Insurance Rate Doubled after Accident--Help!!

[born_free_28]

I currently have my RV insured with National General. In january 2014 I backed into a parked car and busted his headlight along with some other minor damage. I had very little damage.
I contacted National General, filed a claim and had the damaged car repaired. I had nothing done to my vehicle.
Two days ago I got my new policy renewal information from them and they had doubled my premium and said I had been assigned 5 points against my driving record from the accident.
First time in over 20 years I have had to use my car insurance and I really got banged up!
Now faced with a huge premium increase, thought I would ask any rv.net members for advice and see if any of you have experienced this and what you did?
Guess I will start looking around for a new carrier…Any Recommendations?
thanks
john

[D_E_Bishop]

That was the norm in California years ago, at that time it was not insurance it was blackmail, State required the coverage and the lender required insurance. We somehow got a reasonable Commissioner and he changed that. We have ACSC or in reality AAA. On occasion our rates have even dropped and they are very helpful and reasonably priced. Check out AA in CO.

[wa8yxm]

Back in the 1950's a Singer's mother gave him excellent advice.. So he recorded a song.. "Shop Around".

And that is the advice I give to you.. There are many insurance companies out there, SOME understand that the occasional accident happens.

ALSO, IF you are still employed contact your HR department, if you are retired, the Retirement Services office for your employer.

I did that for my car.. Turns out they can not help me for my RV at this time (I already have a good rate via Nationwide) but they beat E-Surance on my car, and that's going some... (The car is with Liberty Mutual now) Some companies (IE: MINE) have deals like that, where I work it is called Benefits for life and I have two policies now with Liberty Mutual, the other one is on me.(Life).

[msmith1199]

WETSNAIL wrote:
We have allstate and we did have accident, tried to use a bank drive thru. I know this is an old joke, but we learned. Anyway we had accident forgiveness and NO increase in premium. Never any problems so far.

I saw that video. Was that you? 🙂

[WETSNAIL]

We have allstate and we did have accident, tried to use a bank drive thru. I know this is an old joke, but we learned. Anyway we had accident forgiveness and NO increase in premium. Never any problems so far.

[eheading]

We have our motorhome insured with Progressive. A couple of years ago I had a minor accident which was my fault, and my insurance rates didn't go up at all.

Ed Headington

[backhoemike]

call my wife Jennifer Yerton with Farmers 918-453-0063

[J-Rooster]

John, The DW backed our toad into another car! Instead of reporting it to the insurance company we asked the other person to take her vehicle to the shop of her choice to make the repair! She agreed and I used a credit card check that I carry around for emergency's that I never used before to make the payment. The accident was not reported to the insurance company so there was no rate hike for the both of us and both vehicles were not reported to car fax.

[happy-2]

try costco

[msmith1199]

1BryNelson wrote:

whistlebritches wrote:
Lots of times other insurance companies won't even give uou a quote if you've had a chargable accident in the last 3 years. Also, everytime you go out for quotes, your credit score takes a hit, as they check your credit rating. I don't see why they think they should do that, because, if you don't pay the premium, they cancel your insurance anyway.

Have to correct you on putting out bad and erroneous info. Retired 30 yr insurance agency owner.
Most insurance companies check credit, yes. It is done on what is called a "soft hit". That DOES NOT count against the credit score. Actually what they get is an "insurace credit score" which is supplied by Trans Union.

Thanks for that info.

[msmith1199]

bob_nestor wrote:
I've got Progressive. Had a brand new RV totaled a few years ago (1,700 miles on it) and Progressive paid it off. In fact I had the new replacement rider on the policy. Got another brand new RV, stayed with Progressive and my new rate was a tad lower. And now each year I got without a claim my rate drops a bit more and I still have the new replacement rider in effect. Part of my discount with them is because of multiple vehicles insured with them, although my other vehicle is a motorcycle!

Was it totaled in an accident that was your fault?

[msmith1199]

down home wrote:
It is common for this to happen. As an Ins Broker I and others tried to lobby to get Laws changed. The companies spend big bucks to keep things they way they like them. It hurts you clients and you loose business. We are in a mutual compnay. Haven't received any dividends but a few small increases.
Haven't had an at fault claim.
Had a claim from our truck being broken into in Phoenix. took all our clothes, medicines etc. Total claim was three thousand dollars. Allstate cancelled. Took out with our present company again. They insisted on a deductible on homeowners of the amount of the claim for three years. Punishment I guess. Since then switche to mutual company.

As a broker you've seen this happen? The OP is saying a minor damage collision and no claims for over 20 years? I used to be an adjuster and I don't recall ever hearing of a policy doubling over one property damage only collision with a small loss.

[msmith1199]

PortWentworthSam wrote:
I have Progressive on my m/h. I've had 2 large claims on my policy in the last 5 years or so. Lightining hit my Winnie M/H destroying all the electronics in the coach. $8,000.00+ claim. Then I hooked my Fleetwood M/H to 220V by error (long story) and fried everything in that coach. Another $10,000.00+ claim. When it came time to reniew my policy there was NO CHANGE in my premiums. I expected a big increase. That was over a year ago,

Those were both claims against the comprehensive portion of your insurance. Those don't normally count against you.

[Passin_Thru]

I hate Progressive ads though.

[1BryNelson]

GlennLever wrote:
Not sure shopping around will help, but you SHOULD do it.

Insurance companies have colluded and created what they call CUE The Claims and Underwriting Exchange (CUE)data base. They say it is managed by not-for-profit company Insurance Database Services Limited (IDSL) on behalf of its member organizations, but is used to justify rate increases based on claims (who do you think profits from that)

Any company you try and get a quote fr6om will reference this data base. Some insurance companies are more fair about what they find then others.

I currently have my deductibles high and pay any claims out of pocket.

That may or may not help because CUE actually tracks calls you make to your insurance company and will use that against you also.

Actually it's CLUE. Claims Loss Underwriting Exchange. And that is exactly what they do is track and share loss information, like a credit report is used in lending money.