Auto insurance rates
 

One car, one cart, no accidents, no tickets. Yet, every year since moving to TV, my car insurance premium has increased. Up $12 a month since March alone. My agent says it's because TV is growing and, therefore, gets a higher risk factor. While this increase isn't going to break me, I wonder whether the explanation is gospel. No sense in searching for a better deal if all of the insurance companies are seeing an increasing risk here.

What's it like for you?

Mine has come down slightly in each of the last two years. It literally does pay to shop around. Go to an independent agent who represents several carriers, not just one of the the megas.

My Progressive policy renews every 6 months and it has been going down slightly each time. Check with Villages Insurance and they can get you multiple quotes to consider.

Also check with GEICO. They were the best rate for me when AAA went up. You can get a quote on line

I hope this isn't asking too much, but what are you paying (pls message me, as I am looking for insurance I think TV are high also).

We had Travelers for the first year here and the renewal for the same coverage with no claim went up $302.10. We are now with Flo and feel like we purchased from a Flea Market. Insurance in Florida is a mystery. It's like getting information out of one of your children. If you don't ask exactly the correct question's you don't get the whole story I think. We do think our Agent is ok but always feel like she is holding something back some of the time.

Yes you are right. Compare apples with apples meaning compare the quotes side by side and check off each line to be sure you are getting the same. Many times they leave off uninsured motorist coverage to make their quote seem lower. Same goes for homeowners.

Have had insurance with The Villages for years and have had Traveler's for the one auto (Foremost for golf cart). Just changed auto insurance from Traveler's to Progressive and the premium dropped almost $300 for 12 months. Exact same coverage. With Progressive, if you agree to use that little snapshot (think that's what it's called) for a year, you'll get a nice rate deduction, assuming your driving qualifies.

We recently rented in The Villages for a month. I don't believe I have ever lived in a place where the airwaves were blanketed with so many commercials for personal injury attorneys. The tort laws must be quite favorable for them in FL. I assume this would affect insurance rates.

My Progressive is $191 every six months for 100/300/100K full coverage.

A lot depends on your age. There are big jumps at 60, 65, 70 and 75. First year customers get a discount, then the rate goes up higher than the old company sometimes.

You have to shop every year. An independent broker has me with Hartford (well rated). Not cheap but less than others.

Want to know if you have good insurance? Make a claim. That's the true test (unfortunately).

So if you compare rates here, you must include your age, coverage limits, value (and popularity) of car, your claims in last 10 years, your traffic citations, how many drivers and your credit rating. All seem to enter into the complex formula.

I tend to dislike companies that advertise a lot. Cute, but someone has to pay for all those expensive ads; and it's the customers that pay.

Skip

I pay Progressive $355 for 6 months ($13 increase) for 250,000/500,000/100,000.

I also pay them $70/yr for golf cart insurance.

That is a beautiful price. Do you have collision on your policy? If you answer yes I'm going to :duck: or :rant-rave: at our agent.

Insurance rates
 

Wow! That's almost half of what I pay State Farm. Going to look into this.

You get what you pay for...
JD Power COMPANY RATINGS
Only USAA and Auto-Owners stand out.

Skip

Yes, full coverage with $500 deductible on the collision. I've been with them about 5 years and price has been going down slightly each renewal period.

Thank You Dog. You da man or woman! We gonna rassle on the phone tomorrow with our smilin agent! Good job. I'll report back with the results. :mademyday:

I moved one year ago from a major city to the villages. The rate for my car was less than 1/2 of what I was paying! I guess it is relative though compared to what you have been paying here year-to-year. Count your blessings!

We switched to the Hartford thru AARP and saved $800 a year for exact same coverage as travelers. It pays to shop around.

OhioBuckeye
 

Personally I think your agent is telling you a bunch of BS. I had the same exact Ins. when I lived in Ohio & it was great but down here mine is doing the same as yours, going up. I had a bunch of hail damage on my car when we were in Texas in Mar. The Ins. adjuster they sent to my house to give me an estimate would of fixed a scratch. He turned in a estimate of $1,550.00 I had $6,000. worth of damage, they paid it but the body shop said it would only take 8 days to fix but could get thru to the adjuster to give them the estimate, they finally agreed after 5 weeks. No apology, nothing. Then they raised my rates. Looking for another Ins. Co. A lot of things here in TV are less but Ins. isn't one of them. Do like me, start looking for another Ins. Co. Like the commercial say, "You have the wrong Ins. NO I have the wrong Ins. Co." No, Ins. isn't based on TV it's based on wrecks in a certain mile range.

Logdog if your insurance is that cheap you better read your policy over carefully, that's way too
cheap

IMHO 100/300/100 is far from full coverage-in todays litigious society thats way to little coverage- get way more coverage and a big umbrella--especially if you have real assets

LOL CONGRATULATIONS, Skip, I believe you've "cracked the code", something that, it appears, few have! Many of these companies extend the "low" quote initially, then raise the rates, subsequent to "hooking the fish". And, they realize most will procrastinate for at least a while before protesting with their feet - going with another company - and the process begins anew! I'm convinced it's in the business plan, as well as the typical under-quote as someone previously mentioned. Your synopsis is right on IMHO

That is great advice even if you have fake assets. :wave:

Thanks. Credit rating and your zip code are big factors.

Skip

and your house is worth than less 100 K unless its mortgages to the hilt , you've got nohting to lose-- thats why 100K insurance in this day is worth squat

Same thing happened to us and I checked around and was able to get a better policy at a lower price

Re: Auto insurance
 

You want to first check to see the quality of the company you are placing your insurance with.

Auto insurance is very competitive. Companies will often get you a low rate to get you to sign up. After you've been with them a while, most people do not shop is every year so they know they can raise you. We tend to believe there is some loyalty for staying with a company-that is simply not the case.

I'm sure you know, you can significantly lower your insurance cost by increasing your deductible. With say $1,000 deductible, you are self insuring the first $1.000.

We do not know your driving record or what your drive. Even your credit rating affects your insurance rate.

You stated your rate is up $12 a month. You might ask-if you can afford to do it, you will save by paying every six months and a little bit more if you pay by the year.

You may want to ask-I assume it is true in Florida as well as it was in NY. You can take the safe driving course and it will remove points on your license and if I recall saves you 10% on collision coverage -

YOUR AGENT? Forgive me but that answer all companies are seeing increased risk and raising rates. If, that is all they said, IT SOUNDS TO ME THAT IS TIME TO FIND A GOOD AGENT.

Progressive folks- who did you use to get your Progressive policy?

I think USSA has good rates too.

Virginia Tucker at All In One Insurance in the Best Buy plaza on 441, 352-674-9015.

The Villages Insurance. You can also go directly to Progressive through their website to get a quote. However, I wanted multiple quotes from several companies to compare and it was easier to let Villages Insurance do the leg work.

Wow! $191 - You Must own a go-cart - or, since age is as factor, you can't be a senior!

We have found it worthwhile to change companies every few years

My Hartford /AARP just went up $700 a year - they claim medical cost issues was the reason - no tickets or accidents for over 30 years! I cancelled AARP and the Hartford!

That's what you need to do. Say "Bye".

Skip