Cheap (but reliable) auto insurance

starving_student · #1 (**permalink**) 06-22-2006, 12:01 AM

What company gives you the best? Anyone has any experience with einsurance.com?

starving_student · #2 (**permalink**) 06-22-2006, 12:15 AM

Found on the web along with dozen of others

They were so cehap though...

Wow, my advice do NOT use this service for auto-insurance. This is what you will get.

First, they give you a quote low enough to get you to leave another well known or reliable auto insurance company (I was quoted information that I would save about $400 / yr on auto insurance). Once they get you to buy into their policy - based on, what I think was a false quote, all of sudden things change... I was quoted $89 a month, with $177 down - that immediately went up to $167 a month after signing.

I have a perfect driving history, and no lapse in coverage. I wasted my time, effort and $177, that I actually paid to get a rate 50% HIGHER then my pre-existing carrier. I wanted to cancel immediately, but they charge you a lopping 10% of the entire policy to cancel. They said it is a state law in Florida???

This is not a customer service oriented company.

plumpossum · #3 (**permalink**) 06-22-2006, 05:45 AM

I don't have any experience with einsurance, but I have used State Farm since I turned 18 and love them. My rate has gone down at least half a dozen times in 4 years, and they've been on the lookout for any possible discount I can get. For example, when I first started there I was 18 and had full coverage insurance on a 1997 Toyota Corolla to the tune of $240/month (ouch), but I also had an apartment. My agent figured out that if I get renter's insurance it would cost about $8/month, but I would get a multiple policy discount which brought my entire insurance bill down to $220 a month. So I actually saved money by having more insurance.

Now I am 22, I have a child which puts me in the next age bracket (25+) so I get a discount there. I have liability only on a 1992 Ford Explorer, full coverage on a 2002 Volvo S40 (both with my SO as a secondary driver), homeowner's insurance, and disability income insurance, and am only paying about $160/month.

I was in an accident in 2003 where I was not at fault. Unfortunately the person who hit me was an illegal alien and had a fake ID, insurance cards, etc. My insurance agent was as helpful as he could be for trying to track down a person who couldn't really be found. Because of the unusual situation my rate didn't fluctuate at all.

debtfreeme · #4 (**permalink**) 06-22-2006, 01:57 PM

don't use them or geico. A friend had a horrible experience where she was hit by someone, geico totaled the car (bent frame) but then said because the other driver had less than $50 damage they were not responsible for paying to replace her BRAND NEW AND PAID FOR car. SHe and her husband were also injured and they do not want to pay for the medical bills either.

Get quotes the old fashined way: cold call. If you used the online services they are really basic, do not have to honor them depending on the state and can be a bad insurance instead of a good one. Just call some major and minor companies, investigate and/or work with an insurance broker who could check many at one time.

I love AAA personally. great coverage, cheap and multiple policy discounts have worked well for me.

jodi · #5 (**permalink**) 06-22-2006, 07:15 PM

I found some cheaper rates than I was currently getting online and called my current provider up. They got my rate down so that it was comparable so I stayed with them (Liberty Mutual). I have been happy with them. I was looking at Progressive, but it made me nervous that they would only guarantee the rate for 6 months at a time. I want to know in advance what I will be paying for the entire year.

kealina · #6 (**permalink**) 06-22-2006, 07:59 PM

i'm not sure which company is good but my mom had troubles with geico too... some lady rear-ended my mom (me, dh, and her were in the car) and totally smashed up the back door of moms 2000 RAV4 so that it couldn't open and had to be replaced... geico ran her around for weeks and finally just wouldn't pay so my mom just paid for it herself...
i count us pretty lucky that we were all ok though... everybody was although that other ladies car was smashed so bad in front her car wouldn't start and she had to get it towed...
good luck tho...

poundwise · #7 (**permalink**) 06-22-2006, 08:10 PM

I was with Electric Insurance for a number of years. By far the best rate I could get when compared to State Farm, Geico, etc. However, this past year, I got a quote with Progressive and saved nearly $600 a year. I even increased my coverage a little when I switched and still saved.

Question. Above, you guys are typing 'einsurance' do you mean 'esurance' or are you refering to something else? Esurance is the company that has the TV ads with the cartoons.

Ima saver · #8 (**permalink**) 06-23-2006, 04:57 AM

I have had state farm for over 40 years with no problems. I only pay about $800 a year for a new vette, the antique cars are cheap, about $200 a year.

sakigt · #9 (**permalink**) 06-23-2006, 05:35 AM

Everyone has had or knows someone who had a problem with EVERY insurance company out there.

Personally, I use Allstate. My boyfriend hates them and uses E-surance. So does my dad. Neither has had any problems filing claims.

Pick the cheapest national insurance company. Customer service is terrible across the board (except USAA, maybe).