Reporting Odometer readings to insurance companies

[BarkingGhostar]

For the past three years Allstate has been requiring the wife and I submit odometer readings annually for the vehicles on that policy. Geico does not. Now they are asking for how many times we drive into work or to school each week and what the distance is.

Seems like a lot of forced data mining as Allstate, via threat, that they will apply a set metric if we do not respond, which is usually within two weeks of notice. But what is worse is we have to respond by snail mail, fax or telephone, three of the oldest forms of communication today.

We cannot log into our Allstate account and submit the information. We cannot use email. These are deemed evil by Allstate, but I want to know if others are being forced to do this as well and if this takes place with other carriers.

BTW, I got into a heated exchange with an Allstate agent a couple of years ago. They raised the rate on our pickup by 15% with no plausible reason why. It was a 14 year old truck at the time (now 16). We've been paying for full coverage (on all vehicles). I wound up removing the truck and putting it on Geico. Saved 23%, got more coverage and the allotted annual mileage allowance went from 12K to 18K.

But we still have our two sedans on the Allstate policy. I work from home three to four days a week and only drive, on average, 1.5 times per week using the older of the two sedans and the other is for personal use ('weekend car'). Allstate seems to hate this in that they want to force customers into higher premium roles like all high-mileage for work/school use.

And before one asks why not dump Allstate it is because of our homeowner's policy. Allstate doesn't sell it anymore and it greatly benefits the insured more than the insurer. Not letting them off that easy.

 

[Bardock]

Thats ridiculous, I have had nationwide, state farm, esurance, and now on progressive and never had to do that invasive bs. I'd be cancelling policy and shopping elsewhere.

 

[BoomerD]

We have State Farm, and are on their <7500 mile policy for our vehicles. I have to verify mileage every couple of years.

 

[dullard]

We have State Farm, and are on their <7500 mile policy for our vehicles. I have to verify mileage every couple of years.

Exactly. If you want cheaper low-mileage insurance, then you have to actually claim in writing that you are driving low mileage (in writing since it is a legal statement that may need to hold up in court).

Otherwise, they just automatically lump you into the high-mileage high-cost insurance.

 

[highland145]

We have State Farm, and are on their <7500 mile policy for our vehicles. I have to verify mileage every couple of years.


^^^ that but just dropped them for Auto Owners. Saved $800/yr on 2 cars, 1 house and 1 unbrella. Same coverage.

 

[Schfifty Five]

For the past three years Allstate has been requiring the wife and I submit odometer readings annually for the vehicles on that policy. Geico does not. Now they are asking for how many times we drive into work or to school each week and what the distance is.

Seems like a lot of forced data mining as Allstate, via threat, that they will apply a set metric if we do not respond, which is usually within two weeks of notice. But what is worse is we have to respond by snail mail, fax or telephone, three of the oldest forms of communication today.

We cannot log into our Allstate account and submit the information. We cannot use email. These are deemed evil by Allstate, but I want to know if others are being forced to do this as well and if this takes place with other carriers.

BTW, I got into a heated exchange with an Allstate agent a couple of years ago. They raised the rate on our pickup by 15% with no plausible reason why. It was a 14 year old truck at the time (now 16). We've been paying for full coverage (on all vehicles). I wound up removing the truck and putting it on Geico. Saved 23%, got more coverage and the allotted annual mileage allowance went from 12K to 18K.

But we still have our two sedans on the Allstate policy. I work from home three to four days a week and only drive, on average, 1.5 times per week using the older of the two sedans and the other is for personal use ('weekend car'). Allstate seems to hate this in that they want to force customers into higher premium roles like all high-mileage for work/school use.

And before one asks why not dump Allstate it is because of our homeowner's policy. Allstate doesn't sell it anymore and it greatly benefits the insured more than the insurer. Not letting them off that easy.

I would tell Allstate to pound sand if they asked for all that information, and then I'd promptly switch insurance companies. That is just ridiculous to have to submit all that information.

And I'm sure this could happen with any insurance company depending on the location/person being insured, but still, F that.

Find an insurance broker who will shop for you, could find some pretty good coverages and rates that way.

 

[Schfifty Five]

We have State Farm, and are on their <7500 mile policy for our vehicles. I have to verify mileage every couple of years.

Learn something new everyday! Did not know there were policies for low mileage drivers. Interesting.

 

[boomerang]

Have never been asked to verify mileage by any insurer we've been with over the years but have always been asked how many miles per year is the car typically driven and for what purpose. (School, work, pleasure.) Been asked these questions for literally decades.

 

[BoomerD]

Have never been asked to verify mileage by any insurer we've been with over the years but have always been asked how many miles per year is the car typically driven and for what purpose. (School, work, pleasure.) Been asked these questions for literally decades.

Yep...IMO, totally normal since it affects the risk...which affects the price.

 

[RLGL]

Don't like it,switch companies. I would

 

[ponyo]

We have State Farm, and are on their <7500 mile policy for our vehicles. I have to verify mileage every couple of years.

I had to do that several times with State Farm. But I'm now with Amica and they haven't asked me yet. But I don't have a problem of giving them the info if they request it.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

Don't like it,switch companies. I would

I stated the reason why I wasn't going to switch.

BTW, only one vehicle on our policy is claimed as <7500 miles per year as it was the weekend car and we are putting less than 5K/year on it. Now Allstate demands this reporting on all vehicles on the policy even if a vehicle isn't in the <7500/year category. It is just another Allstate bullish methodology of abusing people.

Still, I can't wait for a natural disaster to take my home out. Allstate will have to replace it regardless of cost. I stand by this is why we are being treated as such because they want that policy terminated and replaced with one that benefits them.

 

[ponyo]

I stated the reason why I wasn't going to switch.

BTW, only one vehicle on our policy is claimed as <7500 miles per year as it was the weekend car and we are putting less than 5K/year on it. Now Allstate demands this reporting on all vehicles on the policy even if a vehicle isn't in the <7500/year category. It is just another Allstate bullish methodology of abusing people.

Still, I can't wait for a natural disaster to take my home out. Allstate will have to replace it regardless of cost. I stand by this is why we are being treated as such because they want that policy terminated and replaced with one that benefits them.

As long as you have sufficient coverage, any insurance company is going to replace your home if it's destroyed. I don't understand why you think the Allstate home coverage you have is somehow special.

 

[Darwin333]

Learn something new everyday! Did not know there were policies for low mileage drivers. Interesting.

They might not offer it specifically but obviously the more you drive the more chances you have of something happening so it only makes sense to price insurance based on how much you drive.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

As long as you have sufficient coverage, any insurance company is going to replace your home if it's destroyed. I don't understand why you think the Allstate home coverage you have is somehow special.

I can only go by what my retired agent said. He said Allstate stopped writing the policy I have because it greatly benefited the customer than the company and actively had been scamming clients to reissue policies. Something about covering much, much more than the current crop of policies they sell. Even the replacement agent that bought my previous agent's practice said the same thing. Something about up-to limits on current offered polices as to whatever-it-costs that is mine. Their example was while I paid for and have coverage for what the fair market value might be, if they had to replacement it for 100X that they would be obligated to. I wasn't going to argue on that point.

 

[shortylickens]

I have USAA and they never pulled any sort of crap like that.

 

[crashtech]

Allstate is not the best in my experience, but if you think you are stuck with them, well, you may as well just submit to whatever cavity search they want.

My insurer, Farm Bureau, does no such thing.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Learn something new everyday! Did not know there were policies for low mileage drivers. Interesting.

Insurance companies love to just raise rates yearly for low mileage drivers, they will bump your mileage up. They figure a certain percentage will just pay it. Insurance companies are the fucking devil.

 

[boomerang]

I've never had a homeowners policy that was written to cover more than one year. When the year is up, it's renewal time. The contract is essentially broken and then rewritten with whatever endorsements are in play at the time along with whatever endorsements I choose to add.

I think somebody is confused.

 

[brianmanahan]

this thread just reminded me to write geico and ask why they removed one of my discounts

 

[highland145]

this thread just reminded me to write geico and ask why they removed one of my discounts

Call.... State Farm called me last year to warn of an increase. I faxed them cancellations when they decided to eff me because my 16y.o started driving.