Car Insurance: What are your experiences?

It’s the same story with every insurance company, or at least it should be: collect as much premium as possible, pay out as little in claims as they can, and stay profitable. The methods vary slightly, sure, but I know any agent is going to try and push a policy at the highest price point they can get away with. They all have room to wiggle on the price if needed. One policy might end up being $100 more or $100 less than another within the same company, depending on the situation. And look, when an agent is trying to poach a client from a competitor, they’ll throw every discount in the book at them. But when they’re just renewing their own existing clients? If they gave everyone the maximum discount every single time, every policy would be $100 cheaper, yet the goal for all agents remains identical. That’s why people claim certain companies are "cheaper" than others. The truth is, if you get a lowball quote elsewhere, call your current provider, tell them what you were offered, and they’ll usually match it—if not beat it. There’s wiggle room everywhere, they just don't show it to everyone. It isn't unfair, really. It’s just how business works. If you were a contractor and someone offered you a job at a lower rate, maybe you'd take it once or twice, but you couldn't run your whole business below market value. Or think about big retailers like Walmart; they have sales on everything one day and nothing the next. Constant discounts would kill their margins, if you catch my drift. So, don't go generalizing that one company is the absolute cheapest, because at the end of the day, an agent can always call their manager and squeeze out a gas card, a retail gift card, or a 5-10% voucher to drop the price if they need to.
Secondly, you can add a lot of extra coverage to policies these days, and honestly, it’s probably smart to do it. You might end up paying the same amount as last year, but this year you actually get things like accident forgiveness or roadside assistance. It’s not a bad idea to be properly covered; we see it all the time where people act shocked that they have zero rights after an accident, even though they were the ones chasing the absolute bare-minimum policy for the lowest price possible.

Hey there,

I could really use some advice... about a week ago, we got hit by a car. We were stopped at a crosswalk, let a cyclist pass, and then—bam—the car hit us.

So, now our car is in the shop for about 7 days. The commute from our house to work is roughly 44 miles and I just can't function without a vehicle... especially since I have to pick up my little one from her sitter.

The dealership didn't have a loaner for us, so we ended up renting a car instead. My question is, can I actually bill someone else for this rental? For instance, could I go to Euroherac and demand they cover the cost since this wasn't our fault and we absolutely need a car to get by?

Thanks so much

If it’s mandatory? I don't know. Maybe—but only if you haven't already sorted out your insurance policy or signed up for roadside assistance...

A woman driving with out-of-state plates hit my car while it was parked perfectly legally. Her door is totaled. Since we actually know each other, we didn't call the police at the scene. However, after three days, the situation has shifted. Now she’s refusing to pay for new doors, insisting instead that her local mechanic just "straighten them out." I’m not having it—I want brand new doors, or we involve the cops. The police are already being noncommittal, suggesting they aren't sure if I can recover damages since we didn't report it immediately, even though she already admitted fault. What are your thoughts on whether I can actually collect on this?

Jeremy Sanders64 said:A woman driving with out-of-state plates hit my car while it was parked perfectly legally. Her door is totaled. Since we actually know each other, we didn't call the police at the scene. However, after three days, the situation has shifted. Now she’s refusing to pay for new doors, insisting instead that her local mechanic just "straighten them out." I’m not having it—I want brand new doors, or we involve the cops. The police are already being noncommittal, suggesting they aren't sure if I can recover damages since we didn't report it immediately, even though she already admitted fault. What are your thoughts on whether I can actually collect on this?

Of course it’s possible. I mean, if you filled out a standard accident report properly, that should be enough—especially if she isn't disputing that it was her fault. With that report in hand, you just head over to your insurance provider here in the US, which will coordinate with her out-of-state insurance. You file the claim and that's pretty much it. It might take an extra week or two for the paperwork to clear, but usually, there shouldn't be any issues.
Since you waited a bit to reach out to the police, I'm guessing they didn't come out to do a formal investigation or write up an official report, right?!

Has anyone here dealt with Velebit for collision insurance before?
I was wondering if they’re actually good about paying out claims when something happens.
Their rates seem pretty decent.
Thanks.

Which insurance plan for AO is actually the cheapest right now?

David Parker44 said:Which insurance plan for AO is actually the cheapest right now?

That depends on a whole bunch of factors, I guess. If you haven't had any claims in the last 10-15 years, or if you're in a certain demographic, you might snag a bigger bonus or extra discounts. With some companies, you might get a decent price only through commercial promos—vouchers, stuff like that. There's always something.
But you really have to look at what you actually get with those cheap policies. You need to see which specific coverages apply to travelers, if they even exist, and if there’s any extra coverage worth having. It’s probably smart not to just hunt for the absolute lowest price only to end up complaining later because you aren't covered for what actually happened. These days, policies are pretty much customized everywhere. It all comes down to your age, where you live, the type of car, how old it is, horsepower, how you pay...

I’ve been shopping around for the best AO rates over the last few weeks. Honestly, it feels like everyone is charging pretty much the same; there aren't any real deals out there, unless you count the 5% discount for paying in cash.

I haven't filed any claims, so I'm sitting at a 50% bonus. I usually opt for the extra hail and glass coverage plus a $100k/$200k accident limit, and the price stays roughly the same regardless of the provider.$800. 🤷

State Farm offers some discounts at certain retail stores, which gives them a slight edge, but otherwise, nothing really stands out.

Jose Diaz3 said:I’ve been shopping around for the best AO rates over the last few weeks. Honestly, it feels like everyone is charging pretty much the same; there aren't any real deals out there, unless you count the 5% discount for paying in cash.

I haven't filed any claims, so I'm sitting at a 50% bonus. I usually opt for the extra hail and glass coverage plus a $100k/$200k accident limit, and the price stays roughly the same regardless of the provider.$800. 🤷

State Farm offers some discounts at certain retail stores, which gives them a slight edge, but otherwise, nothing really stands out.

It's not quite like that, though. I think you can bring the base price for liability down to a similar level almost anywhere—unless you're a super young driver, in which case some companies are actually charging even more than they did last year. That said, you'll see a big difference in the "perks" they throw in. Things like roadside assistance, various accident coverage, or bonus protectors... personally, I think those retail discounts they offer as a perk are probably the worst option when you're just trying to insure your car.☕

I wasn't even thinking about the discount; I'm not particularly fond of the USA anyway. I have Allianz, and I noticed it would cost me nearly $67 more than last year. Is that just because I turned 26? Apparently, I should start looking into those roadside assistance programs. Fine. 🙂

Jose Diaz3 said:I wasn't even thinking about the discount; I'm not particularly fond of the USA anyway. I have Allianz, and I noticed it would cost me nearly $67 more than last year. Is that just because I turned 26? Apparently, I should start looking into those roadside assistance programs. Fine. 🙂

Given your age, I'd probably suggest checking in with Mount Rainier. They offer a 25% discount on your earned bonus regardless of how old you are, which—honestly—could result in a pretty significant price difference compared to Allianz. With what you save on the base premium, you could probably afford some extra coverage. Plus, I think they include some basic protections for free too.

Thanks so much, I think I'll head over to them to get some more info. 🙂

crimsonviper14 said:That depends on a whole bunch of factors, I guess. If you haven't had any claims in the last 10-15 years, or if you're in a certain demographic, you might snag a bigger bonus or extra discounts. With some companies, you might get a decent price only through commercial promos—vouchers, stuff like that. There's always something.
But you really have to look at what you actually get with those cheap policies. You need to see which specific coverages apply to travelers, if they even exist, and if there’s any extra coverage worth having. It’s probably smart not to just hunt for the absolute lowest price only to end up complaining later because you aren't covered for what actually happened. These days, policies are pretty much customized everywhere. It all comes down to your age, where you live, the type of car, how old it is, horsepower, how you pay...

Please, it's all just marketing fluff... I've had an Adriatic policy for years, zero claims, and my wife used to get it for five bucks cheaper than everyone else for years. Now? Since April 1st, they're among the most expensive out there... guess they aren't interested in keeping customers anymore. Honestly, if I were paying a decent premium, I’d just go with Allianz.

The best deals are usually from Grawe, Mount Rainier, or Wiener... personally, Wiener gave me the best rate.

A couple of days ago, an agent from State Farm sent me a quote for $967. It's for an 85kw car with a Zg registration—first time registering it, so I'm at 0% bonus, and I'm 25. Usually, the standard rate sits around $1333.
I'm gonna shop this quote around to other providers now to see if I can snag a better deal. 😁

darkmaker94 said:A couple of days ago, an agent from State Farm sent me a quote for $967. It's for an 85kw car with a Zg registration—first time registering it, so I'm at 0% bonus, and I'm 25. Usually, the standard rate sits around $1333.
I'm gonna shop this quote around to other providers now to see if I can snag a better deal. 😁

Honestly, if you really don't qualify for any kind of discount, there's probably no point in shopping around. This looks like a pretty solid offer to me.

Nah, I haven't done this before. It's my first time getting car insurance under my own name.

Check this post out too—you might actually score a better deal through that link. Word on the street is you can even haggle them down lower if you talk to them in person. CLICK

darkmaker94 said:A couple of days ago, an agent from State Farm sent me a quote for $967. It's for an 85kw car with a Zg registration—first time registering it, so I'm at 0% bonus, and I'm 25. Usually, the standard rate sits around $1333.
I'm gonna shop this quote around to other providers now to see if I can snag a better deal. 😁

If that's the case, then it's a steal... though honestly, it sounds almost too good to be true. A buddy of mine had a 77 kw car with a 20% discount, shopped every single insurer in the country, and the absolute cheapest he found was $817

So, I’m currently stuck out in the middle of nowhere in the US with a car that isn't even mine, and things have gone south fast—I basically drove straight into a flooded road.
The engine just died on me and now it absolutely refuses to turn back over.
Since I don't have full collision coverage, am I totally screwed regarding any damage to the vehicle, or do I actually have some kind of claim here?

Also, I'm pretty sure a state of emergency has been declared due to the weather, so does that give me any extra leverage or rights, and if so, who am I even supposed to be looking to for help?