going slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?" -- George Carlin</span> Jeff Meyer <span style=\'color:green\'>Tideland '05 AM Package, 12 November 2004

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04-22-2004, 03:38 PM	#2
Bill60546 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 357 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: #9 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Moved my insurance from Allstate to Geico; it dropped 30%.

04-22-2004, 04:01 PM	#3
chris_b_01 Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: USA Posts: 132 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	If you belong to one of these credit unions: http://www.geico.com/about/pm_creditUnions.htm then you can get significant discounts on premiums Chris[/url]

04-22-2004, 04:27 PM	#7
mikepaul Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 1,757 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 2 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 0	Allstate is charging me more for the Prius than the last car, and it is a more expensive car to be sure, but I don't think I'll be sticking with them unless I see a rate reduction come in the July renewal notice...

04-22-2004, 04:44 PM	#8
oxnardprof Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Oxnard, CA Posts: 199 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: N/A Thanks: 4 Thanked 8 Times in 6 Posts Friends: 0	I am with State Farm, and have been for years. When I shopped around (for all my insurance, State Farm was less expensive). I did check with AIS, but the did not save me any money. The Prius came to $484 for 6 months with $1000 deductible (self insuring to some extent) and something like 100/300 for liability. The agent said that the Prius was similar in cost to other cars of similar size/price. She said people who buy luxury cars have much higher premiums (things like Lexus). Location is Southern California, just outside of LA. High traffic vehicle, which also makes a difference.

04-22-2004, 04:57 PM	#9
aarons12 Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: long island, NY Posts: 704 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	i own a new york insurance agency that goes back to 1892. we represent 15 companies. the bottom line these days is you have to shop. and no one company is lowest for everybody. credit score plays a big part, so does age, and so on. and in some states they are allowed to count things that would be illegal in others... it's a mess, but like everything else, you have to be an educated consumer

04-22-2004, 05:00 PM	#10
mboileau Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 278 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	For what it's worth, I got the formal quote by email a little while ago (always makes me feel better to have something like this in writing). The actual carrier AIS is putting this through is Mercury Insurance Co. This actually surprised me because Mercury wouldn't take me directly because of the accident. I can only assume that AIS does volume business with them, so they let some us slide through. Just wanted to point out the factors that they used to lower the rate: Vehicle specific - Alarm, Disabling Device, Side Airbags, ABS Insured specfific - Multi-car, Good Driver, Homeonwer (15% discount) I saw the post earlier about some carriers not caring about the side airbags, so I thought that was worth mentioning.