Shopping around for car insurance

[curlyred]

Our cars and home are currently insured with Liberty Mutual. I've not had any problems with them, but them I've only had one claim. I was pleased with that experience.

They just don't seem interested in calling me back. I've left several messages since yesterday morning, both locally and at the 800 number, without a return call. It's starting to piss me off, since we have a new car we need to add to the policy.

So--any recommendations for insurance companies? We're in Colorado, BTW, which just dumped no-fault last summer.

[GOPisEvil]

1. I've always gotten good service from GEICO.

Their rates were MUCH less than Allstate's, too.

Every time I call them on the 800 number someone is there, and they handle things quickly. Never had to file a claim, though...

I even used GEICO for homeowner's insurance, although that is actually underwritten by Travelers. Talk about simple and quick! So far, so good there, too.

[murielm99]

2. You might try Progressive Insurance.

Their founder named it Progressive because he is.

Not that I have that insurance. I go through a local agent for my insurance. He has many companies to choose from.

I just figure I might get better service from a local guy if I need it. He knows me and would go to bat for me if there were ever any problems.

I don't know what else to tell you.

[politicat]

3. We use Geico and Allstate to great happiness.

Geico on the cars, Allstate on the houses.

Never had a problem, and allstate has incredible customer service. Geico's roadside assistance has half-paid for the insurance on the truck - we've used 3 free tows in the last six months (the starter went out, we lost a tire, and something else, but I'md drawing a blank) and those three tows would have been half the cost of the 6 months' premium if I'd had to do it out of pocket.

Good luck. non-responsiveness is in my mind a very good reason to ditch a company, especially since you're the one giving them money. That kind of contempt should not be tolerated.

Pcat

[TNDemo]

4. I've been with Safeco for 25 years,

both home and auto. Have had great service.

[Xithras]

5. I've used Geico, Progressive, and 21st...and I'm now a happy AAA customer

Geico gets you in the door with great rates and they have some of the best customer service I've ever dealt with, but they will jump at ANY excuse to raise your rates. They raised my rates 20% after ONE BROKEN WINDSHIELD claim, despite the fact that my wife and I both have flawless records with no tickets or accidents. I summarily dumped them.

I moved to Progressive after Geico and was pleased at first with their rates, but they raised them signifigantly at my first renewal (well above average rates and way above what Geico had been charging me). When I called to ask why, the rep blamed 9/11 and said it was a general rate hike. I dumped them too.

Like many people, I saw 21st Centuries claims on TV and gave them a shot next. They lived up to their low price claims, beating Progressives rate by over 40%, so I switched. The downside? They can offer that rate because they HAVE NO EMPLOYEES! When I first called them up to get a rate quote, I had to hold for twenty minutes to get a sales rep (kind of a shock after the near-instant service I'd seen at Geico and Progressive). I commented on this to the sales rep, and his reponse was to apologize and say "We've been experiencing a lot of growth lately and had to hire additional operators. They're in training right now and will be here next week". Remember that line because, if you call 21st, you'll hear it every time you ask about the holds. After a year of using them and watching their hold times skyrocket (my longest hold was just over two hours), and after a year of hearing that same excuse parroted every time I asked about it, I gave up. I can understand giving up a little convenience to save money, but my time is worth more than that. I decided that I wasn't going to do business with any company that wasn't willing to deal with me, and dumped them too.

I was actually planning on going back to Geico at this point, because their rates weren't all that bad and I missed the customer service, when a friend recommended that I check out AAA. I'd ignored them in the past because I thought they were one of the "expensive" insurance companies, but they turned out to be only $15 a year more expensive than 21st, and were actually cheaper than Geico. I've since learned that this isn't quite as true if you have a spotty driving record, but the other perks of AAA membership may make it worthwhile anyway (travel services, free maps, discount vacation and event tickets, towing services, etc.) I don't know how much difference there is between AAACa and AAACo, but you should at least take the time to get a quote and look at what they offer. I've been very happy since switching, and can't recommend them highly enough!

[woofless]

6. Find someone with a big red I in the yellow pages.

I firmly believe you will get a better rate with an Independent agent able to rate your risk with several different companies. Bring your proof of prior insurance, ask about transfer discounts, homeowner discount, mutli-car, etc. You will most likely save money over the big time underwriters.

Woof