Looking For Car & Homeowner Insurance Online
Brookwood
Member, Moderator Posts: 13,729 ******
My advise is DON'T!!!!
I gave out all of my relevant information to an online search and as soon as I typed in my phone number.....the phone started ringing! Call after call from all over the US! I did answer the one call that had my same area code but pretty sure the gal that took the call was from a very distant place.
She transferred me to an agent who said she was from the Liberty Mutual Co. (so she said) but I'm not 100% sure this is not some scam outfit. I admit I have developed trust issues these days.
Anyway, for the past 7 years I have been an Allstate customer for car and home but they keep raising my rates every renewal even without having any claims or tickets. The 2 vehicles insured are OLD and I feel are being overcharged for coverage. The lady from "Liberty??" I talked to gave me a quote for an entire year on both vehicles that was only 10 bucks more than what I pay for 6 months with Allstate!😲 Sure would like to believe she is actually who she says she is but what I said above about trust issues is red flagging my senses.
As daylight is only a few hours away, my landline telephone sits quietly. At the 9 o'clock hour it is still taking in at least 30 or more unanswered calls a day. 😓 I plan to call a couple of local insurance companies directly today and see if the rates quoted are for real. Online searching has been a big mistake! Not to ever be repeated!!!!
Comments
I want a local agent I can look in the eye if I feel the need. I have been with Nationwide for a long time, and they have always treated me well. Are they the cheapest?? I don't know but the cheapest is not my main criteria, service at a reasonable cost is.
Be sure to get an independent agent. Mine has thousands of customers, & will move all of us to a different insurance company if any of his customers get treated badly by the insurance company. If I need body work, I get it done by the best custom shop & they use only OEM parts, & my company always approves the work.
Yes, I probably pay more for my insurance.
You get what you pay for, sometimes less.
Neal
If an insurance company has been open for more than five years, the owner is a millionaire. Michigan is the crookedest state in the union for insurance.
Don't do online insurance ever.
Note, research who has most interest in insurance companies.😣
We have been with the same company and agent for a very long time. Auto,home, guns/jewelry.
Been very happy with the service.
Made the same mistake once. Had to go radio silent for a week until they left me alone. Vultures trying to make a buck.
I also filled out the Geico online form and was swamped with their garbage for days.
I stayed with USAA even though I haven’t been particularly happy with them over the past few years (hence the online foray).
Lotsa folks are happy with their local guy. One stop with a person behind the desk/phone that you can go see if needed.
+1 we have been with state farm, same agent my whole life, my parents were one of his first clients, and yes I may pay a little more, but I can pick up the phone call him and talk to him in person, and whatever the problem it is will be taken care of same day or next.......
Long story short. I was with State Farm for 28 years until they declared me dead and canceled my home owners insurance. Now I have been with Erie Insurance Co. and saved a ton of money over the years. Erie is a very highly rated Insurance Company that treats me right, your mileage may vary.
We had Allstate for over 25 years with only had 2 minor claims. I went to AAA insurance and saved $2000 for the same coverage. I knew I was paying a little more but did not want to switch because I am loyal to companies I do business with but $2000? Allstate even claimed I was getting a $1500 discount for being a loyal customer. I would recommend AAA insurance.
First thing to do is get "Declaration of Coverage" forms from your current agent. THEN start shopping around. Show them to prospective agents and ask for a quote. That way, you can compare apples to apples and make a decision. I shop around every three years. BTW-that also keeps your current agent honest.
I have American Family for some time and the wife had a claim and it was handled in 24 hours, check in hand for her running HER Chrysler 300 C class in running, flooding water that you could not see a road for over a half mile. Sometimes I wonder about common sense. She said she was late for work, ok, let's drive into a 3 feet of water and float across. I MIGHT have taken a destroyer through it at 20 knots to fight the current but that would be it.