Car insurance

[Muse]

I don't drive much. I saw a story on TV a few weeks ago mentioning that my company was one of the worst for giving drivers a break on cost of car insurance if they are a low distance driver. That has me thinking maybe I should check out a different company.

I dropped AAA for Mercury in the late 1990's. I'm with Mercury because I heard that they were one of the best. Probably in terms of cost and dealing with them when you have a problem. But it seems that these days I never have a problem. I'm in Berkeley, CA, haven't had an accident of any kind or a moving violation in something like 40 years.

I have two cars and noone but me uses them:

97 Mazda 626 LX coupe - Maybe ~2000 mi/yr (~20,000 total)
83 Chrysler Town and Country wagon - Maybe ~300 mi/yr (~120,000 total)

I keep the wagon for runs to Home Depot to get lumber, stuff like that. Almost all the miles on it are from just taking it out for a ~20 mile run on the freeway every 6 weeks or so just to give it some exercise.

The Mazda is for when I need a car, and I often don't for several weeks at a time. That's typical. I'm a great driver, don't take chances.

I'm paying $582/yr for pretty basic coverage, not minimum but not huge, no collision/theft, etc.

Could I get a much better deal with another company?

 

[RichardE]

at 7:30am on a monday Magic 8 ball l saysssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss


Text

 

[shortylickens]

We need gender, age, and marital status.

Also your record for the past 7 years,

 

[olds]

Text

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: shortylickens
We need gender, age, and marital status.

Also your record for the past 7 years,

Male, 65, single, record as clean as they come. No tickets, no accidents....

 

[shortylickens]

Originally posted by: Muse

Originally posted by: shortylickens
We need gender, age, and marital status.

Also your record for the past 7 years,

Male, 65, single, record as clean as they come. No tickets, no accidents....

Actually I think your payments are just fine considering you live in Berkely.

Unless you have some way to get into USAA you wont be saving much money by switching providers.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: shortylickens

Originally posted by: Muse

Originally posted by: shortylickens
We need gender, age, and marital status.

Also your record for the past 7 years,

Male, 65, single, record as clean as they come. No tickets, no accidents....

Actually I think your payments are just fine considering you live in Berkely.

Unless you have some way to get into USAA you wont be saving much money by switching providers.

That's funny because my dad was with USAA and I tried to get on with them years ago and was denied as ineligible, IIRC. But the crazy thing is I get mail from them all the time inviting me to get into one or another of their programs. I never respond and I scratch my head, thinking why are they targeting me, I thought I wasn't eligible. Maybe I am. I guess it can't hurt to give them a call and find out.

 

[RichardE]

Originally posted by: Muse

Originally posted by: shortylickens

Originally posted by: Muse

Originally posted by: shortylickens
We need gender, age, and marital status.

Also your record for the past 7 years,

Male, 65, single, record as clean as they come. No tickets, no accidents....

Actually I think your payments are just fine considering you live in Berkely.

Unless you have some way to get into USAA you wont be saving much money by switching providers.

That's funny because my dad was with USAA and I tried to get on with them years ago and was denied, IIRC. But the crazy thing is I get mail from them all the time inviting me to get into one or another of their programs. I never respond and I scratch my head, thinking why are they targeting me, I thought I wasn't eligible. Maybe I am. I guess it can't hurt to give them a call and find out.

You are 65

I always had you pegged for like 20-25 I imagine you would be fun to drink with! :beer:

 

[Muse]

Oh, also I get a discount with Mercury by virtue of having a degree in math.

 

[geno]

Less than $600 a year for two cars and you think it should be cheaper?? I pay twice that yearly for only one of our two vehicles, and it's the cheaper of the two

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: RichardE

Originally posted by: Muse

Originally posted by: shortylickens

Originally posted by: Muse

Originally posted by: shortylickens
We need gender, age, and marital status.

Also your record for the past 7 years,

Male, 65, single, record as clean as they come. No tickets, no accidents....

Actually I think your payments are just fine considering you live in Berkely.

Unless you have some way to get into USAA you wont be saving much money by switching providers.

That's funny because my dad was with USAA and I tried to get on with them years ago and was denied, IIRC. But the crazy thing is I get mail from them all the time inviting me to get into one or another of their programs. I never respond and I scratch my head, thinking why are they targeting me, I thought I wasn't eligible. Maybe I am. I guess it can't hurt to give them a call and find out.

You are 65

I always had you pegged for like 20-25 I imagine you would be fun to drink with! :beer:

Shhhhh, don't tell anybody! I'm damn young for my age. Really fit too. Kind of a fitness freak. The girls I'm attracted to are 20-25 but I'm too shy to hit on them. It's a problem. Guess I have to work on my courage.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: geno
Less than $600 a year for two cars and you think it should be cheaper?? I pay twice that yearly for only one of our two vehicles, and it's the cheaper of the two

OK, no harm in asking! I suppose you have more coverage...

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Text

Um, you're telling me to check out Geico? The lizard? I got a letter from them just the other day, 2 actually. Haven't looked at them. I figure they pay so much for advertizing, how great a deal could I get? Are they really maybe my best bet?

 

[olds]

We have USAA and so far, so good.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

USAA has broadened their eligibility rules in recent years. You should give them a call. If you ARE eligible, they offer the best rates and the best service in the industry (unfortunately I speak from experience, having filed a number of claims with them).

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: Muse

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Text

Um, you're telling me to check out Geico? The lizard? I got a letter from them just the other day, 2 actually. Haven't looked at them. I figure they pay so much for advertizing, how great a deal could I get? Are they really maybe my best bet?

I would try them. But I posted that because he/it is all over the TV. It's actually driving me insane.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat

Originally posted by: Muse

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Text

Um, you're telling me to check out Geico? The lizard? I got a letter from them just the other day, 2 actually. Haven't looked at them. I figure they pay so much for advertizing, how great a deal could I get? Are they really maybe my best bet?

I would try them. But I posted that because he/it is all over the TV. It's actually driving me insane.

Thanks, don't watch a lot of TV but when I do it's almost always timeshifting => I can and do FF through the commercials most of the time, and always through Geico commercials.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone
USAA has broadened their eligibility rules in recent years. You should give them a call. If you ARE eligible, they offer the best rates and the best service in the industry (unfortunately I speak from experience, having filed a number of claims with them).

Thanks, I will check them out. My first rule of driving is to not even have an event that's scary. If I do, I figure I did something wrong, analyze what that was and stop doing it (it works on my bike, too, also skates). Also, I try to minimize the chance of getting a ticket. Lately I'm controlling my speed on the freeway, so I won't get a speeding ticket. It's good for mileage, safety too. And the nerves. Like I say, I don't drive much and am rarely in any kind of hurry. I used to walk, period. When you are accustomed to slower means of transportation you figure you're going plenty fast without having to "make time" driving.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: Muse

Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone
USAA has broadened their eligibility rules in recent years. You should give them a call. If you ARE eligible, they offer the best rates and the best service in the industry (unfortunately I speak from experience, having filed a number of claims with them).

Thanks, I will check them out. My first rule of driving is to not even have an event that's scary. If I do, I figure I did something wrong, analyze what that was and stop doing it (it works on my bike, too, also skates). Also, I try to minimize the chance of getting a ticket. Lately I'm controlling my speed on the freeway, so I won't get a speeding ticket. It's good for mileage, safety too. And the nerves. Like I say, I don't drive much and am rarely in any kind of hurry.

Driving in the left lane with your blinker going the whole time?
:laugh:

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat

Originally posted by: Muse

Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone
USAA has broadened their eligibility rules in recent years. You should give them a call. If you ARE eligible, they offer the best rates and the best service in the industry (unfortunately I speak from experience, having filed a number of claims with them).

Thanks, I will check them out. My first rule of driving is to not even have an event that's scary. If I do, I figure I did something wrong, analyze what that was and stop doing it (it works on my bike, too, also skates). Also, I try to minimize the chance of getting a ticket. Lately I'm controlling my speed on the freeway, so I won't get a speeding ticket. It's good for mileage, safety too. And the nerves. Like I say, I don't drive much and am rarely in any kind of hurry.

Driving in the left lane with your blinker going the whole time?
:laugh:

No lo comprendo...

Actually on the freeway I'm not in the left lane usually. That's for the guys in a hurry, often 70+. Also diamond lane, but I usually drive alone.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

We won't be able to accurate rate you just online.

If you want to get accurate quotes then go to company websites, and compare the same coverages when you get quotes.

My guess (being an auto underwriter) is that you won't find it much cheaper. You are paying $291/half for both vehicles, which is $145.50 for each vehicle for 6 months. Or, if you want to look at it another way, you are paying $48.50/mo for both vehicles insurance. It's highly unlikely you'll find cheaper, especially considering your age of 65 (once you retire and get to that age group you usually will see rates start to go back up).

 

[polarmystery]

Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone
USAA has broadened their eligibility rules in recent years. You should give them a call. If you ARE eligible, they offer the best rates and the best service in the industry (unfortunately I speak from experience, having filed a number of claims with them).

Normally I'd be inclined to agree with this post but for some reason that I have no control or idea of USAA's rates have been increasing for me every 6 months and I have no idea why. The only explanation they give me is because of some state mandated thing. This is what happened to me in the past 3 years with them. These are monthly rates (6 month premiums: (This is full coverage btw)

Bought used car (2003) in Dec 2006:
Monthly Starting Premium: ~$58
1st 6 months after: ~$65
2nd 6 months after: ~$73
3rd 6 months after: ~$85
4th 6 months after: ~$93
5th 6 months after: ~$115

I don't know why it keeps going up. I have no accidents, no tickets, always register vehicle early or on time, my car is a blue civic with 77k miles and well kept. In the beginning they beat all car insurance rates, but now even Geico has better rates than they do. I added renter's insurance to my last premium (they have insurance combined) and pay like ~$120 now. I'm 27 btw and have been accident/ticket/fine free for 5+ years.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Originally posted by: polarmystery

Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone
USAA has broadened their eligibility rules in recent years. You should give them a call. If you ARE eligible, they offer the best rates and the best service in the industry (unfortunately I speak from experience, having filed a number of claims with them).

Normally I'd be inclined to agree with this post but for some reason that I have no control or idea of USAA's rates have been increasing for me every 6 months and I have no idea why. The only explanation they give me is because of some state mandated thing. This is what happened to me in the past 3 years with them. These are monthly rates (6 month premiums: (This is full coverage btw)

Bought used car (2003) in Dec 2006:
Monthly Starting Premium: ~$58
1st 6 months after: ~$65
2nd 6 months after: ~$73
3rd 6 months after: ~$85
4th 6 months after: ~$93
5th 6 months after: ~$115

I don't know why it keeps going up. I have no accidents, no tickets, always register vehicle early or on time, my car is a blue civic with 77k miles and well kept. In the beginning they beat all car insurance rates, but now even Geico has better rates than they do. I added renter's insurance to my last premium (they have insurance combined) and pay like ~$120 now. I'm 27 btw and have been accident/ticket/fine free for 5+ years.

Have you called your agent and asked why?

Might be a good idea since your rate has doubled.... Just a thought.

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: Muse


Shhhhh, don't tell anybody! I'm damn young for my age. Really fit too. Kind of a fitness freak. The girls I'm attracted to are 20-25 but I'm too shy to hit on them. It's a problem. Guess I have to work on my courage.

just maintain a stance of dominance and you will be fine

 

[polarmystery]

Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus

Originally posted by: polarmystery

Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone
USAA has broadened their eligibility rules in recent years. You should give them a call. If you ARE eligible, they offer the best rates and the best service in the industry (unfortunately I speak from experience, having filed a number of claims with them).

Normally I'd be inclined to agree with this post but for some reason that I have no control or idea of USAA's rates have been increasing for me every 6 months and I have no idea why. The only explanation they give me is because of some state mandated thing. This is what happened to me in the past 3 years with them. These are monthly rates (6 month premiums: (This is full coverage btw)

Bought used car (2003) in Dec 2006:
Monthly Starting Premium: ~$58
1st 6 months after: ~$65
2nd 6 months after: ~$73
3rd 6 months after: ~$85
4th 6 months after: ~$93
5th 6 months after: ~$115

I don't know why it keeps going up. I have no accidents, no tickets, always register vehicle early or on time, my car is a blue civic with 77k miles and well kept. In the beginning they beat all car insurance rates, but now even Geico has better rates than they do. I added renter's insurance to my last premium (they have insurance combined) and pay like ~$120 now. I'm 27 btw and have been accident/ticket/fine free for 5+ years.

Have you called your agent and asked why?

Might be a good idea since your rate has doubled.... Just a thought.

Yeah I called them. They told me the only reason it's been going up was because of a state mandated increase. All of the other fee's have remained normal. I plan on calling again soon though.