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

[1BryNelson]

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.

[frankdamp]

We've had Allstate sine 1971. I like the ability to kill the on-road liabillity part of my RV when we have it stashed away on our driveway.

We had what seemed like a minor tap with a parked car as I was backing the rig in a parking lot. I filed the details with Allstate. What looked like a cracked tail-light lens and a scratch in the bumper from a collision at less than 2 mph ended up being a $2100 settlement.

My premium went up about 60% for one year with a "special assessment", but is back to its old level now.

[l001952119]

born free 28 wrote:
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

Call Geico Insurance. Excellent company.
john

[TripleE]

The rates the insurance co use are arbitrary. My husband was driving and accidentally turned a corner too sharp and drug the tow car against a street sign. Had the damage fixed and expected an increase in the insurance. It rate increase was about $1100 more but I noticed they tagged me as the driver, not him, and had 3 points listed. I called the company and explained the error. They changed the points to him and the renewal price went down almost $600! What!?! Why the change - he is 71 and I am 60. Now isn't that a stupid?

[tatest]

Time to shop. 20 years without a claim, you had great "good driver" considerations built into your rates, and one accident resets the clock. You know how your current insurer sees you for at least the next five years, so time to look for another that might see you as a lower risk.

[J-Rooster]

Shop around to change insurance companies!

[whistlebritches]

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.

[Valkyriebush]

Sully2 wrote:
Easy cure...Find a different insurance company

X-2 Progressive did that to me and I went to GEICO. Glad I did too

[hanko]

Popsie wrote:
Hmm, with perfect hindsight, would it have been better to pay for the repairs to the car out of pocket?

agree, save he insurance for the big one

[RLHAMILTON]

Sorry to hear about your accident. Try Victoria Insurance in Washington state. They sponsor Mac the Fireguy at the rallys, and I have been with them 3 years since GMAC (Good Sam) tried to raise my rate. Good luck.

[Francesca_Knowl]

klm wrote:
OP. I am curious about the "5 points" - is your insurance co referring to DMV points or their in-house point system? 5 pts seems high for such a minor accident. Maybe there has been a clerical error

I'm betting those five points are unrelated to the DMV- sounds more like insurance actuaries at work.

In my opinion, the nature of this incident is what's ringing the alarm bells for the bean counters. It's not like something unexpected happened on the highway- the damaged car was parked, and the O.P. was backing up. The lapse of attention/judgement implied by the fact that the O.P. backed into a large fixed object is likely what's brought about the increase.

[rr2254545]

rware wrote:
I have my RV insured with Progressive. I had an accident earlier this year and did quite a bit of damage to the rear end cap. It was my fault. Progressive were very helpful and paid for the repairs. When I received my renewal notice from Progressive my premium did go up but nowhere near that much. I renewed.

just got my renewal from Progressive, after a 3K claim last summer -not increase in premium

[bob_nestor]

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!

[klm]

OP. I am curious about the "5 points" - is your insurance co referring to DMV points or their in-house point system? 5 pts seems high for such a minor accident. Maybe there has been a clerical error

[valhalla360]

Might ask if they have something else on record. Could be a database error that shows additional crashes/tickets.