I did a search for GEICO in titles and there weren't a lot of threads, so I'm starting this...

Were you drawn in by an incredibly attractive initial price and then found your premium jumped up by insanely large percentage when you went to renew? Or were your rates pretty steady and reliable from year to year (or 1/2 year to 1/2 year, as they say NY only allows them to write 6 month policies)

Here's my concern. The Geico quote came in over $3000 less than what I pay for my current insurance, $5600. Fantastic if it stays that way. But I'd prefer to not even start with them if they have a history of low-balling people the 1st policy period, then banging it to them on renewals and doubling or tripling rates. ...or having a history of not paying claims.

Is my concern unwarranted? Hoping so. Lemme know if you have experience with them.

I own 4 vehicles [one is a new JCW], and am paying $5600 a year for insurance. I'm always fighting w/my underwriter to get it lowered. My policy it about to renew, and by removing a bunch of "extras" I was able to get it down to ... $4700. oh boy.

The reason the Geico quote is so much lower is I'm charged the two Liabilities, PIP, & Uninsured Motorist (the 4 that are mandatory in NYS) only once per policy, instead of once per vehicle like I am with Hanover or what Progressive quoted me.

I want to mention also, I now work from home and rarely drive to the office. I drive perhaps 5,000 miles a year across all my vehicles. And my wife lives in our NYC apartment the days she has to work (either 4 or 3 days a week), and I usually drive her otherwise if we go to places together. She drives only about 1000 miles a year. So paying $5600 for cars we don't drive is insane. But I've been paying it for years, and it has to end.

So to conclude, is Geico's policy rate going to stay pretty stable on renewal? How 'bout if they have to pay out? Any good?

Much thanx for any informed replies...
-steve

 

I had Nationwide for 50 + years. They increased to over double what I was paying so I went to Progressive. The first renewal they increased so I went to Travelers and I just got the increase from them after my first six months. They all do it. They give a reasonable quote to sign you up and then stick it to you at renewal time. I have no tickets and no bad credit so I am trying to find out why the increases. Oh!!! they are scam artists and don't really care if you stick with them or not. You can't even get an answer over the telephone why the sudden increase for no reason.

 

Thanx Ronnie.... That sux. I haven't looked to change insurance for a dozen years, so I'm out of practice. But you think it might jump 100%?

btw, that was post #666 for you!

 

Our Gieco didn't go up at renewal.

 

Geico can't package home and car like others do. I have Allstate and they are a few hundred cheaper per year because of that. If you don't have your home and auto tied together, you may want to look into that. It was something like 25% discount because I had both and the total was way lower than anyone else.

I am in CT, so it maybe different enough, though when I moved from NY there wasn't a big change dollar wise.

 

We have Chubb for our home insurance, and when our auto was on it, the auto insurance premium was even worse. We changed to Hanover was the "cheaper" of the two options.

I posted this on a photography board I frequent and the only replier so far echos largely what David said. So all that is very promising.

 

I've had GEICO for quite some time now & haven't experienced a drastic jump in my rates. Haven't had to submit a claim to them so I can't comment on their service, or post-incident rates.

Actually, I've had GEICO *twice* - once while insuring multiple cars & drivers, and once as a single man - and didn't see any surprising hike after making either policy adjustment.

 

I had State Farm for many years. I did a search on the web and found that Farmers was a GREAT option for me, I was able to cut my yearly insurance by about $ 475.00. You might want to check them out..

 

We just had our renewal come up. I also live in CT and had Allstate since I started driving. We had the house and 3 cars on the insurance and it was nuts. Even without the "combined discount" we still pay a couple hundred less each 6 months AND have better coverage and lower deductibles.

 

My girlfriend has Geico, for several years. Her rates have not increased, even when we lived in NYC. Her rate actually dropped after the first year.

 

I have Geico and my rates have not gone up, except slightly (about $5/month) when I went from my 2006 R50 to my 2010 R56. I have had one glass claim in that time, which was repaired the very next day without a dime out of my pocket.

 

I've had GEICO for a couple of years now. I haven't had a need to file a claim so I can't comment about that. My husband had an accident which was not his fault and we were not charged for it. But I can say that whenever I call, the cs people are knowledgeable and helpful.

I had Travelers and GEICO charges me half what Traveler's did. I get a very minimal increase at renewal time (maybe $2-$4. They say it has something to do with some NY surcharges.) I had a 2003 Honda Civic. When I got the MINI, my policy went up $18 and $15 of that was because of their mechanical breakdown insurance. Mind you, this increase is $18 per six months, NOT per month. I think they're the way to go.

 

I had GEICO on my 08 SKY turbo and it stayed around $400 for 6 months for 2 years and now on my 07 MCS it is also around $400. Did not go up at renewal.

 

I don't have Geico but just wanted to say if they would stop sending two weekly solicitations and a monthly phone call for my business they could cut their rates a bit.

 

They want $497 for my two cars and Travelers is up to $506 from the $476 I paid the first six months. I just paid for the Travlers for the next six months so I may as well keep them. I sure will look at a bunch of companys in Oct. to find a better rate. I have not had a ticket or accident for 61 years. That really means NEVER.


I have a Mini 2009


A Suzuki Samuari 1988 Liability only on this one.

 

I have Geico and no rate increases for the last 4 years. Had an accident claim 3 weeks ago, paid promptly with no hassle.

 

Used to have Geico. Only time my rates really went up was after 3 years when my car no longer was considered a "new" car. Even so, it didn't go up very much. Had one small claim when a deer hit me, and it went smoothly and rates didn't go up. Never had any problems with Geico.

Recently switched to Progressive as their rate is much lower than Geico's now. Certainly wasn't when I bought the car...

 

Many years ago Geico was going after their customers that had radar detectors and were dropping them becuase of that. That was such strong statement in my mind that it is the only thing I can remember about them. Funny how that works

 

I used to have Geico but canned them after about 6 years. Rates went too high. (Progressive before that and they got greedy as well.) American Family Insurance kicked their butt. I saved about $300 per year with 2 new Mini's. But I also have my homeowners insurance through them and an Umbrella Liability insurance policy.

My American Family rates have actually gone down the last renew. Been with them for 2 years now.

I shop all insurance every 2 years. The only insurance I don't shop is my life insurance.

Pat

 

PatM, You are sure corredt about them being greedy. They all hook you in with a nice rate but after six months they stick it to you. You would really think they would keep the rate the same or maybe raise it just a few dollars. """NO""" they gotta stick it to you by $30.00 or more every six months which would be double that increase in a year.

Why do all insurance company's only insure you for six months. Because they all think people are way to stupid to figure they can increase your premium once and get double the money when the next premium is due. They really think everybody is stupid. They have all of the laws on their side and if you do not have insurance you are breaking the law if you drive. I do believe everybody should have insurance but the insurance companys need to be fair and consistent on their rates. The money some of them spend on the TV and magizine ads (LIE"S ) could finance a whole country for a year.

Look at your yearly budget and you will want to throw up when you see how much you donate to all of your insurance needs. Add them all up and you will be shocked.

 

I used to be able to pay for all of my auto insurance a year in advance but most company's changed to every 6 months. The reason is simple. Most do a DMV records check at renew time so they can tack the extra dollars on to the policy that much quicker for moving violations. If they offer 1 year renew they lose out on at least 6 months additional premium if a customer should have a ticket during that time frame. Some companies tout the fact that 1 ticket will not raise you rates. It maybe true for a shot period but over time I think you will see your rates raise more for those that use that sales gimmick.

It's just something you have to have thus the importance of shopping the companies. It's a pain in the neck but it sure can save some dollars.

 

My geico premium stayed the same after renewal.

 

I've had GEICO for over 20 years. Rates have stayed stable. And their claims department is great. They pay with no questions when I've had claims. The one time I've actually been at fault, they paid and didn't jack my rates. They are fast and efficient.

 

Allstate was WAY cheaper for us, and when I had an accident in our old Prius, Geiko was rude, unhelpful, and sent us straight to a place that did the worst repair job with non-oem parts and a horrible paint job (also fought with me that my hood wasn't bent, even though it clearly wasn't sitting flush with the front bumper. I even had the Geiko rep come out in that stupid decaled CRV of theirs and he fought me.. as if I was blind.. that there was no problem. I showed him that the latch wasn't even catching all the way on the hood, and he reluctantly signed off on the repair). The only reason they redid the whole job was because I had them write down they would only use OEM parts prior to the repair, which really saved me. I was only able to notice because the ends of the bumper weren't flush with the sides of the car (bumper didn't have the appropriate tabs to make it flush). Oh also, their "rental car of equal value and size" wasn't a Prius, or anything similar.. it was a several year old, beat up, disgusting Kia.. one of the low low end models, forget the name. It was horrible, and I had to drive the POS for a week+.

One month after that they kicked us off of the insurance. They said it was because we had an accident (wasn't even our fault.. police determined it was mutual and didn't site either of us) and a speeding ticket which I had BEFORE signing on with them. When I told them "So you accepted us as customers for your insurance knowing that if we got in an accident, you'd get rid of us", in which the representative replied "yes sir". I said "are you serious??" "Unfortunately I am sir, and there's nothing I can do". Ironically, they started mailing us fliers months after asking us to "come back" which made absolutely no sense....

With Allstate, I have a guy I can call at any time, and they are constantly lowering our rates. Almost every other month he mails us new cards because he got us a cheaper rate than before.. it's pretty nice. Plus, one of my friends is the guy who is in charge of their local repairs and they do very good work, so I feel safe with them in charge of my car.

Everyone has different results with any company.. but figured I'd share mine with geiko. I'd never sign with them again... period. Total scam artists, so BEWARE. All they want is free money.. but if you ever get in an accident, they will do the worst/cheapest repair possible, will cause you huge headaches, and could very well possible kick you out if you cause them more money than they expected with their shitty repairs. I'd stay FAR away.

 

Have been with GEICO for three years now and my policy has stayed the same. I have fulll coverage on two cars with a $500 deductalble and I pay $480 every six months. Never had to fill out a claim with them (knock on wood) so I dont have any thing to say about that. What I can say is everytime I have called with questions or concerns I have received nothing short of excellent customer service.