Apples to Apples Insurance Quote

[jetmechmarty]

I've had a motorcycle policy with Progressive for over 25 years. I just got the bill for renewal. With all the money Progressive appears to spend on advertising, I decided to shop a little. Because of the old bikes Markel Insurance requires a phone call, so I dropped it and pulled an online quote from Dairyland. It came within $15 per year for identical coverage.

I guess I'll stay put. No, I won't check GEICO because they don't pay claims. I had an accident in 1985. Progressive took care of everything. I hope I don't need to find out if they're still that good.

[CatatonicBug]

I had an accident in 1985. Progressive took care of everything. I hope I don't need to find out if they're still that good.

The one reason I stay with Progressive is their service. The Concierge claims service is the best! They do all the work in-house, and bring in specialists if needed, and they have a rental sitting there waiting for you when you dop off your vehicle. Not sure on motorcycle service, since I haven't had to use it, but I have used it for my car multiple times, and I am VERY pleased.

[natemoen]

The dealings I have had with progressive have not been pleasant. It has though always been on the other side i.e. getting hit by a person with progressive. Mt feelings are that progressive is a bunch of douchbags and I would never give them a cent. I have 3 vehicles with state farm insurance. Full coverage on my pickup and the wifes car, liability on the bike, as well as medical on them all. They have all the same perks and whatnot and total between all 3 I pay just over 1000 a year for everything. I am happy with that, and I don't have to deal with douchbags, personal opinion.

[jetmechmarty]

Nathan,

I feel your pain. For me, it's GEICO that I hate. My wife is a lawyer. She had some awful dealings with State Farm, and won't let me near them. Somebody probably has a horror story about every one of them. Consumer advocate Clark Howard has a "list of shame" on his site. Allstate tops his list, IIRC.

[Kit]

The only problem I ever had with Progressive is that I felt their rates were too high. Left them a couple of years ago for USAA. Unfortunately, USAA doesn't do their own motorcycle coverage. But they sub-contract out to...wait for it...Progressive! So now I'm back with them for the bike only.

As for State Farm, those people will get nothing from me. Ever. I used to work for them in the regional office in their data processing department. The way they treated both customers and employees disgusted me to no end.

[Yahman]

Nathan,

I feel your pain. For me, it's GEICO that I hate. My wife is a lawyer. She had some awful dealings with State Farm, and won't let me near them. Somebody probably has a horror story about every one of them. Consumer advocate Clark Howard has a "list of shame" on his site. Allstate tops his list, IIRC.

A few years back I was rear ended by someone who had State Farm, it was a horrible experience. My lawyer told me at the time that they were one of the very worst to deal with. I will never give them a dime as a result of that experience. I have had progressive on my bike for while now and we just switched our auto coverage to them also.

Larry

[crazy steve]

They're all thieves IMO, it's just a matter of degree...

Washington state doesn't require insurance on motorcycles (one of a handful of exclusions to their so-called 'mandantory' insurance), so I don't carry any. I've got health insurance to cover me, and I figure if I hit anything so hard that I can't fix whatever for out-of-pocket money, I'm probably dead and they can fight with my estate for the money. Maybe a somewhat macabre view, but it works for me...

For what it's worth, I've been insured (on my cars) with all of the companies mentioned, and every one without fail (after luring me in with a low initial quote), raised their rates over the next few years until I was paying the same as I was at the outfit I changed from. I'm currently with AARP and so far they've been the only exception to this after 4 years... but I'm not holding my breath.

[natemoen]

I will agree that they are all thieves!

[CatatonicBug]

I'm a little confused by a couple of the responses here. When I am in an accident, I don't have to deal with the OTHER guy's insurance company, except maybe an inital phone call to verify details. I ONLY deal with my own company. The two insurance companies fight it out, and I get my car fixed, no matter who is at fault. The only difference is whether I have to pay the deductible or not. Why would you ever have a chance to get frustrated at some other guy's insurance company??

[slow mo]

I will agree that they are all thieves!

i was hit and runned by an off duty cop 2 years ago,,he left me laying in the oncoming lanes ,,he was caught later on wittiness testimony but never charged ,,i tore up my shoulder and bled in my brain ,proved by MRI causing me to have diminished use of my hands my insurance co, told me that it would not pay as it was not a catastrophic injury

[cywelchjr]

I think what you will often see is that an ins co's own customers get treated differently than a non-customer. In either case they will try to get by with paying the least they can, but their going to often put the screws to non-customers more than their customer. It's also going to be a difference between you being at fault or the other being at fault, as your ins co will often pay out and then go after the other persons ins co to get it back. At least in my experience this is how it's often worked.

[jetmechmarty]

This is getting thick. Remember, NEVER take legal advice from people who aren't lawyers.

[slow mo]

if you get the chance , watch the movie ,,the man who sued god! its about insurance company's with billy Connolly a pretty funny guy ,,ride safe ,,slow mo!

[DGXSER]

How your "insurance Company treats you has more to do with your agent than anything else. I've been with the same company since I was 16, and with the exception of when I changed states for 6 years, the same agent.

When I was younger, (no really, I changed) my right foot was made of whatever is heavier than lead! I got four speeding tickets in one weekend alone. I had over 20 points on my license. MY agent took care of me, kept my car insured with him. set me up with an FR22 filing company and had that filing for a few years, but never lost coverage on my car. Never raised my rates for tickets or an accident.

Claims are always a fun experience no matter what. The real fun comes in when they are uninsured. First new car I bought, had it six weeks or so. Parked at a friends apartment, some A-hole borrowed a Cube truck front his company to move his girl friend. Took the front end off my car. After the police...umm....close relative to a female dog...refused to cite the guy or take a report, he made sure I got this guys insurance info. Well, his insurance only covered him driving his car, his company considered the truck stolen and their insurance refused to pay. So I had to go through my uninsured coverage and pay my deductible, my insurance set up a payment plan with him. I got my deductible back from the first payments he made. I chalk that up to my agent.

As to the cut rate companies out there, it all boils down you get what you pay for. That is my opinion anyway.

[tom clisham]

Insurance?

If you don't ride any one bike too often, consider antique & collector coverage.

I only ride a couple thousand miles a year. My ins on the xs's runs $21.00 ea
per year.

You're not supposed to ride , except to events, etc. But on weekends there's alwa
ys an event. Poker run, swap meet , cruise nite, etc

I'ver never been questioned by police about the antique plates either.