Progressive auto insurance

[Grace]

Sometimes rates go up because the individual states raise specific fees - like for uninsured motorists. Though why we who pay should be responsible for some sloth, is beyond my comprehension.

Michigan raised two of their required fees over the summer

[Cataholic]

Not exactly on point, but related. Most insurance polices are written by a company called ISO. The policies, generally, are identical. There are some quirks out there, State Farm has some household exclusion language that isn't as common as other policies are. (All companies can amend, add, write their own policy language as long as it comports with the state law).

In my mind- what you pay for insurance is about 25% of the equation. It is how a claim will be handled that is important, IMO. Paying your premiums for 50 years is kind of a one way street. Never making a claim has nothing to do with how good a company is. How your claim will be handled, paid, etc., THAT is meaningful.

For instance, Pom...let's say you find a discount company, and you pay next to nothing each year. That is great. But, if this same company treats its policy holders poorly, and makes you fight for each claim or dollar paid on a claim..well, you aren't really getting anything at all for that small premium.

Having said all that, I think Prog is a decent company. I would put a few way up on top- Amica Mutual being the top choice...but prolly more expensive than others, too.

[pomtzu]

Yes Cat - that's why I was looking for input, such as on claims, customer service, etc.
Hopefully I'll never have to make a claim. Would you believe that I never have in all my years of driving?? I must be a BIG exception to the rule there. And since I drive so little anymore, and mostly just local, then I'm hoping to keep it that way. I also got quotes from Allstate - who was higher than my new rate, and Geico, who was the same as my current rate. Other well known companies such as Nationwide and State Farm, are way overpriced, and that's why I dropped SF about 10 years ago. So I'll probably take my chances with Progressive unless I hear something really bad.

[Freedom]

I'm with Johanna on this. It is how they handle claims.

I had ONE claim. A black man insisted that I drove over his feet coming out of a parking garage, which is where I had my monthly parking back when I worked. He wanted all kinds of compensation.

Yes, I parked in that garage; never saw this man in my LIFE!

He filed a claim against my insurance company. He had a buddy who did maintenance (sweeping and such) in the garage, who accessed the files to learn who my insurance company is.

My ins. co assigned one of their investigators - he tailed the guy for a week taking pics of him walking, NOT using his wheel chair. Then my ins. company searched and found this man has made 18 claims in 4 years, and recovered on many of them! With the so called "discount" companies.

We actually went before the arbitration board, me with an attorney from my ins company, armed with all the info from this man. The Board listened to his tale of woe, asked for his medical documentation. He didn't have any, SAID he would send it in later and of course it never showed up. Then listened to me, which was very little as I'd never seen this man before in my life. Then my lawyer presented all the info their investigator had collected.

It was continued for 2 weeks, to give him time to get his medical records in. When nothing arrived, the whole thing just went away.

My insurance company spent a LOT of money on that case. Result: NOTHING on MY record.

It is difficult if not impossible to prove a negative. How can I prove I did not run over his feet, did not even know the guy? I CAN'T. That is what he relies on.

I truly believe that if I had one of the discount companies, this claim would have been paid, I would have one accident, personal injury resulting, on my record.

[pomtzu]

Wow Sandie - talk about insurance fraud. That's why us good guys pay the high rates that we do. Our good driving records don't really count for squat!

A funny story (funny now-not then) about my son and his record breaking adventure. One early Sunday morning (about 2 a.m.) about 15 years ago, he was driving home on one of these back country roads and was about a couple of miles from home. He and a deer tangled, and the car was totaled. Fortunately he was not injured - and walked home. He was to pick up his daughter later that morning, so he borrowed my car to go pick her up. A woman ran a stop sign and t-boned and totaled my car! Two cars totaled in the course of about 8 hours. He should have just stayed in bed and pulled the covers over his head for the day. I don't know if I'd drive again if something like that happened to me.....

[pomtzu]

I guess I'm back to square one. I went on line and checked customer reviews - Progressive's are horrible with an overall rating of 1.5 out of a possible 5. Of course, every other insurance company gets tons of major complaints too, so who to believe? Are just the p.o.'ed people bad mouthing them, and the others who are satisfied, not bothering to post???

[Cataholic]

Go check out Amica Mutual Insurance Company. I am curious what they say about them...