Car Insurance?

[seanR]

Yesterday I recievied a lovely letter from Country Companys Insurance stating that they were not going to renew my Cherokee next month. I had a small (>$500) claim in 2001 and last year someone else totaled my '99 classic. That claim was $10,000. WTF. Why am I being held responsible for that? I have Two houses, the GFs Expedition, my H-D, life insurance all on the same policie, well not the life ins. Any way Has anyone ever fought something like this? I don't want to change ins. co.s. If they loose one they will loose all of them. I've been with this agent for almost 15 years now. Any Ideas?

 

[Eagle]

If someone else totalled the Jeep, why should that affect your insurance at all? That shouldn't have been a claim against your insurance. Or was it an uninsured driver and your company got the bill?

You should be talking to your agent. He's the guy with the contacts at the company. The only way to fight it is to complain to your state's insurance commissioner -- who may rule that they have a right to cancel you.

Why would you want to stay with a company like that anyway? They obviously don't care about you, only your $$$ when it's working to their benfit. Find a real insurance company.

 

[seanR]

Do any ins. Co.s really care about there customers? Ins. Co.s care about one thing $$$$$$$$$! The person who totaled my Jeep was my GF, icey raod, she borrowed it one day to take to work, my ins co. paid out it was a one car accident. Well I will talk to the people tomorrow and see what they say, still it is a bunch of :bs:.

 

[ChiXJeff]

Tell your agent that Country needs to cover your XJ. Or you're going to move ALL of your policies elsewhere.

BTW, that's ALL they care about, and that's the way that it works in these here Yoonited States. No one is in business to help you, they are ALL in business to make money.

 

[Eagle]

Whoa, Mate!

Here's what you originally wrote:

I had a small (>$500) claim in 2001 and last year someone else totaled my '99 classic. That claim was $10,000. WTF. Why am I being held responsible for that?

Now you write that the '99 was totalled by your GF, who was driving the vehicle with your permission, in a one-car accident. So it was covered by your insurance. THAT's why you are being held responsible for it -- because they had to pay. In this country, insurance companies insure vehicles, not drivers. Yes, they rate the drivers who will operate the vehicles, but the insurance is written to cover the vehicle. So -- they had to bite the bullet on that vehicle, and now they want out.

Is that right or fair? No -- especially if you have been with them for a long time and they've made much more from you than you cost them. But many insurance companies operate the same way -- they happily take your money as long as nothing happens, and when something does cost them some money they can't get rid of you fast enough.

However, you wrote that you've been with this "agent" for 15 years. The agent is not the insurance company. An agent sells insurance, like Lowe's sells light bulbs. Your issue is with the company, not the agent. However, if an agent with whom you've been doing business for 15 years isn't breaking his neck to help you in this case, then you need a new agent as well as a new insurance company.

Just be sure you're clear on your argument. From their perspective, they insured a '99 XJ. It doesn't matter if you drove it or the GF the day it crashed. As far as how it appears on your claim history, I take their side on that. It's still your claim. However, I don't think they are right to cancel you on the basis of the history you've posted. What else haven't you told us? Got any speeding tickets or other moving violations in the past several years? Those won't help you.

 

[seanR]

One ticket in four years. One small accident >$500, I slid into the back of someone during a snow storm 2 years ago. Then the total last January, again ice. I already told Laura that everything is going not just the XJ. Both houses, her car, my bike,and the XJ! The Agents get money for all that stuff especialy life ins. I'll move that too.

It would be different if I had gotten a DUI or a Leaving the scene, or Drag racing. But I have always been a good driver. My old job required me to drive, no B.S. 60,000 to 65,000 miles a year, thats 200 to 250 miles a day. I'd say I am a pretty good risk if you throw that equation.

Oh well we will see what happens tomarrow.

 

[DisturbedJeep]

...... I've been with this agent for almost 15 years now. Any Ideas?

If you're eligible, USAA is the ONLY way to go. It used to be that the only ones eligible were military officers and their dependents, but I'm not postive that's still the case. It will be pretty much one stop shopping for all your insurance coverage.
I've been with them for 22+ years and have had nothing but first rate service.
Two years ago, I hit a deer with my XJ coming home from the lake to the tune of $4600. + and all it cost me was my deductible and some downtime. Change to my policy premium? Zero.
Earlier this year, I had a little wheeling mishap with a tree which ran the bill up another $2900 and change and my premium only increased $100.00 for six months. Both times, they paid the claim with NO hassles whatsoever.
As for rates, nobody can beat them.
Here's a toll free number to call and see if you're eligible.
1-866-398-7538
Good luck.
JB

 

[OT]

If you're eligible, USAA is the ONLY way to go.

FYI... I called, and to be eligible you must be active duty military, retired active duty, or separated from active duty within the last 2 years. Wish I woulda known at least 5 years ago.

PS. or your parents must be one of the above

 

[ChEwBaCcA]

Insurance companies are looking to cut all high risk customers...basically in a tough economy they only want "sure" things......theyll leave the fly by night guys to cover high risk people and cars...... hoping to have them take a bath on the policy and drive them out of business....

If your a "good" customer IE: dont make claims, dont get speeding tickets, the majors will fight for your business because they want your money. My stuff is w/ Allstate they go back 7-8 years on driving when they update a policy....so a speeding ticket from 7 years out is going to cost you money EVERY month.

Just shop around till you find what you want and the price you need.

Chewy

PS: Allstate took such a hit w/ 9/11 prop damage and a flood or two that they werent taking new home insurance policies this year in order to hedge their bets! I dont know if it has changed but that sorta tells you everything is screwy when they dont want new business

 

[Dawg Cherokee]

Talk with your agent about having your girlfriend excluded from your policy. Some companies will then not count her record against your policy. The downside: if she drives and wrecks it again, there is no coverage for your Jeep or the damage that may be caused to others. Basically, you become the insurance company when she drives; Is the risk worth it?

 

[seanR]

The agent called me back today. I have a speeding ticket that I thought would be off by now. And the crash goes against me because they had to buy me a new car, it was 'charged' against my policy. The agent said the letter wasn't quite clear, They are not dropping me, they are putting me in a different 'sub' company. Kinda like in grade school, having to go in to the slow kids reading class. What sux is my rate will be $2200/ year for one car that I don't even drive very much. I have put 110 miles since Moab, still have Moab gas in the tank.

If I was smart I would sell it.

Oh wait! Someone smack me for saying that!

 

[RichP]

See if your state has special registrations. Here in PA we have two that I know of, antique and classic but to qualify you need to drive it less than 200mi a month/quarter or something like that and the ride be a certain age. Alot of hot rod builders also get special plates for their custom rides and from what I understand the insurance is quite a bit cheaper. It also removes any emissions checking other than visual plus some other stuff. Some folks over in blue mountain jeep alliance were discussing it from the emissions point of view now that some of the other counties have started doing visuals on all vehicles.

 

[Eagle]

See if your state has special registrations. Here in PA we have two that I know of, antique and classic but to qualify you need to drive it less than 200mi a month/quarter or something like that and the ride be a certain age. Alot of hot rod builders also get special plates for their custom rides and from what I understand the insurance is quite a bit cheaper.

That cheaper insurance is written by specialty companies, it's not written by the mainstream insurance companies. The big "name" in the field is J. C. Taylor, closely followed by another company whose name escapes me at the moment. I have spoken with both companies AT LENGTH. The bottom line is -- they will not insure anything with 4-wheel drive, regardless of vehicle age, and regardless of whether or not you have a special registration category that basically applies only to bona fide museum display vehicles.

 

[5-90]

Did they give a reason? Not that I've got a vested interest in finding out (my XJ's are all PNO/Daily Drivers) but I'd be interested in hearing it...

Insurance is really a gamble on both sides - they're gambling you'll keep paying but never need anything, you're gambling that they'll pony up when you need them to. You only win by losing, and if you are winning, you lose. Worst of all - it's endorsed by state governments, so it's just as bad as the First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics (vermillion hells - throw in the Third while we're at it!)

I went thru something similar with Allstate about a year ago, when they really started up their "equity pay" plan - instead of paying every month and renewing every six, they wanted an "up front" balloon payment, two or three months (and you get to coast the last month or two.) Excuse me? If I could afford to pay an extra month or two up front, I'd pay the six-month renewal and have done with it (including not paying the $3.50/month for their computer to send me a bill each month!)

Therefore, we got tired of that and went to AAA. May not be the best, but we also saved about $400 per annum, and only have to renew each year. Besides, they've been easier to deal with than Allstate.

Another instance - I don't remember which outfit it was, but my grandfolks had been with the same outfit for about 50 years, until my granddad's truck got clipped in the parking lot at Alcoa (Lafayette, IN.) He wasn't even IN the truck at the time, but they immediately tripled his premium!

He went across the street and got his old rate back. You know, this was the FIRST claim of any sort he'd had all that time, too!

I'd like to see a shift. Perhaps if you paid for 10 years without a claim, you'd get a break. Nah - never happen. Nice idea, tho...

I'd sooner spend my money in Reno - I have a better shot at getting some of it back!

5-90