Some auto insurance advice, please

[jnyork]

I own 4 vehicles, a 5th wheel and a house all insured with Hartford through the AARP. Every one of them is at least 9 years old. I carry full coverage on them and the insurance cost us just killing us. I have shopped other companies and the Hartford is still the least expensive.

So, what does the smart money do in a situation like this. Am I over-insured? At what point in the age/value of a vehicle do you maybe drop the full coverage and just carry the liability and glass coverage?

Thanks.

[buckeyeshooter]

I went liability only on my 22 year old car. You do realize if the book value of the car is low--- and it will be for an old car, that if you have an accident they will 'total' it out anyway if the repair cost is more than the book value. Parts are expensive for out of production cars.
With more than one, you are absolutely over insured (unless they are collector cars).

[Blaine]

Check around on line....The different companies are always changing their rates....A few years ago, Travelers had the low bid..this year Progressive was almost 500 a year cheaper......

[Washita]

Two or three years ago I went searching for a new insurance company 'cuz I thought we were paying too much. didn't check with AARP or Progressive 'cuz I didn't want to deal with any left-wing organizations (AARP even sold us all out on Obamacare and supported the 714 billion dollar theft from Medicare used to help pay for it.) The best deal we found overall was Auto Owners Insurance, who gave us a great package deal on auto insurance + homeowners. For auto only, GEICO was best, but not on the combination.

[Blaine]

With all due respect....If you spend money on nearly anything, your money is finding it's way to a Liberal fund someplace....The really large companies give both parties money to cover their butts Don't call me names in public, or, Hobie will get mad at me for responding in kind Feel free to PM what kind of dirty commie bastage I am for having Progressive Ins...Five hundred bucks is five hundred bucks when you're on a low fixed income ....(Psssst....USAA = Hartford = AARP )

[jnyork]

With all due respect....If you spend money on nearly anything, your money is finding it's way to a Liberal fund someplace....The really large companies give both parties money to cover their butts Don't call me names in public, or, Hobie will get mad at me for responding in kind Feel free to PM what kind of dirty commie bastage I am for having Progressive Ins...Five hundred bucks is five hundred bucks when you're on a low fixed income ....(Psssst....USAA = Hartford = AARP )

Yeah, I am not going to take flak for going with AARP either. If I want to buy something and Adolph Hitler has the best price, I am going to buy it from Adolf Hitler.

[sharps1863]

Drop the collision. Get a higher deductible on the liability, but stay with the higher coverage liability. You want enough insurance to cover any injury's if you are at fault in a wreck. Most insurance company's will give you a good deal the 1st year and then jack up the price after that. Since most states require insurance to drive a vehicle on the road, the insurance company's have us over a barrel, when it comes to price. Ask about House/ Car combined discounts from the company too when looking. They also look at prior tickets and accidents too, plus they will run a credit check too see how good of credit you have. More or less we are screwed by the times we live in.

[44-40 Willy]

Keep in mind that just because you're getting a better price, doesn't mean you're getting better insurance. Nothing is more aggravating than to make a claim and have your insurance either go up (Geico) or getting dropped (Allstate). I use State Farm and the last time I had to make a claim, they just fixed the truck and we went on like nothing happened.

[Yodar]

Have you considered getting rid of some of your "toys"? Simplify!

[Sixgun]

Have you considered getting rid of some of your "toys"? Simplify!

That's what I was thinking. If you have toys, you have to be able to support them and stinkin' insurance is one of them. I HATE insurance but.....in this world of low-lifes getting rich from other people's sweat, you gotta have it.

When we all get a new toy, its fun to brag, "yea, got me a new 1886, you gotta see it." or "you gotta check out my new pick-up truck". How many people say, "Oh man, I just paid $2100 for car insurance. It so cool looking at my receipt"?----------------------------Sixgun

[Griff]

Keep in mind that just because you're getting a better price, doesn't mean you're getting better insurance. Nothing is more aggravating than to make a claim and have your insurance either go up (Geico) or getting dropped (Allstate). I use State Farm and the last time I had to make a claim, they just fixed the truck and we went on like nothing happened.

+1 And, make sure you're getting ALL the discounts they offer, non-smoker, no youthful drivers, multi-car, low-mileage, etc. Make that agent WORK for your business. I've been with the same company for over 45 years, ever since GIECO told my dad to drop me off his policy or they'd drop him. I had the same agent for 20 years till he retired, now on my 4th agent, each has kept ny rates low enough that when I shoop. any savings is insignificant when I look at the big picture. Just try getting a rider for your guns from one of those cut-rate outfits. Try getting "gap" insurance for a classic or antique car.

[Marlin32]

AARP extremly liberal, has nothing to do with retired people other than marketing, and anti gun.

Progressive owner is a huge Socialist, hates Capitalism and the entire US economic philosophy, funny though, he didn't mind getting incredibly wealty utilizing it, he just doesn't want ANYONE else getting wealthy.

Neither comments have nothing to do with price/coverage etc, just thought it should be known.

[Pisgah]

I went liability only on my 22 year old car. You do realize if the book value of the car is low--- and it will be for an old car, that if you have an accident they will 'total' it out anyway if the repair cost is more than the book value. Parts are expensive for out of production cars.
With more than one, you are absolutely over insured (unless they are collector cars).

Agreed. I sold the stuff for years, and while good liability coverage gets more important all the time collision and comp coverage begins to lose its cost effectiveness after a time. I would say 9 years is well in to that time unless you have something extraordinary. It gets to the point that book value is no more, or even less, than the annual premium, and at that point it is no longer really "insurance".

[Pisgah]

Keep in mind that just because you're getting a better price, doesn't mean you're getting better insurance. Nothing is more aggravating than to make a claim and have your insurance either go up (Geico) or getting dropped (Allstate). I use State Farm and the last time I had to make a claim, they just fixed the truck and we went on like nothing happened.

Amen! If someone quotes you $500 less, I can promise you one of two things: you are buying less, in some fashion, and you won't find that out until you make a claim, or; the person making the quote has entered some incorrect information in the quote system (and sometimes this may be intentional).

[rjohns94]

Are you eligible for USAA? I have had them for 37 years for house and autos

[Lastmohecken]

I use Farm Bureau Insurance and have my whole life. All of my vehicles are old, so I just run liability. I had a couple of motorcycles that I kept full coverage on for several years and finally I decided that I was tired of paying it every year, so I also changed them to liability.

I currently have two old Ford pickups 4 x 4's, a Jeep Grand C 4WD, a GMC 2 WD pickup, a GMC Jimmy 4 x 4, and two Harleys, all with Only liability insurance and I don't care to tell you, for all of this I pay five hundred and something, every 6 months. All of my rigs are paid for, so if I did wreck one, it wouldn't ruin me to loose it, and I while I don't know if I am a safe drive or not, at least I haven't had any speeding tickets in a long time or other incidents, so it's worth the risk for me.

Insurance can put you in the poor house if you let, however you have to weight your own risk factors. If you have had a history of accidents or you are insuring young drivers, then it might be different.

[Blaine]

Keep in mind that just because you're getting a better price, doesn't mean you're getting better insurance. Nothing is more aggravating than to make a claim and have your insurance either go up (Geico) or getting dropped (Allstate). I use State Farm and the last time I had to make a claim, they just fixed the truck and we went on like nothing happened.

Amen! If someone quotes you $500 less, I can promise you one of two things: you are buying less, in some fashion, and you won't find that out until you make a claim, or; the person making the quote has entered some incorrect information in the quote system (and sometimes this may be intentional).

I went through point by point on the coverage....I'm not worried about some mystical "after a fashion" loss.....Personally, I think anyone buying insurance from a live, in person agent is paying WAY more than he needs to pay

[Panzercat]

Check out USAA yet? The more you insure with them the more of a break you get. Plus I'm assuming you are/were military...

[jnyork]

Check out USAA yet? The more you insure with them the more of a break you get. Plus I'm assuming you are/were military...

Gonna make a call in the mornng. Thanks.

[madman4570]

First of all let me state that this is only a (non-professional)opinion----so only take any of my advice as such(talk to a pro etc.)

My feeling----on the 4 vehicles and 5th wheel-------way over insured!
I would want good liability/comp but the collision-------not!
I would put a higher deductible on those as well.
Often------a trick that companies tend to use is(to group all policies together,tell you you are saving 10% )although actually they might be cheaper to be bought seperate and every year BEFORE your policy is about to expire(so you are not traped into that one policy again)shop around.
I have seen with companies(the same company)if a NEW policy was purchased AT A DIFFERENT AGENCY savings could be as much as $1000@year and that is just on vehicles not even counting your other items.
I tend to shop for policies each seperately myself.
With the cars--------I would look for accident forgiveness----in cause you get into something-----remember if your fault-----even if your car is expendable(you have the other persons etc.)
With the house--------I would go with a $1000 deductible and read it over very good.

Again------You want real good protection especially against(liability)-------but the biggest thing,let your Insurnace Company know you are unhappy-----tell them rerun as many quotes with different companies they have(check with a total rewrite of your current company)then check with different firms also you can do large scale checks online for quotes with various reputable companies etc.

Good Luck!

JMHO----again though, I am sure no expert!