I need Auto Insurance! Any suggestions?

[phoenixstar]

Well, after 8 years with one company (Safeco), it appears as though I will need to switch providers. Are there any suggestions from Anandtechers out there, preferably in the Buffalo, New York area? Of course, if you are not in Buffalo, and still have a suggestion, I am very open to it. Thanks!

 

[duke]

Don't know if you're looking for a local company, but I've had no problems with Progressive or Geico.

 

[gittyup]

Geico is the cheapest national company for me....

 

[Jfur]

GEICO is the cheapest, but also the most invasive and the "cheapest" when it comes to actually using your policy. If you can get a rate that is only slightly higher, I would avoid them (personal experienceS)

 

[yakko]

Go with Proggressive. They will pay almost every claim no matter what.

 

[GoldenGuppy]

Call AIS! Just once they give you the company... hang up, because if you sign w/ the company through them, then you will be charged an extra fee.. my friend called a few weeks back and they told him that Mercury would have the best rates for me... I friggin' forgot the number though!! What a shame - they advertise on KROQ everyday too =(

 

[Thump553]

I just went through the same situation (damn teenage drivers). Believe it or not, I ended up saving a couple of grand by getting my policy through AAA.


From my many years of experience with insurance, it is my firm conclusion that you must call as many companies as you can stomach yourself. Company A could give you a great quote and me a crummy one, and vice versa.

 

[phoenixstar]

Well, I have checked with Geico, Progressive and State Farm so far, and amazingly enough, State Farm appears to be the least expensive option by about $30 over 6 months. Progressive was over $150 higher! AAA does not appear to offer insurance here in Western NY, and the suggestion for AIS was a good one, but only works in California... Any other suggestions?

 

[Fausto]

I was with Progressive for the last 3 years and was very happy with them. Recently switched to Travelers as they have a REALLY good deal for those with completely clean records. Saved me $200-ish per year for two cars over the already-low Progressive rate.

Me: married, 30, clean record as of a month ago when points came off for some, uh, "sporty" antics on my motorcycle.

Good luck,
Fausto

 

[gittyup]

Nationwide Auto Insurance?

 

[cipher00]

State Farm likes neither claims nor renewing people who file a claim. Just my $0.02.

 

[phoenixstar]

cipher00, yhpm in a minute....

 

[phoenixstar]

Fausto1, thanks for the suggestion! Travelers does appear to be the least expensive so far. Has anybody gone through the process of filing a claim with them yet? How about filing claims with other insurance carriers? Just trying to do my homework, and thanks to all who have responded so far!

 

[Fausto]

Glad to help, although I haven't tried to file anything with them yet. As a fallback, Progressive is really good about that.

I can second ciper's opinion of State Farm. They f**king suck. They are absolutely impossible to deal with. Avoid like the plague, repeat, the plague.

Fausto

 

[Fausto]

D'oh! Double post, sorry. Our network here at work doinks once in a while.

 

[LostHiWay]

American Express Insurance for me. They saved me $300 a year

 

[gittyup]

State Farm must be bad if Fausto1 posted it twice.