Progressive Insurance questions

[rgatijnet1]

As I do every year, I check with numerous insurance companies to get competitive quotes. I have a very good driving record with zero claims.
As a point of reference, I have never found any company that could beat my existing company in the last 5 years. Recent quotes from the following companies are similar to what I get every year.
State Farm, +$515 over my existing
AARP/Hartford, +$478
Travelers, +$450
Geico, +$505
Nationwide, +$550

And then I get this quote from Progressive that is $471 LESS than my existing policy for a year, even tho they only write 6 month policies.
I have never been with Progressive and this is the first year that they have even been competitive.
Has anyone had experience with Progressive "low-balling" a quote to get the new policy and then jacking up the price next year, even without a claim.

[msmith1199]

But on a related subject, be very careful about jumping around from insurance companies. It's great that you never had a claim and as long as that stays that way you'll be fine. But what happens when you do have an at fault accident? One of the first things the insurance company looks at is how long you've been a customer. And that length of time will determine your punishment. And your punishment can be anything from rate increases to cancelling your policy. The longer you've been with them, the less your punishment may be. If they see you change insurance companies every couple of years they may just cut their losses and dump you. Then good luck trying to find insurance again at a reasonable cost.

[msmith1199]

I have progressive and I've never had a claim. My rate kept going up for a while until I called and asked why. Since I had been with Progressive since I first purchases my motorhome, I got full purchase price replacement on it. What I didn't realize is Progressive keeps that coverage forever. I paid $155k for my motorhome and some 10 years later it was still insured for $155k in the event of a total loss. Turns out that coverage gets expensive the older the motorhome gets. It's nice coverage to have but it only pays off if you have a total loss of the motorhome. So I convinced them to reduce my coverage to the amount of the loan balance. That was a few years ago.

[Gjac]

I have had Progressive for 16 years now, and went with them also because they were substantially cheaper. Rates have not gone up much, and have had mixed results with 2 claims. The first was handled very well in Ohio and the agent was very helpful getting the MH into a repair facility and fixed within a week. The second claim which happened in Montana last summer took 3 months to get the MH fixed and back home. The agent was not very helpful or knowledgeable which contributed to the problem.

[T18skyguy]

dougrainer wrote:

T18skyguy wrote:
Ten years ago I insured an old Goldwing motorcycle with Progressive. One month later the engine blew(fatal), so I took it off insurance. The very next day, the DMV asked for proof of insurance for my many other vehicles. What happened was Progressive thought I did it for the proof of insurance, so they squealed to the DMV. The DMV never told me, but I knew it was them that sprang that audit on me. Of course all my vehicles are insured, but I won't forgive that dirty trick they pulled on me.

I would not blame Progressive. Some states that require Liability insurance will also require notification if removed within a certain time. They do that because of what they accused you of. LOTS of people sign up for insurance to get that Insurance card and then drop the insurance once they have the registration or inspection done. Insurance companies have better things to do than "squeal" on clients. Doug

Thanks Doug, I didn't know about that requirement. Makes me feel better about it now.

[Dutch_12078]

hohenwald48 wrote:
I'm surprised at all the claims some of you folks have. I have home, boat, car and RV insurance and a motorcycle in the past. I haven't had a claim in over 40 years. I must be way too careful. 🙂

Or very lucky... Every vehicle insurance claim I've ever had in 60 years of owning/driving vehicles have been caused by other parties. In most cases, while I wasn't even in the vehicle. Even my one homeowners claim was the result of fire/water damage incidental to the house next door burning to the ground.

[hohenwald48]

I'm surprised at all the claims some of you folks have. I have home, boat, car and RV insurance and a motorcycle in the past. I haven't had a claim in over 40 years. I must be way too careful. 🙂

[doc_brown]

MrWizard wrote:
i've been with progressive, for at least ten years, maybe longer
it has gone up very little, has actually gone down a couple off times from the previous year

X2, been with them for 14 years.

[jrclark]

I have Progressive on my DP from the day I bought it in 2006. During that time I have had three claims. They are one of the easiest insurance companies when it comes to a claim. Over the years I have checked rates with other companies - they can not beat Progressive.

[rgatijnet1]

I just got off of the phone with Safeco, and they are $490 above my current company, which puts them, and the others, about $1000 above Progressive. They also could not bundle my auto and home policy because of my coastal location in Florida. Oh well.

[dougrainer]

T18skyguy wrote:
Ten years ago I insured an old Goldwing motorcycle with Progressive. One month later the engine blew(fatal), so I took it off insurance. The very next day, the DMV asked for proof of insurance for my many other vehicles. What happened was Progressive thought I did it for the proof of insurance, so they squealed to the DMV. The DMV never told me, but I knew it was them that sprang that audit on me. Of course all my vehicles are insured, but I won't forgive that dirty trick they pulled on me.

I would not blame Progressive. Some states that require Liability insurance will also require notification if removed within a certain time. They do that because of what they accused you of. LOTS of people sign up for insurance to get that Insurance card and then drop the insurance once they have the registration or inspection done. Insurance companies have better things to do than "squeal" on clients. Doug

[rgatijnet1]

lj2654 wrote:
$320 for three cars and homeowners insurance in California is hard to believe. We pay $1000 for one car, one pickup a year.

Then the RV is another $850 a year.

Thats in Florida, we are both in our 60's, with no tickets, no accidents, and no claims ever.

I usually shop quotes with different companies every 2 years to see if I can get better offers.

We are also in Florida, with two cars, and the Class A. We paid $1500 TOTAL last year for all three vehicles, with an agreed upon value for the RV and $5000 of RV contents insurance.
Two drivers, both in our 70's with no claims, no tickets. Ask about your insurance rating score. Ours is X868 and this does affect your cost. Perhaps your insurance score is incorrect.

[lj2654]

$320 for three cars and homeowners insurance in California is hard to believe. We pay $1000 for one car, one pickup a year.

Then the RV is another $850 a year.

Thats in Florida, we are both in our 60's, with no tickets, no accidents, and no claims ever.

I usually shop quotes with different companies every 2 years to see if I can get better offers.

[Belgique]

Near miss tornado took the roof off of my Sightseer last Oct. Total no hassle from Progressive. Quickly settled, very fair reimbursement. I'm sticking with them.

[Ralph_Cramden]

jimx200 wrote:
Our rate with AAA here in California really low as we have 3 cars and home owners insurance with them. Thinking our bill is sub $160. every 6 months, so $320. a year.

$320 a year? For 3 vehicles and home owners? LOL. Sorry but I have to call BS on that one. I will go as far to call BS for only the 3 vehicles.

Now I might be able to get close to $320 here in PA a year for 1 vehicle. That's if I took out the state mandated minimum coverage which is 5K medical, 15K/30K Bodily Injury, and $5K property damage, along with limited Tort and no collision or comprehensive.

[jimx200]

Our rate with AAA here in California really low as we have 3 cars and home owners insurance with them. Thinking our bill is sub $160. every 6 months, so $320. a year.