Anybody Have Auto Owner's Insurance?

[Oaktree]

It's REALLY hard to see the $505 savings they advertise - over State Farm. Looks more like State Farm is about $900 savings over The Hartford.

I've used SF for ~25 years and for me they also have one of the best rates for both home & auto. Every few years the wife bugs me to shop around, they still come thru with competitive and often lower rates than anyone else. I'd never heard of the company the OP mentioned, Googled them and found they don't do business in my state.

I've had bad experiences with going thru "independent" insurance agents. They all seem to deal with only one or two companies I've never heard of, and there's a middleman (agent) you have to go thru for any dealings with them. At least with the "name" insurance companies your agent works for the company itself.
Went round and round with an independent once when I made a claim. Took forever to get my money, if I tried to contact the company directly, I was told to call the agent. The agent kept telling me the check was "in the mail".

I agree that insurance in general is a ripoff, but I'm not so rich as to be able to self-insure.

 

[Bill Guenthner]

Never heard of the company. Then - I've been with State Farm for 56 years. I've checked my premiums against a few of the more common. Mine are considerably lower.

Yep. 47 years State Farm. I’m on my 4th agent I think.

BTW: We “seasoned” citizens who have a lifetime invested in our properties and savings should have an umbrella policy on top of our other coverages. It’s not expensive and protects your assets.

 

[MossRoad]

I was with Farm Bureau insurance for my motorcycles and car when I was a kid and young man. They said it was expensive because I was 16 and it would go down when I turned 18.

It went up.

They said it would go down when I turned 21.

It went up.

They said it would go down when I got married.

It went up.

I switched to Allstate for lower rates. Then, about 16 years ago, I needed to file a claim on a van. Everything worked on the van before the wreck. The ABS system and the dash lights stopped working after the wreck and repairs. I told them. They said the problems existed before the wreck. I denied that. They denied my claim.

And my rates went up.

We switched to Erie through an independent agent. Rates went down.

We bought a 5th vehicle last May. When I added it to our policy, the rates WENT DOWN! Yep. Added an additional vehicle and our rates WENT DOWN! They said it was because we hadn't had a claim in so many years that our deductible rewards had eliminated the deductible. So I added the deductible back in, and our rates went down. We've always kept the deductible amount in our savings, so it was a no brainer. Very happy with Erie insurance.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

I keep getting blurbs from Hartford( email and snail mail). So today I called the Hartford. I've had State Farm - since 1965. We compared apples to apples. This insurance is on my 2018 Ram 2500 Power Wagon( Taco Wagon). I have full coverage and lowest available deductibles.

My State Farm - - $895/year. The Hartford - - $1764/year.

It's REALLY hard to see the $505 savings they advertise - over State Farm. Looks more like State Farm is about $900 savings over The Hartford.

I think State Farm sets your premiums according to your zip code. Urban rat race sorts pay through the nose, peaceful country sorts get a real break. I have full coverage on two vehicles plus $500k uninsured motorist, full replacement value coverage on house and shop, and a $2 million umbrella policy through State Farm. I think the premiums are quite reasonable. We're not short on claims either. My wife keeps backing into things. She just can't make the connection between mirrors and reality.

BTW, don't forget uninsured motorist coverage. I have a buddy who lost his left leg when a drunk cut a corner on a rural road. He had to remodel a 2-storey house for handicap access, plus surgeries, rehab, amputee equipment, etc. The drunk didn't have a driver's license, insurance, or a job. His $25k uninsured motorist claim was spent the first day.

 

[Gem99ultra]

We've used Auto Owner's for 12 years. So far no problem, i.e. best price for total coverage. On the other hand... we've had one claim. Major home damage after hurricane. A-A did us more than fair.

Only carrier I'd put a two-thumbs down on is State Farm. I won't go into their games now, but don't expect too much. Farmer's is also OK, but most expensive.

 

[tradosaurus]

I think its prudent to check other insurance agencies against your own.

I've had Texas Farm Bureau for 5 years and had two large claims. Insurance rates didn't fluctuate.

Insurance companies may have a low introductory rate but how will they take care of you when you need them?

 

[Oaktree]

I think State Farm sets your premiums according to your zip code. Urban rat race sorts pay through the nose, peaceful country sorts get a real break.

I'm sure they all do. Mine went down when I moved here from suburbia, though some of it had to do with the fact that the job I had here provided me with a company vehicle so no commuting mileage.
Oddly, both of my vehicles' premiums went down about 20% this year, my wife's stayed more or less the same. Not sure why.

 

[Diggin It]

We're not short on claims either. My wife keeps backing into things. She just can't make the connection between mirrors and reality.

I would not file claims on things like that. I would take responsibility and pay the repair bills myself instead of making other policyholders pay them.

 

[MossRoad]

I would not file claims on things like that. I would take responsibility and pay the repair bills myself instead of making other policyholders pay them.

Where do you draw the line?

- a specific monetary number?
- a percentage of income?
- a percentage of value of the object at the time of damage?
- the total income of the policy holder?
- the number of children below the age 18?

 

[Diggin It]

Where do you draw the line?

Fault.

If I back into something and do damage to my own property, I pay for it.

If I back into something and do damage to the property of others, I at least offer to pay for it.