One of my friends damaged my MINI while driving it and taught me a valuable lesson...my insurance company sucks. They have been difficult to deal with, would not let me take the car to a MINI dealership to have work done on it because they dont pay the same labor rates (therefore if I wanted to take it there most of it would be out of pocket expense for me). All in all, a terrible experiance and I have been without my car for nearly a month with no MINI....tragic! Luckily for me the body shop they did take it too seems to be very cool and I have been in contact with the guy working on my car enough to joke around with him about it...really good guy. I will definitely give him more business in the future with the other cars in my household, and my friends vehicles. (Tempo Auto Body in Chicago, Pulaski and Addison -- ask for Nick..he rocks!) My insurance company however is going to stick me with the initial towing costs to BWM/MINI in Schaumburg, and the storage there for 4 or 5 days while they were supposed to see what was wrong with the car and never did. With my $500 deductable and the towing and everything its going to be just under $900 to pick up my car...hopefully in the next couple days. My insurance company is through Clover Insurance, and the actual company is Unique insurance...they both suck. They were fine for when I needed only liability on my '85 Z rustbucket, but the convience of just adding my MINI to the plan really did me in once the accident happened. I want to change insurance companys almost immediately and wanted to know who to look at. State Farm and Allstate are the names that I have heard the most positive things about, and I wanted to know what all my other motoring mates thought of either of those, or their own insurance company, Chicago area.

Thanks!

 

Geico: Great company, when I had my MINI vs. Raccoon accident, they took care of everything. I just had to pay my deductable when I picked it up from the dealer recommended body shop. That included flat bedding to the body shop, shop to dealer for engine replacement and back to the body shop for finishing up.

X2

 

I have Progressive, though I'm on liability only right now. They're VERY easy to do with and don't pressure you into any package, they ask you what you'd like and give it to you, and answer questions knowledgably. Once I can afford it I'll go back to full coverage, though I hope to never use it...

 

Whoa that sucks. In CA you have the choice of any body shop you choose.

 

State Farm. They are expensive, but when it is time for them to pay up, they hand out the checks with no problems. I've always been with them and get as many little multiple car and multiple types of insurance discounts as possible

 

GMAC- Dad works for GM (discount), on the family policy. Can't go wrong with $1,300/yr in Michigan for coverage! Only 25, but no claims or tickets.

 

We are also State Farm policy holders. Excellent service and a company with a strong financial reputation to boot. We have been with them for at least 15 years and currently pay thier exclusive low "Mutual" rates for accident free customers. I get teaser in the mail from other insurance companies but I have had no desire to switch my policy elesewhere.

 

I'm with AIG auto. I'm in NJ (read=mucho high insurance premiums). I moved from state farm about 3 years ago, because it saves me like 600 a year. Full coverage, 25 yrs old, no points, MCS, about 1650 a year, not too bad for NJ.

 

>>...and I have been without my car for nearly a month with no MINI....tragic!

Hey Skokie,
I was mucho hoping you'd be back on the road by now - the waiting sucks bad, even when everything else goes perfect (sometimes it actually happens that way, i'm told).

I'm a State Farm customer, with 10 years difference in the ages of my insured cars, so comprehensive/collision on the newer one, and liab. only on the '93. Additional discounts for good (read: lucky) driver, for multi-car, and having other insurance with SF helps to reduce the cost a bit, (but it's still exhorbitant costs, IMO, hehe).

I got prompt response from SF on a large scale homeowner's claim in 2002. Someday I oughtta post that harrowing tale, my Chicken Little story ("the sky is falling, the sky is falling!&quot... i digress.

Wish they'd hurry up and fix you man! It's because of your story that I've been pestering my SF agent a bunch lately with "What if THIS happens... or what if THAT..?" type of questions, trying to "audit" my own coverage. It's kewl to have family who have worked in the insurance industry (but not as cool as say, a doc or lawyer or mechanic in the family ) to help sort out the minutiae.

I have a question for the general surfership, as long as we're on this topic: At what point in the life of a car (say you have one that's fab and you're keeping it til it rusts out from under you or starts nickel&diming you to the poorhouse), at what point do you change off of comprehensive and carry only the legally required minimum (and less expensive) Liability insurance?? Surely before the car's 8 or 10 years old, I'm thinking.

Counting my blessings,
Tatt

 

I've had State Farm agents in WI, WA and OR, and they've all been great. I've had to make a few claims against damage that wasn't my fault, and everytime they've put a check in my hands within a couple days and let me deal with where and when to fix the damage. THey give multiple discounts as previously mentioned, and everytime I've priced other insurance cos, the prices have been close if not better at SF.

My only complaint is that they don't cover riding gear in a motorcycle accident. I wear almost $2k in stuff, so it's not chump change if I crash.

 

They have been difficult to deal with, would not let me take the car to a MINI dealership to have work done on it because they dont pay the same labor rates (therefore if I wanted to take it there most of it would be out of pocket expense for me)
>>

I would call the insurance comissinor and ask if this is legal. I'm not an attorney, however, I believe you have the right to take it where you want. (I did when some ******** hit and run my MIS while I was parked.

Earl

 

I'm with Nationwide, I originally started with them when I was fed up with my old discount company and at the same time was building an office for a Nationwide agent. THey have been good to work with through a couple of somewhat minor claims but I've never had to use them for something major.

As far as dropping my coverage, when I was a punk *** kid with lots of tickets and accidents on my record I used to carry the lowest coverage I could legally drive with but now that I'm an adult, I doubt I would drop it as I would want to make sure I could get my vehicle fixed and it is easy to run up much more than my State's legal limit damage in a multi-car wreck or something, then you would be left with the tab.

 

I have State Farm.. Been with them for like 7 years. One interesting fact I found out after asking: I've always had a $500 deductible on everything. When I got the MINI I was worried about cracked windshields. State Farm doesn't have a special glass only deductible like some companies. It's covered under your comprehensive. I thought I would sak the price difference of changing the comprehensive from $500 to $0. I was expecting a HUGE increase. I was pleasantly surprised when they told me it could only be $60 a year more to do it $0.... Now I'm not so scared about cracked windshields and other non collision incidents. I was also told comprehensive claims don't count against you.. I'm not sure if I believe that one or not....

Blasman

 

I use Statefarm too. They have been with me for the last 15 years. :smile:
Choose an agent carefully as my agent here in Chitown burbs is awesome,
but the agent I had in LA was very bad. He was downright awful when I had
an incident with my previous car...

I have multiple car coverage and also my home is covered by Statefarm
so I get a pretty good discount. I was surprised to see how low my rates
were for my MCS vs my WRX. :smile:

 

Zero deductible for glass repair/replacement is mandatory in Florida.

 

We have Progressive and are really happy with their service. When I totaled the Mazda a couple of years ago, they actually came to our house where the car was located, inspected it, then wrote me a check right then. and I wasn't even on the insurance policy for some reason. My husband has a clear record right now, and I have an accident and a speeding ticket on my record and we pay $1200 every 6 months for a Ford Escape and my Mini. (His Escape is still more than my Mini to insure, which makes me laugh.) because of how they hand;ted the accident a couple of years ago, I don't think we will switch companies unless forced to for some reason.

oh yeah, and we had State Farm for our condo insurance and when we had to file a claim due to water damage, they gave us such grief that we are no longer with them. plus, they had overcharged us from the beginning- for a house instead of a condo. sounds like others have had better luck tho, maybe it is just their home insurance that isn't easy to deal with.

amanda

_________________
Live well. Laugh often. Love much.

 

I had State Farm a while ago, two different agents in two different offices, both incompetent idiots. Went to AAA (Automobile Club), got a lot less expensive premium, and an agent who is not only cool, but extremely good at his job. If you have a AAA membership, I highly recommend getting insurance through them.

 

Thrilhouse, I'm sorry about your experience with State Farm. I've been with them for auto since 1981 because I like having a local agent to relate to who knows my profile and will answer the phone. I've had excellent State Farm agents in VT, VA and WA. When my MINI got hit by a loose truck tire in December and needed substantial bodywork, State Farm couldn't have been better -- they paid for everything immediately less my $100 comprehensive deductible. Among other things they have a list of "preferred providers" in the collision repair business and if you go to one of them, they'll fast-track your claim and no State Farm adjuster needs to go physically visit the car. Saves days and days. I am willing to pay a slight premium in return for hassle-free service like that.

We have two cars, home and disability insurance through State Farm and they rock.

 

I am very lucky to have USAA as my insurance provider.You must be an active military member,veteran or family member of same.They are great to deal with!They provide many benifits that military members can rely on like an automatic reduction in rates if you are being deployed or mobilized.They also gave me the absolute lowest interest rate when I financed my MCS 3% lower than the five others I went to.I feel very lucky to have them as my provider.Also come in about 10% lower than any other insurance company that I looked into.

 

I'm with Doghouse, been with USAA since 1979 and have never had a problem with any claim small or large.

When other agents won't even give a quote after you tell them you've got USAA, they can't beat the rate.

Full coverage $250 deductible of collision, zero on other than runs me $336 every 6 months. I do have 5 cars insured with them and wife and I are mid 40's, no accidents or reportable tickets in many years.

 

:smile: :smile:

Chow!

Donna

 

I've got Farmers Insurace. They're a little expensive, but I've always been happy with the service. My son nearly totaled my wife's car... a 5-year-old Saturn with only 30K mi. on it. It was almost show-room perfect before he crumpled the bumper, headlights, hood, and radiator, and deployed the air-bags. I couldn't have gotten a comparable car, in as good condition. So they fixed it!

Only one warning ***AVOID ALLSTATE***
I had them once, never again. My daughter had a minor accident where she was hit by an Allstate insured driver. My daughter was stopped when hit, but Allstate said she was partially at fault for not getting out of the way.

 

I've had ALLSTATE for 15 years-no problems at all-rates are competitive. I've got a great agent. Maybe that helps.

Lois

 

I've had Erie Insurance now for 5 years and am very happy with them. The premiums have always been reasonable, good discount for multiple policies ( house and cars), and service has been great. Although I don't think they are available outside of the Northeast.

 

Well, if you are shopping for quality rather than price, I'd highly recommend Chubb.

Many will claim that they have no peers.

o Take your car to whatever body shop you like
o Take your car to whatever glass shop you like
o All OEM parts
o very high liability coverage limits, I have $1,000,000 per vehicle, not limited to x per person/per vehicle, just $1,000,000. They offer up to 10,000,000 in some states.
o High uninsured motorist limits $1,000,000.
o Great rental coverage, with no limits per day and just a lump payment.
o Extra services, for instance, they will pay for a flight,hotel,meals,etc.. if you need to take a plane due to damage to your car, stay the night, etc...
o $3,000 loss of use coverage for the stuff mentioned above.
o Airbag replacement $0 deductible
o Lock replacement $0 deductible
o Windshield repair $0 deductible, even if it is just chipped.
o They offer "agreed value" policies...
o Worldwide coverage on liability - $1,000,000.
o No depreciation on replaced parts

Chubb also offers Wine, Fine Art, HO-5 home policies, etc...They are truly catering to the higher end customer...For instance, they offer services to track your $100,000+ art loans to the local museums :smile: Of course, <$100,000 is covered without itemization. :smile: I thought this was particularly humorous.

No affiliation whatsoever.



Regards, Mark


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